More on UMPCs
Topic: Emerging Technologies

I'm still liking my eeePC, although if someone has any suggestions for how to update to the newest version of Open Office, I'd appreciate the help. I really want those 3-D transitions!

In the meantime, a number of companies are now offering a UMPC and I thought you might be interested in this list from Liliputing. Some on the list are not yet available in the U.S. By the same token, this demonstrates that this market is going to continue to grow for now. Included in the list (clearly identified) are those systems already available, those that have been announced, and others said to be 'coming soon.'

 

Technorati Tags: UMPC, school administrators, Susan Brooks-Young

 

Connecting Teachers and Students in a Different Way
Topic: Emerging Technologies

A beta site, Teach Street, launched today in Seattle. The premise seems simple. This free service allows teachers to post notices about classes they are offering in the Seattle area, along with registration information. Students come to the site to find classes they'd like to take. So far, classes seem to be heavily into fitness, e.g. yoga, soccer, Pilates. But there is also a finance course listed. Developers promise that course offerings will soon be expanding to other cities.

What I like about this idea is that it allows teachers to publicize a variety of classes and makes it easy for potential students to find offerings of interest to them. As we strive to push out classroom walls, would there be an application here with K-12 educators? Could this become another resource for PD as well?

 

Technorati Tags: TeachStreet, professional development, school administrators, Susan Brooks-Young

 

Digital Disconnect Persists According to Latest NetDay Report
Topic: Leadership Issues

The national findings for the 2007 NetDay report were released on April 8. While increasing numbers of teachers and parents report that technology can have a positive impact on student learning, there is still a significant digital disconnect between students and the adults in their lives. For example, the findings state that:

"Students’ frustration with school filters and firewalls has grown since 2003, with 45% of middle and high school students
saying now that these tools meant to protect them inhibit their learning. And since 2004 we have heard repeatedly and more
strongly each year, students’ discontent with school rules that limit their access to technology at school and rules that
prohibit them from using at school the very technology tools and devices that they use constantly outside of school (cell
phones, email, IM, Text messaging) in all aspects of their lives. That discontent factor has grown by 46% over the past four
years. The other major obstacle today is the teacher – over 40% of students in grades 6-12 cite their teacher as an obstacle
since it is the teacher who increasingly is limiting the “when and where” of using technology at school."

And...

"In each of these key emerging technology areas highlighted in this year’s Speak Up national results, the difference between
the students and the adults that support their learning lives is significant. Over 50% of students in grades 3-12 would like to
see more educational gaming in their 21st century school; only 16% of teachers, 15% of administrators, and 19% of parents
endorse that concept. While 53% of middle and high school students are excited about using mobile devices within
learning, only 15% of school leaders support that idea. Less than half as many parents as students see a place for online
learning in the 21st century school. And even fewer teacher, parents and school leaders want students to have access to
emails and IM accounts from school."

I'm not saying that kids know it all, but I think they make some very good points and we need to listen to them.

 

Technorati Tags: NetDay Speak Up Report 2007, digital disconnect, school administrators, Susan Brooks-Young

 

Removing Permanent Marker from a Dry Erase Board
Topic: Emerging Technologies
Okay, so this is not a Web 2.0 issue, but I cannot tell you how many times I've gone to do a workshop in a school or district office and been confronted with a whiteboard that was unusable because someone had written on it with a permanent marker. Next time, I will definitely try this tip from LifeHacker. Who knew it was such an easy fix?

Technorati Tags:permanent marker dry erase board, school administrators, Susan Brooks-Young

It's Not on the Test Video
Topic: Leadership Issues

I thought you might enjoy this video from Tom Chapin.

 

Technorati Tags:Tom Chapin, NCLB, school administrators, Susan Brooks-Young

Where have all the scientists and engineers gone?
Topic: Leadership Issues

NPR ran an interview this morning. Apparently April 1st is more than April Fools Day. It's also the day that U.S. businesses get to reserve the number of visas they think they will need for the year to bring in foreign workers. And, according to the interviewee, this is the only day it can happen. Why? Because, he said, there is such a dearth of qualified scientists and engineers in the U.S., that companies need to look around the world to find applicants they can bring here. And, all available visa slots will be gobbled up by COB today. Although he was a bit cagey about the salary issue (the idea that foreign-born candidates will work for less than U.S. citizens will), he did point out that he wasn't talking about outsourcing the work, he was talking about bringing these professionals to the states where, one can assume, they would soon know about it if they were being grossly underpaid.

This ties in with this year's Technology Counts report, released last week by Ed Week. The theme of this year's report is STEM education. If you haven't looked at it already, you need to.

Technorati Tags:Technology Counts 2008, STEM, school administrators, Susan Brooks-Young

Internet Safety: Going Over the Edge???
Topic: Leadership Issues

You've all read cautionary tales about posting children's likenesses on the Internet. This morning, I ran across this post on the 21st Century Learning blog. Here's a link to the full article.

Apparently, the administration at a school in England has decided to obliterate the faces of all students shown in photos published online by superimposing happy face icons on each child's head! Yep, they now all look like this: .

Someone needs to get a grip...like right now. 

Technorati Tags:21st Century Learning, Internet Safety, school administrators, Susan Brooks-Young

eeePC and Web 2.0 apps
Topic: Emerging Technologies

Last week Karen asked how the eeePC handles Web 2.0 apps, particularly Google Docs. It's fine with word processing and spreadsheet files in Google Docs. I haven't tried to create a Google presentation file using it, but when I've worked on Open Office presentations, I haven't noticed any problems.

So, I went to the Webtools for Educators wiki and started clicking on various Web 2.0 links. Most that I tried worked just fine. I did notice an issue with Flickr (hard to see to get logged in, but fine once I was). Also, I think that when using that system, I need to lose two or three of the toolbars I regularly display. Four is probably excessive! That would increase space for page viewing.

I showed the eeePC to a group of elementary principals yesterday. Most were very excited, although one predicted they'd be stolen immediately...

Technorati Tags:Asus, eeePC, GoogleDocs, school administrators, Susan Brooks-Young

eeePC Update
Topic: Emerging Technologies

I'm a little more than 2 weeks into eeePC ownership and am still a fan. The thing I don't like most is trying to read email. The Web site page doesn't handle the small screen well, so I can see all the fluff at the top of the page, but have trouble seeing the textbox!

Other than that, It's working like a charm. I'm finding it very handy for in the car (waiting in the ferry line), on the ferry, and hauling around when I know I'll have a few minutes in the Dr.'s office or at the car dealership to work on something while waiting for an appointment. The screen is small, but that isn't an issue with a word processing or presentation document. It's also a great way to meet new people. I have yet to have it out without at least one person stopping to ask about it.

I'll post another update in a couple of weeks.

 

Technorati Tags:Asus, eeePC, school administrators, Susan Brooks-Young

The World May be Flattening, But the Economy...Oy!
Topic: Leadership Issues

Today is the day that the Fed helped pull Bear Stearns back from the brink of what was certain bankruptcy. Interestingly, as I was driving to Vancouver and listening to NPR, I heard a British economist say that, in his opinion, the countries that can least afford the tanking of the U.S. economy are India, China, and Brazil. Why? Because so much of their growing economies are being underwritten by American businesses!

I wonder if this idea was discussed in classrooms in the U.S. today? What about in those countries the economist believes could be dragged down by our financial situation? I've heard a lot about these countries positioning themselves to eat our lunch in the near future, but don't remember hearing anything before about the precarious place they might be as they get into that position. Our kids should be considering this issue, since they will probably be dealing with the fallout for years to come.

What do you think? 

Technorati Tags:U.S.economy, flat world, school administrators, Susan Brooks-Young