technology

Blogs, Podcasting, Wikis, and other things Web 2.0

Kindle Update

I really thought my Kindle had died. I already had an instant where I had to do the hard re-set and even tried  disconnecting (and re-connecting!) the battery. I thought I'll keep trying for a few days and read some of the forums. And then I read where tenacity wins out. Well, after more than a week, I gave up. I was getting ready to call Amazon and as I picked up the phone to dial, I turned the Kindle power switch on and, surprise, surprise, I saw "Amazon Kindle" flicker onto the screen and stay.

For the last week, I'd gotten an occasional flash but basically a white screen. Before that a few weeks ago, it locked up with all the type on the screen (and I was worried about screen burn-in since it remained so even with power off and disconnected). I'm so glad I'll have it to take to New Orleans this week to a conference. It does just enough basic email that it will serve me well given that I need a rare total break from work and did not plan to take my laptop with me. I'm still trying to decide whether to get a 'min' laptop but the Kindle may do just enough.

Wahoo! It's always great when technology works.

October 08, 2008 in Books | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Sound Bites

Cliopatria pointed to a Science News article about the history of the presidential campaign sound bite dating back to 1908.

          When Bryan speaks, then I rejoice.

His is the strange composite voice

Of many million singing souls

Who make world-brotherhood their choice

— Vachel Lindsay, American poet, 1915

William Jennings Bryan was rarely at a loss for words. His impassioned oratory spellbound congressmen during his two terms in the U.S. House and thrilled thousands of voters during the presidential campaigns of 1896 and1900. But during his third run for the White House, 100 years ago,

            Bryan had trouble speaking in the intimacy of his own home.


Sometimes we forget that technology arrived on the scene prior to the computer.

October 05, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Technology and Travel

The AHA blog pointed to this NYT article since our annual meeting is there in three short months! Should be interesting to explore. I especially like it when locals, in contrast to travel writers, share their secrets. This is when you find the really good stuff.

This site is also an excellent example of crowdsourcing.

October 02, 2008 in Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

What's Next for Education and Technology?

The September 17, 2008 issue of Education Week contains two articles that caught my attention. I'm increasingly interested in education policy, especially as I begin to better understand how policy becomes practice. As a historian, even though I am not formally trained in the history of education, it is intriguing to discover how recommendations get translated into real world practice. For example, I've been on the front lines of experiencing how NCLB put necessary pressure on schools of education to ramp up their teacher training programs. The formal education establishment passed along the pressure to other constituency groups, which is a normal human thing to do. But, ultimately, we still are not weeding out the bad teachers and, in my particular situation, our hands are often tied by the fear of lawsuits if we tell potential teacher candidates (our undergraduates) that they just might not be suited for a career in front of the classroom. Liking a subject area like history is simply not enough and neither is liking kids. Even if you possess both of these stated traits, good teachers are still born and not made. I see too many students choose teaching as the 'easy route' and am continually thankful when I have students who truly see teaching as a calling. I know they will succeed in the long-term. James Paul Gee, now of Arizona State and formerly of U of Wisconsin-Madison, co-authored the Commentary article, "Let's Get Over the Slump", on the back page of this EdWeek issue. he and his co-author, Michael H. Levine of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center in New York, make the following recommendations:

1. Establish a "Digital Teacher Corps".

2. Design and test alternative assessments and new standards.

3. Create "a place in every community".

4. Establish digital-partnership schools.

5. Modernize public broadcasting.

These are laudable goals but I actually see them as attainable. Let me explain why point-by-point.

1. Teachers do need this type of assistance. They are so overwhelmed with meeting the standards that they just simply don't have time to self-acquire new skills - especially those beyond their comfort zone such as technology. In Kansas, our standards are quite prescriptive and while they give a clear path for teachers to follow, there is little opportunity to take the meandering journeys just beyond the strict fences setting the boundaries of the standards path. There is so much breadth and depth in our state's standards that teachers are constantly forced into a state of panic about whether or not they can cover it all. Providing mentoring assistance in technology would certainly be helpful if we really want teachers to acquire an incorporate enhanced technology skills not only into their teaching but into student learning.

2. We keep talking about this but it won't change as long as state tests are paper and pencil and test companies continue to rake in the dough.

3. Students need a place to feel comfortable in order to learn. That doesn't mean we get rid of the competition to earn an good grade but, instead, provide a strong foundation to do so. Children and young adults have already created a safe space surrounding their cell phone and we should build on that existing experience to support enhanced learning opportunities. Students have to feel like they own their learning in order for it to happen.

4. Yes, we certainly need models with real teachers not just those who rise to the top on their own - that example isn't replicable in the real world in any circumstance. And models that are accessible to urban, suburban, and rural schools.

5. I actually think private sector sponsorships are the answer here - especially if we want to connect with what business and industry says that they need from their community schools at all levels.


Note: this is part of a larger post at my personal blog.

September 21, 2008 in Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Digital History

an interesting discussion can be found here

September 16, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Brain technology

Just read an article that came up on my Google home page about the advances being made in neuroscience. Quite amazing - especially considering what might be possible in just ten or twenty years when I might actually start acknowledging that I'm growing old.

One day, a machine will outsmart its maker


IN ONE of William Gibson’s early mind-bending stories, the protagonist suddenly needs to fly a jump jet. In the cockpit, he finds his employer has thoughtfully stashed a biochip containing all the necessary piloting skills for him to plug into his own nervous system. While your correspondent applauded the idea at the time, he nevertheless dismissed it as pure science-fiction. Today, he’s not so sure.


September 07, 2008 in Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Google's new browser

You can find the Washington Post tech article here.

September 02, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

20 Tech Tips from PC World

These are worth checking out.

August 30, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Facebook goes back to school

This Chronicle article discusses a plug-in to Facebook (currently being piloted at Abilene Christian)that interweaves course information to Facebook. While FERPA is a concern, it's becoming increasingly apparent that if we want students to understand, we have to teach them in a way they can learn. They want a portal to their world, not numerous websites they have to visit. Furthermore, they expect push technology - after all, many don't even check their email regularly anymore.

August 22, 2008 in social networking | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

An anthropological introduction to YouTube

Michael Wesch at Kansas State continues to push the envelope and we're all benefitting.


presented at the Library of Congress, June 23rd 2008. This was tons of fun to present. I decided to forgo the PowerPoint and instead worked with students to prepare over 40 minutes of video for the...


August 19, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

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