Mr Bass Online

Over winter break I took advantage of a little time off to upgrade one of my laptops and one of my desktops to Windows 7, Microsoft’s newest operating system.  Both of these computers were running Vista prior to their upgrade and I must say that I do like the new OS.  During the same time period, I installed Google’s Chromium OS onto a 4 gig flash drive and boot my eeepc from it.  Showing my true inner geek, I thought that it might be fun to have a 5 computers running 5 different operating systems all at the same time just to see what I thought of each one in a side by side comparison.

I booted up my eeepc with Chromium OS, started up my work XP laptop, brought out my laptop with Windows 7 installed, dug out a MacBook with OS X and set all of these up beside my desktop with Vista running.  Granted, my wife and kids looked at me like I was a little insane, but I wanted to see the differences.  What I found is that I simply don’t care.  Sure, I like having Windows 7 and the new features that accompany it, but I also like the tried and true nature of XP. OS X has some great features but, as I said, I had to dig out that computer so it’s not one that I use all the time.  Then there’s Chrome OS. As it’s in beta and really hasn’t been released, I’m sure there will be more coming in the future, but right now, I don’t see that as my primary operating system.

As I was looking at all these systems and computers, I started wondering about the operating systems that my kids will use in their futures.  Will they beg me for a Mac in the future or will they just want a computer and an internet connection?  I imagine it will be the later. Thinking about my computing habits, with the exception of some specialized software, almost all of my work is now done online. Sure, I still want to be able to launch Photoshop or do some higher end video editing, but I think that for the most part I could do 90% of what I want to using online tools. Maybe Google is onto something with their OS that’s really just a browser. Regardless, I think it’s time that schools start thinking about their computing needs differently. License fees for software and operating systems may heed way to inexpensive hardware allowing for a more integrated experience. Regardless, the idea that students or teachers NEED to have a Mac or a PC may be on its way out. Instead, they need a computing device and a broadband connection so that they can complete projects and access information at will. That may be a tablet, a phone or an ipod touch, who knows?

I’m running Windows 7 and I like it, but the more I (as an adult and an educator) don’t care about what’s running on my computer, the more I wonder how important it is to students. Mac or PC, I don’t care, just give me the web and I’m all set.

Reflections, Technology, Tools, testing chrome, operating system, OSX, vista, windows 7

One of my favorite tools in the Google arsenal is that of Google Alerts. Essentially, Google Alerts is a tool that will do an ongoing search for you automatically and then email you the results on a regular basis.  So, imagine that you are in the market for a new netbook (as I was last summer).  Asus had just come out with the eeepc 1000HE and I was interested. However, I wanted to let some of the early adopters get one and make their recommendations as to the feel and workings of the machine.  Instead of going everyday and doing a blog search looking for reviews, I set up a Google Alert to do a comprehensive search on the term “eeepc 1000HE” and to email me the results once a day.

From then on I got a daily email anytime there was a website that would have shown up in my search results.  I love Alerts for the same reason that I love RSS, it saves me time and energy. My searches come to my inbox automatically and I can use my time in other ways.  Give it a try.

Google Tools, Online Apps, Tools alerts, search

For the last year or so I’ve had a little application called Dropbox installed on my main laptop.  I hadn’t used it much for no reason other than I just never really got to it.  For those of you that aren’t familiar with Dropbox, here’s the description from their website
“Dropbox is software that syncs your files online and across your computers. Put your files into your Dropbox on one computer, and they’ll be instantly available on any of your other computers that you’ve installed Dropbox on (Windows, Mac, and Linux too!) Because a copy of your files are stored on Dropbox’s secure servers, you can also access them from any computer or mobile device using the Dropbox website.”

On any given day I use up to four different computers for various purposes and it’s nice to have my commonly used files (mostly pictures and a few documents) on any of those computers.  While there are many cloud services that will let me access files online, this one actually copies them to the server as a backup and syncs them to all my computers.  Bottom line, I think it’s fabulous.

Tools

I’m stuck in a routine. Some may even say that I’m addicted. Almost every day for a good portion of the day I sit in front of my computer. I have it set up the way I want it. My desktop is organized according to my tastes. My Firefox plugins anxiously await my use. Bottom line, my computer and I have a very special relationship because I have personalized it for my uses. My home row keys letters are slowly wearing away and there’s a shiny area on my space bar that shows the wear of my fingers. I know where to find my files and I know which programs will greet me upon startup. This is the very reason that, while I always like the boost in performance, I never truly look forward to getting a new machine. I always have to reconfigure everything. I hard drive failure not only runs away with my data, but it also causes me several hours of preparing my system for me to use meaningfully.

Last year, one of the biggest parts of my job was to hand out new laptops to teachers in my district. To make matters worse, we weren’t just handing out laptops, we were stripping these teachers of their beloved Macs. Over a year and a half later, I still hear comments about how much better the Macs were than these stupid HP laptops that we are now “stuck” with. We develop a personal connection with our tools. The problems, while frustrating, become somehow endearing over time. We know what to expect, we understand the challenges of these tools including their limitations and, however maddening, we get beyond it. Mac or PC, it’s simply a computer… a tool that we use to complete tasks. The passion that comes from these tools I don’t necessarily understand, but I find myself falling into passionate discussions over tools. My phone is one such tool. It’s not that it’s the best, but it certainly suits my needs and I’ve set it up exactly how I want it. They are very personal things and we become attached and fanatical about them. I use OSX, XP, Vista and now Windows 7 and, truly, don’t have a huge preference. My main machine is a PC because that’s what my district uses, but to me, they’re just tools.

What about the students that we teach? Does it really matter whether they’re sitting in front of an HP or an Apple when they’re typing a paper? They’re simply word processing. Even when it comes to video editing, there are tools on both platforms that students can use to create their movies. Is one easier than the other, maybe. But is the tool really that important? I say No. The skills that students (and adults) take away from any training or class is the important element in the equation. The logo doesn’t matter. The name of the software is immaterial. Do all secondary students need to be able to move through Excel or PowerPoint or is it more important that they understand and adapt their spreadsheet and presentation skills to any computer that is put in front of them? The classroom tools (SMART, Prometheon, Mac, PC, Web 2.0, etc) do not make for learning. Let’s start discussing skills instead of tools and end the argument over which one is better.

Even as I write this, I understand that there are tools that I would have a hard time living without. When Google announced that they were ending their support of Notebook, I was far from amused. However, there are other tools out there. Do they work the same way? No. Is their integration with other Google tools as seamless? No. Do I have the skills to use them effectively? Yes.

Yes, I’m attached to my computer and, yes, it’s a love/hate relationship. But the tools that I use in my daily routine as I work with teachers doesn’t make my work better; it makes it more convenient. I’m not interested in getting rid of my tools that I’ve grown so fond of, but I am interested in helping students acquire the skills to be able to move beyond a tool and still succeed in their tasks.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu/index.phtml

Education, English, Google Tools, Online Apps, Reflections, Technology, Tools, leadership mac, notebook, pc

As of late I’ve been helping teachers sign students up for accounts for various services.  The question I often get from teachers has to do with student email accounts.  Granted, many of the students in secondary schools already have email accounts, but, as we’ve found recently, many do not.  With so many websites asking for a valid email account in order to sign up for their services, I’ve been suggesting Mailcatch.com to those teachers.  Today I ran across a blog post via Twitter that lists a number of temporary email services.  Enjoy.

Tools

Yesterday the hard drive on my computer passed into the electronic afterlife.  Don’t know what happened, but I know it’s dead.  Even though I enjoy the technology and messing with new stuff, one thing that I really dislike is setting up a new computer.  My old browser was set up just how I liked it, my desktop shortcuts were only the ones I wanted… I had a workflow.  I knew what I would find when I booted up every day.

So I lost some documents, a database I was working on and a few spreadsheets.  So be it.  It’s my own stupid fault for not backing those things up.  I preach that to teachers but I know and readily admit that I have a very haphazard approach when it comes to computing.  This is not the first time that I’ve lost stuff and I know it won’t be the last.  As most of us know… it’s not “if” your computer will break, it’s “when”.

So now I’m preparing to regroup and recreate some of the items that I lost.  What I’ve begun to notice though is that it’s not all that hard.  When most of the things you do happen online in the “cloud” the idea of a computer breaking down is not all that daunting.  The one thing that I will recommend is to back up your browser.  I use Firefox almost exclusively (although I’m dabbling in Chrome) and there’s this nifty little backup tool called MozBackup that I’ve used for about 4 years now.  What’s great about it is that once I have one Firefox installation the way I want it I can just run it on all the computers that I frequently use and have my environment back.  I haven’t used Foxmarks yet but I understand that it works well and would take care of part of my issue with syncing bookmarks across computers.  If you are a Firefox user and you do as much work online as I do, I suggest backing up your data and your browser settings as well.  Hopefully you won’t have a computer crash soon.  For me, it’s back to re-establishing my workflow and getting up and running.

Firefox, Technology

Jim Klein is talking about Social Networking using Open Source software.  Didn’t realize that he was going to talk about Elgg.  I installed Elgg to use with my students about 3 years ago.  When I used it with students it was a really good experience for my students.  The part I liked best was the Access Restriction selection project so that they could decide who could see a post.  If you’re interested in social networking with students, I encourage you to look into Elgg.  If you’d like to take a look, you can use James Klein’s demo site at http://demo.saugususd.org.

Education, Technology, Tools

Today I worked with a middle school teacher who was “referred” to me to help her integrate a SmartBoard into her classroom.  She was new to the technology and was interested in learning, but had some considerable reservations about where to start and how to go about using the technology effectively.  We spent about 45 minutes talking through the software and brainstorming ideas for her lessons and when I left she had high hopes for using the technology with her classes.

While 45 minutes is not a long time to really exact change on a teaching strategy, it did get her thinking about the next steps.  She had no idea how to use the software though.  I didn’t even know that she had recently gotten a SmartBoard for her classroom otherwise I would have reached out to her and scheduled a time to help her understand the possibilities that exist there.   While I don’t believe that this is a unique position for a teacher to be in, it concerns me because in this instance, she just didn’t know the tools or understand the possibilities.  Sure we provide trainings, but I can only be so many places at once.  I guess it makes me wonder how many teachers are falling through the cracks when it comes to the supporting and meeting their needs when new equipment is brought forth.  For how many teachers is it simply that they don’t know the possibilities and don’t know what questions to ask?  As a Technology Integration Specialist, how can I find and reach out to those teachers who want to work towards integration, but don’t know where to start?  Yes, there are many answers, but for me, every answer just brings up more questions.

Professional Development, Technology, Tools

A number of months ago I decided that I’d try out Twitter and see what I thought.  I was immediately hooked.  Suddenly, I was able to be connected to the thoughts of friends, acquaintances and others who I had been following for awhile, without having to wait for them to post a new blog entry.  This was great, I joined some conversations and really gave twittering my all.  While this experiment worked relatively well, I have two problems with Twitter.

1. How can I keep up?  I don’t really think I can.  I’ve tried to be a part of the conversation… maybe I just don’t have as much to say as I think I should.  But I just feel inundated with Tweets.  I guess I feel as though it’s one more thing that is calling for my attention.  Email is overwhelming… I’m not sure what the word might be for Twitter.  There’s just so much great information out there that it could literally be the only thing I do.
2. It’s blocked in my district.  I haven’t really questioned this to this point, but my school laptop is my main computer and with Twitter being blocked there, it makes it hard to really jump in and actually give Twittering a chance.  I can log in via my phone, which is fine… and I can check my feed via my Google Reader account, also fine.  I guess it’s just problematic.
3. I said two, but meant three.  Finally, Twitter Spam sucks.

I want to be a Twitter-er, I just haven’t gotten there yet.  I guess it’s time to try out a few clients and see if they can’t get around the blocks implemented by the district.   Until then, I’ll just peruse my aggregator and keep up with thoughts from the fringe.

Tools

This is a week for new things. First Stumble Upon and now Twitter. Unfortunately, my district blocks Twitter so I was looking for a new way to use it and follow feeds. If I couldn’t post and follow posts from work, it wasn’t a realistic option. I even tried to use my phone for “tweeting” but I didn’t think it was a good alternative.

After some searching, I found Twitbin a Firefox plug in that connects to my twitter account and allows me to somehow access it though a sidebar in my browser. I don’t know how it works and I really don’t care. I can now follow the likes of Will Richardson, David Warlick, Bud Hunt, Clarence Fischer, Jeff Utecht, Steve Dembo and the other thinkers in this area. I’ve only posted a few “tweets” so far, but I find it an intriguing way to keep abreast of what these people are thinking about and doing.

I was a little skeptical at first, but I’m sitting at my desk while others are at the T + L conference. I was able to follow some of their thoughts and reactions (not to mention adding to the conversation) of the conference without being there. It’s an interesting practice. We’ll see how long I stay interesting in it.

This was all prompted by a blog post by Will Richardson that Bud Hunt’s blog pointed me to.

Education, Technology, Tools