VCU Tech Fair Today!
VCU Technology Services along with the VCU libraries is sponsoring a Tech Fair today in the Student commons, in the Richmond Salons from 9 am till 2 pm. Representatives from Atomic Learning, Blackboard, Apple, Dell and others will be on hand to discuss new technologies and offerings from their companies. Free food and lots of give-aways. Might be cool to go and check out some of the new stuff coming out. The workshops by Atomic Learning may be of special significance to us here in the SOE, as this tool provides a ton of online tutorials you could use, or you could assign to students in your classes.
DS106!
So there is this guy at University of Mary Washington who has a class on digital storytelling (DS106). His name is Jim Groom. It is a totally open, online class. He needed money to upgrade to a new server because so many people were taking this course. He decides to use Kick-Starter (online crowd-sourced funding service) to try to raise about $4200. He does this in less than 24 hours, and currently has raised over $11,000. The Chronicle picks up the story and publishes this, which is probably the place to start to untangle this story in more detail. This is a fascinating story about MOOCs, the possible future of higher ed, and pushing the bounds of higher ed in what can be done. Also, if you have any interest in digital story telling, or using this with your classes, his class site is an invaluable resource. You can also pledge $106 dollars and get a ds106 t-shirt and pair of socks. I am writing my check now.
Making iPad Apps
I get questions about this often, and currently there is not an easy way to do this without some programming experience. However, I have recently run across some tools that could be used to create various types of apps. I have not personally tried any of these yet, but thought i would pass them on in case anyone is interested. Here they are: GameSalad, The LearningMag, and LiveCode by RunRev. I think these also create web apps, and apps for android devices. If anyone knows of others let me know.
Quick iPad App of the Week
New app may help autistic children speak
Quick Online Learning Story of the Week
Blackboard continues its acquisition of pretty much everyone
Reading, Listening, Watching and Eating (My weekly pics)
Reading:
Tenkara: Radically Simple Ultrlight Flyfishing (Kindle version)
Listening:
Sound Opinions Podcast
(if you love music, this is a great weekly podcast)
Watching:
Forks Over Knives
(documentary, has turned me vegan for about a week)
Eating:
risotto at The Magpie
(The Chef was kind enough to custom make this for us “vegans”)
Quick Pic of the Week
William and I fly fishing this weekend at Stony Creek in Nelson County
