The Tech Tuesday Newsletter 2/21

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Monty Jones

Finally!

i recently recieved some feedback on these weekly newsletters. Here is an excerpt (printed with permission) from an email from Dr. Mulloy in the Department of Special Education and Disability Policy:

*********

do people ever respond to your newsletter commentaries? I assume you don’t mean to start a dialogue, but today I have some responses. I think the readership deserves exposure to some skepticism in your commentaries of online learning. Your discussions of MITx and the related topics of ed. technology are mostly information-oriented, but something about them (maybe the lack of skepticism alone) results in a positive, this-is-awesome-and-exciting spin. For example, I disagree that online learning trends are awesome and worry very much about what is likely impossible to offer via online coursework (e.g., socialization into cultures, group identity propelled engagement in learning tasks/motivation stemming from meaningful interpersonal relationships; long term effects of identity formation on performance). I feel safe assuming that there are many students out there who will respond poorly to online learning/are predisposed to under perform due to the format. And I’m confident there are things that will be made inconvenient by the online format and will gradually be lost, to students’ detriment (like how deep interpersonal connecting and bonding is largely absent in the worlds of texting and social media; pouring your heart out to a friend and developing trusting bonds is not convenient in those formats; shared space and time, and the permissions given via nonverbal cues are required for people to open up in those ways). I think whatever problems really do exist in online learning will become apparent in time and will slow the tide of change. 

*********
So, while I like Dr. Mulloy, and greatly respect his work, he was very wrong about one thing……that I don’t mean to start a dialogue.

This type of feedback and the conversations we, as a faculty, can have around these topics is exactly what I am trying to accomplish with these weekly emails. Each week, I post these newsletters on my blog, where anyone can comment on anything I have posted. I encourage everyone to voice their opinions on these topics. The best way to do this is to visit the blog and comment there, but if you are more comfortable emailing, then just write me an email and I will post your comments myself (with your permission). If you would like to reply in private, that is fine too.

You can see Dr. Mulloy’s full comments, as well as my reply to him here, and if you would like to join this conversation, please do. Again, thanks to Dr. Mulloy for getting this process started.

Quick Flipped Classroom Story of the Week
The “flipped classroom” method of teaching is not only for K12,but is seeing results in Higher Ed, as well.

Quick Special Education / Technology Story of the Week
Using iPads with autistic students

Quick Social Media Story of the Week
Blocking social networks and banning cell phones in schools makes it difficult for teachers to do their jobs effectively in a digital world, a new report says

Quick Pic of the Week
Guess who got a new instrument this week? Thats right, me! If you can name this instrument, you will win a free iPad**

** You won’t really win a free iPad, I was just kidding. And its called a concertina btw

Posted in Weekly Tech Email | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Tech Tuesday Newsletter 2/14

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Monty Jones

MITx (has begun)

Registration for the first MITx course started Monday (Feb 13th), and for this pilot run, credentialing is free. In the January 10th newsletter, I reported on MITx, which is MIT’s (Mass. Institute for Tech) new venture where they provide online course material for free, and even award a certificate for completion if participants pass online tests and pay a modest fee. Then last week, in this article, two of the primary players at MIT sit down and address the most frequently asked questions. So this week it started, and the first class, “Circuits and Electronics” opened for registration. Anyone, can sign up here. Phil Edwards in the CTE, signed up this morning, and I will be checking in with him over the next couple of weeks to get his opinion. This idea of alternative credentialing is even starting to spill into K12. (I admit, even I didn’t see that one coming)

Encouraging Distraction

This article recounts one professor’s experiments with using iPads in his classroom. While there are many articles like this, this one was better than most. It discusses not only using iPads, but using mobile devices in general, as well as the idea of forcing a technology into an environment and using a twitter back channel. It is well worth a read.

Picking and Choosing Digital Content

I hadn’t really thought about this much until this article. But as digital resources for education become more plentiful and more and more students possess their own digital devices , it may become part of an educators job to search for, retrieve and utilize high quality digital content best suited for effective instruction in their content areas. I don’t know if this is something we presently teach in schools of education. I know from doing research in schools that digital content gets shared by word-of-mouth, sometimes email, and maybe social media. I think we are going to see a paradigm shift in the next few years where the responsibility of choosing course materials is put more on the teachers and less on division level personnel. Looks like this is already starting to happen in Higher Ed.

 Quick Autism/Technology Stories of the Week

Social network site targeted for autistic children and 3D Technology to help autistic children learn to read

Biggest Food News of the Year

Here is the short story, but you can click on the links to get more detail. There is a very famous chef, Peter Chang, who has won many awards, cooked for presidents, and came to this country to work at the Chinese Embassy. He has become more famous however for showing up in a town, working in a restaurant, making the place a huge success, and then mysteriously leaving. His travels were documented in an article in the New Yorker. I guess you can imagine where I am going with this now. Thats right, he has come to Richmond. His first public meal here was last wednesday for lunch, and it really was unbelievable. I am waiting to send this newsletter out until late on Tuesday night because I am surprising my wife (who gets these newsletters – Happy V-Day Baby!) with dinner there for Valentines. She knows the whole Peter Chang story (as do most readers of the New Yorker), but has no idea he is here. Tip: Go quick before:
A. Everyone finds out and the place becomes a packed nightmare or
B. He leaves.

Oh, other tip, get the dry eggplant appetizer. It made my whole mouth go numb and my water taste funny (but in a good way).

Quick Work Tip of the Week

Turns out drinking and sleeping at work boosts creativity. Well, check and check

Quick Video of the Week

Another one of William snowboarding. But this time shot on an iPhone and edited on my computer using iMovie. I wanted to use slo-mo and fast-mo (?), and couldn’t do that on the iPad. Cute video though

Posted in Weekly Tech Email | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

The Tech Tuesday Newsletter

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Monty Jones

MITx (kind of a big deal)

In the January 10th newsletter, I told you guys about MITx, which is MIT’s (Mass. Institute for Tech) new venture where they provide online course material for free, and even award a certificate for completion if participants pass online tests and pay a modest fee. It is that second part which is so important. Up until now, pretty much anyone can get to course material at Harvard, MIT, etc., and learn the material, if they so wish, but they receive no recognition of this. That costs money, and lots of it. Now however through MITx, you have one of the most prestigious universities in the world, allowing anyone to take these classes with no admissions requirements, and by paying only a modest fee, receive a certificate stating they have mastered the material. So now the question is will these certificates be recognized by employers and others? Would you recognize a certificate backed by MIT? If the public’s answer to this question is yes, then Higher Ed has a new model folks.

Obviously there are still a lot of questions to be answered before this revolution starts, and in this article two of the primary players at MIT sit down and address the most frequently asked questions. This article is a good read also in that it explores many of the questions surrounding online learning such as badges, how to test over a distance, and open source learning management systems (btw, MIT is offering their LMS for free to anyone).

Using Google Sketch-up with Autism Spectrum Disorder Students

I saw it when I was teaching middle school students robotics in Hopewell. I saw it again in Albermarle schools last year when building model skateparks with 4th graders. Some students really take to building and designing, and as this article suggests this activity can also be useful for students with autism spectrum disorders.

Education Apps

It is always my most clicked link. So I try to provide good articles on apps in education. This article divides apps into the various roles of educators and lists many many useful ones. Another good article here, shows how Lehigh University is undertaking multiple iPad projects. I am actually reporting out today to the University Technology Advisory Council on our project with Joan Rhodes class, in which we are exploring the use of iPads to improve feedback from students to teachers and facilitate better communication. I am coming across multiple articles, weekly, so if you are interested, just google “iPads in education”.

Quick SuperBowl News of the Week

The stats and I were wrong. What can I say, I’m a technologist, not a bookie

Quick Food News of the Week

Right near Oliver Hall, across the street from Crossroads Coffee is a new restaurant called sample. It is kind of a cyber cafe/upscale eatery/bar. Many of the tables have a mac mini and computer monitor so you could have business meetings. The food is outstanding. They have a happy hour right now from 5 to 6:30 where their “small plates” are all $8. Lunch features much of the regular dinner menu plus some paninis. I had the turkey, manchego cheese and olive tapenade and it was great.

Quick Birthday News of the Week

Today is Pam Moorhead’s 29th (again) birthday. She single handedly supports about 70 faculty and a bunch more staff. If your computer is working, she is the reason. If she has ever assisted you with a problem, you might want to drop her an email or a phone call and wish her a happy 29th (again).

Quick Sad News of the Week


Quick Pic/Video of the Week

Aside from my son’s fluid switch riding and edge control, check out this video I made. Shot on the iPhone, and edited using only iMovie ($4.99) on the iPad. Consider the affordances these tools provide for teacher prep. Complete video production using only mobile devices.


Posted in Weekly Tech Email | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Tech Tuesday Newsletter 1/31/12

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Monty Jones

Tracking Scholarly Impact Online

I think emerging technologies such as Spotify can be useful beyond letting you listen to almost any CD ever made. It could also provide a better way to track who is listening to what, and pay artists accordingly. It has the potential to greatly improve the efficiency and effectiveness  of radio station reported tracking. In the same vein, researchers are currently looking to find better ways to track a scholar’s impact. This article brings up great points about the problems with our current system and the affordances of new technologies to assist us in improving this practice. As scholarship evolves into the digital era, shouldnt our tools for evaluating evolve as well?

iPads in the Classroom

I usually shy away from publishing anecdotal teacher stories as what can be generalized from these “studies” is limited. However, as we are all grappling with how these devices (..mobile tech in general really) can improve instruction, I felt this interesting article offerred good tips on how to thoughtfully explore a new technology. While her “results” seemed encouraging, I found her attitude about the process and her ability to be a reflective practitioner the most inspirational. As well, check out an iPad project being done at our own School of Mass Communication.

Google in Education

Oddly, I actually didn’t know about the Google in Education site until I came across an article about it being redesigned. While I am just now exploring it, it seems like a pretty good resource for teachers, teacher educators, and students from Kindergarten to higher ed.
Quick Digital Fabrication News of the Week

Don’t say I didn’t tell you guys. This opinion piece in the WSJ points to three technologies that will change society (big data, wireless, digital fabrication). It’s actually a good read for a couple reasons.

Quick Flipped Classroom News of the Week

A principal at a school who has implemented the flipped classroom approach, answers common questions

Quick iPad News of the Week

Interested in messing with an iPad? We have 4 loaners now for faculty to try out.

Quick SuperBowl News of the Week

New England will win. It’s already been calculated . Sorry Giants Fans

Quick Pic of the Week

Maggie doesn’t really need a lift ticket since she makes her dad carry her up

Posted in Weekly Tech Email | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Tech Tuesday Newsletter 01/24/12

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Monty Jones

Big Big Big Week for Apple with iBooks 2.0 and more

Unless you live under a rock i am sure you have already heard about Apple’s new iBooks 2.0, which is their foray into the textbook market. Their big announcement however included a number of new products. You can click on the links provided to get more info, but in general here is what happened:

iBooks 2.0 - The app itself, what you see and interact with is not much different. The big change is now iBooks supports interactive textbooks. Here is a good full review of iBooks 2. You can actually test it out for free for yourself. iBooks, the app, is a free download. In the textbooks section of the store, you can freely download “Life on Earth”, a science textbook, and check it out for yourself. It really is pretty stunning. You can also highlight text and take notes in the books. You can then view all your notes in one place and send notes out.

iBooks Author - This is a free program which lets you create the stunning eBooks for iBooks. I just starting messing with this today and hopefully next week I will be able to show you guys an example. So far it looks pretty cool, but there are issues regarding the selling of materials you create. This article points out some of these issues

iTunes U -  And finally, there is now an app for iTunes U, which lets you create entire online courses. I haven’t come across any reviews of this component yet, but will let you guys know when i do. It will be interesting to find out the restrictions Apple puts on these online classes as well.

There have been a number of opinions this week on what these products mean to education: The Chronicle

Learning Spaces Reconsidered

Along with integrating technology into classroom teaching comes the consideration of how classrooms themselves are designed. While teachers may not have total control over this, i believe it is worth them understanding some of the thoughts around this. This article presents some design principals that may help.

Quick Buzzwords of the Week

SOPA and PIPA. These are two controversials bills in the senate and the house currently which are designed to fight media piracy. A lot of media companies are for it (tv networks, movie studios, etc.), a lot of tech companies (Google, YouTube, Wikipedia) are against it. Wikipedia shut down for a stint to protest the bills. You can read more about the details here.

Quick Food of the Week

Patricia and I went to eat at The Magpie last week, and in my opinion this is one of the best restaurants in Richmond right now. I got a lobster corn dog (exactly like it sounds) that was fantastic.

Quick Music of the Week

One of my favorite bands ever, Rodrigo y Gabriela, a mexican acoustic guitar duo, who do a mix of flamenco and heavy metal instrumentals, put out a new cd (Area 52). On this CD, they re-imagine some of their best songs backed by an incredible group of young cuban musicians. The Cd was recorded in Havana and mixes their already unique sounds with cuban (think buena vista social club) stylings. You can check out the official promo video here. The CD is also up on spotify now.

Quick Pic of the Week

We actually had snow fall this last weekend at Wintergreen. It was a blast! Here is William getting ready to rip it up:

Posted in Weekly Tech Email | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

WordPress Resources

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Monty Jones

VCU Technology Services Help Page (start here)

Atomic Learning Site (ask instructor for user id and password)

Posted in Faculty Resources | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Tech Tuesday Newsletter 01/17/12

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Monty Jones

They did pretty well with the whole iPod, iPhone, iPad thing………

Apple is making a big announcement on Thursday, and sources say they will be introducing textbooks optimized for the iPad that allow for interaction with the content and partnership with publishers. The textbook industry has been furiously working in the last few years to come up with innovative ways to stay relevant. The introduction of great mobile devices has begged for better textbooks. I thought inkling was going to make a bigger splash than it has, it still may, but Apple’s track record for innovation in other areas certainly seems to indicate that their venture into textbooks should be interesting.

English teachers, you are welcome…

Turns out, we can simply use computer programs to grade essays. Who knew? This article also explains how this technology could be the end of multiple choice questions. Remember, you can comment on any of these articles on my blog, or if you would like to submit a reply via email, I will also entertain the thought of publishing your reply in future Tech Tuesday Newsletters. Let me know your opinions

iPads, iPads, iPads

With so many faculty now owning iPads, and many more getting ready to, I wanted to look at some innovative ways in which these devices are being used in higher ed. This story is about a professor who created an app for classroom interactive lectures. In this article, a higher ed faculty member reports back on their three week trial use of the iPad2.  This semester I am piloting two iPad projects with faculty and their students. I will keep everyone updated with what we learn as we move forward. In that vein, here is an article from another professor who tried an iPad project with his students.

Quick Learning Disability Apps of the Week

A good rundown of some apps for children with learning disabilities

Quick Social Media Articles of the Week

Using Twitter in Higher Ed helps shy students ask questions. This makes sense to me, and apparently school divisions are also starting to come around to this tool.

Quick Food Tip of the Week

My wife, Patricia, and I went to Mansion Five26 on 2nd street last week before the VCU Basketball game. It was really good. Southern comfort food, done fancy. I highly recommend the chicken and waffles. Best I have had.

Quick Pic of the Week

Last weeks colder temps made for perfect snowboarding conditions this weekend.

Posted in Weekly Tech Email | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Tech Tuesday Newsletter 01/10/12

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Monty Jones

My blog, WordPress, etc.

Each week after I send these newsletters out, i post them to my blog. I added a tag cloud to the site which will make it easier to find previous topics. I use WordPress to do this, as well as act as my personal web site. It is a great tool, easy to use, and provided to VCU faculty for free here. There is currently a big project going on with the special ed group using it, and i am working with Hilary Hughes-Decatur as well on a project to incorporate it with her students. If you need help getting started with it, or would like to use it with your students, don’t hesitate to contact me. You can also find tutorials on using it in Atomic Learning.

MITx – A Very Big Deal

MIT (the university) has led the way for open and free education, primarily with their OpenCourseWare Project. Now, they are taking things a step further with MITx, which is schedule to debut Spring 2012, and which some are saying will disrupt higher ed as we know it. While you can click the links provided here to get more detailed information, the general idea is course material will be offerred for free to anyone, just like their OpenCourseWare project, but now people can also pay a “very affordable” rate and prove mastery of the content, and earn a certificate from MITx. There is no application process and no prerequisits. The system is also completely open and free for other Universities or K12 organizations to download and use.

We have GoToMeeting now

I have worked with VCU Technology Services to acquire GoToMeeting for the School of Education. GoToMeeting allows you to hold an online meeting. You can organize meetings for up to 25 people (which makes this a possible tool for class usage). Participants in the meeting can join through an internet connection and a computer; they do not have to pay anything. Participants can also simply use a telephone to dial in conference call style. You can display your computer’s screen for everyone to see and allow participants to display theirs. We are the first school to be involved in this project at VCU.  I have used GoToMeeting extensively over the last year or so,  and it consistently works well. If anyone is interested in getting an account please contact me and I will meet with you to set it up.

 

Quick FaceBook Stories of the Week
Should teachers friend their students? vs Cool use of Facebook for instruction vs Teacher fan pages vs This is one of the most sensible Supts i have ever heard talk about technology

Quick List of the Week

The Hot Ed Tech topics of 2012 will be……

Quick How to teach STEM content better story of the Week

I know I might sound like a broken record, but digital fabrication is going to be a big deal when it comes to STEM instruction. This article illustrates the use of the unbelievably cool 3D printers that are available now. If you are still underwhelmed with this technology, check out this video

Quick Cute Kid Pic of the Week

My daughter really wanted to go on the big tubing course at Wintergreen over the holidays, but she was too small…..or was she? With the help of my hat, we got her to 42 inches high, and they let her go. She had a blast.

Posted in Weekly Tech Email | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Tech Tuesday Newsletter 12/13

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Monty Jones

Teach Kids about Social Media!

colleges are now using applicant’s public profile data in sites like Facebook in admissions decisions. I think this underscores the fact that educators have a responsibility to TEACH students about appropriate etiquette on social media sites, and while some districts are trying to do this, others (many actually) are simply banning social media use within their walls. Teachers are not allowed to “friend” students on these sites. Counselors are not allowed to engage with students on these site. So essentially we keep all of the educators out of these sites, and let students figure it out for themselves . We don’t do this with physical spaces like parks and playgrounds, so why do we do it with virtual spaces…..and who knows, maybe there are some affordances in these technologies which can improve teaching and learning. Maybe teachers just need help in using these tools?

Great Tech Gift Ideas

Click the above link to get to a great article on techie gift ideas. Below are some of my favorites from this article:

  • Arduino, the open-source rapid prototyping platform, makes for a great gift, especially in Adafruit’s Experimentation Kit for Arduino, which gives you lots of little wires, LEDs, a motor, a force sensor (think touch, not Jedi), and more, for $85. It’s a terrific way to learn more about how electronic devices work, and a cool outlet for creativity.
  • If you have an iPad, an add-on that makes an entertaining gift is the Atari Arcade. This is a base for your iPad with a joystick and 4 buttons, and it runs ports of 99 (!) old-school Atari games, from the ones you remember to ones you probably don’t.
  • The LiveScribe Smartpen is perfect for that person who still loves to take notes longhand but would like them easily searchable and editable on a computer.

Quick investor tips of the Week

Looking to the market can at least illuminate what investors think are promising educational technologies. Spoiler alert: Common Core, Adaptive Learning, Social Networking. No real surprises I guess.


Quick gift giving software of the Week

Simple Present is a web service that helps you get friends together and decide on group gifts.


Quick apps of the Week

I can’t remember if I told you guys about notability or not, but I was just looking at the app store and I noticed it is the number 1 app right now. It is a really great app for taking notes. You can hand-write, type, use voice and pictures all on the same note. It’s the future of note taking (that sounded corny, sorry)

Also, Google currents is a pretty neat magazine-style newsreader. i just now downloaded it, but it is also tracking pretty high in the app store

Quick Merry Christmas Pic of the Week

To the delight of our children and the fear of my neighbors, the Jones family started our holiday season with our annual caroling night last Saturday.Fun was had by all. Below is a pic of the entire crew rolling out of my house and into my neighbors flower beds. This will be my final newsletter of the year. I hope everyone has a safe and joyous holiday season, and I will talk to all in 2012!


Posted in Weekly Tech Email | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Tech Tuesday Newsletter 12/6

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Monty Jones

Twitter

Twitter is kind of like FaceBook’s little brother; these days every company, including my dry cleaner has a twitter account. This week I came across several articles about twitter. One article illustrated twitter benefits for educators, another profiles a professor using twitter in his higher ed classroom, and a third reports on  a high school student who uses twitter to reprimand the governor (Spoiler: she gets in trouble, but then triumphs in the end, kind of). Personally, I primarily use twitter as a PLN (personal learning network), it allows me to efficiently stay abreast of current trends in educational technology (and generate these great newsletters)…..and last but not least there is the  Va Tech professor who uses twitter in his classroom to create a more egaging environment and you uses YouTube to get Emilio Estevez and Martin Sheen to stop by

BYOT

Bring your own technology. Again, another area we have explored previously in these newsletters,  but now some pilot studies are starting to report results. and the early results seem promising. I believe growth in this area is eminent. Students today have these devices which are very powerful, and educators should utilize them to improve student learning. The problem of course is “how”. How to improve student learning with them. How to manage inappropriate behavior with them. How to keep students on task with them. Sounds like the same issues we try to solve in face-to-face instruction.

Things going on here

We are in the process of converting to a new system for creating and maintaining our web site. We are moving to a content management system, and are piloting this system now with the Special Ed group. Their web pages are currently running on this new system which allows departments to make quickly make changes to their pages, assign a hierarchy workflow to faculty members,  and in the process create more dynamic sites. I will be meeting with department heads soon to discuss future roll outs and management of department pages.

Quick gift advice of the Week

With all the new technology out these days, what are the 5 best gifts for small children? Wired magazine nails this one.

Quick video conferencing tip of the Week

Google + actually has a really nice video conferencing feature built right in you can use to conference with up to 10 people. I have tried a number of  products and Google+ works as well as any, plus it is free. Now they even offer bringing in phone participants.

Quick something of the Week

I don’t know, I just thought this was cool.

Quick digital fabrication article of the Week

Good article in the economist about DF. This is cutting edge technology is.

Quick Pic of the Week

Guess who got their tree this weekend!

Posted in Weekly Tech Email | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment