Some books that I've recently read (or in most cases listened to) and would like to recommend are:
Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist - Michael J. Fox
The Four Hour Work Week: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich - Timothy Ferriss
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference - Malcolm Gladwell
Free: The Future of a Radical Price - Chris Anderson
Content: Selected Essays on Technology, Creativity, Copyright, and the Future of the Future - Cory Doctorow
The Closing of the American Mind / How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Impoverished the Souls of Today's Students - Allan Bloom
Star Trek Movie Tie-In - Alan Dean Foster
Ask a Ninja Presents The Ninja Handbook: This Book Looks Forward to Killing You Soon - Douglas Sarine and Kent Nichols
All Creatures Great and Small - James Herriot
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The links on the left are audio versions, on the right are dead tree editions. Enjoy.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Canadian copyright law consultation
If you are a Canadian, now is the time to make your voice heard on the topic of copyright law. The government has set up a site for public consultation at copyright.econsultation.ca.
The site is a little awkward to use, but I think it's worth it.
The site is a little awkward to use, but I think it's worth it.
Friday, June 19, 2009
free office suites
An office suite is a set of programs for documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and usually some other things.
You're familiar with Microsoft Office, the office suite that all others are compared against and basically sets the standard.
You may not have heard of Lotus Symphony, a good looking free office suite from IBM.
I've also talked about Google Apps here, so I'll just mention it again.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
we use iPods differently
I had a conversation with a colleague this morning about student iPod use, and it came up that we (adults) tend to use iPods and other mp3 players differently than students do.
For students, iPods in class tend to be distractions and an escape. This is likely the source of teachers' objection to these devices, that they detract from student learning.
For teachers themselves, or at least for me, an mp3 player is more of a professional development device. I'm usually listening to podcasts, lectures, and audiobooks, and many of these are education, or at least technology, related.
And I don't listen to my iPod in class.
For students, iPods in class tend to be distractions and an escape. This is likely the source of teachers' objection to these devices, that they detract from student learning.
For teachers themselves, or at least for me, an mp3 player is more of a professional development device. I'm usually listening to podcasts, lectures, and audiobooks, and many of these are education, or at least technology, related.
And I don't listen to my iPod in class.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
flash drives die
It bears repeating that your USB flash drive (or thumb drive, or however you refer to it) will stop working entirely at some point. Soon. So make sure you have only duplicate files on it. When it dies, the files will likely be unrecoverable.
The same goes for hard drives and iPods for that matter, but they don't seem to die as frequently.
Be safe out there.
Posted with LifeCast
Thursday, June 4, 2009
iPods and mobile phones in class
There has been a lot of debate as of late regarding student use of electronic devices in classes.
Many schools have policies prohibiting the use of mobile phones in class, some don't even allow them in the school at all. Besides issues with students having cameras (or video cameras) with them at all times, there are legitimate concerns about test validity and security as well as time spent off-task in class.
Time off-task in class is also affected by iPod (and other mp3 player) use. In particular, the games and applications that are available on the iPod touch (and presumably the upcoming Zune HD) can be very distracting for students.
On the other hand, there are a number of potential uses for these little computer-like devices, especially if you don't have a computer for each student in your classroom. It will be interesting to see how this all develops.
Many schools have policies prohibiting the use of mobile phones in class, some don't even allow them in the school at all. Besides issues with students having cameras (or video cameras) with them at all times, there are legitimate concerns about test validity and security as well as time spent off-task in class.
Time off-task in class is also affected by iPod (and other mp3 player) use. In particular, the games and applications that are available on the iPod touch (and presumably the upcoming Zune HD) can be very distracting for students.
On the other hand, there are a number of potential uses for these little computer-like devices, especially if you don't have a computer for each student in your classroom. It will be interesting to see how this all develops.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Facebook fan pages
If you are, like some schools, using social networking with your students, Facebook fan pages may be a better way to go than "friending" your students. Having students as fans rather than friends means you have more control over the interactions and you can't see their status updates, or in fact any of their private information.
Of course a Ning or even a Moodle would probably be a better idea for online social network-style interactions with students, but that would mean another login for them and for you. These are also less likely to be blocked by your school district's network policies. This is still relatively uncharted territory, though, so it is recommended that you proceed with caution.
Of course a Ning or even a Moodle would probably be a better idea for online social network-style interactions with students, but that would mean another login for them and for you. These are also less likely to be blocked by your school district's network policies. This is still relatively uncharted territory, though, so it is recommended that you proceed with caution.
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