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Tired of Learning

That's right, I'm getting tired of chasing edtech. While the technology is changing rapidly and it's incredibly exciting to be a part of these changes particularly as they relate to the world of education...I'm starting to tire of 'keeping up.' Please understand, I love the excitement and have always been an early adopter. What is exhausting is that sometimes I would just like to use the technology instead of understand it.

Image from Somadjinn. Spinning Disco Lamp. MorgueFile.

For example, I want to access all of my email from one location (Thunderbird works for me). So, what's the issue? The level of technical expertise I need to make this happen. So, I set up an account wanting to get my gmail to this desktop application. That's easy until I get a warning that says,

Mail server pop.gmail.com responded: Your account is not enabled for POP access.

So, I go to Gmail and look around for the link to the settings page so that I can enable my account for POP access. Hey look! I can FORWARD the email to another one of my accounts...this should meet my need. In fact, what a great idea! Done. Ooooh, and here's the POP access infor too...as long as I'm here, I may as well make sure it's all on.

Basically I over-engineered a solution and now recieve emails as well as copies of emails in Thunderbird. What's more is that it all stays ad nauseum in Gmail. My EdTechies friends and colleagues will tell me exactly how to fix this, the issue...I don't want to know how. And while I want it fixed, I don't want to fix it.

Student Competition

On Your Mark. Get Set. Doodle.

Doodle 4 Google is giving U.S. students in grades K-12 the opportunity to design a doodle (see samples here) for the Google homepage. Students will be asked to draw a doodle that best represents the theme "What if...?" We ask ourselves this question every day when we build our products, so we thought we would ask the same of the future doodlers.

Check out www.google.com/doodle4google for more details. All that's needed to get started is a teacher or principal to register the school. Registration closes on 3/28/08, and entries must be postmarked by 4/12/08.

Vogt, Mary R. The Artist. MorgueFile. 

Cool Tools

Lulu Publishers. Using print-on-demand (POD) technology, Lulu Publishers can help you print and sell your book online - from a single copy to thousands. Create a book for someone's birthday present, or write a best-seller: you are in charge!

Deos Tihs Cgnahe Sllepnig?

Going through draft-posts that made a final-cut. Not sure why this one was waiting in the wings for over three years. Looks pretty good to me now so, here goes...

While exploring Joomla!  I caught the following commentary by Administrator written August 09, 2004 (yeah, see introductory note):

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by itslef but the wrod as a wlohe.

http://www.blogthings.com/howsyourvocabularyquiz/

Your Vocabulary Score: C-

Your vocabulary is average. You're not exactly a literature major, but no one's going to accuse you of being illiterate!

Try this tech-speak translation tool if you dare:
http://ssshotaru.homestead.com/files/aolertranslator.html

Officials: Students Can Use 'Text Speak' on Tests
http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2006-11-13-text-speak_x.htm

AHA! Guess I figured out why this post was collecting dust. Needed 3+ years to improve my vocabulary score!

Your Vocabulary Score: A-

Congratulations on your multifarious vocabulary! You must be quite an erudite person.

How's Your Vocabulary?

It's All About Me (Being a Professional)

Several weeks ago I declared this blog in need of a revamp. Since then I've spent a great deal of time reflecting on ed tech, social networking and my own professional development. Of course, all of the thoughts stay neatly tucked inside my mind.

I've been watching and learning from newbies to blogging (NB) as well as those who are blogging experts (BE).

What have I observed?

Trepidation & Innovation
Does it make me nervous? Yes, especially at first. However, I believe we need teachers who can model how this can be done professionally. (BE)

Intuition & Risk
I have great passion for what I do and am diving into the edtech professional development arena as well, in hopes of bringing the excitement of technology into more classrooms. (NB)

What have I learned?

Certainly, there are liberties I have as I'm not currently working in a school. In fact, there are benefits to not being employed at all.

• As long as I'm not prepared to fire myself, I've got "job" security (wondering if this isn't really "in" security).
• Morning is any time before noon.
• I generally agree and get along with myself.
• Ignoring bureaucracies that don't make sense to me.
• Setting the barometer for sense-making.

Does this mean I'm free to blog with random disregard? Absolutely not.

In addition to being accountable to myself and my family, I'm accountable to teachers, both instructors and customers. My participation in the education community, by default, necessitates and deserves professional representation.

In brief, trepidation, innovation, intuition and risk are a normal part of the blogging experience. Throw in a dash of my own good judgment and a sprinkling of support from people I respect and I can open up, letting those thoughts get a little air (of course, don't want to be TOO open-minded for fear my brain will fall out altogether, but that's for another post).

Coming Soon to the Teacher Toolbar

www.bubbl.us
www.freemindshare.com
Mind mapping application (FREE) that lets you brainstorm online.

Geogebra
Educational Materials and Dynamic Worksheets (not an oxy-moron)

Rashi is a super creative math teacher. Learn more here:
http://figuresspeakmathematics.blogspot.com/
http://mathematicslearning.blogspot.com/

http://www.fingertipsoft.com
Easily convert your keyboard for alternate characters.
45 day trial and $29 to buy
I love this program!

Which Superhero are You?

Your results:
You are Spider-Man

Spider-Man 80% Superman 70% Robin 65% Catwoman 65% Wonder Woman 60% Iron Man 50% Hulk 40% The Flash 40% Green Lantern 40% Batman 30% Supergirl 30%

You are intelligent, witty, a bit geeky and have great power and responsibility.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz

I'm a Twit

If one who twits is a twitter then one who twitters must be a twit. Twitter is well, it's a site where, well, it's...okay, I don't quite know yet (I believe this also qualifies me for twit-status).

According to Twitter.com:

It is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

Why? Because even basic updates are meaningful to family members, friends, or colleagues—especially when they’re timely.

• Eating soup? Research shows that moms want to know.
• Running late to a meeting? Your co–workers might find that useful.
• Partying? Your friends may want to join you.

With Twitter, you can stay hyper–connected to your friends and always know what they’re doing. Or, you can stop following them any time. You can even set quiet times on Twitter so you’re not interrupted.

Twitter puts you in control and becomes a modern antidote to information overload.

I'm not convinced that Twitter has any redeeming value. That said, I've recently committed to sticking with it in an effort to give twittering a fair shake.

In the meantime,

• Mom does want to know if I'm eating soup but is comfortable with asking me about it on the telephone.
• I'm more apt to be running late because of Twitter than meeting with anyone who uses it.
• Please consider joining me and we'll call it a Twitter Party. See you at www.twitter.com/epaxton