Weekly Tech Tip - Data Mining (results of a technology survey given to 7-12 students)

Tech Tip:

This week's tech tip is not so much a tip but rather a report. Earlier this week all students grades 7-12 at Goodhue Schools took a survey about their own personal computer use, what they have access to at home, and their attitudes toward school (click here if you would like to see a copy of the survey questions). The survey produced some interesting results that should help us to make informed decisions regarding technology policy, purchases, and instruction. Please take a moment to look over these results. Did you find any of these results surprising? Does knowing this information change anything about what we expect of students or what we can or should do?

2009 Goodhue 7-12 Student Technology Survey Summary

Link Stew:

• Pranav Mistry: The thrilling potential of SixthSense technology - This amazing new technology apparently is going to be given away as free open source software and building instructions. Allegedly one of these devices could be build for as little as $300.
  

• WatchKnow - Videos for kids to learn from. Organized.

• Nintendo DS Browser - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

• University of the People – This is a free online global university that is in the process of being accredited. Interesting and fantastic implications.

• Dron & Anderson (2009) "How the Crowd Can Teach" - Fantastic paper on open source network learning. Discusses in depth the seemingly contradictory relationship between forms of learning made possible by web 2.0 tools and traditional institutions of learning such as schools, colleges, and universities.
• 20 Mindblowing Concept Laptop Designs

Weekly Tech Tip - Vuvox

Weekly Tech Tip:

Many of us assign students presentation assignments where we have students create slide show presentations with PowerPoint or Google Docs either to enhance an oral presentation or as a stand-alone project. However, when we do this three issues almost always emerge: 1. Many of their presentations are too information heavy (too many bullet points); 2. Students (and teachers too) will be tempted to read their slides instead of using their slides to support what they are saying in their presentation.; and 3. Too often students get caught up in the flashy features of PowerPoint and don't focus enough energy on the content. There are many free web-based multimedia presentation tools that can solve or at lease alleviate some of these problems. In the Digital Backpack I have many of these tools collected under the category "Multi-Media Presentation." For this week's tech tip I walk you through how to use one of these tools called "Vuvox."

• Video Tutorial: Using Vuvox to build engaging and non-linear presentations.

Link Stew:

• GLOBE - This is a free open content search engine for finding free open licensed instructional content online.
• Constructivist Strategies for the Learner Centered Classroom
• Connexions - Sharing Knowledge and Building Communities - Great Source for free classroom resources and lesson plans
• The New York Times: "What Your Phone Might Do for You Two Years From Now"
• iPod Literacy.com - Using the iPod in the Classroom and for Staff Professional Development
• AMC Archive Classic Movies - Watch old movies free online.
• Classic Cinema Online - Watch old movies free online
• Ninite Easy PC Setup and Multiple App Installer - Great For Win7 Upgrades - Choose from dozons of popular open source software programs, then install them on your computer all at once with just one step.
• MakeUseOf's Comprehensive Guide to Twitter
• Free Website Builder & Personal Web Dashboard - ZooLoo
• Fill Any PDF Form
• Free Online PDF Editor - Edit PDF on the Web - PDF Hammer
• Pew Internet: Social Isolation and New Technology - Executive Summary
• CNN.com: Twittering from the tractor: smartphones sprout on the farm - CNN.com
• Muvizu - Create animated videos without fancy equipment or years of training
• Moviestorm - Create 3d characters and environments then make movies with them

Blog Carnival:

• Blue Skunk Blog: "Bud the teacher gets it right"
• The Clever Sheep: "Which Brands of Soda Do You Sell?"
• Dangerously Irrelevant: "10 questions about books, libraries, librarians, and schools"
• Blue Skunk Blog: "What's the place of futurists?" -Doug Johnson's reaction to Scott McLeod's "10 questions" post
  
• Blue Skunk Blog: "Distracting technologies"
• Ideas and Thoughts from an EdTech: "Robbing Students and Teachers of Joy"
• dougbelshaw.com/blog: "12 educational ways of using 12seconds.tv"
• MobileBehavior: "Five Approaches to Mobile Technology in the Classroom"