Thursday, February 24, 2011
Apple Remote Desktop
Woot! Woot! is all I can say. I knew that this was a powerful tool, but I am ecstatic today. I was able to push out printer configs, testnav update and alias, and office for mac, all while sitting at my desk to over 50 MacBooks! My day is good!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Apple's Volume Purchase Program
Yipee! We are this (-------) close to purchasing apps again. Finalized the setup of the districts VPP (App Volume Purchase Program for Education). You can also now use a program manager tool to add program facilitators. You will have to enroll again, and in the near future they will merge your existing accounts into this tool so that you can view in one place.
I will have to say that Apple needs to get on top of support for education. I called the number indicated in the verification email of the setup of my account and was directed to a young lady that demanded a serial number to transfer me to hardware technical support. I tried to explain to her that I wasn't calling about a hardware issue that it was about the App Volume Purchase Program for education she still needed a serial number. So, I gave her a serial number and you guessed it I was transferred to technical support for MacBook Pro. However, the gentlemen that I spoke with the second time was very helpful and hurried me on to someone that could assist me!
I will have to say that Apple needs to get on top of support for education. I called the number indicated in the verification email of the setup of my account and was directed to a young lady that demanded a serial number to transfer me to hardware technical support. I tried to explain to her that I wasn't calling about a hardware issue that it was about the App Volume Purchase Program for education she still needed a serial number. So, I gave her a serial number and you guessed it I was transferred to technical support for MacBook Pro. However, the gentlemen that I spoke with the second time was very helpful and hurried me on to someone that could assist me!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
The Horizon Report 2011 Edition
Three topics in the “THE HORIZON REPORT 2011 EDITION” (The New Media Consortium, 2011), struck my interest.
1. Ebooks
2. Game-based Learning
3. Learning Analytics
Ebooks
Today in my job I was asked to figure out and implement a pilot project in our district, middle school and above. I found this very helpful in giving me a starting point for the pilot. We are fortunate enough to have many iPod touches in our district (thanks Dr. Dunleavy) to serve as the ebook reader. Now the issue will be scouring for content that the teachers currently use. Or would it be an issue, could we not use what is available if it fulfilled the need?
Game-based Learning
After teaching the Introduction to Game Design, dual-enrolled with New River Community College this topic really peaked my interest. The technology is in place to teach students more than problem solving, but not SOL specific content. SOL’s have in a since deterred a lot of teachers from change. Who cares if all these years you have taught VA history by using copies of worksheets over and over? History is the only thing that you cannot change but the way you present it can. Again the problem here is the content and topics aren’t specifically written into games, but if we can embrace the pieces of the game that does this could really work. Games in the iTunes apps store have really helped alleviate some of these problems because it is fairly simple to search for content specific data.
Learning Analytics
I like the idea of creating instruction based on the needs of the student. We are all told to be individual but our education is being cloned by the SOL way of thinking. I do not however fully understand how the data collection that will be taking place can be used as benchmarks for future students or for that matter accurate.
1. Ebooks
2. Game-based Learning
3. Learning Analytics
Ebooks
Today in my job I was asked to figure out and implement a pilot project in our district, middle school and above. I found this very helpful in giving me a starting point for the pilot. We are fortunate enough to have many iPod touches in our district (thanks Dr. Dunleavy) to serve as the ebook reader. Now the issue will be scouring for content that the teachers currently use. Or would it be an issue, could we not use what is available if it fulfilled the need?
Game-based Learning
After teaching the Introduction to Game Design, dual-enrolled with New River Community College this topic really peaked my interest. The technology is in place to teach students more than problem solving, but not SOL specific content. SOL’s have in a since deterred a lot of teachers from change. Who cares if all these years you have taught VA history by using copies of worksheets over and over? History is the only thing that you cannot change but the way you present it can. Again the problem here is the content and topics aren’t specifically written into games, but if we can embrace the pieces of the game that does this could really work. Games in the iTunes apps store have really helped alleviate some of these problems because it is fairly simple to search for content specific data.
Learning Analytics
I like the idea of creating instruction based on the needs of the student. We are all told to be individual but our education is being cloned by the SOL way of thinking. I do not however fully understand how the data collection that will be taking place can be used as benchmarks for future students or for that matter accurate.
Khan Academy
I will post this under interesting links. I think it also deserves a blog entry as well. Khan Academy description pulled from their website, "We are complementing Salman's ever-growing library with user-paced exercises--developed as an open source project--allowing the Khan Academy to become the free classroom for the World."
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
iPod Master/Restore Process
Here it is the first issue in a very long time that I put through Google with no results.
When creating a master iPod and restoring to the 80 others the wireless settings are wiped out and the teacher then has to re-enter the username and password on all 80.
Please comment if you know the work around.
When creating a master iPod and restoring to the 80 others the wireless settings are wiped out and the teacher then has to re-enter the username and password on all 80.
Please comment if you know the work around.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Twitter in the classroom
Twitter in the classroom
I can see that there are uses for it in the classroom, but figuring out how to draw the line of separation between students using it for personal reasons and educational. I personally don't want to follow students if they are tweeting about their weekend activities or asking them to create an account and feeling obligated to look at each student's account to make sure they are being safe.
As an educator I feel that not only do we need professional development for the teachers on how to use these tools in their classrooms, classes need to be held for students. At RCPS I feel the students are left out of technology because of the lack of support for CTE classes. I taught at MCP and their CTE program is great! They teach web design, computer repair, game programming, networking, and Microsoft Office class. How can we just provided training for teachers and nothing for the students? It is left up to the ITRT's who are already strapped for time as it is. I would LOVE to be the teacher to bring this to the students!!!:-)
I can see that there are uses for it in the classroom, but figuring out how to draw the line of separation between students using it for personal reasons and educational. I personally don't want to follow students if they are tweeting about their weekend activities or asking them to create an account and feeling obligated to look at each student's account to make sure they are being safe.
As an educator I feel that not only do we need professional development for the teachers on how to use these tools in their classrooms, classes need to be held for students. At RCPS I feel the students are left out of technology because of the lack of support for CTE classes. I taught at MCP and their CTE program is great! They teach web design, computer repair, game programming, networking, and Microsoft Office class. How can we just provided training for teachers and nothing for the students? It is left up to the ITRT's who are already strapped for time as it is. I would LOVE to be the teacher to bring this to the students!!!:-)
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Free App Tracker
For those in the iLearn group since we aren't in the phase of purchasing apps. This app is a great way to find apps that normally cost money but the developer is offering it free for a limited time. I have had great success with it, but there are times that I clicked the app and it wasn't free anymore. But a great utility for us during this time.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Syncing iPods
I created this document a while back to help the teachers setup automatic sync of 40 iPod Touches. I assisted a teacher today and I thought this would be helpful for others. It is real easy once you get past the pain of restoring your master backup to all 40 iPods, they will then sync automatically as longs as this is how they were setup.
Website that filters YouTube Videos for kids
This seems as if it would be an alternative for districts to allow YouTube at schools. The only problem that I see is that technology would have to figure out some way to allow YouTube through the content filter but only if it is access by going through http://www.kideos.com.
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