The Library Rap

Hi All,

I just couldn't resist this.  I was watching an old episode of Sliders and was completely caught off guard!! I couldn't stop laughing.. hope you enjoy!

Mac OSX Lion: looks like iPad

Hello happy Apple users!


I just wanted to let you all know that soon our messy applications folder will be designed exactly like our iPad.  Hooray!!!  We will soon be able view, edit, and organize our apps the same on our home machine as we do on our iPad...  Find out more here.
Couldn't ask for more really.. but there is...
Multiple Desktops! 
And....
AUTOSAVE!!!!


Honestly Apple developers... how will you solve my every problem next!?

Watching WMVs on Ipad!!

Hi All,

Quick update.

I found an app that easily allows you to open .wmv (and many other formats) files from your email and watch them on your ipad.

The Ipad is not equipped with this capability on it's own due to it's lack of Quicktime but there is now an easy alternative.

Download "yxplayer2 lite"from the app store.  Then when you download the video in your email you can select it from the "open with" menu that comes up with you touch the video icon.  After selecting it once, it becomes your default!

Happy watching!

Ipad evolution...

Hi.  I'm a Mac :D

I think the most interesting and exciting thing about the Apple iPad are the constant changes and upgrades.  It's almost as if, as soon as I voice a problem or irritation, they find a way to fix it and make it ten times better.  iPad 2 aside... (since I do not have one)... the software updates on iPad are brilliant.
The first major upgrade was OS 4.2...  this turned iPad from a glorified ipod touch into a multitasking genius.  It truly did replace my laptop.  This most recent update to 4.3.3... Now has automatic sinc with my itunes WITHOUT docking it with the computer!

Apple also upgraded "Pages" to include a file system, which it was seriously lacking.
This along with many other apps are updating their features daily to work better together and make the use, creation and transferring of information more streamlined and functional.  More and more apps sinc with Dropbox making it possible to access your files from other computers without the worry of remote desktops (which leaves a wireless window into your computer so you'd better feel REAL comfortable with that 3rd party app creator).

The improvement of Apple's iPad is in part to their own improvements but a great deal of credit MUST go to the creators of the 3rd party apps.  I love not being limited to Apple products but being able to try a slew of notebook apps and deciding which one works best for me.

I know that a lot of these features are not exclusive to iPad.. and YES  we are severely lacking in the FLASH department.  I would love for Apple to get off it's high horse someday soon and give us that little piece of wonderfulness... but for me, iPad is still the way to go.   I think it's mainly a personal choice and there is no wrong choice.  I know some people who have difficulty figuring out iPads but have no problem with the Droid operating system.  This has lead me to an interesting thought.  The choice of tablet is much the same as your choice of PC.  Some people have a MAC brain while others have  PC brain.  The same goes for tablet technology.  The Droid operating system gives me a headache, but hand me anything made by apple and I can figure it out.  It feels intuitive.  I think it all comes down to how your brain is wired...

So... allow me to introduce myself...

Hi.  I'm a Mac :D

Using Wikis in the classroom

What is Wikipedia exactly?

      It's not like every other encyclopedia, where a host of professionals in each field documents information on their topic of expertise.  Sending it to editors and reviewers for fact checking before it is finally compiled and published under a reputable company name like, Groliers, Brittanica, or World Book.

Wikipedia is different. 

It's an encyclopedia of general knowledge. 

But how did the information get there? 

Who put the information there? 

We did.

WE are the professionals. We are the ones who know. Wikipedia is not just another collection of expert knowledge, it is a record of the current knowledge of the public authored by the public itself.
Anyone with access to the internet has the opportunity to contribute to the distribution of information to our peers.

That... is the collaborative nature of the world of Wikis!

Wikis allow you to create a website, that is shared with the public so they can not only read the information, but add, edit, change and comment on the information.
In the case of an encyclopedia this is both a treasure and a curse. ANYONE with any knowledge to share can add this information to the site.  So we get information on a wide variety of topics that may not be available in a mainstream encyclopedia.  However, this then raises a question of reliability. If anyone can add their two cents, then the accuracy of the information needs too be questioned. To battle this, Wikipedia hired moderators and on occasion lock pages about heated topics so they can no longer be edited (especially during election time).
But, while this may not be the most accurate way place to find information, it is an excellent source of the climate of the population. You can see what we know, what we think we know, what our opinions are etc... 

It is also, one collaborative work, authored by the people of the world.

     Now, think about works that can be shared and developed with coleagues, assignments where students can work together, discuss, and create one final product! Not just with their friends in the classroom, but with students all over the world. Accessible from home, from school, from the library, from any device with internet access...The possibilities this technology provides us with are endless.
     I have been using Wikis for over a year now and I have found them to be very useful in many areas of education. I have used them to create assignments for my students, information packets for both students and teachers, lessons, and partaking in online discussions with colleagues where we share ideas about various ways to utilize technology in the classroom.
     One of the best features is you can't forget your stuff at home! For students who are constantly forgetting their materials or just don't want to carry them around find this to be exceptionally useful. All they need is the link and they can access it from anywhere. You can post the link on their Moodle account, on the network, on your library website or in a classroom blog.  Poof! No more excuses.  
     You can upload document files for them to download at home and work on, embed videos and pictures to help illustrate the content.  The interactive features allow you to invite members to help create, discuss, and monitor student understanding, ideas, and progress.

Sharing

You also have the option to keep your wiki private, or leave it open to be searched by other educators.  Likewise you can search for wikis that might suit your needs instead of reinventing the wheel.  By leaving your wiki public you are consciously contributing to the education of other people students as well.  

Talk about collaboration!

There are two main sites designed for education that allow you to create your own wiki.  I prefer wikispaces.  There are a lot of changes you can make in the free version and they also have an education license which is free and gives each one of your students a login to access the wiki.

http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/

http://wikisineducation.wetpaint.com/


Below are links to some examples of how I've used Wiki's in the classroom:


1. This is a wiki designed by me and five colleagues.  The purpose is to walk students through the research process.  We differentiated learning by incorporating videos, images,  games,  and text to access all learning styes.  We combined the methods of the Big6 and ISP:  http://lis629group3researchprocess.wikispaces.com/


2. This is a DBQ I created using Wikis.  The right hand navigating panel allows you to go from page to page.  "Home" is the instructions for the assignment and each page is a different primary source with corresponding questions.  http://dbqgreatdepression.wikispaces.com/


3. This is a wiki that I created for the 9th grade moral issues paper assignment.  They were required to write a three page paper in MLA format.  I created a graphic organizer to help them keep track of their research and an MLA citation template.  I used this in my lesson and each one was given a copy of the link for their own use. http://databasemlacitationlesson.wikispaces.com/


4. This was a fun one!  For Teen Tech week 2011 I created a site where my students could work together to write a story.  They were each given a chance to add 2-3 sentences and then the next person would take over.  We combined this with a Prezi story board presentation (which I'll talk about in another entry).  At the end of the week the story was printed and available in the library.  The Prezi presentation was also playing during the lunch periods on the big screen.  This kids really had fun with this one and it lead a lot of them to write their own complete stories which I displayed in the library.

http://buildastorypjg.wikispaces.com/

Google App Widget for Mac Dashboard!

I just discovered that there is a Mac Dashboard widget for Google Apps!!
It's a direct line to my docs, blogs, calendar, gmail, and other google apps.
This is ten times faster than logging into my gmail, and then clicking the docs button.
Once again... Google blows my mind.
:D


To get the widget:
1. Go to your dashboard
2. Click the the plus sign in the bottom left corner.
3. Manage Widgets
4. More Widgets
5. Choose Category: Business
6. Scroll down to "G"
7.  Google Apps
8. Follow directions to Download!

More on Google Docs

So  Google Docs...
It started out as a simple online document creator and storage and promptly took off into the coolest most universal collaborative online tool out there.
You can upload word, excel, powerpoint and pdf files from your computer for sharing, viewing, and editing.  You can also create these documents directly on the cloud!
For Mac users, you can upload pages and numbers as well but they can not be edited or viewed directly on the cloud.  They CAN be stored however, and downloaded wherever you will need them.
Google also just added video capabilities.  So you can now upload any of your video files (up to 1GB) to be stored, viewed and shared!

But the BEST part?  Collaboration!!!
You can simultaneously access the same document as your collaborator.  You can actually watch each other highlight and edit in REAL TIME!!  Gone are the days of a million copies of one document getting emailed back and forth, trying to keep the versions straight.  Google docs lets you work of ONE copy and it saves a version history so you can either reference the older version, or revert back to it entirely.  This has been a brilliant tool when working with students on their papers, and collaborating with classmates on group work.  Turn on google chat/vid chat (or skype, aim, whatever your fancy)  and you can have your group meeting without actually having to meet!

Now you tell me, why WOULDN'T you use that?!

Dropbox Vs. Google Docs

Ok... so ... as an avid Google Docs user.. I was very excited to find out that there was a folder system that could be accessed offline from any mobile device/computer as long as you pass through a wifi zone at some point before you need it.  But I discovered one downfall....

After working on a paper all day at work, I FORGOT to save the new version in Dropbox.  When I got home and opened it expecting to pick up where I had left off, I found the old version.  *Slaps forehead*  How frustrating!!!

So I have decided, that while Dropbox is GREAT when you want share files with people or send some them somewhere else rather than using an actual flash drive.  It's not so great for documents you are currently working on.  You can't actually edit the files that are IN Dropbox.  At least not from your iPad.  So you have to remember to replace the old version with the new edited copy.

Google docs allows me to edit my papers directly without remembering to send them to myself, which is exactly what I need in a cloud file system.   It also saves instantaneously, whereas Dropbox appears to have a delay when syncing with my devices.  If it doesn't sync before I'm out of wifi range again I'm out of luck!  Of course, Google docs ONLY works when you have internet... but when I'm working from work, the library, or any cafe/diner,  then going home, it is the best choice because I KNOW the files will be there.

So, my final recommendation..

USE Dropbox.. it's a great way to get your documents offline.  But make sure you back yourself up some other way just in case the sync is a little funky.

Google Docs is a dream (as long as you have internet access of course)... You will find more info on Google Docs capabilities in my next post.

:D

Ipad Apps: CourseSmart - Not so smart

Ok... so.. The first thing I tried to do this semester when I got my textbook list, was of course...download my textbooks on my e-reader.  I figured this wouldn't be a problem because I have the Nook  (B&N) app, and B&N offers most textbooks.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered that B&N had recently devised the lovely brand new software for accessing their textbooks (called NOOKstudy).  I thought.. oh no problem, I'll just get the app and have even more features for studying than the standard Nook app.... WRONG!  Not only is this lovely program only accessible from a desktop or laptop, but B&N tied up all their textbooks so they can only be accessed through NOOKstudy! 


So now here I am.. days away from class and I can't get my textbooks!    OH  this was bad, very very bad.  So I went out on a hunt.  Thank you Amazon, I was able to get one of my textbooks easily through the Kindle app.  Another was available for download as a .pdf, no problem, I have multiple ways to view .pdfs on Ipad (including ones that allow for extensive highlighting and annotating).  But that last one was eluding me... I found it on the publishers website, Wadsworth Cengage Learning.  However, the publisher only allows you to rent the book for an exhorbitant price.   They don't tell you what format the text comes in though, so it's russian roulette with your wallet.  Will you or will you NOT be able to view it as a pdf?... from others experiences I have found you can't depend on that.  So with extensive searching I found that CourseSmart carries the book.  Also very expensive, and also just a rental, but the rental is available by semester rather than 2 OR 6 months (which is what Wadsworth offers).  So with little choice, I download the CourseSmart app and purchase the text.  I am presented with the choice of downloadable version or online version.  The online version is available from any of your computers upon login, but you can only do your work where there is wifi, so I went with the downloadable version.  This can only be read on the one device it's downloaded to, but since the whole point was to access it on my ipad, I didn't see a problem with that.


Ok.. So now I have the book.  Let's see if we can figure out how to read it... alright... 
Step 1: Log in (Hmmm curious, thought I only needed that for online, maybe just this first time...)
Step 2:  Open book.. waiting... waiting.. hmm.. that's pretty slow... 
Step 3: Turn the page, got it... loading loading... what the heck am I on the internet?
Step 4: Highlight... good luck with this one... there is a little tiny pencil button in the upper right.. click that... good.. ok.. now.. see that random square that appeared in the center of the screen?  Use a couple of fingers and spread that out over the text you want to highlight.  Not so easy eh?  NO... and not that clear either.  
Step 5: Once you've managed to highlight some text.. you can press it to send it to your email, or comment.  The comment is an ugly situation.. white on black right underneath the highlighted passage.  This covers the text below.  Oh... and in case you were going to try to highlight while zoomed in or in landscape mode, forget it.  Those features are disabled in both cases.  So you have to zoom all the way back out to tiny print, turn the ipad upright, and search the screen for your place in order to mess with the little square.
Step 6:  Looking for bookmarks... Alright so apparently if you go to the contents area and click bookmarks, you should see those.  Though after using the program for almost an entire semester I have yet to even figure out how to make a bookmark.  And all those comments and highlights show up nowhere.  So you have to remember where you wrote them.  EVERY basic ereader has a collection of these notes and highlights somewhere!  They also all have a search function, of which CourseSmart has none.  SO... you can't actually search your text for any specific passage or words.  Oh.. And no built in dictionary... 
Step 7: Reading your downloaded book sans internet connection.  Nope sorry.. so glad you paid the extra 10 bucks.  Can't be done.  I even went to the help on CourseSmarts website and got this: "No, you must have an internet connection to view your Online eTextbook or your Downloadable eTextbook. Viewing your eTextbooks offline is a feature that will be coming soon."  Fabulous... so you can't log in to read your downloaded textbook without internet access.  So doesn't that mean that the textbook is not downloaded, but really on the web just like the cheaper version?  So I basically paid an extra 10 dollars to have an online textbook I can't read from any location... great... 


Epic FAIL CourseSmart


Needless to say, I do not recommend CourSmart to any student.  You're better off actually buying the textbook.

The Archaic Future of Voting

Aaaaah election day... Standing in line with my fellow Americans waiting to cast my vote... When it's my turn I pull the lever and and the curtain closes behind me.... Wait a minute... Where's my curtain!? where are my tabs!?
Oh that's right, we've "upgraded". Wawaaaah....


So now in NY we have taken the huge step away from our 100yr old voting booths and sailed into the future of... Paper ballots? Doth my eyes deceive me? Paper Ballots?!
Ok... So you go up to the attendance table and a handed a gigantic paper ballot and a gigantic "privacy" folder (How's THAT for going Green). You take these over to a table with a visor (not unlike the folder blinders we used in elementary school to prevent cheating), and use the felt tipped black marker that is chained to the desk and fill in the little scantron bubbles (don't leave any errant marks on your sheet). These bubbles are labeled in tiny fine black print. Oh but never fear you visually challenged out there... They have provided a pocket with a huge magnifying sheet for your convenience.... The rest of you... Your out of luck. Better make sure you have impeccable fine motor skills, and are a whizz a sequencing or this system is definitely NOT for you.  Aren't there some accessibility laws in place for this sort of thing?


Alright so with the bubbles filled in you put your ballot back in the folder and approach the scanner. You are now instructed to pull the ballot out a few inches and feed it into the machine. well that didn't work so well for me, I had to pull it out far enough that some of my bubbles were showing... (Oh, and remember that nice orderly line at the booths and then the pulling of the bar that reset all the tabs so nary a soul saw your votes?... Forget it.) No line... a cluster... around the scanner...I am standing there with my bubbles showing trying to get my ballot in the scanner with 3 people standing around me close enough to see my votes! Now, it might have just been me (though I am pretty tech savvy)... but the woman behind me had to take hers completely out of the folder to perform this last task, exposing her votes to the entire room.   


So, to recap:  No Privacy, bad for the environment, and inaccessible to any form of disabled (physical or otherwise).  Real nice New York...  


Thank you for our huge step into the archaic future. (Which incidentally we paid 50 million dollars for... but shhhhhhh)

Just the beginning...

Where to begin!  Technology has been advancing so quickly the last few years,  and it's hard for me to figure out what I want to say first!

I suppose I can start with the piece of technology that started my obsession... 

With the race on e-readers still hot and heavy there is so much to explore.  After much research and testing, I decided to go with the Ipad.  I wanted the most dynamic, smooth e-reader, as well as a versatile machine.  I didn't just want a book replacement (I love real books), I wanted something to lighten my load, organize me, simplify my life, while providing me with this most dynamic experience for doing so.  For me, the Ipad was everything it promised to be.  This year it is the only thing I carry.  It is ONE of my books, my textbooks, my dictionary, my notebooks, my calendar, and my laptop all in one tiny package that fits in my purse!  

I tried the other e-readers.. and I didn't like how they had to blink and shudder to "turn" the page.  With the Ipad just a swipe of the finger.. so smooth.  The ibook app in particular is beautiful, the pages turn like a real book and I even find myself playing with the edges while I'm reading!  You can also get any of the e-reader apps for Ipad.  I have ibook (Apple), kindle (Amazon), Nook (Barnes & Noble), and Kobo (Borders).  They are all a little different and some are more advanced than others.  I find I tend to use Ibook and Nook, more often than they others.  They are the most customizable and have the best, search, highlight, annotate, and dictionary features.  

Sure.. you can't really read in the sun... It's backlit.  And people who want to read a "book" while tanning might find that to be a  deal breaker... understandable, but I sit in the shade and/or use the case cover as a shield.  It's sufficient for my purposes. I don't really find the backlighting to be that much of a problem because you can dim and change the colors to your hearts content.  But I do notice the relief when I get a chance to pick up a "real" book.  So there is definitely some strain in the eye department.  Not nearly that of looking at a computer screen, and you can dim it all the way down and read in the dark without any lights, which I find to be a wonderful attribute.  I mean, what bibliophile DOESN'T want a solution to reading at night without disturbing their hubby, pet, or what have you? :D

Anyway, this is just the tip of the digital iceberg.  There is much more to come.  Stay tuned for more, comments, critiques, and complaints!