New way to use Google Documents

I just downloaded the App "Documents Free" for my iPod Touch. What a great tool. The iPod Touch, unlike the iPhone is not always connected to the internet. I can download a document onto my iPod. Once it is on there I can edit it all I want without accessing the network. When I am done, I can find a wi-fi spot and upload my edited document.

Creating documents on the iPod Touch is not always desirable, but using the spread sheet function I can do some basic inventory of equipment out in my building. Usually I have to write information down on a piece of paper and then come enter it on the computer. With this interface I can skip the paper.

Yesterday, I actually used it at work. I had to inventory some equipment that was in my building. Using this program I was able to go from room to room and type the information in. It was pretty slick. Next year when my building has wi-fi this won't be quite as necessary, but it is very helpful right now.

Awesome!

6th sense

Pattie Maes & Pranav Mistry: Unveiling the "Sixth Sense," game-changing wearable tech

I just watched this presentation about an item that is in development. It is another way for people to interact with technology. Using a camera, a cell phone and a mini projector, it would allow people to access the information on the internet in a whole different way.

Draw a circle on your wrist and the projector will see your visual signal and project a watch telling you the time.
Using your fingers, frame an area and the camera will take a picture. Look at a person, the
camera will recognize him (presentation doesn't say how) and pull up information about
him from his blog or other online sources. Look at a book, the camera will recognize it and pull up reviews from amazon.com.

The purpose is to have instant relevant information available the moment you need it. Almost like a portable attachable extra brain. I have to wonder how the development of this product will impact the development of people in general. A student was overheard bragging because they knew a telephone number. When I was growing up I had lots of phone numbers memorized. Students today simply put them in their cell phone. They rarely dial a number..simply select a name and send. What are the implications for brain development when information is accessed via portable devices in stead of through memorization? I am not a fan of lots of "memorizing" but will this allow us to strengthen and develop other aspects of our intellectual capacities or cause our brains to become out of shape, and unable to perform mental weightlifting?

Most technical gadgets cause me to say "cool, I want that". This is a potential breakthrough that leaves me a little nervous.

CRAP

I was reading the Blue Skunk Blog and Doug Johnson wrote:

"Ever feel like the same educational trends re-appear ever so many years with different authors and terminology. There is a name for this phenomena*: CRAP which stands for:
Continually
Renaming
Academic
Practices"

This struck me with so much validity that I had to write about it. I've only been in education for about 15 years and I am often overwhelmed how many times I have been taught and retaught the same things in staff development. Same ideas, different labels. I can't imagine how I will feel in another 20 years.

It sometimes leave me feeling like a hamster running on its wheel.

How much is too much?

I went out of town last weekend. You can see what my dog thought of the whole thing. My husband stayed home with her, but from the sounds of her cries as I pulled out of the drive way, you would think her heart had broken.

Anyways, I went without my laptop or my iPod touch. From Friday to Monday I was without access to my usual technologies. Before the weekend was over, I had to borrow someone else's computer to check my e-mail.

MILI has taught me that there are almost unlimited tools online. Some are best used in the education setting, others for personal use, but all require us to spend more time in front of a screen. While I have greatly enjoyed this and have used many of the tools, a question I have to ask is how much time should we be spending with our computers?

I worry personally, because I want to have balance in my own life and I worry professionally, because I know students who can text message, IM, e-mail, and facebook, but they cannot hold a face to face conversation. How do we determine good guidelines? For me at this point, it is a rhetorical question that I am struggling with. If anyone has a good answer, please feel free to let me know.

PRO CON

An interesting website that I was looking at today was called Pro/Con

http://www.procon.org/

Pro Con examines controversial topics from both sides. While somewhat limited in its current scope, it looks like something that could develop over time into an excellent resource. The authors claim to be unaffiliated with any specific religion or political group. Their goal is to put out information that informs readers about both sides of a given controversial topic.

If this website does what so many others have done, it will be free until it develops into a fabulous resource with a lot of users and then they will start charging.

I will keep an eye on this resource.