Live blogging Edubloggercon

For those interested, I'm liveblogging Edubloggercon at the NECC ning.

Technorati Tags: ebc08 edubloggercon

Feel the energy and learn virtually

I woke up this morning with my head buzzing with energy, ideas, and anticipation. Like many others, I'm heading off to NECC today. This year's conference promises to be a goldmine of ideas, conversations, and interactions.

If you can't attend this conference, there are lots of opportunities to participate virtually. A list is below. In fact, I suspect that those who take advantage of these online resources will gain far more than those who just sit in sessions. I know that I'll be digesting all this stuff for weeks to come.

• NECC ning (social network)
• NECC Live (streaming video
• Edubloggercon
• Hitchhikr feed (aggregated blog and photo feed)
• Twitter stream (If Twitter can get it together, that is. It's been a tough week.)

Technorati Tags: necc08 necc necc2008

Change is good!

I was doing a Web 2.0 workshop last week and brought up Photoshop Express, the new, free, online photo editor. Imagine my delight when I saw the new resizing tool -- this was the one feature I thought this tool was really missing! I shrieked with glee upon see it.

This brought up one of the great things about Web 2.0 tools -- they are not constrained in the way that traditional boxed software is. They can add features, respond to user comments, and evolve as necessary, even daily. (In the old days of software, we had to wait until those 25,000 CDs were gone before we could update things.) And that is just what we are seeing in tools like Photoshop Express, the Google tool suite, and others.

Of course, this can be challenging in terms of staying up-t0-date, especially for those who are offering professional development. It is making printed user manuals a thing of the past and wiki-driven PD a must. But I like wikis better anyway, so I say, bring on the change!

The ideal MP3 player - the ongoing search

Sandisk has been continuing to refine their MP3 players and come out with a few new models. I've been trying out the Sansa Clip and really like it.

It has all the features I look for in a good MP3 player for schools: rechargeable battery, built-in recorder, low cost, and a display. It also has a few new things (for Sandisk) such as a clip and a standard mini-USB connector. And it's super small, and I like small!

What technology should be

I've often thought that technology must be easier to use in order to reach its real potential.

I love technology and am an enthusiastic early adopter....but for a lot of (most?) people, technologies like RSS, podcasting, wikis, and even wireless are too complex and require too much troubleshooting. When trying to get newbies up and running with things, I am often frustrated by the number of problems that can arise.

The power of easy-to-use technology has been highlighted for me by the Kindle. It really is a piece of technology that anyone can use. The wireless is as simple as flipping a switch (literally).

The interface is simple. The usability is high. Even the ergonomics of the device are comfortable and familiar. (It feels and works very much like a book.)

I've shown the Kindle to a couple people who aren't early adopters (including one who doesn't "like" technology), and the response has been very positive. People are blown away by the easy-to-read display, and they like the feel of the device. In showing it, I have not had to explain much; just turning it on and handing it over is enough. And, like other technologies, the content is a big driver. The newspapers are especially appealing. Reading newspapers online is convenient, "green," and cost effective, but for most of us, the traditional computer screen is not a good replacement for paper.

Add to the ease of use an integrated dictionary and web access to Wikipedia and more, and you have a pretty powerful tool.

When I think about the potential of truly easy-to-use technology for schools, I am optimistic. If teachers didn't have to deal with many instances of things that don't really work, maybe integration would have more of a tangible impact on learning.

News on a couple of my favorite tech tools

The price on the Kindle has just dropped to $359. I continue to love this device. Getting the New York Times whenever and wherever I want it is such a luxury. And the wireless has worked everywhere I've tried it, including rather remote areas of several states. I also like being able to email various types of docs to my Kindle to read when I have time.

Also, the Flip camera folks have a new model out the Mino. It is quite a bit smaller than the Ultra.

Creative has come out with their own pocket video camera, the Vado, which looks a lot like the popular Flip. I'm so happy with my Flip that I can't imagine switching, though the Vado is a bit cheaper.