BYOD in Texas - Yee-Ha!

BYOD (Bring your own device) or BYOT (Bring your own technology) is catching on across the country.  Maybe it should be BYOMAD (Bring your own more advanced device).  Chances are, the devices kids are being allowed to use in school are superior to the technologies that currently exist in their classrooms.  Is this BYOT movement a result of the current economic conditions impacting school budgets or the result of forward thinking district administrators?  Who cares?  It makes sense and I'm hoping more school systems in the coming school year see the benefits.  Here is a link about a school system in Texas that is saving $150,000 by allowing kids to bring their own technology into their schools. 

http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/01/08/3643863/weatherford-school-districts-bring.html

What does the future hold? 2012 Trends

Blogger Audrey Watters presents her thoughts about education tech trends in this post on MindShift.  Mobile, anytime, anywhere learning tops her list (and mine too!).  Glad to see my personal assistant, Siri made the list as well.  Audrey truly nails each of the trends and their potential impact in our schools.  Thanks for sharing your insights Audrey! You can check out her post at:

http://mindshift.kqed.org/2012/01/12-education-tech-trends-to-watch-in-2012/

Apps for ADHD? Could you repeat that? I wasn't paying attention...

As a person with ADHD, unmedicated for most of my life until I finally figured out the saying better living through chemistry was really true, I was encouraged to run across this piece from fellow blogger Vicki Windman.  Vicki is a special education teacher at Clarkstown High School South in Michigan.  After years of failure in elementary and middle school, I have been fortunate over the years to learn how to use my ADHD to my advantage, but many of our kids with ADHD may not be as lucky.  If you work with kids with ADHD, you'll want to check out Vicki's post and look into some of her recommendations.  Thanks Vicki.

http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&EntryId=3597

IPads and Differentiation

Welcome to post 100 of I Teach Therefore IPod.  When I started this blog in April during a Tammy Worcester PD Session at the MSET Conference (a big shout out to the best Tech Staff Developer out there!), I never thought nine months and 10,000 page views from 76 countries later I would still be at it.  I've been inspired by the reach of the blog across the globe.  It's been a great example for my students about how one person's thinking can plant a seed that grows around the globe.  The app rubric that brought many of you to this site is being used in over 190 school systems, universities and agencies allover the world.  It's kind of freaky when you think about it.  Anyway, I'll continue blogging as long as you continue reading.  Thanks for following....

Now, today's post - A number of schools in the Olympia area of Washington State have adopted the use of IPads in some of their classrooms.  Are you frustrated with your district or school's progress in the adoption of the latest technology.  Be glad you are not in the North Thurston Public Schools (see article) - They are not using IPads "because they don't work with the district's technology system." Really?  At any rate the article highlights the work in several other districts.  My favorite part is where one teacher discusses how well the students take care of the IPads, something they originally worried about.  We have had the same experience with even our fourth and fifth graders. The treat them as if they were gold - they kind of are to them.  Her quote from the article - "They put them back where they're supposed to.  They never put French books back where they're supposed to."

Here is the link : http://www.theolympian.com/2011/12/18/1918639/with-ipads-olympia-students-have.html

Celebrate Good eTimes - Digital Learning Day!

Is your state one of the 27 who are celebrating Digital Learning Day on February 1, 2012.?  While my home state of Maryland is not (don't ask me why), we'll be celebrating technology at my school like its 2012.  Every day is a celebration of digital learning at our school.  IPod, YouPod, we all scream for IPods.  You can check out the press release from the Alliance for Excellent Education at: 

http://www.all4ed.org/press_room/press_releases/12132011

Happy New Year!

     ....and what a year it has been!  I continue to be amazed at the pace of change in respect to technological innovations.  What the future holds without Steve Jobs remains to be seen.  Sure there will be continue to be breakthroughs, faster processors, and smaller devices, but what about the cool factor?   As the owner of an IPod, IPhone 4S, IPad and MacBook Air, I can't imagine anything being developed in the near future that will be cooler than each in these devices in terms of the "jobs" they are designed to do.
     On this New Year's Eve, I felt compelled to post the Think Different commercial produced by Apple that captured Steve's vision.  I could watch it over and over.  Enjoy it and as you consider your New Year's Resolutions, remember to resolve to increase the technology experiences being provided to students in our schools.  Our kids deserve to have access to the same stuff we got this year for Christmas, no?
      Thanks to everyone for following my blog this year.  Since its launch in April, it has had over 9,600 page views, well over a 1,000 a month.  We should go over 10,000 page views in the next few weeks.   Please continue to pass along our link to folks interested in our work. Happy New Year to all and to all a good night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oAB83Z1ydE

A Digital Christmas Story

You have to check out this video!

What would happen if Jesus were born in today's digital age?  While the story would remain the same, how the news is spread would definitely change.  Hats off to the creative folks who put this video together.  It truly captures how digitally connected we have become in almost everything we do.  Have fun with the video and have a Merry Christmas!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkHNNPM7pJA