An Apple Fanboy and His Droid

It started with the iPod Touch.  For years, I’d resisted Apple products, but about two years ago, I began to soften because of my experiences with the iPod Touch.  Since then, I’ve been advocating their use in schools and soon we’ll be seeing the iPad (a learning window?) in district classrooms.  Yes, I’ve been dubbed an Apple Fanboy, and it might be warranted.

So, the time arose for me to upgrade phones, and for a few months, I’ve been watching the smartphone market closely.  Now for someone who’s a gadget-loving freak, this is no easy decision these days.  It seems like nearly every week a newer, faster phone enters the market, and going from a basic voice plan on a flip phone to a data plan (plus voice) is a big leap for educators on a tight budget.  And, a two-year contract is a major commitment in a rapidly evolving sector.  Now, the assumption is that someone who’s an Apple sell-out would obviously go for the new iPhone 4, but I’ve resisted that.  Professionally, AT&T isn’t a viable option for both voice and data coverage in our district as I do quite a bit of travelling from school to school, and I’m already a Verizon customer.  So, I began researching Android-based phones.

I made an appointment at a local Verizon store for July 15th, the launch date for the Motorola Droid X, and picked one up.  I’ve been using the phone for just over a week, and so far, I love it.  Everything I’ve thought I’d want to be able to do with a smartphone I’ve been able to do.  Facebook, Twitter, Email, and FourSquare all work perfectly.  The GPS functions well with turn-by-turn directions.  The 8 mega pixel camera takes great pictures and can record HD-quality video (720p).  I’ve used a free app called DoubeTwist that works just like iTunes for syncing media to the phone (pics, music, videos and podcasts).

I’m really excited to hear about other folks in our district using Android-based phones, too.  With over 70,000 apps available, and strong marketing from carriers like Verizon and Sprint, Android-based phones are catching up to the iPhone (and will likely overtake it in the number of users before the end of the year).  So, for those of you out there using the Droid, the Incredible, and others, I’m learning with you!  That said, I want to end by sharing some resources for those who are new to Android.  If you’re used to Blackberry or, like me, the iPhone operating system, the Android experience is different (in a good way).  Here are resources to help you get started:

Android Central – a blog and podcast devoted to all things Android.

Phandroid – a blog devoted to the Android.

Android.com – the official Android website (including the Android Market).

Android Community – another blog/news site devoted to Android.

It’s exciting to see Android maturing.  That means competition in the market and that’s usually a very good thing for consumers.  It also means that more development money is pouring in which means we’ll be seeing more and better products.  That’s good for education.  Work has already begun on several Android-based competitors to the tablet arena.

Also, just a reminder… If you’re a Pender County Schools employee and a Verizon customer, you are eligible for a significant discount on phones, accessories, and your monthly bill!  Just take your ID and a pay stub into your nearest Verizon store.  Other local carriers may offer this too, so ask!

-Lucas

Check Out Jennifer Angel’s Prezi: What Great Principals Do Differently

I love it when I see our teachers integrating technology. It’s just as exciting to see our district administrator’s putting new technology to work. I’ve posted about Prezi before, but I wanted to share a great example. Below is a Prezi created by one of our assistant principals, Jennifer Angel. The subject matter, Todd Whitaker’s What Great Principals Do Differently is very relevant and this showcases what Prezi can do.

So, are you interested in using Prezi? Educators can sign up for a free account with 500MB of storage and lots of extra features. Just visit Prezi’s Edu License page and sign up. Then you can create your own Prezi’s. Yes, these can be embedded into your teacher websites as well!

Todd Smith of CFES Integrates Technology

Today I came across the work of one of our teachers, Todd Smith of Cape Fear Elementary. Take a look at some of the exciting ways he’s engaging students with technology in his classroom:

Also, check out his students’ history vodcasts and their wiki.

Great work!

-Lucas

The Apple iPad – Are Textbooks Obselete?

Again, Apple has raised the bar and set a standard with portable technology. Today, Apple introduced the iPad, a portable tablet/slate device with a multi-touch, full-color, LED screen. With its launch, they’ll also be opening a new store in iTunes which will carry books. (Watch out Kindle!) This device is much more than an eBook reader, though. Take a look at the video:

-Lucas

Educators – Get Prezi for Free!

Teachers, are you tired of PowerPoint? Are bullet points boring your students to tears? Changed your students’ glazed-over look during your presentations with Prezi! What is Prezi? Glad you asked! Prezi allows you to create dynamic, web-based presentations that go beyond the monotony of slide-by-slide PowerPoints. Here’s an example about Web 2.0 tools:

Also, notice that your Prezis can be embedded into a website. That means your presentations can be placed into your teacher web page for student review. Sign up for a free account today at: http://prezi.com/profile/signup/edu/.

-Lucas

10 Technologies That Will Rock 2010 (from TechCrunch)

Technology is advancing at a breakneck pace and the impact these changes will have on education will potentially be staggering. So, what technologies are predicted to be huge in 2010? Check out TechCrunch’s list of 10 Technologies That Will Rock 2010!

-Lucas

Pics from “The Games Wii Play” Workshop

Last Wednesday, we had a fantastic workshop for our middle school staff involved in the after school program. Each of our middle schools received a Nintendo Wii system and a number of games designed to help students with team-building in a fun and active way. I believe this was the first workshop where several participants stayed an extra two hours for extra “learning!” It was a blast!

-Lucas

Great Video on Virtual Worlds in Education – Our WoWinSchool Project Gets A Mention!

Great video from our friends in Australia on the potential for virtual worlds anf games in education.  Our WoWinSchool project is recognized in this video too!

-Lucas

iPod Touch Gaming For Learning

Character Creation in SIMS 3 on the iPod Touch

Recently, one of the middle schools in the district, Cape Fear Middle, purchase a classroom set of Apple’s iPod Touch.  The results of their use, so far, have been incredible.  Part of the reason is that we’re using them in ways that allow us to do things that we couldn’t normally do in the classroom.  For example, students in Craig Lawson’s 7th Grade Language Arts class are playing the popular game, SIMS 3.  Their game play is the foundation for all sorts of creative projects.  Students began by playing a SIM and used their virtual characters’ characteristics, motivations, and personality to write about the same in fiction literature.  The project has also been the foundation for writing about point-of-view, with students’ creative writing focused on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-person writing.  This week, students will be telling stories in the form of web-comics based on their SIMS’ virtual lives.  If you’d like to learn more about the project (and future game-based projects we’ll be doing with the iPod Touch), visit the project wiki at:  http://ipodgamesforlearning.pbworks.com.  You can take a look at Mr. Lawson’s students’ work in the project at his classroom wiki:  http://grizzlygrammar.pbworks.com/

-Lucas

Topsail High School Electric Vehicle Program Featured on EVCast Podcast

Kudos to the Topsail High School EV Team!  Steve Garrett, the instructor, along with students Marissa and Arik were interviewed my the folks at EVCast Podcast.  You can listen to the podcast online at EVCast.com.  Also, check out the THS EV blog.

-Lucas