Busy Short Week

It was a very short but packed week. Monday, I had the pleasure of working with a education professor from the University of Nevada - Las Vegas about video podcasts. We also talked about some other technology challenges for teachers. Tuesday, I did a Tech Tuesday on creating movies with Microsoft Windows Movie Maker. Everyone who participated had a great time. Finally, a group of science teachers wanted their students to explore websites on sound and light. Despite claims to the contrary, a test of the sites was done and they worked. What did not work was the URL to a website that led to the other sites. I had recommended the teachers put together a wiki linking the sites, providing student instructions when they got to the sites, and assessment questions. This fell on deaf ears. Fortunately, myself and tech savvy teacher got together to create a wiki with the desired links. It worked perfectly and now these science teachers are believers.

Sorry I look like I am yawning. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Microsoft Enters Online Apps Arena with Works

Tech Crunch reports Microsoft is creating an ad suported, online version of Microsoft Works that will be free to use. Micorsoft Works 9 is Microsoft's response to Google Docs and Google Spread Sheets, OpenOffice.org, Think Free Office and a growing list of applications that are free and increasingly web-based. The online version of Works is not released yet but reported to be coming soon (sounds like Microsoft).

If Microsoft is moving Works online, this shows that web-based applications are becoming useful and cost effective tools. I like the idea of web-based applications such as Google Docs. Web-based allows you to work on any Internet connected computer and you can save your work online. Google Docs allows users to invite others to work collaberatively much like Wikis do. The downside is your Internet connection must be dependable for you to do any work. Also, they can be clunky at times. I currently use a version of Open Office at home and have used Google Docs in the past. Both applications can do just about what I needed Microsoft Office to do.

Will applications such as Google Docs and Open Office replace Microsoft Office in the near future? No, nor should they try. Most people need just a basic application to start with. If you need to do more indepth work then you can move over to Microsoft Office.

Now you have an alternative for a student who says they either don't have a computer at home or don't have a word processor at home. Just point them in the right direction.

Tech Crunch Article

Good Mojo, Bad Mojo

On my podcast, Teacher Bytes, I talked about U3 Smart USB flash drives and how this mini operating system can allow you to use various applications on any computer. PC World has a story about a new application for flash drives and portable hard drives which mimics your personal desktop setup. MojoPac is an operating system that works on Windows computers. Unlike U3, MojoPac actually allows you use your applications from your computer on any other computer such as Word, Open Office, Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc....

This would be good for teachers who have useful personal applications which are usually not allowed on school computers. However, the downside is a long list of compatible games listed on MojoPac's website which students can plug and play on school computers as well. Hopefully, MojoPac won't become one of those well intentioned applications that kills the usefullness of flash drives much like cameras helping Internet able cell phones (such as the iPhone) get kicked out of schools.

Make sure to watch your students when they plug in a flash drive.

PC World Article

Maybe Reefer Madness Was Right

Reuters reports about New Zealand Medical researchers' claim that smoking cannabis joints is as bad for the lungs as smoking 5 tobacco cigarettes. The Medical Research Institute of New Zealand tested 339 people divided into 4 groups: cannabis smokers, tobacco smokers, those who smoked both, and non-smokers. "Those who smoked cannabis damaged both the lungs' small fine airways, used for transporting oxygen, and the large airways, which blocked air flow, the researchers said." In other words the lungs stop working normally. This along with a British report about cannabis smokers having an increased risk of developing a psychotic illness such as schizophrenia have British officials considering classifying cannabis as a more dangerous drug.

Article on Yahoo News