Jan
16
Classes, MacBook Air, Resources
January 16, 2008 | |
First day of classes!!! Online classes are such a challenge. My university uses Blackboard, but I use Moodle for my Educational Technology classes, yes, I am the rebel. In reality, it is not that I dislike Blackboard, it is just that I am working with future teachers and many K-12 schools use Moodle, and many, many in Kansas do. I really feel obligated to expose them to something they may be asked to use when they begin their teaching careers. But, heavens-to- betsy, what whiners. Yes, Moddle is a bit different than Blackboard, but isn’t the point of taking a class, to learn something NEW. What a waste of money if you knew it all already. Ok, so enough whining from me.
Exciting, the new MacBook Air, I want one!!! Not sure about the elimination of the CD/DVD drive/writer. I am think that is ok, especially since they have an external one you can use an external one and when I think about it, other than loading software, I have to admit I rarely use it. I do love the the light weight and look of it. I have a 15″ MacBook Pro and love it, had a 17″ before this one. Love the landscape of the 17″ screen but absolutely hated hauling it around. So, maybe this spring when I purchase more equipment for the Learning Commons, I will rotate my MacBook Pro into the checkout pool and get one!!
I sure do wish Steve had announced a tablet. It is not that I disagree with his comment that tablets are a step backwards, it is just that my university big wigs think tablets are the greatest things since sliced bread and they want everybody to have one. So, Apple would make my life easier if they would just take advantage of that patent they own and put out a tablet, PLEASE.
On the WAC Skype Chat today, two wonderful links showed up. I just have to share them and this teachers blog. Oh my goodness, just super. The first is her post about social networking–(http://tinyurl.com/33f9la)
Making Connections: Social Networking in the Elementary Classroom
And the second part is (http://tinyurl.com/3b4ak3)
A Step-by-Step Guide to Global Collaborations Another resource I need to share and will make you think is Ten Ways to Kill Classroom Creativity http://www.goshen.edu/art/ed/creativitykillers.htm
If you have not watched Sir Ken Robinson on this topic from Ted Talks. make sure you do–Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity?
The first time I watched this TedTalks, I cried. My daughter is a dancer and dyslexic and Sir Ken could very well have been talking about my daughter. She is graduating from college in May with a degree in Ballet and Modern Dance. She is amazing and I am so proud of her talent, dedication, work ethic and character, and… I could go on for pages.
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
