Author: kathleen

I want to take the program that is written about here:

http://www.devx.com/wireless/Article/39600

and set it up so it downloads all the SMS messages and lets you look quote and reply to the messages.

There is a sample program with the Pocket PC SDK kit that's the other half — it keeps a thread of SMS messages so I figure it is doable.

My first problem is that I can't get the above program to run.  I get a error that says:  No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it.  I've decided that the problem is the anti-virus program that the district has installed on my computer and have moved it to another computer.

I've some progress, I've gotten a white screen to show up on both the desktop and the mobile, even on the laptop with the anti-virus, so it may just be that I don't know how to deploy this set of programs.

Would LOVE some help on this.  I've been able to write and deploy mobile phone programs before

There are many days I don't like being the Campus Technology.

I'm minding my own business and two students walk in with an old computer.  I know exactly what they want but the teacher who sent them didn't follow procedure so I sent them back.

They are supposed to get an equipment removal form from me, fill it out and then wait.  If they are in portables I'll find a place to store their stuff, but since I'm getting new equpment and already have 10 pieces in here, it will have to find another home.

<sigh>

On the other hand people are starting to figure out how to create appointments in Groupwise.  Moving us closer to Technology in 2001.  (A personal joke, I've told the group that I am slowly dragging them into the 2000's when it comes to technology.

I have wonderful plans and a nice todo list with plans for my new computer install which is going to happen on January 9th. Maybe.

Sat down and counted how many students it would take to move the computers everything.

And yes, those of you in education know what happened — someone sent me an email shooting those plans completely out of the water.

Now I have to be ready by 1:00 pm rather than 4:00 and have to move the students out of the lab by then.

In the meantime, one of my dear friends has decided how to dispose of my old computers.  Let’s not forget that I’ve spent the last month figuring out the best place and have already found all of them new homes.

<sigh>

And people wonder why my head explodes on a regular basis.

I can’t wait until the whole process is over.

I'm testing a new service, I think it is supposed to put a Twitter update up when the blog is updated.

It will be interesting to see if it works.   And will allow me to skip a step.

The middle school came is a win-win for me.  First I get paid for writing the curriculum.  I love to get paid for stuff like that.

Second, it should attract some very serious students to our instructional technology programs.  And I feel better and better about including the other subjects, and not just Alice.

It also gives me a paying gig for the summer.  Though I already have one lined up, and have signed up for another and waiting to hear about on it.

Right now, I’m focused on reading the book we are going to use and making a list of products that I want the girls to produce.

That’s one thing that I got out of my master’s program — when you are writing curriculum start with what you want to accomplish first, then figure out how to go there.  I’m trying to come up with at least two major projects for each subject that we’re teaching, since it’s a two week camp. 

The hardest part is going to be coming up with the pacing.

Oh, and we already have a cute collection of items to give away.  By the way, I’d LOVE to get some products from companies that recruit in our fields — as long as get some speakers lined up.

One thought I had today, is that having speakers first thing in the morning might be the best time — that way the speaker’s day is less disrupted if they work in town.  I have also thought about using Skype to get some long distance speakers.

I figure a short — thirty minute talk about what the speaker likes about their field. And it means lining up 14 speakers!

Yes, I am writing curriculum for a two week summer camp for middle school girls.  The plan is to use Alice, maybe Scratch, introductory web design and introductory digital media.

Our first idea was to focus on computer science BUT our department teaches other things and it is not fair to leave them out.  Also, my mission in life is to always give my students a taste of a little bit of everything.  So incorporating web design and digital media is a win win situation for both the kids AND the department.

SO, I’m looking for things to use that are a) free and b) the whole package can be put on a 1GB thumb drive and run on it.

I’d LOVE ideas, please use the comment section!

I’ve been reading some teacher blogs, primilary http://moixland.com/ where he brags on Free, Open Source programs.  Oddly, the longer I teach and the more I do my own design work, the more I value the ability to pick up the phone, or better yet, drop an email and get tech support.

Even goes back to my migration from MovableType to TypePad.  Having constant reminders that I needed to update MovableType was causing writer block. 

Another example is Lanschool.  I love Lanschool and have used it over 16 years.  Seriously.  Hey, I’ve even met the developer/CEO of the company.  Over the years, I’ve had few problems but when I do, those problems have become enhancements to the software.  I pay for the legal upgrade every chance I get.  AND I pressure my district to buy it too. 

Why?  First, I love the fact that I can drop them an email and get an answer by the day.  I love the fact that I don’t have to figure out the problem.

And as I tell my students when they are frustrated with free software — you DO get what you pay for.  Which reminds me, I’m about to pay for a maintenance contract on SnagIt and Camestia.

Online education is going to require real teachers for the foreseeable future. Students need to ask questions. They need someone to occasionally point them in a direction for future study. They need better feedback on test/project/paper results than I think we’ll see for a great while to come. But the classroom teacher teaching face to face isn’t going to disappear for a very long time. I doubt it will happen in my life time. Probably not in my son’s lifetime either. And you know what? If online/virtual school becomes the norm for public schools I bet that the rich people will still pay for face to face education because it will be worth it.

Computer Science Teacher – Thoughts and Information from Alfred Thompson : Are Teachers (Becoming) Obsolete?

I’ve taught an online course.  After having done so, I snicker whenever anyone thinks that the classroom teacher is going away.

Isn’t going to happen anytime soon.

First, we’re a large urban school district and only 4 students signed up even though there was the use of a free computer. 

We were on our second year with web mastering and yet, only 12 signed up.  I don’t know how many finished that class, but only one of the four finished mine.  And I truly believe it was because he could come by my classroom and ask questions.  He’s a very self motivated student, something that is very rare.

I know him well, he took PreAP on line, and has taken AP and AP AB face to face. 

For students to be successful in an online course, especially taking high school classes all day, they are going to need adult supervision.  It’s cheaper to hire us and let us do it, rather than each family dedicating an adult for it.  Trust me, average teenager without adult supervision is not going to do any work.  Heck, there are some students I can’t get to work.

Alfred is also right about the passion thing — that’s the one compliment on get on a yearly basis — kids will tell their parents, man, I hate programming, but Ms. Weaver sure loves it.  And that’s the one thing I teach best — how to get along with a passionate programmer, as they will sure need that at some point in their life.

So yeah, classroom teaching is really going away … <snicker>

There was a story in the news not long ago about a test taker who was having problems taking a test because of her insulin pump.

Well, one thing I've wanted to do, but haven't is to get a Texas Master Technology teacher certfication.  Don't need it for the job, but have done all the preparatory work plus do the job of one on a daily basis.

Periodically I go out to see what I have to do for the test.  I have to have extra breaks and thus extra time.  Plus have to have the permission to have my pump, testing equipment, food and water all availble in the testing area, as all of that has to be left in the car.

To do so, I have to fill a slew of forms, pay for the test in advance, and can't schedule the test until it is approved.  I also have to have my doctor fill out paperwork and so I'll have to pay for that too.  And no guarantee it would be approved, but then I'd have to go find a lawyer….  Oh, and they only offer the test 3 times a year, and there is no guarantee it would be in the area.

Not worth it. 

Fortunately don't need the certification for my job.  Doubt anyone would even really care if I had it, so not doing it.  Besides having the Master's degree majoring in CECS is good enough.  Some of the CECS course work is the prep work for the certification.

Though it is a real PITA if you are diabetic and have to go through this.  Fortuantely you have to only do it once for ETS, but still. 

This is also why I pressure my special ed and 504 parents to go through the process at the beginning of the year, since they would also need the accodomations for the AP exam.