Category: Blog

I’ve suspected it for a long time, but the recent announcement that they are killing Google Reader is convincing me.

It’s not that I use Google Reader every day, I don’t.

But I do like it. I have purchased several apps on the Windows Phone and Window Tablet that use it and even beta test one – Flux. Hopefully the author will go his own direction.

I don’t even use Flux every day.

I tried to use a different account with my Google tablet but couldn’t. That’s okay, use it even less than Google Reader, and it’s no longer in my pack. It’s in the downstairs office where my old technology goes to die.

I bought it so I could write a multiple platform app – I have a good idea for a multiple platform app and I’m surprised no one has jumped on it yet. No, I’m not blogging about it, I might actually do it someday.

A recent Twitter acquaintance tweeted that she was at a staff development and that the leader of the staff development demanded that all technology be put away.

First, I want a few things defined:

Exactly WHAT technology?

• Pencil/Pen and paper
• Phone
• Tablet
• Notebook

All devices that I have used to effectively take notes during staff development. All devices I have used effectively to distract myself from annoying staff development.

I personally think when we do staff development, we should model effective teaching. Effective teaching and staff development is teaching — involves the whole student – I think that materials should be made available in advance that interest the student and there should be activities during and after the interest and engage the students.

I do that by putting together an online place that people can gather before, during and after. Moodle is ideal for that, but there are also other spaces great.

However, the moral of the whole story is that no one should limit learning technology during teaching and learning. Pen and paper is just a different modality then taking notes with a phone and either can enhance or distract from learning.

One of the easiest and cheapest languages to learn is Visual Basic and get will get you into XNA and Windows Phone programming.

Last year, I stated a series of online posts on how to install and how to code.  Didn't get any response, but it's still out there.  By the way, made it with the @Techsmith tools: @SnagIt and @Camtasia.

http://www.kweaver.us/programming_in_visual_bas/

I’ve been feeling like a failure as a Robot Team Mentor as our robots didn’t even move when we got to competition, and we didn’t even get to drive our robots. I was very disappointed in the other teams as they didn’t pitch in and help. A few kids tried, but they didn’t have the knowledge.

However, my husband said that he felt that I was a great mentor and a great coach, precisely because I let the kids do the work and let them learn. He thinks too many adults take over and that probably a lot of the robots were built by adults. This year we had more kids involved, but still didn’t have as many actually working as I would like. I am changing that now.

Our biggest problems were that the kids didn’t meet my deadlines. Our robots didn’t get build in time, so our programmers didn’t get a chance to do any programming or testing. Those builders might very well be off the team, we’ll have to see.

I’m working with new builders now, and I’m doing the teaching rather than letting the previous builders teach. Here’s the scheme: the new kids are following the instructions from me. If they get stuck, I’m having the previous builders help, and if they are still stuck, I’ll step in.

I also need to solve the programming problem – but I have GOT to get kids to stop building on things long enough for people to program them!

I hate my Sony Touch Screen and wanted something I was comfortable running around with. I saw this computer on the Microsoft store site and I was hoping they would have it at the Frisco specialty store, but they didn’t.

The call taker at the Microsoft Store phone number suggested I try Best Buy, and they had one of these in the same form-factor for $399, but it wasn’t available anywhere. I went into the local store anyway though and came out with this one. The salespeople said that at $50 more I had a new processor. 4 gig ram, 500 gig hard drive, same form factor as a Netbook, BUT touch screen. Pretty sweet machine. It’s quiet and runs a lot cooler than the Sony. Also lighter, and the accessories are smaller.

I need to run it for a few more days to know for sure I like it but the keyboard fits my hands well (I do have the smallest female adults hands) and it seems to be running most of my apps well.

Since I already have a Surface RT, the Sony Ultra Book and a large Lenovo, this might fit the whole.

Yeah, I know, it’s a problem.

There were three factors, and I would like some help off line:

• Vandalism – a relief custodian left our room door open
• Students don’t listen to me
• An ego or two got in the way

If students would stop working before they had to leave and put things away the vandalism would not have happened. I have been trying to make that happen since we got our first parts.

I’m thinking about a point system and that you have to earn the privilege to build.

It has been suggested strongly to me that I structure the team similar to athletics, but I want students to have the option of coming and trying robots with us and then either staying or walking away. In other words, I would like to be structured more like a chess club and less like a sports team.

Robot teams compete Saturday and our CS leader decided we needed to meet this week. So far, I haven't left school before 5:00 in weeks….
 
Meeting was on the other side of town at 5:15. I suggested we meet remotely, be suggested Skype. Worked great. Last kid of mine left around 6:00 and here I am with 8 minutes to go on the bike. Still need to hit Home Depot for wire ties but it won't be too
bad.

Sent from my Windows Phone

I can’t speak for all teachers or all administrators, but I know where a lot of us come from.

I have always enjoyed teaching and my mother will tell you stories of how I would play school with my sister and neighborhood friends. Although I went to college to major in computer science, I spent a lot of time tutoring, picking up extra spending money. Even as a computer science professional, I spent a lot of time training people. Getting a teaching certificate and teaching high school was a natural fit.

Some of my friends are at least second generation teachers, who had had tried other careers but came back to teaching.

The commonality is that we love kids, we enjoy seeing kids surpass our abilities and knowledge and we want our students to have better lives than they do now, better than their parents and better than ours.

I have seen many of my students achieve those goals over the years and it is a great feeling to know I have helped get them there.

I have three devices designed for Windows 8 and I have upgraded a 4^th.

LOVE IT!

I will admit to a day or two of “Who moved my cheese and why?” but it didn’t take long for me to realize that the move was a good one, plus it really wasn’t moved but optimized. For example, I still get to work the regular way.

Hit the Windows Key and Type Word.

See:
 
 

Almost all of my Legacy programs work on Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. I do have a Surface RT, but I rarely miss the apps on it. It’s definitely a tablet. I’ve been thinking of buying a Surface Pro, but haven’t done it yet.

So go for it, you’ll like it.

I’m loving Labview. I’ve introduced it to my students, and while we got bogged down last night because we had to download the FTC kit and it took a while they are loving it. They find it much easier than RobotC.

Now I am rethinking totally my Robotics curriculum next year.