Category: Blog

The entire administrative staff walked into my classroom, and the principal handed me a thank you gift for teacher appreciation day!

I believe that they did that for each teacher.

First time that ever happened in 20 years…..

I bought an HP Pavilion to replace one that got hit by a thunderstorm.  Like the footprint, but here’s the most aggravating thing – first thing I do, is upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate but with the house disaster and all I hadn’t remembered to do that and then couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t remote in, like I could the old computer….

Well, I done the upgrade with the old computer’s product key,which it took but then a month later starts puking on.  Well, that one couldn’t be used (I don’t get why, but oh well, I’ll buy another one).  But all the HP support stuff starts getting in the way.

Almost bought the key from support, but it took over a freaking hour, on online chat to get that far, then they decided they had to “guide me” on the phone.  Well, at least they didn’t pretend by calling themselves, Allen or Don, or something dumb like that. 

Now, we have to grade our non-English speakers every year, and I think I would have been generous if I had given him an average on listening, as he wouldn’t even listen when I told him I has having trouble understand him on the phone. 

Ended up going to the Microsoft store the long way, and buying the upgrade that way.

Alfred has a good point at http://blogs.msdn.com/b/alfredth/archive/2012/04/28/fun-is-to-entertainment-as-education-is-to-training .

A lot of CS teachers at both the high school and the college level don't see it.

They have the luxury of a captive audience.

I don't. I have to get kids in my door. We have two classes next year that promise some fun and some education and I can't wait!

Sent from my Windows Phone

Well probably not, we still have ACP’s, STARR tests, and probably the odd field test.

But we did finish TAKS 11st Grade Exit test which is a big milestone.  We’ll do our last one next year.

Except for material we may license to you, Apple does not claim ownership of the materials and/or Content you submit or make available on the Service. However, by submitting or posting such Content on areas of the Service that are accessible by the public or other users with whom you consent to share such Content, you grant Apple a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use, distribute, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, publicly perform and publicly display such Content on the Service solely for the purpose for which such Content was submitted or made available, without any compensation or obligation to you. You agree that any Content submitted or posted by you shall be your sole responsibility, shall not infringe or violate the rights of any other party or violate any laws, contribute to or encourage infringing or otherwise unlawful conduct, or otherwise be obscene, objectionable, or in poor taste. By submitting or posting such Content on areas of the Service that are accessible by the public or other users, you are representing that you are the owner of such material and/or have all necessary rights, licenses, and authorization to distribute it.

via www.apple.com

Okay, this is fair.

A quick analysis of Google's terms of service shows how the search company owns the files you upload the minute they are submitted, and can in effect do anything it wants to your files — and that's final. But there is a small catch.

via news.cnet.com

I knew there was a reason to hate Google.

Now I need to know about Apple's iCloud.

Told principal today:

Would rather do work that would make my students lives better than work that would make my life better.

I’m going to try to set up a job’s type board, for Web Mastering students so when someone wants me to design a website, I can send them to former students.

This should give you everything you need except the installer.  Mine charges $75 a hour.  I pay him more.

Shopping list for a Video Surveillance System.

The main part is the vide switch / Digital Video Recorder. This model
has been proven to be a best bang for the buck performer

http://www.ebay.com/itm/16CH-CCTV-H-264-Real-Time-Record-Network-DVR-w-2TB-HDD-/390175057590?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ad83ee6b6

For cameras these have been proven to be an inexpensive workhorse.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/180713987951?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

You will then need cable and connectors
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SIAMESE-CABLE-500FT-RG59-95-BRAID-SECURITY-CAMERA-WIRE-CCTV-BULK-VIDEO-POWER-/310345915733?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item48420edd55

I like the twist on BNC connectors because they can be reused.
for each camera, you need 2 connectors.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-Twist-BNC-Male-RG59-Connector-CCTV-cameras-/360451132913?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53ec8fcdf1

You will also need a power pigtail
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-DC-Power-Lead-male-pigtail-CCTV-camera-power-/200431314331?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eaaa3259b

And a power supply.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/16-Power-Supply-Box-CCTV-Camera-18-Port-12V-Pigtail-bpx-/120896553961?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c25ff03e9

Doing REALLY well, I have all my thank you packages in for all of my completed projects:  I have had 15 projects funded this year, and completed.

I’m ending the year with two open projects, one for game programming and one of the robotics club:  http://www.kweaver.org/

And I have 10 points for next year.  That means I can do at least one special project, two if these projects get funded.

Dallas News has an article about this: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/headlines/20120414-studies-find-students-rarely-benefit-from-tutor-program.ece and it’s something I’ve been wondering about myself.

First, I want to know how the students are being tutoring – my theory is that the students don’t need another session of a teacher talking to them.  It didn’t work the first time.  However, I see a lot of these going on at my school.

My theory is that the students need extra time, supervised by someone who can actually tell when the student solved the problem the wrong way and guide them to solve the problem the wrong way.

In my experience as a math teacher, your not as abled students don’t practice enough.  They also don’t have access to someone who knows how to work the problems.

I will admit to tutoring the above way at AP Sessions but those are different students with a different goal.  If I was running the program, I would tutor my way – give the kids extra time to work problems, supervise them so I know they are on task, check their answers and answer questions.

Funny that’s the way I teach and it works pretty well.