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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.

Someone asked me at #TCEA13 what my favorite programming language was, and my answer was: what do you want me to do?

I’ve been using RobotC since I started Robotics, since the Labview user interface made my head explode. However, I sat in a session on Labview at the Robotics and am finally getting how it works.

The biggest difference between the two, is that Labview has a bigger learning curve – I got people driving robots in less than 30 minutes, and it took about 1 hour to get there with Labview.

The other difference is virtual worlds. You have to have a live working robot to do anything with Labview, where you can use a simulated robot to learn how to program in RobotC.

However, I think actually getting things done is faster in Labview.

It will be interesting to see how my students cope with it.

I am starting to believe it is a heat issue. Between this document: http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=C1032765&sliceId=1&mdl= and the fact that the last time it had a major failure I was using it all day and during the actual failure I had the laptop in my lap…..

Very sad.

Though VMWare might still be the problem. I’m going to leave it off for a bit. Though man, I wish I could use it.

 

This post was republished to Teaching CS in Dallas at 5:58:44 PM 2/10/2013

What Courses can you teach if you are Technology Applications Certified?

 

 

Account    Teaching CS in Dallas

 

On Friday, the TEA met to (according to their website) http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=2147509834

8. Proposed Repeal of 19 TAC Chapter 231, Assignment of Public School Personnel, and Proposed New 19 TAC Chapter 231, Requirements for Public School Personnel Assignments

This item provides the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) an opportunity to discuss and propose the repeal of 19 TAC Chapter 231, Assignment of Public School Personnel, and propose new 19 TAC Chapter 231, Requirements for Public School Personnel Assignments. The proposed rule actions would be necessary as a result of the reorganization of the assignment chart codified in current 19 TAC Chapter 231. Proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 231 would update and clarify the assignments for public school personnel to enable school districts, teacher organizations, and human resource organizations to better understand the appropriate assignments of public school personnel.

 

If you are in Texas and Technology Applications Certified you can teach the following:

§231.253. Technology Applications, Grades 9-12.

An assignment for Digital Video and Audio Design, Web Communications, Digital Design and Media Production, Digital Art and Animation, 3-D Modeling and Animation, Digital Communications in the 21st Century, Web Design, Web Game Development, Independent Study in Technology Applications, or Independent Study in Evolving/Emerging Technologies, Grades 9-12, is allowed with one of the following certificates.

(1) Technology Applications: Early Childhood-Grade 12.
(2) Technology Applications: Grades 7-12.
(3) Technology Applications: Grades 8-12.

§231.257. Game Programming and Design or Mobile Application Development, Grades 9-12.

An assignment for Game Programming and Design or Mobile Application Development, Grades 9-12, is allowed with one of the following certificates.

(1) Computer Science: Grades 8-12.
(2) Grades 6-12 or Grades 9-12–Computer Information Systems.
(3) Junior High School (Grades 9-10 only) or High School–Computer Information Systems.
(4) Secondary Computer Information Systems (Grades 6-12).
(5) Technology Applications: Early Childhood-Grade 12.
(6) Technology Applications: Grades 7-12.
(7) Technology Applications: Grades 8-12.

§231.335. Animation, Grades 9-12.

An assignment for Animation or Advanced Animation, Grades 9-12, is allowed with one of the following certificates.

(1) Any business or office education certificate.
(2) Business and Finance: Grades 6-12.
(3) Business Education: Grades 6-12.
(4) Secondary Industrial Arts (Grades 6-12).
(5) Secondary Industrial Technology (Grades 6-12).
(6) Technology Applications: Early Childhood-Grade 12.
(7) Technology Applications: Grades 7-12.
(8) Technology Applications: Grades 8-12.
(9) Technology Education: Grades 6-12.
(10) Trade and Industrial Education: Grades 6-12. This assignment requires appropriate work approval.
(11) Trade and Industrial Education: Grades 8-12. This assignment requires appropriate work approval.
(12) Vocational Trades and Industry. This assignment requires appropriate work approval.

§231.337. Audio Video Production; Graphic Design and Illustration, Grades 9-12.

(a) An assignment for Audio Video Production, Advanced Audio Video Production, Graphic Design and Illustration, or Advanced Graphic Design and Illustration, Grades 9-12, is allowed with one of the following certificates.
(1) Secondary Industrial Arts (Grades 6-12).
(2) Secondary Industrial Technology (Grades 6-12).
(3) Technology Applications: Early Childhood-Grade 12.
(4) Technology Applications: Grades 7-12.
(5) Technology Applications: Grades 8-12.
(6) Technology Education: Grades 6-12.
(7) Trade and Industrial Education: Grades 6-12. This assignment requires appropriate work approval.
(8) Trade and Industrial Education: Grades 8-12. This assignment requires appropriate work approval.
(9) Vocational Trades and Industry. This assignment requires appropriate work approval.

 

§231.483. Digital and Interactive Media or Web Technologies, Grades 9-12.

An assignment for Digital and Interactive Media or Web Technologies, Grades 9-12, is allowed with one of the following certificates.

(1) Any business or office education certificate.
(2) Business and Finance: Grades 6-12.
(3) Business Education: Grades 6-12.
(4) Secondary Industrial Arts (Grades 6-12).
(5) Secondary Industrial Technology (Grades 6-12).
(6) Technology Education: Grades 6-12.
(7) Technology Applications: Early Childhood-Grade 12.
(8) Technology Applications: Grades 7-12.
(9) Technology Applications: Grades 8-12.
(10) Trade and Industrial Education: Grades 6-12. This assignment requires appropriate work approval.
(11) Trade and Industrial Education: Grades 8-12. This assignment requires appropriate work approval.
(12) Vocational Trades and Industry. This assignment requires appropriate work approval.

§231.489. Computer Technician, Grades 9-12.

An assignment for Computer Technician, Grades 9-12, is allowed with one of the following certificates.

(1) Secondary Industrial Arts (Grades 6-12).
(2) Secondary Industrial Technology (Grades 6-12).
(3) Technology Education: Grades 6-12.
(4) Technology Applications: Early Childhood-Grade 12.
(5) Technology Applications: Grades 7-12.
(6) Technology Applications: Grades 8-12.
(7) Trade and Industrial Education: Grades 6-12. This assignment requires appropriate work approval.
(8) Trade and Industrial Education: Grades 8-12. This assignment requires appropriate work approval.
(9) Vocational Trades and Industry. This assignment requires appropriate work approval.

 

 

On Friday, the TEA met to (according to their website) http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=2147509834

8. Proposed Repeal of 19 TAC Chapter 231, Assignment of Public School Personnel, and Proposed New 19 TAC Chapter 231, Requirements for Public School Personnel Assignments

This item provides the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) an opportunity to discuss and propose the repeal of 19 TAC Chapter 231, Assignment of Public School Personnel, and propose new 19 TAC Chapter 231, Requirements for Public School Personnel Assignments. The proposed rule actions would be necessary as a result of the reorganization of the assignment chart codified in current 19 TAC Chapter 231. Proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 231 would update and clarify the assignments for public school personnel to enable school districts, teacher organizations, and human resource organizations to better understand the appropriate assignments of public school personnel.

 

If you are in Texas and Computer Science Certified you can teach the following:

§231.251. Computer Science, Grades 9-12.

An assignment for Fundamentals of Computer Science, Computer Science I-III, Digital Forensics, or Robotics Programming and Design, Grades 9-12, is allowed with one of the following certificates.

(1)Computer Science: Grades 8-12.
(2) Grades 6-12 or Grades 9-12–Computer Information Systems.
(3) Junior High School (Grades 9-10 only) or High School–Computer Information Systems.
(4) Secondary Computer Information Systems (Grades 6-12).

§231.255. Discrete Mathematics, Grades 9-12.
An assignment for Discrete Mathematics, Grades 9-12, is allowed with one of the following certificates.

(1) Computer Science: Grades 8-12.
(2) Grades 6-12 or Grades 9-12–Computer Information Systems.
(3) Junior High School (Grades 9-10 only) or High School–Computer Information Systems.
(4) Master Mathematics Teachers (Grades 8-12).
(5) Mathematics: Grades 7-12.
(6) Mathematics: Grades 8-12.
(7) Mathematics/Physical Science/Engineering: Grades 7-12.
(8) Mathematics/Physical Science/Engineering: Grades 8-12.
(9) Physics/Mathematics: Grades 7-12.
(10) Physics/Mathematics: Grades 8-12.
(11) Secondary Computer Information Systems (Grades 6-12).

§231.257. Game Programming and Design or Mobile Application Development, Grades 9-12.

An assignment for Game Programming and Design or Mobile Application Development, Grades 9-12, is allowed with one of the following certificates.
(1) Computer Science: Grades 8-12.
(2) Grades 6-12 or Grades 9-12–Computer Information Systems.
(3) Junior High School (Grades 9-10 only) or High School–Computer Information Systems.
(4) Secondary Computer Information Systems (Grades 6-12).
(5) Technology Applications: Early Childhood-Grade 12.
(6) Technology Applications: Grades 7-12.
(7) Technology Applications: Grades 8-12.

 

§231.485. Computer Programming, Grades 9-12.

An assignment for Computer Programming or Advanced Computer Programming, Grades 9-12, is allowed using one of the following certificates.
(1) Any business or office education certificate.
(2) Business and Finance: Grades 6-12.
(3) Business Education: Grades 6-12.
(4) Computer Science: Grades 8-12.
(5) Secondary Computer Information Systems (Grades 6-12).
(6) Secondary Industrial Arts (Grades 6-12).
(7) Secondary Industrial Technology (Grades 6-12).
(8) Technology Education: Grades 6-12.
(9) Trade and Industrial Education: Grades 6-12. This assignment requires appropriate work approval.
(10) Trade and Industrial Education: Grades 8-12. This assignment requires appropriate work approval.
(11) Vocational Trades and Industry. This assignment requires appropriate work approval.

I am trying to decide if I want a Surface Pro. Right now, my Surface RT does everything I would want in a tablet.

I can do email, social networking, minor updating of my class website.

I need a big screen for grading, lesson plan development and for program development.

If you need legacy programs in a small form factor the Surface Pro is nice. I have played with it in a Microsoft store.

Sent from my Windows Phone

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email message, including all attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential student and/or employee information. Unauthorized use and/or disclosure is prohibited under the federal Family
Education Rights & Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. §1232g, 34 CFR Part 99, 19 TAC 247.2, Texas Government Code 552.023, Texas Education Code 21.355, 29 CFR 1630.14(b)(c)). If you are not the intended recipient, you may not use, disclose, copy or disseminate this information.
Please call the sender immediately or reply by email and destroy all copies of the original message, including attachments.

Have I said recently “Don’t buy a Sony”

Well, after having to reset the OS again because of losing a major driver (this time the touch screen), I discovered VMWare is an absolute lifesaver. I have a Virtual Machine set up with all my teaching software and guess what, didn’t have to reload that.

So now I have Virtual Machines set up with Visual Studio Software and Expression.

So now I can reset the OS on the machine and only have reload Windows, Camtasia, SnagIt, and VMWare.

Hey, it’s better than having to reload EVERYTHING.

People don’t pay attention.

When I teach, I like to have a conversion with people. Notice I said people. Goes for both my students and for teachers when I do staff development.

When I train my dogs, I use a training method that allows constant communication between the dog and myself, called clicker training. There has been some discussion as to who is training who – is the dog training the human or the human the dog?

So I’m used to having a conversation – I want people to ask questions, take me off to a different path, in other words, learn.

Reverse flipping can get in the way of that if people decide to wait for the recording and not participate.

But I don’t teach technology and I teach a white board, I can’t reverse flip (or even flip).

Don’t worry, young grasshopper, we have technology for you. Go to http://www.swivl.com – there is a device that will follow you AND pick up your voice while you are teaching and you don’t need a camera man.

I have two of these, and original bought one to clip on my dog to film her while we were training – she moves to fast though they think they can fix that – but it works fine for me.

Again, you can take a few extra minutes and use Camtasia to upload your software OR you can go direct to your video publishing software on your phone or camera.