Invitation to Attend Webcast

If you are not doing anything tomorrow night (Thursday, Nov 29) between 8-8:30pm EST, please consider coming to a webcast (for other time  zones click here).  I'm hosting the webcast with Derrall Garrison from California and Dennis Oliver from Arizona (we're all Webcast Academy interns).  The topic is Second Life from the point of view of "newbies."  If you have never heard of Second Life or have never been there, this webcast is for you!

A webcast is an on-line audio show with a chat room to ask questions of the hosts.  If interested, go to http://webcastacademy.net/chat a few minutes before 8:00 - you'll need to double click on the "webcast academy" folder on the right side of the chat window.  There will be a link below the chat window that gets you to the audio; we'll be broadcasting on Sandbox A.  Keep in mind that we are beginners, but we are confident that it will go smoothly.  I'll be streaming the audio, while Derrall video streams from SecondLife.  Please join us! 

Technorati Tags: webcast, secondlife, webcastacademy

Free TechSmith Software!

Older versions of two of my favorite programs are now available for free downloading:

• Camtasia:  Screen capturing program to create video tutorials.   It's easy... Grab a microphone and get started!
  
  
  
  • Download Camtasia version 3.1.3
  
  
  • Register Camtasia version 3.1.3 demo version as a fully licensed version
  
  
  
  


• Snagit:  Allows you to quickly and easily copy or save images from your computer screen.  Very handy!
  
  
  
  • Download Snagit version 7.2.5
  
  
  • Register Snagit version 7.2.5 demo version as a fully licensed version
  
  
  
  

Where are my blog readers from?

Dean Shareski got me thinking after reading his blog post "Thinking About Audience Matters."  I assume that readers of my blog are mainly educators from Michigan who I work with.  However, my personal learning network is growing, mainly due to my participation in the Webcast Academy, EdTechTalk shows, and from using Twitter.  I decided to add a ClustrMap to my blog to see if my assumptions about my blog audience are correct; you'll see it in the left column.

Do This Now

TOMORROW, the House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on overriding the President's veto of the FY08 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations bill, which contains $272 million for Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program. The Senate may vote soon, as well. Please email your Senators and Representatives immediately and urge them to override the President's veto and support passage of the FY08 Labor, HHS and Education spending bill. Click here to go to the Ed Tech Action Network - A draft email message is available for you to modify, and the whole process takes less than five minutes.  Do it now.

The DEN in Second Life

The Discover Educator Network offers training opportunities for Second Life.  Although my schedule has only allowed me to attend one so far, it was excellent.  The leaders are helpful and encourage the folks new to Second Life.  This coming Wednesday evening, there will be workshop on taking photos in Second Life.  It starts at 4:30 pm SLT (7:30 EST).  Attend if you can!  

The image above is the best I can do at the moment.  It took a long time to figure out how to even see my face so that I could take a picture!  I look forward to learning the tricks on Wednesday.

Don't fret if you do not know what Second Life is.  Contact me and I'll give you an overview.

PC Sales Way Down in Japan

An article, written by HIROKO TABUCHI, Associated Press Writer, was published on Nov. 4.  It states that computers are becoming less needed in Japanese homes.  Instead, gadgets such as smart phones that act like pocket-size computers, advanced Internet-connected game consoles, and digital video recorders, are doing the tasks that previously were done by a laptop or desktop PC. 

More than 50 percent of Japanese send e-mail and browse the Internet from their mobile phones, according to a 2006 survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

I read this article on the same day that I learned about the $200 "gPC," which will be available, beginning today, from Wal-Mart.  The g stands for... what else?... Google, and the operating system is Linux.  It comes loaded with Google applications and Open Source software.

I wonder if the trend of decreasing PC sales in Japan will also begin to show in other countries.  I cannot imagine life without my PC. I simply cannot envision doing all that I do on my laptop today on a cell phone.  Of course, I know how quickly technology changes.  I used the Internet for the first time in 1995, just 12 years ago! 

Will the gPC be successful in the US market? 

Technorati Tags: gPC Japan technology

Team 401 Blog

A 4th grade classroom in my district is blogging - teacher and students!  Their blog is called Team 401 and is hosted by Blogmeister.  A 4th grade teacher in California saw it and invited the class to become pen pals with her class.  The students left comments about the idea and want to do it.  I will enjoy seeing the effects of their blogging experience this year.  Check it out!

NING: Ad-free Social Networks for Students Now Available

I just learned that Ning is now offering ad-free social networking sites for teachers/students.  This is great news!  A classroom Ning would be safe, easy-to-use, and would enable students to foster learning by connecting and collaborating with others, using an on-line communication tool that is motivating and fun.  Learning is a social process.  Teachers, set up a Ning for you students today!  Also, sign up to be part of the Classroom 2.0 Ning social network, and see what social networking is all about. 

For directions on setting up an ad-free classroom Ning, visit Steve Hargadon's blog.