Virtual World-Ed Tech Island

Moving around in Second Life if a bit easier after practice.  I went to EdTech Island and found there are so many places packed in a little area.  I went to Observation Cave, AETC, Descriptive Cave, ICT Library, Western Town, a Protected Beach (looked like it was underwater), iNACOL bat cave and amphitheater, and many more.  The art museum was really quiet.  I saw several PowerPoints on teaching in a virtual world.  The Undersea Observatory was interesting, it even had jellyfish.  I like to have never found the sandbox.  I tried to build a box in several places but there are restrictions to building in some areas.

Practicing building a box but not at the correct place.

Good at boxes now.

Correct place but not sitting yet.

Finally a box at the sandbox.  I could not figure out some of the bags that were sitting around.  I tried to pick up one but I was not able to.

The most thought provoking part of the tour was the PowerPoint on how other countries are using technology and virtual learning.  Even some of the countries with lack of technology seem to be ahead of the United States when it comes to using technology in the classroom.  It is enlightening and scary at the same time.  I hope that we can find better ways to educate our teachers to the importance of not just using technology to teach the same way we always have but rather to give it to the students to learn with and be immersed into 21st Century Learning.

Nature Walk with Pixlr

Pixlr-o-matic is a program that can be used with or without downloading that gives many different effects to your pictures.
Here are before and after pictures of some of mine that were edited using http://pixlr.com/o-matic/

Senior Pictures at Cave

Getting braver on changes

Barn at Grandmas

Grandma would like this

Bridge at Mr. Zion

Subtle changes

Easter Sunday

Small changes give it depth

Senior pictures at cave

Love the softness

Sunset from porch

Sunsets are peaceful

Just a bench

Better looking bench

$35 Computer

$35 Tablet Article

This is long overdue.  High schools do not necessarily need mobile computer labs because of the fact that every student has a smart phone and/or tablet of some type.  The cost is not effective when you can let the students use their own devices to research and complete work.  In the middle school setting and elementary classrooms, the students are not as likely to have their own device but most of them have access to a tablet or smart phone.  I think in the elementary classroom that these tablets are a great idea.  The big hype is to buy iPads for the classroom and for the mobile labs.  While those tablets are the most popular they are also some of the most expensive.  What is needed in the elementary classroom is the capability to research, type, communicate, and have some educational apps available.  This tablet can do all of that.  Apple does make great products but they are not the only products available.  In order to save the school systems money and reach more students, this tablet is advisable.  If it gets dropped or broken then it does not cost too much to replace it with a new one.