Courtesy of Apple
Today Apple, Inc introduced the iPad, a 9.7 inch multi-touch screen that runs the same OS as their iPhone and iPod Touch. Will this be the fabled game changer that finally replaces paper textbooks for the masses?
(image source: www.sxc.hu)
Happy New Year from the Technodemia crew.
Support for uploading .docx and .xlsx files in Google Docs
One of the questions with new software in a school environment, or even a corporate one, is how long do you wait before you upgrade? With the 2007 and 2008 release of Microsoft Office System 2007 for Windows and 2008 for OSX respectively came the introduction of the .docx and .xlsx. This was probably the first time a lot of students became aware of file types. The most common issue in a school environment that surfaces was files saved using the new file extension and trying to be opened in older versions of Office that by default didn’t support this file types. The standard solution, at least my solution, was tell the student go back to a machine that had that version of Office installed and re-save the file to .doc for Word documents, or .xls for Excel spreadsheets, and explain files types to them (prime teachable moment). Yes, I’m aware of the compatibility pack for Office that Microsoft has, but that is only for Windows machines. As I write this post there is still no compatibility pack for Office 2008 (Mac version of Office). Yes, I am also aware of services that do the conversion for you, but I have never been comfortable with most of the offerings.
Once again here is Google Docs to save the day. Google has announced at the beginning of this month that they now support .docx and .xlsx files. I should say more specifically that Google Docs now supports the uploading of these files types in addition to all the other file types you can already upload. Now there is no longer the need to get to another machine with the newest office. Just upload that .docx document or .xlsx document, open it up and work on it in the clouds or export it to a .doc file or .xls file. Now if only Google can reduce my daily commute.
That useless and antiquated computer that you have in the corner of your classroom or in the storage closest can’t stay there forever. It will eventually need to be disposed and done so in the proper manner. You don’t want it to end up like those long forgotten E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Atari video game cartridges buried in the desert. One of the drawbacks of proper disposal sometimes is the cost to the institution or the individual, that’s where the folks at Apple Education come in.
Apple is offering free recycling of computer equipment for “all accredited K-12 and higher education institutions with at least 25 pieces* of recyclables are eligible to participate“. The good thing about this is that it is NOT limited to the recycling of Apple products only. Those old 13 inch CRT monitors, Compaq Presario Towers, the IBM PS2 that doubles as a stools, as well as the other pieces caked with layers of dust can be sent to be recycled. Most of your schools may want to take part in this program. All you have to do is have at least 25 pieces and register before July, 31, 2009. I would recommended doing this sooner than later. All the information and packaging procedures can be found at the link below.
We are now on Twitter (@Technodemia). The Technodemia revolution will not be televised…but it can be followed 140 characters at a time. Those who are not familiar with what Twitter is may want to check out “Twitter in Plain English” created by the Common Craft Show. They do a decent job explaining Twitter, but to fully understand why there are millions of users, you may just want to jump in. A good place to start is to follow Technodemia at www.twitter.com/Technodemia.
Technodemia will be going through some design changes during the next week. Please bear with us as we try to streamline the site and give you a better user experience. Thank you for your patience.
The entire Technodemia crew would like to wish you a happy and healthy new year. Vacation is coming to an end and most of you should be heading back to classes. Goog luck and go back there with a new vigor. Have fun.
Technodemia would like to wish you all happy holidays. Be safe, party hard and have fun.
Google has recently released a new layer for Google Earth. This time it’s Ancient Rome in 3D with the help of the University of Virginia Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities Rome Reborn Project. Translated for you acronym lovers, UV’s IATH’s Rome Reborn Project. This is the first time and hopefully not the last time (hint hint Google) that your favorite “little big company” has released a layer for an ancient city. Just a fair warning you need to add it to your current Google Earth install.
There is tons of three dimensional data for this layer so the just with anything Google Earth, the larger your “tubes” the smoother the application flows. I suggest avoiding the wireless network in your school. Break out the cat5 and jack up! The system requirements for the Ancient Rome 3D layer is also greater than what is needed to run Google Earth, so you have been warned.
Google has also added a competition with the release of the Ancient Rome 3D layer. Christened the Ancient Rome 3D Curriculum Competition (ingenious). It’s open to K-12 educators who want to show off what you got. No, not those booty shots on your MySpace page (profiles are only private if you don’t know how to hack it). Your get to show off your techno-demic skills in creatively developing a curriculum integrating Ancient Rome 3D layer content and your classroom curricula. In addition to Google granting the top 6 submission Google educator honors online as they explain on the site, the prize packages include:
* Apple MacBook laptop
* Digital classroom projector
* Digital camera
* 3D Navigation mouse
* $500 in gift cards to Target or Office Depot
* Engraved Google “Top Educator” plaque
You can register as an individual teacher or as a team at the contest site after the jump. The submission deadline is February 9, 2009.
A week ago I was in my local multipurpose store/pharmacy looking to purchase some index cards. I needed to practice my lies before I was to fill my fake prescription for Hillbilly Heroine and pain lollipops (it’s only a crime if you get caught). I entered the stationary isle to buy a pack of index cards and was shocked to find out that it would cost me about two dollars to make my felonies more believable. How is a young entrepreneur like myself suppose to make a prophet from my ill-gotten gains if I’m already spending money. Not wanting to burn 2 bucks I went home and searched for an alternative.
Quizlet is an online flashcard creation site. Yes there are many flashcard sites but none like Quizlet. “Quizlet eats flashcards for breakfast”, according to the website. You create a list of words and definitions and Quizlet used it’s online tools to teach it to you.
One method used is a game called “scatter”. Just imagine 52 pickup but with flash cards. You just drag and drop the term on top of the definition and vice-versa. Scatter is timed which kept me playing it over and over to beat my time. It’s not all about games here. There is conventional term to definition matching with a twist. The system monitors which terms you know, shows them less and shows the ones you don’t more. Not bad for a site who’s creator was still worrying about homeroom and study hall when it launched a few years ago. Yes, he was in high school when it all came to him. Talk about initiative.
Check out Quizlet today, you may find it good to create a list and share it with your students as a cool method to prepare the class for your next quiz.