Monthly Archives: February 2011

A Digital Textbook Should be More Than A Textbook

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Originally posted at TeachPaperless.

My students have digital textbooks for several of their classes, including my social studies class. These texts are basically pdf files of the book, with a much more confusing navigation. I’m not a big fan of textbooks, and we rarely use them in class. I prefer to have my students doing their own research, or creating a product, rather than reading a textbook.

Today I asked them what they think a digital text should include. These were some of their ideas:

  • Video
  • Links to sources (My students want the author’s sources so they can check the reliability of the textbook, or do further investigation.)
  • Activities they can download
  • Intuitive navigation (like a web page)
  • Loads quickly
  • Customizable fonts
  • Adjustable page size
  • Colorful
  • Searchable
  • Links to sites of experts on the topic
  • Question and answer section where they can post and respond
  • Live chat with other students and recognized experts
  • Rollover of terms to see the definition
  • Linked table of contents
  • Printable pages
  • Voice controls (They are 7th graders.)

These ideas would make the text more of an interactive web site than a text book.
Note to publishers: That is a good thing.

 

Think Before You Post

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I’m sure that many of you have already heard about Natalie Munroe, the Pennsylvania teacher who made some negative comments about here students on her personal blog. If not, I’ll give you some links so you can catch up on what has now become an international news story, and has Ms. Munroe preparing for a legal battle to be able to return to her job.

A few facts about the incident:

  • She says she was blogging for her friends & not a larger audience. (Seven people were following her blog.)
  • Her blog post that got her into trouble was posted over a year ago.
  • The posts in question did not name any students, and did not include her last name.
  • She has been suspended from her job.

There are a couple of points I’d like to make about what happened:

  • When you post something on the Internet it can be read by anyone with Internet access.
  • Even when content is removed from the Internet it is VERY likely that it has already been archived by Google and other search engines.
  • Regardless of what Munroe meant, people make their own interpretations.

What we can learn from this:

  • Regardless of whether or not this falls under free speech, Munroe’s is paying a high price for her comments.
  • Once you post something on the Internet you lose control of it.
  • What you post on the Internet probably won’t go away, even when you delete it.
  • Everything you do on the Internet contributes to your digital reputation.

Think before you post.

Steve

Munroe Defends Comments – CNN
ABC News Report
Munroe defends herself on her blog
Chris Lehmann’s Open Letter to Munroe – Make sure you read this.

Ten Reasons to Have a Paperless Classroom

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Originally posted at TeachPaperless.

10. Work doesn’t get “lost” in the bottom of a backpack.

9. Save space (no file cabinets).

8. Nobody ever forgets their pencil.

7. Collaboration is easy from anywhere.

6. No carrying notebooks (only netbooks).

5. Students are building digital portfolios.

4. No more “no-name” assignments.

3. You never have to wait in line for the copier.

2. Save paper, save the Earth.

1. The dog can’t eat your homework.

You can go paperless in your classroom, or at least reduce the use of paper while improving your lessons. Begin planning for a paperless Earth Day, Friday, April 22, 2011.

Need some ideas about alternatives to paper? Feel free to add more.

Insert Images in GMail

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You know how GMail lets you attach an image, but doesn’t allow you to have it in the body of your email? Well, I was asked by colleague today how to insert images in GMail. I have never needed to do this with my GMail account, because I use Apple Mail to download my mail on my computer. So I had to look it up. I thought it would be worthwhile to share. This was posted by Sarah in the GMail help forum:
“Here are the instructions to insert an image in Gmail.

1. Go to the top right of the gmail page and click on “Settings.”
2. Then click on “Labs.”
3. There is an option that is called “Inserting Images.” Click on the box to enable.
4. At the bottom of the page click on the button that allows you to save changes. (Very important!)
5.Open up a new page to compose a message and now you will have a new icon that looks like a small picture of mountains or hills. (On my computer it is the 9th icon)
6. Click on this icon and you will get a box that gives you the option to either browse your computer to get the file, or enter the URL of where the image resides on the internet if it is on a website instead of on your computer.
7. Once it loads, or finds it on your computer, click on “Add Image.”

It sounds like a long process, but once you have the icon installed, the directions get reduced to…Click on icon, select picture and “add image.”
I hope this is helpful.”
I use other Labs features but never tried this one. (When you’re looking through the Labs, check out Mail Googles.)

Apple Distinguished Educator

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Do I have what it takes to join part of, “a select group of K-12 and Higher Education professionals possessing an identified expertise in educational technology leadership?” I hope so. I have wanted to be an ADE for years. Unfortunately, while I was living in Costa Rica there was no ADE program that covered Latin America. One of the reasons I was so excited to move to Korea was to get the opportunity to apply to be an ADE. I have finished my application and video and wanted to share it with you. Wish me luck, and I hope to see you at the ADE training in Bali.