iPhoto in the Classroom

Got some ideas for iPhoto in the Classroom? Tell us about them by clicking on the comment button below. Come share your ideas with other teachers!

Here are some ideas from Apple to get you started.

Let's Go Shopping!

On-line shopping is becoming more and more popular these days. For me personally, I enjoy the ability to get those hard-to-find items easily. I'm not one to go browsing in a store. I figure out what it is I want, go to the store, find it, buy it, and head back home usually in under 30 min. My wife, on the other hand, enjoys going shopping for shopping's sake. She will "wander," (usually aimlessly) through the mall and come back with a slew of items she never intended to buy.

Even though we both have different shopping habits, there is always a place on the internet for both of us. For example, there is no place locally to get loose-leaf green tea (which I happen to love). So I get all my green tea from Adagio.com. If you are a teacher at Kecoughtan and would ever like to try some, come down to my office and Nathan and I will be happy to brew you a cup.

For those of you closer to my wife's shopping habits, you might enjoy perusing the isles of Overstock.com. My wife claims you can get some really good deals there. Wired News also recently published an article with 10 of their Wackiest E-Commerce Sites. Take a look and let me know what you think. Happy Shopping!

Lord of the Files

What would happen if children made up their own laws and ran their own government? William Golding wrote a book on this principle in 1954 - "The Lord of the Flies." In the book, a group of children are stranded on a deserted island, and in order to survive, they are forced to govern themselves. There are no adults to guide them in proper decisions, so to make a long story short - total chaos breaks out!

The children of today have found their own "island" to govern - its name is Technology. They have found a world with no rules, no guidelines, and no morals. Needless to say, it's a child's dream and a parent's nightmare. Technology has come a long way, but unless we as adults are willing to step in and offer guidance, children will continue to make poor choices about how to use that technology.

Through the dramatization of the media, new technology always seems to be frowned upon. Adults are always looking for a way to shut it down, instead of reshaping it in a positive fashion. For example, when MySpace first hit the news, it was because parents were shocked to find out their children were posting potentially harmful information about themselves to the internet. Of course, the kids had already been doing this for years through instant messaging and social sites. Let's look at the good side of what MySpace did for children:

• Children were using communication skills
• They were sharing ideas across a wide audience
• They were expressing opinions on subjects that mattered to them

Imagine where MySpace would be today if we had offered some much-needed guidance to our children about how to post information safely.

The power of parenting and teaching is influence. Believe it or not, kids look up to you. They need your guidance. Don't turn your back on the island of Technology - live there with them, and it will be a much happier place for us all!

Alternative iPod Uses

I've had an iPod now for about a year, and I find myself using it for a lot more than just music. Here are some of the other things I use it for:

• Contacts
• Calendar Appointments
• Listening to Podcasts
• Watching movies (yes, it can be done, and looks pretty good too!)
• Watching Video Podcasts
• The back makes a great mirror!
• Used the display to find lost change under a car seat.

Yes, that last one was pushing it, but it's true. Have you ever used your iPod in an unconventional way? Let us know about it - click the comment link.

Don't forget to set the alarm!

Found this nifty little article about a new piece of software called iAlertU. Gives your mac an anti-theft alarm! Check it out.

A Little Humor to Brighten Your Day

Well, it's Friday, it's raining, and here we are at a Teacher Workday! Life doesn't get any better than this! On days like today, I like to take a few minutes here and there to have a good laugh. One of my favorite cartoons (yes, I'm 31 and I still like cartoons) comes from Homestarrunner.com. In the "Toons" section, there is a cartoon called "Strong Bad Emails." The thing that makes this cartoon unique is that it is interactive. At the end of each cartoon is a link to email the character "Strongbad." Readers can email Strongbad and have their emails answered in cartoon form on upcoming shows. Pretty neat idea. Anyway, give it a try if you want or need a good laugh. By the way, a small amount of these are also available in Video Podcast form through iTunes.

Blogging for Teachers

Our "Blogging for Teachers" class was so successful at Kecoughtan, today I will be teaching the same class at Syms. Teachers will be asked to share their ideas about Blogging for Teachers and how it can be used by clicking on the comment link. I'd like you to read what others have suggested and either comment on their ideas, or you can submit a new idea of your own. The choice is yours! Happy Blogging!

Here is Goochland County's Web Log page. Use it for ideas!

Major Apple Announcement!

Well, now it's official. You can run Windows XP and OS X on the new Intel Macs. Apple has released a program (now called Boot Camp) that will allow you to "dual boot" either to Windows XP or to OS X on startup.

What makes this so significant? Well, I believe that many people do not want to buy Macs simply because they are so used to Windows and don't want to learn a new operating system. I think we can all agree that Macs definitely LOOK nicer than any PC out there. So, I think this will help get some of these Macs into homes that wouldn't have them there before. Once they are in the homes, people are bound to at least check out this whole "OS X" thing, because after-all, it's on their computer now in their house, and they paid for it. Speaking from personal experience, it only takes a Windows user a few weeks inside OS X to make them want to abandon Windows all-together.

All-in-all, I am very excited about this. Now, I will have access to those "Windows only apps," and can easily switch back and forth between environments. Thanks Apple!

Click here to visit the official website.

PowerPoint Tips

• Keep your text short and simple
• Light background = Dark text
• Dark background = Light text
• Content is more important than "whistles and bangs"
  

Quick Tip : Command + Tab

Did you know that you can easily switch between multiple applications in OS X and Windows? For OS X, hold down the Apple (Command) key with one finger and tap the Tab key with the other. Let go of the Apple key when you get to the application you want. For Windows, hold down the Control key with one finger and tap the Tab key with the other. Let go of the Control key when you get to the application you want.