This is probably one of the things I wish I could experience in person, but won't be able to due to location.  Artist, Janet Echelman and Google Creative Director Aaron Koblin have created the most interesting piece of art in Vancouver, Canada. Check out the video - way cool!

It has been entirely too long since I have posted here! Today is a special day on the World Wide Web and a good time for me to get back on my blog. Great video below and be sure to say Happy Birthday to the Internet wherever you socially post - think of all that you do on the Internet these days!

On the Google blog recently, I read a line that struck a nerve with me. I get so frustrated with students who don't want to try because they don't think they will get it right or might possibly fail. The blog post is about "moonshots"...a group called "Solve for X" is starting a movement to encourage new innovations, especially in manufacturing. They went to Congress to share their ideas of "moonshots", but the quote that resonated with me was this: "Part of that involves encouraging and celebrating the audacity of the attempt.". The audacity of the attempt...love that. Lots of kids are so afraid of the attempt for fear of failing. Somehow we have to change that and celebrate the attempt, even if it failed.

Google Blog Post

Just want to get a quick note out to everyone about a new feature on YouTube. I am always looking for free audio files for my students to use for their projects and YouTube has answered my call! They have a section under "Creation Tools" called Audio Library where you can download music for free. They have set it up in sections based on genre, mood, instrument and duration. You can save to a favorites section as well as see the featured ones that are most popular. I'm here in my class doing a teacher dance!

www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

I've been seeing SAMR in my various readings lately and haven't really been introduced to this model. Being in a private school system, some of these acronyms are not used as often as in public schools. Regardless, the SAMR model is an excellent way for teachers who have been teaching for a while to add technology into their teaching as well as for classrooms implementing iPads.

S = Substitution: a direct substitution of technology in place of paper/pencil, no other change; typing a document instead of writing with pencil

A = Augmentation: a direct substitution but with a fundamental change; use Google docs to type paper and share it with someone.

M = Modification: technology makes a significant task redesign; use a wiki to have a discussion around a concept

R = Redefinition: technology allows for a creation of completely new task formally unable to do without technology; using Google Earth to create a virtual field trip.

There are many examples of using SAMR on the Internet. The following is a good video sharing what SAMR is.

Wow - I have managed to survive the first week of classes without losing too much sleep. I had terrible trouble with falling asleep during pre-planning as I do every year. All the things that have to get done and not enough time to do it all. I am sure you know the feeling.

I did something unusual this year that I would recommend to any teacher out there. Instead of spending my last week of summer doing things to get ready for school, I took off for a fun filled vacation to Las Vegas. Now, not everyone would pick that destination, but I know that just getting away and relaxing right before going back to school kept me from stressing for the week. I told myself that it would all be there when I got back and I had already spent a great deal of my summer doing things for school. If you are anything like me, you take classes or attend workshops over the summer that you are not compensated for. So enjoy that last week before school next year...you will have so many fun stories to share with your colleagues when you do get back to school.

I have been playing around with a new app today on my iPad. I read about it and thought this could be a great way to draw attention to sections of a picture when I am doing tutorial PDFs. This app takes any color picture and converts it to black and white. Next, you simply swipe the areas where you want the color to show.
You can connect to several photo sites besides the photos on your iPad.

So how many charging cords do you tote around? I know I have several, but the one that I am afraid to leave home without is the one to charge my iPad. For you it might be your smart phone (it will be for me when I get mine this summer!). I found a "must have" item that will allow me to leave that cord at home - yea!
ChargeCard is a product that is the size of a credit card that lets you plug in your iPhone/iPad or Android into any USB port to charge up! Talk about convenient! The price isn't too bad, but it could lower in price when it gains popularity. I think it is great and can't wait to get one.
Check it out at BiteMyApple.co

I may be the last to know this, but I found this tip and got so excited! I read several blogs and now that I have an iPad, I do a lot of reading on it. Some blogs and news sites are cluttered with ads - which I totally understand the need for. These ads though make the text area of the blog much smaller on an iPad and difficult to read. Fortunately, Apple created a super feature in Safari. When you are viewing a blog or news site in Safai, a special button will appear in the address bar - READER. When you click on this button,a floating window will pop up with just the blog or news text! I love it!