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Attached is my updated presentation for the CUE Conference.  I will be presenting Thursday March 5th, 2009, from 2:00pm to 3:00pm.  Info on my “bonus session” can be found HERE about 2/3 of the way down the page.

Wiimote Whiteboard Presentation

From the CUE Conference Catalog:

How to Build an Interactive Whiteboard for Under $100
Dan Eliot             2046
A do-it-yourself project to create an interactive whiteboard system using an existing LCD projector, Nintendo Wiimote, and an IR LED pen.
Intermediate, Experienced, Not grade-level specific
Multi, TL, IN, IT    Andreas    Wyndham Hotel

I will be presenting at the CLMS / CLHS / CUE conference in Monterey, CA on December 6th, 2008.  A PDF of my presentation can be found here:

Wiimote Whiteboard Presentation

Build Your Own Interactive Whiteboard System

Dan Eliot, El Dorado High School

The Nintendo Wii Remote ($60) has an effective built-in motion-sensing video camera. When coupled with an LCD projector, this camera can be used to convert almost any surface into an interactive whiteboard. Learn the steps necessary to create a “Do It Yourself” interactive whiteboard for under $100, see a demonstration of the system, and receive suggestions on ways to use such a system.

In my own mind, technology is a support player to good classroom teaching.  It is simply a powerful tool that, when placed in the hands of a great teacher, will help increase learning and achievement.  However, in recent years, there are a growing number of critics who feel that technology is not being used properly in education.  An interesting “listen” on this topic is provided by the CUNY lecture series, which includes a discussion by Omar Wasow, suggesting that public schools are pushing technology at the expense of real learning:

Public schools are pushing too much cutting-edge technology instead of focusing in the core mission of education, according to Internet guru Omar Wasow. Mr. Wasow, a former board president of the Brooklyn Excelsior Charter School in Bedford Stuyvesant and co-founder of the social networking website, BlackPlanet.com, keynoted the New York City College of Technology’s “Race and New Media” conference.

Listen to the podcast episode HERE or you can subscribe to the CUNY lecture series HERE.

I’ve always been disappointed by how much software companies charge education.  Sometimes, you find great software at a reasonable price, but other times you don’t.  One area that comes to mind here is in the area of Interactive Whiteboards.  Leading companies like SmartBoard and Promethean charge thousands of dollars for a single installation.  So it was with great joy that I found MIT doctoral student Johnny Chung Lee’s Wiimote Whiteboard.  Basically, Johnny shows how any LCD projector with a screen can be turned into an Interactive Whiteboard with an IR LED light pen and a Nintendo Wii Remote Control.  So $100 or less can create a complete interactive system instead of $3,000.  Lee started his Wiimote “mini-revolution” with this famous YouTube video.  A great use of off the shelf technology to solve a larger problem.  More on this topic soon after I finish a Wiimote Whiteboard setup for my MacBook!

Today, I had an interesting experience “hardening” my Macbook’s security by implementing Common Criteria.  Basically, Common Criteria is an international standard for computer security.  As implemented by Apple on OS X 10.5, it’s a small download and install (103K), followed by a series of system settings changes provided in a PDF file.  Basically, I followed a series of steps which, among other things, changed the way logins happen, changed how the computer appeared on the network, password protected the BIOS, etc.  It took about an hour, but I was left with a less “hackable” Mac.  This type of process is not for everyone, but for security conscious computer users, this is the way to go.

Educational Technology has always been a mixed bag. From old equipment, to lack of training, to lack of time to implement change, public schools have always had it tough. Recently on techlearning.com, a great article was posted which clearly discusses how to perform Staff Development the smart way. A great read which hits all of the important points. Thanks to Nori Murphy for pointing out this article. It can be found HERE.

A great summary from the article:

Technology-based professional development activities should be anchored with the following fundamental principles:

• Participants learn by doing.
• Activities are relevant to the participants’ educational roles.
• Leaders model appropriate instructional strategies.
• Schedules include time for reflection and collaboration.
• Leaders and other participants provide ongoing support.

A request from an AP Java teacher to have this old quiz I’ve used in the past.

stapler_quiz

One of the great podcasts available on “The Interweb” is Radiolab.  For me, RadioLab is a great mix of science, technology, and philosophy.  A recent favorite is the episode on Emergence which discusses how, for example, individual ants or brain cells can do little on their own and have little power, but when grouped together they can do amazing things.  Emergence, I believe, helps explain the real power behind social networking sites such as Google, MySpace and Facebook.  Google is a social networking site you say?  Well think about it, a web site’s Google search placement is based (mostly) on how many other sites are linked to it, often known as “Google Juice“.  So the power if many “weak” links results in a site being popular within Google.

Ubuntu Linux is a wonderful operating system. Over time, each new release has gotten closer and closer to being usable by real people. Real people like teachers, students and (gasp) site administrators. People who just turn on and USE computers to do things, and nothing more.

In October, the Ubuntu folks released Ubuntu 7.10 (code name Gutsy Gibbon). The question is, will this be the one. Will Linux finally gain traction in this world of Windows Vista and Mac OS? Probably not this time, but soon, I predict a Linux Operating System (probably Ubuntu) will dent the mainstream.  Time will tell…

 

I will be presenting at the CUE “Digital Natives / Digital Immigrants” Conference in Monterey on Saturday, December 1st, 2007. You can find a copy of my PowerPoint presentation here converted to PDF format:

Using WordPress In Education PDF

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