Learning - Thinking - Playing

Cobbers

A moving experience with my son at the unveiling of the Cobbers statue in Melbourne.

Changing directions - Apps on Touch

The following video is of the Head of the Innovation Department at ITmadeSimple (my 3 year old daughter), it shows her using an application on our iPod Touch called Sketches from LateNiteSoft. This application is part of the recently released update to iPhone's and iPod Touch's where third party applications can be downloaded and used on these devices.

As I watched my daughter play with the touch and use her finger, I was intrigued to see how she wanted to explore the possibilities of the program as well as the device. For a good 40 minutes she was engrossed in the application and exploration. And to think that we could be getting out students to download and learn how to build programs for these devices to then share with others (Developer Program), and if good enough possibly make some pocket money. I will be interested to see the growing list of applications developed and I look forward to some exciting educational applications - I hope.

iPhone testing

Just sitting here with the head of my companies software and hardware evaluation division (my son) looking at all the apps and games available. There is some great stuff - a number also cost $ but there are plenty of free options as well including the blog app I am using at the moment on my phone. More discoveries to come.

Australian iPhone Launch - 11 July 2008

I have just finished making the rounds of the various outlets selling the iPhone today in Melbourne and I have to say I am a little surprised at the numbers in the lines - not as large as I would have predicted. At 6:45am Telstra was certainly leading the way over Optus with it's queue with a very poor showing from Vodaphone in last place. Actually Vodaphone at one point had more sales/helpers/DJ's than customers and in talking to a couple of the store reps they indicatd that they had swatted up last night on the iPhone - what it can do, but when talking to real customers found that the majority already had a very good idea of what was possible.

This got me thinking - if you had a tool/device that was to be released on a new market (imported iPhones don't count) and you wanted to make the most of store branding and service offering, would it not have been a good idea to actually get students involved. Just think about it as a class activity students could have come up with a plan and strategy to walk the queue's and talk about the phone, its features, the telecommunication providers features and offerings and even have a couple of the devices to let people play with while waiting in line. Students would also have been able to show some of the cool web apps or sites that you could acess with the phone - onsell more branding or even highlighted tips and trick or online content suited to the device.

What a great activity that could have been - I did not see any of the three resellers doing this when I was watching the queue's - sure Vodaphone provided nibbles coffee and a DJ, but there were opportubities to be had that were missed.

Something for the next product launch - I wonder if any students/teachers were involved in something like this around the world - let me know if you were.

If you were in the queue drop me a line and tell me about the anticipation and experience.

Australia's Digital Revolution - Part 3 - Wayne .. Swan or Goose!

Just sitting in LA International Airport waiting for my flight back to Australia and I am catching up on emails and I have just come across a news story posted on The Australian newspaper website titled "Govt didn't err in PC plan cost" where Wayne Swan tries to defend the current situation involving Australian States/Territories around the computers in schools fund, especially NSW reported position where they are looking to pull out of the program due to not enough funding being provided for all the on costs. (See Part 1 and Part 2 for more information).

Wayne is quoted as saying "the government recognised there were on-costs" great, thanks for RECOGNISING this error - now fix it. You have the power and the ability to change the direction and application of funding - change it.

Wayne then goes on further to make the following statement:

"I am not going to debate this in public. We will reach an agreement with all of the states including NSW in the interests of the students and the families of Australia."

What - you are not going to discuss this publicly - are you kidding. This is tax payer money, it is my children's education, it impacts my country. Get a grip - how dare you say you are not going to discuss this in public - what is more important, admit there are issues and have an open discussion about this crucial and important area. I have just been to a major conference in America (NECC), where 18,000 people attended and discussed the importance of technology and professional development. Having a high computer ratio is not the answer - we are seeing that already with our students using mobile phones and iPods and computer game consoles. This issue needs to be discussed in the open with more visibility of what you and the states/territories are planning -  I am not happy and not convinced you are doing the right thing for me, my children or my country.

All educators and parents need to make contact with your local member, get on twitter and blogs and forums and raise this issue to make it a priority for discussion and action - it will effect you in the long run, make sure you have a say.

 

ISTE NECC 2008 Video Recap

Currently sitting in the final keynote of what has been an amazing experience, I recorded the final video recap from the conference on my Flip.

Ideas may come from the soul - but the soul is nourished by people and experiences...

I have so many new ideas............wonderful

Day 2 - NECC Update

The last couple of days have been a blur for a first timer at NECC. I have been able to record an amazing amount of audio, video and links but just not have had the time to edit and cut them together. You could say that I have been enjoying the social side of things here, and let me tel you the social side of things is something else, really -more on that at another time when I have recovered.

The buzz and ability to talk too and mix with like minded people can be overpowering.

Today I attended to two great session - I will put details and information about these up as soon as I can. Just taking it all in at 1:00am in the morning in the hotel lobby whilst accessing the free internet. This has been an amazing ride.

Goodnight