A lot to be thankful for....

I passed my last Google Test this morning! Now on to the biography video!

The Road to becoming a Google Certified Trainer

I've been selected to be one of the few people to become a Google Certified Trainer through NYIT!

Google+

I'm loving Google+! Watch out Zuck, There's a new game in town!

If anyone wants an invite post below.

Wave Goodbye to Email

Last week, I posted my thoughts about Google Chrome here. I had mentioned that Google needed an ace up their sleeve to go toe to toe with Microsoft (too many clichés in one sentence?). Yesterday, I watched the Google Keynote and Demonstration of Google Wave. Google Wave is not just another cool and helpful Google App. Google Wave could possibly be the biggest thing to hit the internet since YouTube. Wave takes the idea of Instant Messaging, Email, Blogging, Wikis, Flickr, Delicious, Twitter, Discussion Boards and RSS Feeds and rolls them into one idea: Waves. The idea is that a conversion can be had across multiple platforms will multiple people. Google Wave allows information to be posted in one spot and shared with everyone you want. It takes the idea behind RSS Feeds is to bring information to you at a centralized location, the idea behind Wave is sharing information from a central location and having it spread out to all of your apps and networks. Check out the video below:



This blows Outlook Exchange Server out of the water! I have seen a trend of schools taking on Google Apps for their communication needs, I hope some consider this for their communication methods over some the other choices.

Google Chrome - Google's World Domination Continues to Expand - With Open Arms

So there has been a lot of buzz on the “internets” about Google’s upcoming OS- Google Chrome and Windows 7 OS. I am a Vista user and had my share of issues with the operating system, but still prefer the OS over XP. I am looking forward to Windows 7 and have already pre-ordered it. However, I am an avid Google fan and feel that Google offers tons of great apps and services. I don’t know if Google can compete with the Microsoft Giant. With Microsoft’s Bing Search engine taking shots at Google, it only seems fitting that Google return the favor. All of Google’s basic applications and services have been free. If Google Chrome (now only a browser) is a free OS it may get a lot of support, perhaps more than Linux. However, I only see the support in the network market and little in the desktop world of business and education. The unlikely support of Microsoft’s Powerhouse Office Suite will ultimately rule Google out.
But what if Google had an ace up its sleeve, I fully expect Google Documents, Calendar, Gmail, Maps, Etc to all have offline counterparts in the new OS with syncing options. However, what if Google did a complete overhaul of its line of products to try to compete with Microsoft head on? What if they did it for free too. Could that unleash the world from the grips of Microsoft domination? How would they make money? Google Ads. When the OS is connected to the internet, Google could have not distracting ads that are on the side of the screen. This would allow for revenue. Additionally, users could pay a small yearly fee to run the OS ad free. This model would be great and probably would be cheaper than other solutions.
Google would need to support some of the big software companies out there. Adobe being one of the big companies they would need support from. Google would also have to offer something that Apple, Microsoft and Linux cannot. Google needs to give users a reason to switch out of their comfort-zone. Lastly, Google needs to be partnered with Dell, HP and the other big companies to provide their OS preloaded. Ultimately, the success will come down to support of software and easy/stability of the product. Price and Unique features will also tip the scales in their favor. How do you think the Google OS will compete against Windows 7?

Having Students Learn Out of the Palm of Their Hand

It’s been a while since I’ve really used an iPod. I prefer the hi-fidelity sound of a CD over an mp3, despite the bulky drawback. However, I’ve spent some time recently using the iPod touch. I was given one to practice with as part of my job. I must say it is a fantastic device. I know that many people reading this will say that, they already know that the iPod Touch is amazing. Others will say that the iPhone is even better. They are probably all right. From using this product it is clear why there are so many apple supporters and fanatics. I am able to check my email quickly and efficiently anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection. I am able to use the “real internet” anywhere with wi-fi. My LG Voyager can do these things too but it is “wonky”. The iPod Touch offers better applications for free that Verizon charges for. Alas, I digress. I was inspired about what could be done with these devices.
Imagine the potential for the iTouch in K-12 Education. Every student has the internet at their fingertips. Every student can sent/receive assignments to the teacher directly from their seat. Laptops were supposed to be the 21st century classroom. Laptops are too big and bulky. Even little netbooks are not the answer. iPod Touches, iPhones, gPhones, handheld devices are the future. Students can use the devices to communicate with the teacher. Schools can track the students where-abouts via the device. Attendance can be taken through the device. If every student had an iTouch in the school, teachers could podcast assignments and students could download them – taking a page out of the ivy league universities. The other advantage is that creating apps for the iTouch is relatively easy, the school could have it’s own app for students to get the lastest news related to the school via RSS Feeds. Practice is cancelled today? No worries, it’s posted on the school iTouch app and RSS feed. Mr. Smith gave the wrong page numbers for the assignment – no worries- its sent out to his students as an alert to their iTouches. Perhaps, textbooks would be available in e-book or even podcast form. Students won’t have to worry about bringing home their big bulky science book or history book. The book is on their device. Included are updates to the books to make sure the students aren’t learning with an outdated book. (Going through history class in the nineties was rough with every map depicting the Soviet Union, when it no longer existed)
Naysayers might complain that this would be bad for education. “Teachers are constantly waging wars against students and their electronic devices; Reliance on audio and video textbooks will destroy students’ abilities to read effectively; These devices would quickly become toys and won’t contribute to the learning and engagement of the students”. All of these concerns are valid. However, today’s students live in the “On-Demand” Generation. They want – No- They expect their media and information to be accessible when they want it, how they want it and for free. This culture is not going away, nor should people try to change it. It’s not a bad culture, it is just different. Students in the classroom however are taught in a closed system. The teacher teaches the lesson one way on a specific day during a specific time. Many students do not want to learn that way. Schools need to educate students on the rules of interaction and behavior. It is rude to listen to your iPod while in a face to face conversation, you shouldn’t take peoples pictures without permission. You should not post photos of yourself on the web. These are all lessons that come with this generation. Lastly, the teachers need to rethink how they teach students in today’s society. Any good educator will tell you: It is not what you teach that students remember, it is how you teach it. Using handheld devices like the iTouch/iPhone or the G-Phone can help reform our educational system and steer it down the path to 21st century learning.

During my research on my educational game development process, I found this entertaining and informative video:



Do you think educational games have potential in the classroom?