Teach like a pirate!

Have you heard of the book teach like a pirate? I follow him on Twitter. Have you felt like we were building the pirate ship as it is sailing? But can you teach like a pirate? Yes I can …. With some help from Pearl.

It worked great until she hopped up on the top of my laptop while I was saying goodbye. 

Chromebooks consideration

Here's one problem we found because of the questions we did not ask early. Printing. Our test are many PDF's. They need to be scanned. Not all tests can be embedded into the LMS. Test such as compositions that may include illustration and math that may include graphing and equations, need to be scanned. 

The cost effective point that leads district to pick a Chromebook often extends to the printer. Choosing a printer can be framed with a lower cost target in mind. Chromebooks use cloud printing where the Chromebook sends the print job out to the cloud then back to the printer. We use hot spot for internet access so our print job path is Chromebook->hotspot-> internet->cloud server-> hotspot-> printer. In order to print in the same room the job goes out of the house to the internet. 

For scanning, scan to email is one solution. Stand at the printer to scan the document. Choose scan to email and scan -> through email to Gmail-> save to drive from Gmail -> up load to LMS. 

Here are the questions we should have asked:

Does the printer have a feeder? For the $90 model we choose , no. Each page in a repeated process. 

Does the printer allow you to scan to any email address? For the $90 model we choose - no. It's only .com NOT .us ( think student@schoolname.k12.mi.us ahhh there's an issue!)

Other printing considerations: 

Does the printer hook up to the wireless stand alone meaning without first being attached to a computer? 

Does the printer have all the functions I need on board without opening the printer utilities program on a computer? Because odds are some of your functions are only through the software the does NOT run on Chromebook.

Does the printer have a UBS port? ( good back up if the cloud or hot spot or internet access goes out - that's a lot that could go out)

Lessons learned:

Ask Questions!! 

Walk me through exactly the process my student will go through to print and scan.

We are swapping out the $90 printer for a $149 price point printer and supplying a flash drive. They will scan to the memory device and walk it over to the Chromebook. They still have the options of scanning to an email. We have alias domain for each school.k12.mi.us email. With the $149 printer there is a document feeder so it's only one cycle to get that option.

Those are lessons learned so far with printing on the Chromebooks. Just questions to ask to make sure you choose the correct hardware. We are testing the new printers and drafting letters to the parents. I will keep you posted! We are hoping to switch out many at MEAP - because they was not enough going on at MEAP as is! BTW a virtual program MEAP's by flash mob but that's another story. 

dealing with of the day

9/20/13

This week I was in interview to replace our project assistant which in some people's mind is just the   sectary  of the elementary school. First of all is there really just a secretary And she is sooo much more. Yes she does enrollment, section placement and ordering courseware but she also knows the systems and reports needed. 

It was enlightening. I totally understand why my application when NOWHERE for this school year. I almost consider it a gift that Carol over looked the flaws in may application to this program. Next year with my Ed. Specialist done, I really want to make a move. My first choice is in this program working with Carol. My second choice is OS. My third choice is "other". But I need to make a move. 

And then there are the other things happening this week. 

the Chromebook users were given printers that do not allow them to make multiple scans of PFDs. It's a huge problem. And I have not heard why. It could be because these printers were cloud printers. But the solution from tech is really not solution for the end user. I am all about tech. But we really have to consider ease of use to our families. I am very concerned their solution will be a barrier to student achievement. Which is utter critical.

Then I am learning about "Eid al Adhar" (forgive me) a muslim holiday on 10/15 - which is MEAP testing dates!!!! One family asked me if the girl and boys could test separately, because of religious reasons. The MEAP accommodations do not take that into consideration. Also they will not be able to attend testing on a holiday. How rude. It's like the state mandating testing on Christmas. I really need an open minded muslim I can ask many stupid questions too. 

chromebooks

So the Chromebooks have gone out. I knew there was a problem with the spelling tests that use quick time but now there is a bigger problem. The printers they gave the Chromebook user do not have a feeder to create a many page PDF. There was a reason they did this. I have not bee ntold why. I think it may be that many printers are not cloud printers. 

Tech has a solution. 

1. scan all the page can be up to 20 with the email options

2. go to the gmail and download the  all the pages

3. upload all the pages to PDF merger app

4.merger pdf

5. download to chromebooks

6. upload to dropbox

my concerns are :

it's really hard to get all the pieces of a dropbox test to begin with

There are many many steps

I think this would be 30 to 45 minutes of  time from when the student is done taknig the test to uploading. 

We are opening gmail. I do not want to have another email system involved.

I told Carol my concerns. But I did not want to "rat out" tech. I am just looking at the barriers to student achievement. This is creating one. 

And floating in the back of my mind is the situation the WAY program teachers are in where their program sunsets at the end of the year. 

Stay tuned....... 

Will schools become defunct?

http://innovation.blurgroup.com/blog/are-tech-giants-shaping-the-future-of-education/

tech companies are coming into education with new and changing ideas of the fundamentals of education. 

MOOCS, badges, Google game for education, Apple app for education, Bill Gates foundation, Connections Academy and K12. They are some serious for profit players that are pushing into education. They are smart well funded and have a purpose. That is not educating all children. We cannot out spend them. We cannot out market them. All we can do is out quality them. 

SO much easier

So we are started our second year. The Chromebooks are slowly going out. So far no screams. The kids seem to like it. I feel so much better with the knowledge behind me. I thought I would be bored repeating the same grade and job. So far it's been easy. I dread when the huge grading time starts. But I am trying to enjoy repeating.

It's easier to answer phone calls. I have a  documenting pattern down.