Digital Heroin

From a NY Post Article:

We now know that those iPads, smartphones and Xboxes are a form of digital drug. Recent brain imaging research is showing that they affect the brain’s frontal cortex — which controls executive functioning, including impulse control — in exactly the same way that cocaine does. Technology is so hyper-arousing that it raises dopamine levels — the feel-good neurotransmitter most involved in the addiction dynamic — as much as sex.

Read the full article here:

It’s ‘digital heroin’: How screens turn kids into psychotic junkies...

Chromebooks Flyer

Here is the flyer that I printed out for our school.  

If you haven't donated yet, please consider giving to our High Poverty school.

For a printable version:

Chromebooks For Our School

If you have been following me for any amount of time, then you know I am a huge Google fan.  Two years ago, any mocking for being a Google fanatic was quelled when I received in the mail a free Chromebook from Google.  I was part of their Pilot Program and received one in the mail. Since that time, I have grown to love my Chromebook.  I use it everyday.  After two years of non-stop use, it is still as fast as it was when I first got it.


A couple of days ago, I heard about a special offer from Google and DonorsChoose.org for $99 Samsung Series 5 Chromebooks for Public Schools.  This is an amazing deal!  The school where I teach in is high poverty, we are barely scraping by on one lab of old desktop computers.  We don't have ipads or even a mobile lab.  I quickly put my name in and was accepted before the time ran out.

I am writing this blog post to beg for money.  I only need to come up with about $2600 to get 22 Chromebooks for my classroom.  And... Every donation using the code INSPIRE will receive a matched donation for the next 7 days!  Please consider donating some small amount to our school for this amazing deal!

If you find it in your heart to donate a little toward a needy school, please visit this site and make a donation. (Don't forget to use the code INSPIRE to get the matching donation.)

http://www.donorschoose.org/project/chromebooks-for-our-school/934086/#materialsList


This is for a non-profit, so every donation is tax-deductible!

Building a Search Engine

I am going to learn how to build a search engine.

I just signed up for a free class through a site called Udacity.  On the about page on their site it says,

We believe university-level education can be both high quality and low cost. Using the economics of the Internet, we've connected some of the greatest teachers to hundreds of thousands of students in almost every country on Earth. Udacity was founded by three roboticists who believed much of the educational value of their university classes could be offered online for very low cost. A few weeks later, over 160,000 students in more than 190 countries enrolled in our first class, "Introduction to Artificial Intelligence." The class was twice profiled by the New York Times and also by other news media. Now we're a growing team of educators and engineers, on a mission to change the future of education

The class that I signed up for is CS101 (Computer Science 101).  It says that there is no previous programming experience required, but after 7 weeks, you will be able to create a search engine like Google or Yahoo.  Since one of the teachers is a Google Fellow, I'm guessing that this is fairly accurate.

I am requiring my Web Design and Interactive Media Class to sign up for this as well.  I am hoping that it goes well, and that I learn some stuff along the way.

Here is a video from the site where the teachers are talking about the idea of the class.

The Khan Academy

Really, really getting closer to finding ways to incorporate the Khan Academy into my math curriculum.  There is so much to this site, that it is hard to explain.  So, instead of trying to explain it, I will let you watch a video of Salman Khan, the founder of the Khan Academy.

Swimming in Computers

I feel like I am swimming in computers right now.

Two years ago my parents bought me a laptop.  It was a 17" Toshiba Satellite with Windows Vista installed.  It has been a really great computer.  We have used it at church for the power point and sometimes for the sermon recording.  It has also spent an extensive amount of time on Netflix.

Right now my wife is the primary user of this computer, but my boys have spent a little bit of time using this to play webkinz and starcraft.

Before Christmas I received a CR-48 from Google.  I got this one for free!  I signed up for the Pilot Program from Google to try out their new Chrome Operating System.  This is a web-only computer and takes some getting used to.  I am used to it, so I love it.

These computers are not for sale yet, but are rumored to be coming out this summer.  The CR-48 is a very basic computer, but I believe that the ones that hit the market will come with a little more punch.  This one has been great for me, so I have no complaints.  Plus, did I mention it was free?

This morning when I came into school there was a hp mini on my desk.  I heard that all of the teachers were getting these, but didn't know when they were going to show up.  This little laptop has Windows 7 Starter edition installed, but I have to give this one back at the end of the school year.

The school also purchased (through some grant) a projector for each of the classrooms.  They aren't installed yet, but I am trying to figure out how I could incorporate this each day.  (Could I just download other people teaching each day and just project that? hmm.... could work.)

I have yet to mention the old Dell computer at the other school where I work and the desktop computer that was already there and the old computer that I have at home for my son to do his home schooling on.  I am just swimming in laptops!

Truth is... I am not sure if this is a good thing.

this is your brain on computers

From a NY Times Article:

This is your brain on computers.

Scientists say juggling e-mail, phone calls and other incoming information can change how people think and behave. They say our ability to focus is being undermined by bursts of information.

These play to a primitive impulse to respond to immediate opportunities and threats. The stimulation provokes excitement — a dopamine squirt — that researchers say can be addictive. In its absence, people feel bored.

How true is that?!?

Read the rest of the article by clicking here.

Thanks to Challies for pointing me that way.

Chrome

Chrome OS?

I would describe this, but I think this video does a much better job of that... And if I tried to describe it, I would most likely be quoting bits of the video, and then my message would feel very disjointed because I wasn't quoting the whole video, and then you might be confused and not want to watch the video.  In fact, if I type any more than what I have already typed, you won't even bother to watch the video, because most of you (and me) don't read blogs that are more that 140 characters, thanks to Twitter.

Anyway, here is a video.



I feel giddy.

Website Created!

I absolutely love Google Apps. I used it to create my main Harmless Online page a couple of years ago. It originally started as a tool that I could use with students in a technology class, but it grew from there. It is so easy to use and there are so many different options that come with it that the more I use it, the more I love it.

I have often thought that, because of its ease of use and its unique flexibility and stability as a set of web applications, that small businesses and small ministries could really benefit in our increasingly technologically integrated world that we live in. I created a space on my site to try to draw in potential "clients". It isn't like I have advertised myself or tried to get my name out there in any way, and I will be the first to admit that I feel a little goofy even mentioning it. But I mention it now because I have my very first "customer". :)

The site that I have developed (with a little help from my sister) is for the church that I am now attending. Here is the website if you would like to go check it out: www.edgewood-danville.org

It is still a work in progress, but I think that it is a fairly nice site... especially when you consider how much money has gone into it... ($10 for the domain name registration and that's it.)

Please let me know what you think of the site:

Goodbye, old friend.

In just a few days I am going to be computerless. The laptop that I have been using for the last two years belongs to the school. I lugged that thing home every single school day. I have accomplished alot of work on it: tests have been typed, curriculum overviews have been written, grades have been entered, rubrics created, school calendars, teacher web pages, on and on...

In my spare time I have done a little blogging, twittering, and have even made my own website. But now it is all coming to an end. The computer must be returned to the school permanently and I must move on. It will be an emotional day for me.

Oh sure, I have an old-cracked-screen laptop and I have a couple of outdated computer towers that take 10 minutes to load the operating system, but I am going to miss this particular laptop. It has been good to me.

I would love to be able to go out and purchase a replacement, but lets face it... I am a school teacher. If you don't know anything else about school teachers, then know this: we don't make the big bucks! Sure, maybe after 30 years and 20 degrees and 200 workshops... maybe, but for now I am scraping by. (and I am OK with that.) Tack onto my occupation the fact that I am moving and trying to make some basic repairs on my house... yeah.

So, here is the question, is there anyone out there that would like to support a teacher by gifting them with a laptop? I want to start a "laptop for every teacher" program! Starting with me!

Ok. I am (mostly) joking. I just wanted to let you know why you might not hear from me as much this summer. But if you really did want to donate towards a laptop... Feel free to use that little paypal button on the left side of this blog!

Just kidding. Sorta. :)

Using a Wiimote

I don't have a Wii, but after I saw this guy, I really wanted a Wiimote.

Johnny Chung Lee

At least check out his head tracking video.

Google Chrome

I am sure you have probably already heard of Google Chrome by now, but just in case you haven't, I thought I would mention it.

Google Chrome is Google's Web Browser.  I am not going to say that it beats out Firefox, but so far I am liking it.  Like most of Google's products, it is streamlined, which (in my opinion) is always better when dealing with technology.  Too many bells and whistles and you end up getting lost.

If you haven't heard about it, it is worth a spin around the block.

The New Blockquote Code

Here is the code for my all new chalkboard looking <blockquote>!

(Of course this is through Blogger...)


.post blockquote {
margin:1em 20px;
border: solid 4px #D2691E;
padding: 10px;
color: #FFFFFF;
font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';
font-size: 1.5em;
border-style: inset;
background: url(http://www.harmlessonline.net-a.googlepages.com/chalkboard2.JPG);
}


(I also had to re-teach myself how to show code in a post.)

Notable Posts

As I scroll through the posts that I read through Google Reader, I will select a few posts that I feel are noteworthy. Whether they are interesting, or just plain silly depends on the mood I am in.

Here is that page of shared posts.

Harmless Online [dot] net

The technology class that I am teaching is going to be run like a corporation. The computer lab will be my office and the students will be my employees.

Here is a copy of the welcome letter that I sent home for their parents to sign.

I went all out and got my own domain name in order to use Google Apps. It cost me a whopping $10 for a year to get the domain name, but the Google interface is free. I have given each of my students their own personal e-mail, and once we get through the first semester, which will only be keyboarding, we might tackle some projects. Besides word and excel, I would like to get them to make a class webpage, and possibly a weekly newsletter.

Although right now I think I am having more fun than they are.

Who Killed the Electric Car?

I just watched the movie, Who Killed the Electric Car.

I got it in the mail the other day from Blockbuster Online. I had selected it quite a while ago, and had almost forgotten it. Then, when it arrived, I almost decided to skip it, but I am so glad that I didn't. It was very interesting.

I am not big on conspiracy theories (I do believe that we really landed someone on the moon), but I did find many of the facts to be a little on the odd side. Especially the pictures of these cars being crushed, for no reason.

It was also odd to hear politicians speaking of trying to research the manufacture of an electric car, after they had decided to take them off the market. So, on one side of the country they are crushing these workable electric cars and on the other side of the country they are discussing how they could make these things, and funding research to do so. Weird.

Anyway, I thought it was interesting, and wanted to suggest that it was worth the time watching it.

confused and afraid

Gmail is never down. (At least not when I have been trying to access it.) But it is down today. I don't know what to do with myself. I haven't been able to access my Gmail account for most of the day.

What if there is something important? What if there is a life or death situation waiting for me in my e-mail? I need to know!



On a serious note: Do you find it to be funny how much we have come to rely on new technologies? Things like e-mail and cell phones, which weren't around all that long ago, and now I go without one of them and I don't feel like I can function.

I mean really, how did we survive 20 years ago? It was like the stone-age. It used to be that if you were out and about, there was no way anyone was going to find you until you made it back home. Now we are constantly in touch with others. We are literally just a few button pushes away. Sometimes I feel like I can't get away from anyone even if I wanted to.

Oh well, I hope that Google gets this thing taken care of (especially since I was just boasting about them a couple of days ago). My life has come to a stand still until I can check my messages.

Maybe you should all drop me an e-mail so that I can have a really full inbox when I can get to it. (Actually, please do, I would be so excited to see so many unread messages!)

Google Stuff

I love Google's Stuff. Here are some things that you may not have known about previously, but I would highly recommend.

• Google Calendar Tons of features with this one. I have my wife's calendar shared with mine, and I get notifications via e-mail and on my phone.
• Google Reader (much better than bloglines or any of the others, if you ask me)
• Google Docs and Spreadsheets Almost all of the same functionality as Word and Excel. Probably not quite as extensive, but it has almost everything that I would use, plus more. For example, you can publish your documents to the web or share them with multiple users.
• Gmail I don't think that I have received more than 10 spam messages in the past 2 years that I have been using Gmail. Their spam filters are amazing. Their are tons of other features that Gmail has that I haven't seen in any other e-mail before, so you should try it out if you haven't used it before.
• Google Talk Not as flashy as some of the other IM's out there, but I really like it, and it is getting better all of the time.
  
• Google Personalized Homepage You can put almost anything that you can imagine on the personalized homepage.
• Google Video Even though Google bought YouTube, I still like Google's version better.
• Google Notebook This is a new one, but I am getting used to it. I just installed a firefox extension that puts the notebook down at the bottom of the page.
• Blogger I don't care what anyone else says, I like blogger better than any of the other blog hosts out there.
• Google Gadgets Here are some gadgets that you can put on any web page.
• Google Toolbar I really love the Google tool bar. You can get it for firefox or ie. My favorite aspect is the bookmarks. It doesn't matter what computer I am at, I have the same bookmarks.
• Google Maps Also a favorite. When I was a truck driver, I would normally use mapquest, but I had to switch over to Google Maps because I kept entering addresses that mapquest didn't recognize, but Google would. If you really like that, you should check out Google Earth, then just for fun Google Mars and Google Moon.
  

There is a ton of other stuff that Google does, you should check out their Google labs.

Gates vs. GM

I don't usually pass on those funny e-mails, but I really enjoyed this one...

Gates vs. GM

For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on.

At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated,

"If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon."

In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press release stating:

If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics:

1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash........twice a day.

2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.

3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.

4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.

5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive - but would run on only five percent of the roads.

6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation" warning light.

7. The airbag system would ask "Are you sure?" before deploying.

8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.

9. Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.

10. You'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off.

Free Calls!

Have you heard of Skype?

I downloaded Skype almost a year ago, I think. I haven't used it much, because the only people that I know that are Skype users live on the other side of the planet, so when I might want to talk, they are sound asleep because it is the middle of the night for them.

For the most part Skype isn't much different that any of the other Instant Messengers. They have video and voice chat options. They also have the availability to purchase credits to make and receive phone calls to regular telephones and mobile phones.

Well, yesterday they announced that until the end of the year you can call any phone number in the U.S. or Canada for free! That's amazing!

Whe I received the announcement, I immediately had to try it out, and sure enough... it worked. I called my house from my computer at school. Then when I got home I had to call my own phone from my computer at home, just to talk to myself. Then I called my mom. She said that she couldn't even tell that I was calling from my computer.

Anyway, feel free to give me a call from your computer to mine through Skype.