Tag: laptop

  • OLTI – The Oklahoma Learning Technology Initiative

    Today’s decision by the Oklahoma State School Board to keep public K-12 schools closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year will have both short term and long term repercussions for students and families in our state. Virtually overnight (pun intended) all 500+ public school districts in our state are now required to move…

  • Thoughts on Content Filtering, Parent Education, and School Laptop Initiatives

    The Oklahoman, our largest Oklahoma City based newspaper by circulation, published a scathing article today about Norman Public Schools’ new MacBook Air and iPad “1 to 1 Learning” initiative. The article is titled, “‘They want them gone’: Norman parents complain of school devices.” In case The Oklahoman puts this article behind their paywall as they…

  • Chromebook and Home Computer Advice for Parents (Dec 2018)

    As a school director of technology as well as a known “tech geek” at other places we frequent like our church, I’m often asked for advice about purchasing computers for kids at holiday time. I’m also frequently asked about Internet filtering, Internet safety, and topics falling under the general topic of “digital citizenship.”

  • Teacher Personal Laptop Purchase Advice: Mac Laptop or Chromebook

    One of our retiring teachers this year asked me for advice about what kind of laptop she should purchase, since she has to turn in her school laptop. This is the advice I shared with her via email, slightly edited for context. Most of our faculty use Mac/Apple laptop computers, so my main recommendation to her…

  • Upgrade to Mac OS X 10.11 “El Capitan” Options

    This is an email I sent out today to all faculty/staff at our school. The majority of our teachers have Macbook Pro laptops. Feel free to copy/re-use any of this email text if desired. We have setup the Software Update service in OS X Server so when faculty/staff install Mac updates from their laptops they can get…

  • Podcast411: Going 1:1 – Planning for Success by Jake Heister

    This audio podcast is a recording of Jake Heister’s presentation on December 4, 2013, at the Interactive Learning Institute in Norman, Oklahoma, titled, “Going 1:1 – Planning for Success.” The ILI Conference is sponsored each year by the K-20 Center at the University of Oklahoma. The official session description was “Many well-intended 1:1 initiatives fall…

  • Podcast386: Implementing 1:1 Classrooms in Grand View Schools, Oklahoma

    This podcast is a a recording of Cheryl Beaman and Michelle Barnes’ presentation, “Implementing 1:1 Classrooms” at the 2011 Innovative Learning Institute in Norman, Oklahoma, on November 10th. This annual conference is hosted by the K-20 Center at the University of Oklahoma. Cheryl Beaman is the director of technology for Grandview Public Schools, and Michelle Barnes is…

  • Welcome to OLD School Assignment Turn In

    The following photographs could likely be taken at almost any College of Education today in the United States. I’m not sharing this to be harshly critical of the current institution for which I am teaching as an adjunct instructor: Rather I’m sharing these images because they reflect the assessment status quo for many professors / instructors…

  • Podcast346: Discussing Digital Literacy with Educators in the New Literacies Collaborative

    This podcast is a recording of a Ustream presentation by Wesley Fryer on 16 April 2010 to educators at North Carolina State in the New Literacies Collaborative. We used a Google Moderator Topic Series to solicit questions for this open forum. Tablet technologies, 1 to 1 laptop initiatives, digital literacy, and helping students improve their…

  • Podcast212: XO Laptop First Impressions from Colin Davitt

    This podcast is a recorded skype interview with Colin Davitt, Instructional Technology Specialist with the Lindbergh School District in St Louis, Missouri, about his initial impressions of the XO Laptop. Colin received his XO Laptop two days ago, and is VERY enthused about the capabilities and power of the XO! After hearing him talk, I…