The Ipod of Books?

Amazon.com recently announced its new Kindle, an e-book reader with free wireless access. It only weighs 10.3 ounces and can hold about 200 books, magazines, and newspapers. In addition to reading, the user can take notes on what they have read and store them on a server provided by Amazon. The device allows the user to connect and download books virtually anywhere. It does this through an EV-DO network provided by Sprint. There is no charge for this network but you will pay about $10 for a new release. Also, the device itself has a price tag of $399.

Sony already has a similar device available, but Amazon created their own so they can build a wireless service around it. It sounds like a good idea. However, it is sometimes hard to embrace change when it is in relation to something you are very passionate about, which I why think many hardcore readers will probably stick with regular printed books for a while. I am a tech geek and I love new innovations, so this concept does excite me. But, I will admit that sometimes you just can't replace a good ol' printed book. I, along with many others, have made the shift from newspapers and news shows to blogs and podcasts.

What do you think about this new technology? Heck, what do you think about e-books in general. I would love to read your comments. I know there are people out there reading this so if you have a comment or argument, please post it. Even if you don't agree with me; I won't take it personally.

Google Search Features: Awesome

I am here at Pattan for Classrooms for the Future training and I couldn't wait to share this with you. Mike Baker showed us a new tool available with Google. There is a way to search and have your results organized in a timeline. You can also search for results that have maps. To view your results in a time line, type in your search term followed by view:timeline. For example, if you are searching for information on California Wildfires you would type california wildfires view:timeline. If you want to search for google maps related to your topic you would type your search term followed by view:map. So, in this case, I would type california wildfires view:map. Check it out. I it is really cool.

TRETC - Digital Storytelling

I just attended the Digital Storytelling session at TRETC. Peter Scott from HarCourt Connected Learning was the presenter. The presentation focused on application in the classroom. According to Peter, there are four phases of digital storytelling. 1. Preparation, 2. Development, 3. Customization, and 4. Culmination. During the preparation phase, the students should be designing the story and creating a storyboard. The storyboard will make the whole project a lot easier. During the development stage, the students should be edit photos/videos and importing them into the program they are using. During the Customization phase, they can add effects and transitions if necessary. This is also when they will be adding narrations and text. Finally, during the Culmination phase, they are going to publish the project. This will enable them to share it with others. Most programs meld all of the components of the story together so they are all encapsulated in one file.

There were some uses of digital storytelling that Peter recommended to us. I have listed some below.

• Response to literature

• Account of historical events

• Character Study

• Lab reports

• Class trips

• Presentations for parents' night

In addition to digital storytelling, he also discussed some resources that may be useful to you.

Answers.com

Filamentality– create and share hotlists

Pics4Learning– copyright free images.

Clusty– search engine that clusters results together

Airset– setup on-line study groups that are accessible by invitation only

Also, he showed us some example of digital stories. The best one was created by Ken Burns.