A collection of photography and exploration focusing on Upstate South Carolina and beyond.
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One of my school tech folks forwarded a message to me that she had received from a teacher at her school… http://maps.google.com/maps This is a new, annoying, and popular site for the kids. Can you block it? She was just as appalled as I was that someone would actually want to block this site. This … Read More “You want me to block what???” »
If you can bear with me until I get through next week’s workshops I’m going for SCETV, I’ll get off of this Google Earth/geotagging kick. I promise. Until then, here are a couple more Google Earth resources I stumbled upon while preparing my materials for these workshops. First, when one thinks of geotagging, it’s usually … Read More “Recent Google Earth Discoveries” »
Two different headlines in two different papers this week could have far-reaching consequences for instructional technology in our state. That is, if they are not just bluster. On Wednesday the Spartanburg Herald reported that Jim Ritchie had introduced a bill into the Senate that woul provide laptop computers for every eighth grade student in the … Read More “Bold Non-Binding Resolutions” »
One of my tech folks called this morning with a concern about Google Earth. It seems there was a placemark entitled "Can’t fucking get there from here." The tech wanted to know if a student at the school might have been able to create that placemark for the entire school, since it seemed to be … Read More “The Perils of Web 2.0” »
It would seem that interactive smart boards are the latest thing to sweep the EdTech world. Whether it be a SMARTboard, Promethean Board, or some other brand, districts in our area are racing to put these into every classroom, along with an accompanying projection system. I have mixed feelings about these investments. I was roundly … Read More “Boards versus Tablets” »
The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion. ~Henry Steele Commager I am a government censor. I am responsible for blocking certain images and ideas that might be deemed harmful to our students. I do this … Read More “Censorship” »
Sometimes I hate dealing with vendors. Don’t get me wrong. A good relationship with a vendor is crucial to a successful technology program. However, for every good, successful vendor relationship, there are a dozen cold calls and down right annoying sales people. Since this is E-Rate season, the number of such calls has increased. First, … Read More “What part of “no”….?” »
The Greenville School District still seems to be reeling from the fallout over confidential student data. The Greenville News announced that the district is implementing a training session for administrators regarding data security. Greenville County Schools unveiled a new computer security awareness program to trustees Tuesday. Superintendent Phinnize Fisher described the program as a … Read More “More on Data Security” »
There is a segment of our population that eagerly awaits any error by the school district so that it can be exploited. This group points fingers with righteous indignation, frequently using the infraction as a call for school vouchers. This seems to be the case with the latest problems involving the Greenville County School District … Read More “Smelling Blood” »
OK, I’m ready to form a posse and hunt down, string up, then draw and quarter all would-be hackers and virus creators. We suffered from two separate attacks this week that nearly brought our operations to a standstill. First, there was the hacking. I don’t know if it was a mistake or intentional. If intentional, … Read More “Viral Madness” »