As the year closes, it has occurred to me that my blogging days have been very limited. For that I am disappointed. However, it has been one incredible year with projects pulling me in every EduIT direction I can think of. For that, I am fortunate and deeply appreciative to all who have engaged with me this year. I have learned from many of you, and I continue to grow every single day. For that, I toast to you a Happy New Year and best wishes to 2012!

Regards,

@socratech

A special thank you to @EdTechSandyK for giving props to #EduIT on her blog post: 2011 EduBlog Award Nominations

Click here to vote for Best Twitter Hashtag 2011.

For those not familiar with #EduIT hashtag, here is an old post: The #EduIT Contributors…Keep it Growing!

Back in January 2010:

“To keep the productive EdTech and IT discussion going, I decided to create a Twitter hashtag devoted to technologists who work in the Information Technology Department at educational institutions. As brilliant as the #edchat discussion are, I thought a separate hashtag would serve beneficial to those focused on topics and questions related to school technology infrastructures. There is a growing need for clear communication between EdTech and IT, and I hope we can bridge the two departments with the #EduIT hashtag.”

In our cash strapped education system, it is always critical to look at price point for technology decision makers. Without sacrificing functionality, we always have to ask the tough questions, is this device worth it? With a product such as the Raspberry Pi, and the emergence of web 2.0 cloud tools, this has some serious potential in our schools. As we move our applications to cloud, our students could use a device option like this. It is extremely low cost, just enough processing power, and easy to manage using Linux platform.

Raspberry Pi, I would be delighted to beta test this device in our schools. Time to send out an email…

The rapid development of educational software is providing teachers access to digital content in a new interactive way. While the teacher remains as the core of the blended learning model, the hope of blended learning is that the technology will enable teachers to efficiently personalize instruction for each student. The goal of these tools is to provide teachers real-time data, differentiated instruction paced for each individual, and deliver various methods of curriculum interaction. The success of the blended model has strong dependance of the tools available for teachers.

There are several technologies that are being developed to support this model. Unless you are building your own internal tools, below are the technologies and example companies who are developing in this area:

• Learning Management Systems (LMS) – Blackboard, Desire2Learn, Moodle, Haiku, Sakai, Canvas, and BrainHoney
• Student Information Systems (SIS) – PowerSchool, Genesis, eSchoolPlus, Zangle, BlackBaud and Focus SIS
• Content & Instruction Providers – Apex, e2020, K12 Inc., Aleks, Learn360, Khan Academy, Compass Learning and DreamBox
• Data Assessment Systems (DAS) – Data Director, EduSoft, Illuminate, NWEA, CoreK12, D2SC, Link It and SchoolNet
• Communication & Collaboration Tools – Google Apps for Edu, Microsoft Live 365, Zoho, Wikis, Skype, GoToMeeting and Edmodo

And in near future, there will be a host of companies developing products that will provide Data Aggregation, Teacher Dashboard & Reporting, Infrastructure Systems Integration, and Predictive Analytics.

As one can see above, there is a heavy dependance of the development of these technologies to power our blended classrooms. The teacher ultimately drives the blended classroom, but these technologies provide the tools that will bring it all together.

As blended learning continues to evolve as an educational approach, technologists and educators have to keep a close eye on the industry that will support it. And as more and more companies develop products, there will be a growing need to be critical on who will survive to truly support our classrooms. Let the product wars begin…

Unfortunately, the reality is not quite the dream of every Educational Technologist. In a perfect world, all teachers and staff would be tweeting, blogging, and setting up wikis as an everyday practice. Technologists would be facilitating full classes of professional development focused on technology integration, and all school operations would run digitally.

But if you live in the trenches, you will know it is not as rosy as you would like. There are the challenges of culture, infrastructure, and diversity of personalities that provide roadblocks to change. There is also the reality that change takes time, and people have their own pace of learning (sounds like differentiation to me!). And of course there are those who are set on their ways and simply do not want change.

All these varying roadblocks can frustrate many of us, and sometimes makes us (including me) feel like failures. For every 5 converts, one negative comment or feedback can affect us greatly. We are tasked with an important role, and the passion to get every one on board drives us in what we do. At least I have asked the question many times: How can anyone not want to work and teach in this way? That mentality only amplified my desire to convert everyone, but often lead me to disappointment. It was time to reflect, take advice, and reevaluate the reality of the situation.

The best advice given to me in this edtech role is that “You can’t win them all!”

Spending energy trying to convert that masses can be draining, and that focusing on the found will provide the success stories that will keep one motivated. And you hope by highlighting and supporting the found, they in turn will do the same for other people. I often found success when multiple people are delivering the same message. At the end of the day, it is not about you, it is about the students and the mission to deliver 21st century learning opportunities that foster academic excellence, leading to global collaboration, digital citizenship/literacy, and a love for learning.

Perceptive Pixel – They claim to be the first multi-touch desktop display. Their 82″ LCD multi-touch display is quite impressive. You will see these displays used by CNN and ESPN in their shows.

LG Smart Scan Mouse - Is it a mouse with a scanner, or scanner that is a mouse? LG has reinvented the mouse with a built in scanner. Innovative tool for quick scanning purposes.

Toshiba Ultrabook – A sleek competitor to the Lenovo IdeaPad. It boosts i7 series chips with 6GB of RAM, that weighs 2.5 lbs and is only 0.6 inches thick. It is loaded for a ultra portable device. It is looking to sell for $1000…coming in November.

Mangahigh.com – Manga High has been around, but recently have made their product completely free for educators to use in their classroom. Manga High is fun game-based mathematics software that is adaptive and standards-based content. Great for elementary and middle school students.

Knovio – A new web 2.0 tool that teachers can use with students to create animated presentations with matching recorded video. Three simple steps: 1. upload the presentation 2. record the video 3. share it!

CIO – Chief Information Office website provides me valuable insight in the IT industry and trends that potentially affect the K12 environment.

Campus Technology – Focus is on Higher Education campus enterprise networking and infrastructure.

EDTECH – The first #edtech print publication that I started reading, now I just follow the K12 website edition.

Converge – Chronicles trends in technology in education and appreciate their willingness to reach out to the people, including myself.

MindShift – This one is new to me, but I have enjoyed the posts recently around educational technology thought leadership.

Tech & Learning – The best practices and SchoolCIO sections of the website are of interest to me.

EdSurge – Probably the lesser known of the group, but they are highlighting some great innovations in education.

Network World – The longest tenured “geeky” magazine that I consistently follow. Network world focuses on all the next generation infrastructure developments.

MacWorld – As an Apple “fanboy,” keeping with Apple news is essential. Especially with movement towards tablets and iOS apps.

EdTech Reports: 2011 Horizon Report, 2011 Horizon Report K12 Edition, Rise of K12 Blended Learning, Digital Learning Now Report, Next Generation Assessments Roadmap to 2014, AUP in a Web 2.0 and Mobile Era, Children and Electronic Media, Media in the Lives of 8 to 18 Year Olds, Managing Learning: Next Generation Learning Systems, The MILE Guide, PBS Technology Integration, Learning in the 21st Century: Taking it Mobile, National Education Technology Plan

Cloud computing/Web-based systems/SaaS/Cloud applications: Google Apps for Education, Microsoft Office 365, Zoho, Edmodo, iCloud, JayCut, SlideRocket, SplashUp

Mobile: Augmented Reality Apps, Mobile Learning Experience, iPads in Education Ning, iPads for Education, 40 Ways to Use QR Codes, M-Learning: Promises, Perils and Challenges for K12, PollEverywhere, QR Code Generator, Layar Browser

Game-Based Education: Games and Learning report from Future Labs, Engineering Design Tools for K12, Gamestar Mechanic, Scratch, Kodu Labs, Alice, Quest 2 Learn, Airy Labs, Compilation of Game-Based Education Links

Open Content: CK12, Curriki, NROC, OER Commons, Open Text Book, California Open Source Textbook Project, Khan Academy, WikiEducator

Learning Analytics: SNAPP, Delicious Bookmark on Learning Analytics, Illuminate

Personalize Learning Environments: Is this a PLE?, The PLN Matures, The Open Learning Network

EdTech Video Links:

• CoSN Learning to Change – Changing to Learn 
• Learning to Change/Changing to Learn Student Voices
• Conrad Wolfram: Teaching kids real math with computers
• Hip-Hop Genius: Remixing High School Education
• Salman Khan: Let’s use video to reinvent education
• Teach Education and 21st Century Skills
• Education for Uncertain Futures
• Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students’ Digital Smarts
• Pranav Mistry: The thrilling potential of Sixth Sense Technology
• Dan Meyer: Math class needs a makeover
• Will Richardson: The intersection of social networks and education
• Greg Whitby: 21st Century Pedagogy
• Jeff Monday: Disruptive Innovation
• Sugata Mitra: The child-driven education
• Luis von Ahn: Harnesses Brainpower
• Digital Media – New Learners of the 21st Century
• PBS Frontline: Digital Nation
• Teaching without Words in Math
• Let’s start a learning revolution
• Reed Hastings: ASU Education Innovation Keynote
• RSA Animate: Changing Educaton Paradigms
• RSA Animate: 21st Century Enlightenment
• RSA Animate: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
• RSA Animate: The Internet in Society: Empowering or Censoring Citizens?

PollEverywhere Question: What emerging technology interests you most?

WallWisher Question: What technology tools do you use in the classroom?

Now that many classes, schools, and districts are using GA4E with their students, I find the next logical step for Google is to start partnering with educational software tools to provide a wider breadth of applications. It is a brilliant move! Google hooked us educators with a great web platform; and now they can leverage the user base to get these 3rd party companies to sell us products. I have always said, the education sector is the next big industry and technology is driving that business. Since GA4E is a simple and robust administrative platform, it will make it easy for technology administrators to bring in new education applications into their infrastructure without much overhead. If evolved strategically, GA4E can become the web platform for the next generation edtech initiatives. Can you imagine in the future, GA4E integrating with Learning Management Systems, SIS, virtual worlds, and online interactive education content? You would have to think Google had this in mind prior to launching a free Google Apps for Education…muahahah!

How Google+ contributes to the master plan?

Rather than relying on third party apps for social media, Google decided to launch their latest SM attempt with Google+. When I first signed into Google+ (thanks to @teachingwthsoul for the invite), my immediate reaction was Edmodo. It felt like Edmodo because of the groups (circles) to share certain information with. While Facebook does have this feature, it is built to be open and is a pain to manage lists. I realize Google+ is technically in beta mode, but they will need to add some core features that Edmodo provides to make it more manageable to tag, store and categorize information. Google has the user base to truly make Google+ an essential learning tool for education. By adding some education features to the platform, I can see it become the platform of choice for 21st century collaboration.

The driver to make Google+ the social media platform of choice is the soon to be integration with Google Apps for Education.  I can only imagine the capabilities it would provide for teachers and students. Teachers can group students in circles and provide differentiated lessons, dialogue, and activities. It would definitely evolve the concept of literature circles and socratic seminars. If they build school and classroom management capabilities, Google+ on private GA4E domains can provide a safe and secure platform for students to collaborate and share information. If I was Edmodo, I would definitely keep my eye on Google+…