01.19.07

Finally that synch I need

Posted in future paradigms, web2.0 at 3:11 pm by sbetts

Ok, only the photo portion is released, but SharpCast looks to be the application I’ve been dreaming of.  Seamless integration with your desktop - at least in Windows.  Sync documents, music & videos everywhere and without pain.

I don’t know how many hours I have spent working with single files and ftp sites - this is what I have been waiting for.  If you are a linux user, you can upload through their website instead of downloading the desktop software.  If there are other such apps out there, I haven’t browsed by them.

01.15.07

3rd world or our world?

Posted in future paradigms at 8:47 am by sbetts

This is a quote from a very interesting posting on the schoolforge list - posted by M. Cooper in a discussion on the $100 computer distribution. It made me contemplate what that might mean to US education and future - what do you think? I have nothing against Negroponte and Papert - as a matter of fact, I think they have really analyzed their project and feel it is the way to go.

Post your comments.
“OLPC should be giving laptops to poor African-American families in Mississippi and opening camps to teach them. What about poor Appalachians and the children of the working poor? Or how about young people on Indian reservations? How about the children of illegal farm workers? Or what about the homeless children in America? Those children go to school. How about computers in homeless shelters and staff to teach children there? Steve Hargadan has a podcast with one of the people involved in a project to put computers in homeless shelters, and she is a PhD who herself was a homeless child.”

I didn’t find this particular podcast - but if you have never listened to Steve’s interviews, they are worth the time.

Take a look at http://papert.org/


01.09.07

Tough choices

Posted in future paradigms at 3:25 pm by sbetts

Radical changes in education. Maine is presently analyzing Governor Baldacci’s education proposal Local Schools, Regional Support. A report that was released on December 14th recommends more than just regions.
The Skills of the American Workforce (http://www.skillscommission.org/) unveiled a complete change of the American educational system. They didn’t waste any words in how and why this should be done:
Without these changes, the Commission said, the American standard of living will be in serious jeopardy.

And they are not saying to “fix” the K-12 system, but to replace it!

You must purchase the book, but can read the executive summary - http://www.skillscommission.org/pdf/exec_sum/ToughChoices_EXECSUM.pdf

Do you agree?

01.02.07

How did you spend your time?

Posted in web2.0 at 1:45 pm by sbetts

I did spend some family time this break - and managed to make some resolutions which I hope to meet in 2007. But, much of my noodling on the machine was due to a link of Web 2.0 tools that was posted by the WOW2 gals.

You may want to check them out - but only if you have a lot of time….. Go2Web20
Sharon