Microsoft looks to be trying to get into the education market even more. Today they released a slew of software aimed at everything from school districts to specific students in college.

Technology. Gotta love it. I somehow just deleted a huge post, but, in summary, my Microsoft search brought up this small article brings up a good point: though it is necessary in the tech world of today to be able to create, save, and open Word-compatible documents, you don't HAVE to be using Microsoft Office. There are alternatives with increasing frequency that are just as stable and have the same (if not more) functions. These programs are easy to install, easy to use, and very often they are free and have a great base of customer support. I'm feeling a revolution coming.

I haven't done any Microsoft research yet, but I HAVE just spent the last hour or so looking for a wireless network in O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. What else is there to do with a three hour layover? Hope the rest of class was good today (Friday), and enjoy Monday. See you Tuesday!

In other amazing news, that last article was the first time I've hand-created an HTML link. SWEET.

Today's Microsoft Google search brought back some troubling news commonly found when dealing with internationally powerful super-companies, but what I found most interesting was an article by the BBC that discusses a contest sponsored by Microsoft to develop new technology using innovative solutions. From the article:

"The tool gives travellers access to blogs specific to the area they are in so they can find useful information and tips."

"It also creates a map which allows family and friends to follow their exact progress while they are away from home."

Though it requires a smartphone, these kinds of applications are becoming more prevelant, and contests like this really add to the amount of well-written apps there are out there that are truly connecting the world in a personal and intuitive way. I think this would be an awesome tool to use when travelling, especially for a younger generation looking to connect with others in an unfamiliar locale.

Today was a great day in class--and I don't just say that because this is a blog for class. It was my first time solo teaching in quite awhile, and to focus on technology, not as a tool to use in every lesson, but rather only in a select amount of lessons in an EFFECTIVE manner--felt really great. I've really enjoyed that approach to this class. I mentioned before how frustrated I was in 3412 with how forced the technology was on us, and now that we're using only in addition to real teaching, I'm really thinking about where that will fit in with my future teaching.

I was excited to get to see the entire classes presentations today for that reason as well--I have ideas as far as how I want to use technology in my lessons, but it was beneficial to see how someone that doesn't think like me would introduce their own ideas. Video taping was great--I realized I have a ways to go before I would trust myself in front of a class, but I learned so much from rehashing what I talked about after getting over the initial impact of teaching.

And just from hearing teachers discuss their own methods (specifically Helen's idea of "Do Now" slides at the beginning of classes), my mind has been racing while thinking of all the possibilities that technology can open for education.

I'm flying to Boston for the weekend, and I'll be leaving class early on Friday and won't be around on Monday at all. The reason this is important is because it inspired my search for a virtual tour of the area. Though I'll be missing class, I thought I should be doing something valuable with my time, and I've always loved the history of Boston. That's why this virtual tour looks like a great place to start. I really enjoy that the page is so...explorable. The small map is a great place to start for an overview of the entire walk and the more detailed maps give way to even more specific pages about the locales. I'm looking forward to it!

Today's Microsoft article rehashed the effects of a ruling against Microsoft in 2000 that ordered the company to break up into factions, saying the company had become a monopoly. In 2001, the order was overturned in U.S appeals court. The original decision came during the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration settled the case with Microsoft.

The judge who oversaw the original case, Thomas Jackson, had some less than positive feelings about Microsoft:

"The Microsoft persona I had been shown throughout the trial was one of militant defiance, unapologetic for its past behavior and determined to continue as before."

...

"Writer Ken Auletta, who wrote a book about the Microsoft case, based in part on interviews with Jackson, quoted the judge as comparing Microsoft executives to members of a drug gang because of their unrepentant attitude in court."

...

"The rationale was to enable the divisions to compete -- the former for applications from independent software suppliers as well as with its now independent counterpart, and the counterpart to write applications for nascent operating systems that might someday offer worthy competition to Windows."

The tech issue I'm going to follow for class is going to be a daily search in Google News for 'Microsoft'. Today, it took me to an article about the Prime Minister of Vietnam meeting with Bill Gates about training thousands of teachers with Microsoft technology all over Vietnam. The article:

http://www.vnunet.com/forbes/news/2138453/gates-meets-vietnam-pm

Two things bothered me about this article: First, The PM met with Gates a full day before meeting with Bush. If a Prime Minister of Vietnam hasn't been here in 30 years, shouldn't he probably be meeting with Bush first?

Second, I'm wary enough of Microsoft anything that I'm not sure this is the way Vietnam wants to go. If the plan is to build up a new infrastructure for education and technology, I'd be worried about tech upkeep costs. Apple isn't as big a company, and not as rich, but they only have one format--much easier to fix from afar, in my opinion.

5412 thoughts

One of the most appealing parts of this class has been the constant questioning of the technology we're using. In my version of The Computer in Education, one of the things that really affected my opinions of the class was our approach to technology. I've never seen a better example of technology for technology's sake. I know it's important for us to have a knowledge base for these pieces of software, but I feel like force-feeding it to someone who doesn't want to learn it won't convince anyone to introduce technology into their classroom.

Right. Blog created.