My New Standing Desk ("Ikea Hack" Version)

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All for under 30 bucks!

In my previous job I had a sweet set up with a large wide screen monitor mounted to the wall and a laptop dock attached to it (yes, I was extremely spoiled).  I knew I wanted to have a stand up desk in my new job as well.  After doing a bit of research online I found this post  on CJ Fritsch's Learn. Lead. Grow. blog, where he provides some instructions for an inexpensive "Ikea Hack".  I modified his version to fit my own needs by using  the Lack side table, a couple of brackets and a shelf. Here's the final product.  What do you think?

First Impressions: Comparing #Google Apps to #Office365

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Image from http://thedroidlawyer.com/2012/09/google-apps-or-hosted-exchange/

As many of you know, I recently accepted a new position at a school district closer to home.  Interestingly, this district decided to go with Microsoft's Office 365 as its cloud based storage/collaboration platform, whereas my previous district  was using Google Apps.  In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that I am somewhat of a Google FanBoy, but at the same time I like to keep abreast of the latest developments with all educational technology tools.  

My initial impressions are that Office 365 is a clean and simple user interface, but that it is not as developed or mature as Google's.  In particular, Google Drive has many more features, such as the ability to connect additional apps, compared to SkyDrive which is simply a file creation and management tool.  Perhaps some would take issue with this, but it is my initial impression anyway.

On the plus side for Skydrive is that the actual file editing interface and functionality are what most people are comfortable with as it looks and acts just like traditional Office docs.  So if you value that aspect, then it makes sense.  However, I have come to value morethe collabration aspect of document editing and have found that Google's tools in that regard are second to none. 

 As I use Office 365 more, I will post more thoughts here.  I would be interested to hear from those of you in other districts that have also gone "Microsoft".  How has it been for you?

Information Sharing is Power

On the way in to work recently, I listened to an interview with Vint Cerf, a foremost Internet pioneer turned Google's Chief Internet Evangelist (how great would that job be?).  You can listen to it below.  I was struck by many of the things he said in response to questions from Andrea Seabrook, formerly of NPR and now the creator of her own podcast, DecodeDC. Chief among them was the way he talked about current business models and how they are not accurately monetizing given the current technoscape.  

As an educational technologist, this rings true for me in the arena of digital access to curriculum in the classroom.  The traditional textbook publishers are trying to impose a scheme upon schools and districts that requires an annual fee per student for their content.  In reality, this does not seem feasible for schools when they have been used to purchasing a set of texts and recycling them for a certain period of time among many users.  

If the traditional textbook companies want to remain relevant, they must evolve and adjust, otherwise, the OER movement may gain enough traction to force them out.

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