iCloud to the Rescue!

So $162 later, I had a iPhone replacement. Like most others with Smartphones, this is so much more than a phone. Pictures, books, music...pretty pedestrian stuff, but I get my money's worth out of it and then some. While I was well aware of how iCloud helps manage content from the iTunes and Apps Store, I was really happy to get my contacts and Photo Stream back with just a username and password.

How did we get along before the cloud? Beats me...I guess we just accepted data loss or jumped through hoops to back stuff up. A few weeks ago I just wrapped up listening to Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson for the second time. The part of the book where he Jobs berates the Mobile Me staff is memorable - the changes he made payed off from my vantage point. I'm sure there are people who can poke holes in the service, but it does it what I need it to do. Have my back.

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...moving in.

...getting used to my new digs in Germantown . I moved into an office I'll be sh aring with a soon to be hired Student Information Specialist. To be honest there were plenty of times in the last week I felt like I was going to puke - moving on from all I've known for 7 years professionally. Stomachs have settled now and great conversations are taking their place. Had a great one today with our high school media specialist Jeff Schreiber who has done great things integrating technology, boosting circulation and getting kids reading. I know we're going to do some great things in the next few years and I look forward to the challenge of discovering what works for Germantown in terms of instructional technology. In addition to instructional technology integration, I'm also working on data and assessment analysis. This is a hot topic in Wisconsin right now, as the DPI NAEPized (more than you care to know on this link) our standardized test scores. Students who may...

I killed my iPhone

Dropped my iPhone in the water yesterday. Yup, needed to check my email so badly that I had to take it out over water. I watched the life flicker out of it, then Googled what to do - so now it sits in a sealed bowl with rice. I have little hope. What was so important? Nothing...just the feeling that I can check it, so I should. Being that this information obsession is going to cost me, its time to take a breath and re-evaluate my usage.

The Future of Technology Funding and Support

Will Richardson and Chris Lehman shined a light on what I found to be horrifying statements. At the Education Innovation Summit Lehman reported defeated former Mayor of Washington DC Adrian Fenty said "if we fire more teachers, we'll have more money for technology."This happened a while ago - back in April, but this morning it came back to me as I contemplated the future of technology funding and support in schools in the face of ever-decreasing budgets. In my opinion, people are more important than machines for our kids. I can buy an iPad or laptop, but a personal teacher/mentor/advisor that's a little more pricey. Can we find ways to use technology to lighten the load for teachers - of course - but as a parent, a school flush with laptops and tablets, but devoid the necessary number of caring professionals to support learning is not a school I want my kids in. To contradict Mr. Fenty, "the more technology we don't buy, the more caring professionals we ...

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