For my workshop today, I’ve put together a set of images for use in Photoshop.

I am currently completing the transition to the new site design. The static pages were easy; the WordPress theme presents more of a challenge… soon enough.

Incidentally, the theme was inspired by a new layout I created for presentation handouts. And that’s a whole other discussion.

The PDFs are designed to be viewed full-screen on an “HD” display, or something at 16:10 ratio. I really don’t want folks to print them (you know, save the trees). But they will print too, on letter-sized paper. This particular presentation is for EdTech 2009 in Ashland, Virginia.

Some time ago, I fancied making really posh PDFs. But then OS X came along, and Preview, and then they didn’t do all those fancy things anymore. But I still think it’s cool that such a small file can produce such a gorgeous looking document (not mine, in particular; no bragging!). While I use Helvetica on the site, I used Formata and Minion Pro for the PDF.

I recently started looking at the website for the so-called smart pen by Livescribe.

It looks pretty interesting. I’ve seen this before when it was an earlier model and called something else (Flippen, perhaps?). What’s interesting is that it isn’t really transcribing what you wrote, but rather keeping an audio sync. What’s more interesting is the capability of drawing controls (or using the pre-printed ones) and doing things like calculations or starting audio playback.

Whether it’s Livescribe with their pen, or Microsoft with their TabletPC, there’s a lot of technology today still banking on writing with pens. I just wonder, though… is this worth the effort?

The videos for Lightscribe suggest you have a PC, but that in class, you’d be taking paper-based notes (on their dotted paper). I’d personally rather have the PC in class, and type notes. I’m far faster at writing with a computer than I’d be with a pen and paper.

The one “gotcha” for keeping the pen is our ability to draw. I like to draw sometimes. Things like diagrams, graphic organizers, charts… aren’t easily rendered a la minute with a mouse and keyboard. Some, maybe. But let’s say I’m using Microsoft’s Word to put in a quick drawing. The tools aren’t very humanistic. Instead, they’ve provided pre-made shapes and straight lines.

With Livescribe, you can draw, and later, digitize your sketch. You can also do this on the tablet PC (the only reason, I might add, for having one). I’m wondering if these two technologies might somehow be superseded by something even more natural.

Only time will tell us about what “wins” with computers: pens or fingers and touch interfaces.

One of the great things about attending a conference, even when you attend sessions on things you’ve done, or have already been involved with, is the renewed sense of energy you can grab from those presenting. I’ve been attending the Educational Technology Leadership Conference for Virginia’s schools this week in Roanoke. Today I attended several sessions that got me excited about things we’re already doing. But new energy, new angles, and new variations make these topics exciting, once again.

I attended a session by three ITRTs in Norfolk on using wikis. They, along with their teachers, were excited about using wikis to maintain resources for their curriculum maps, in addition to sharing Smart notebook resources.

A few tips:

• Don’t be afraid to share ownership with all teachers. You don’t need to police the wiki.
• When managing resources, be sure to implement a keyword tagging system. It will make finding resources of interest easier in the future.
• I’d recommend a wiki platform that allows a generic password for write access, but also allows authors/editors to identify themselves. We use with with PMWiki and I really like that combination.

I also attended a session from Powhatan that detailed their new procedure for handling TSIP requirements for teachers. The TSIP, or Technology Standards for Instructional Personnel, is a Virginia-licensure requirement for teachers and administrators. Established in 1998, it calls for teachers to have basic technology skills before obtaining a teaching license. But many feel, with it being 10 years old, it needs a revision.

Powhatan County is changing the whole concept by collecting teacher artifacts demonstrating their exhibition of NETS-T standards. So, in a sense, by saying their teachers are “NETS-T aligned,” they ought to also be TSIP-approved.

I applaud Powhatan, as I think their plan is helping their teachers acquire some of the skills necessary for addressing 21st century learning styles. But I also wonder if all the “work” is necessary to satisfy a rather simple state requirement?

There are some things I compare to the driver’s license. It should, by design, be more difficult, or less difficult, than obtaining a driver’s license. It all depends what we’re talking about.

Preparing kids for the 21st century (the type defined by Thomas Friedman) should be a “harder than” driver’s license pursuit. But, demonstrating your ability level with technology? Something tells me that should be easier.

We do G21 goals in Goochland, and we likely have a simpler TSIP process. Powhatan’s route likely fits their staff and environment. Either way, each of these two districts are going after some of the same goals. I appreciate the fact that the definitions and requirements for TSIP are ultimately decided by the individual school divisions. They allow us… flexibility.

Finally, ETLC is over tomorrow, but it was great to see so many familiar faces. Thanks to those of you who made the session on G21.

It’s great to be here for NECC 2008.