Category: General

Microsoft Producer

Here is a new multimedia authoring tool for you to explore (if you both operate a recent Windows system and own a recent version of Microsoft Office). Producer is an intuitive and FREE product allowing the integration of many media types. My understanding that it is primarily a way to connect PowerPoint slides with other things (audio, video) using wizards and then publish (CD, web, etc.). Lots of options. Did I mention free?

Here is a demo I created – Demo. (Windows users only)

Only downside – both production and viewing (I think) must be on the Windows platform.

If you cannot examine the demo, here is a screen capture of the demo to give you some insight into what one display format looks like (a small video running in the upper left corner is keyed to changing PowerPoint slides on the right).

Small Producer Image

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Home Alone

I am going to spend most of the summer in Grand Forks by myself. Cindy is in Japan and Kim (youngest daughter) is biking cross country through a program called Bike and Build (Habitat for Humanity).

Both called last night (Father’s Day is today). Kim was staying a church basement somewhere in New Hampshire and Cindy was in Tokyo (her room has full internet access, but she has trouble manipulating the computer because of limited language skills). Both have phone cards – Cindy says her 1260 minute card is worth a little over 100.

Both also have blogs. Cindy’s blog is pretty elaborate – I see this morning that she has incorporated short videos – one of a jellyfish (image below is a jpg). She is using the blog as an open diary of her adventures. This will be pretty cool if she can keep at it.

Jelly Fish

Bike and Build team members take turns generating the entries for their blog. Uploading the entries is a challenge.

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Games Improve Cognitive Skills!

The May 29 issue of Nature contains an article claiming that playing video games (shooters) can improve certain cognitive skills. We are talking “the brain changes as the result of experience” type claims. The position that such experiences have some very real redeeming qualities (beyond being fun) is in stark contrast to those who see the dark side of such games (see CNN news article). While I am not ready to assign Doom as homework quite yet, the development of these contrasting claims will be interesting to follow.

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State Technology Plan

Those of us in higher ed typically bristle at claims that we work in an ivory tower. The implication is that we are unaware of how things work in the “real world.” I prefer to understand such complaints as the lack of an understanding that people often function in “parallel universes” – this view encourages the perspective that groups share the blame for any lack of understanding or common interest rather than assuming the problem is owned by one group.

I learned at the conference I attended this week that North Dakota has a State Technology Plan. This plan outlines expectations for schools, teachers, and students. I was vaguely aware of such documents because of the recent Ed Week special report that indicated states have technology plan and even the awareness the U.S. is working on a technology plan (see blog of 6/6 – you can participate). Such plans are significant. States are strongly encouraged to develop plans by linking the presence of such plans to federal dollars. States “encourage” individual schools through the same mechanism.

I am surprised that there are not more discussions among those of us involved in the preparation of teachers and those working to assure the competence of practicing teachers. I am not certain that “just in time learning” is always the most efficient approach or is always possible. I understand that universities value their independence and do not assume the teachers they prepare will all work within the state. I also understand that we explore ideas that may prove impractical. These are just different perspectives on the same goals. There must be more opportunities to develop a shared vision (or at least overlapping visions) and responsibility.

Check out your state technology plan. You should be able to locate it online.

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