VARtek Blog

I meet with school districts throughout the country discussing their goals for technology.  It’s not difficult to help them see the advantages of outsourcing technology, but fear of the unknown is often a stumbling block many can’t overcome.  One of the greatest fears is the issue of control.  Many districts feel that going to an outsourcing solution means they are giving up control of their technology, something crucial for learning, teaching, and daily operations.  Let’s be frank.  You are not in control of technology now!  Sure, you have control over certain aspects of technology, but you’re really not in control, despite your best efforts, because you lack resources, expertise, and focus. Let me give you a comparison that might help illustrate my point.  I know a fair amount about investing.  Years ago, I created a financial plan, invested my money in accordance with that plan, and hoped for the best.  The plan made good sense to me, and I was dedicated to keeping up with it.  I monitored the results of the plan, and I seemed to be moving forward at a reasonable rate.  There were several problems with this approach; however.  First, I’m not a financial expert.  I’m pretty savvy...

We often hear people talk about “the big picture.”  I don’t know what “picture” they are referring to, but when I use the expression, I envision the picture on a puzzle box.  Do you remember working on a puzzle when you were a kid?  On rainy days, during summer break, my mother kept my brothers and me occupied by pulling out a 1000 piece puzzle.  She was no fool.  The longer we stayed busy, the less we got in her hair.  We’d attack the puzzle, sorting out all of the pieces.  First, we’d separate the border pieces.  Next, we’d separate pieces by similar colors or picture patterns.  Then we’d start trying to find how all of the pieces fit together and we’d build the puzzle to completion.  This would have been nearly impossible except that we kept looking back at the picture on the box cover.  By staying focused on “the big picture,” we could isolate the parts we needed and implement our strategy.  With so many parts, it wasn't easy, but as long as we stayed focused on the “big picture,” we’d always get there. Now imagine what it would be like if every fifteen minutes or so, the pieces and...

As well as being an English teacher and a Director of Technology, I’m also a web designer.  I remember in the early 90’s, I was speaking to a small business owner, telling him how a website would improve his business.  He listened and then said, “This Internet thing is just a fad.  It’s not going to last, so paying for a website is a waste of money.”  It may not surprise you to know that his company is no longer in business.  Let’s not judge him too harshly though.  Technology changes daily, and he since he wasn’t an expert in the field, he had to make his best guess.  The trick is recognizing the difference between new technology and a newer version of the same old thing.  Schools struggle with the same dilemma.  Computers, interactive white boards, and document cameras have all been introduced to classrooms, and many administrators are left wondering if these devices have had any significant impact on student achievement.  Now, many schools are debating whether or not to invest in mobile technologies such as iPads or similar devices.  So how to you determine if these devices represent new technology or just a new version of the same...

  This weekend, my sixteen-year-old daughter and I spent some time together, “just hang’n out.”  Those of you with teenage children know this is either very rare, or there is a master plan to ask for money brewing in the mind of said child.  In this case, it was the former, and I was delighted to spend time with a young lady who I love and admire.  Over the course of the weekend, I took note of how often technology played a part in her every-day events.  It will not surprise you to know that she texted her friends regularly.  In fact, she texted me from her bedroom to suggest that I take her to breakfast.  She kept updated with events on Facebook.  She used my laptop to do some on-line shopping, and to update something called Pinterest.  She used her phone to access our Netflix account, and the family laptop to watch TV shows via Amazon.  Saturday, when she went to the bowling alley with some friends (boys), I routinely texted her, requiring a photo of the bowling alley (hey, I’m a dad and she’s a beautiful young girl.  Of course I’m going to use technology to my advantage); thus...

  In 1997, I was teaching 10th-grade English.  I remember having a copy of “National Geographic.”  The cover story was about a robotic device that was deployed on Mars.  Sorry, the specifics of the device and its name escape me, but what I remember was that for the first time, pictures from the surface of Mars were published in something that was accessible to anyone who read “National Geographic.”  Even better, they published the special addition in 3-D!  Okay, by “3-D,” I mean the old red and blue version.  Those born . . . let’s say recently, probably don’t remember the days of “red and blue 3-D.”  Not so long ago, to make things appear 3-D, pictures were produced using red and blue images.  I won’t suggest I understand the technical specifics, but suffice it to say, when you wore cardboard glasses with one red and one blue lens, the image appear (with concentration and patience) to be 3 dimensional.  I remember sitting at my desk, looking at this magazine with my fashionable 3-D classes on, and being fascinated by the 3 dimensional images of Mars.  It was the most realistic encounter anyone could experience with another planet.  One of my students...

I am scheduled to have shoulder surgery in a couple of weeks – not something I’m looking forward to.  While I’d like to have you believe the necessity for this procedure has something to do with my incredible basketball dunking abilities, the truth is far less impressive.  As the date of surgery approaches, I considered what lead up to this, and who has been involved along the way.  I first saw my family doctor about the problem.  He recognized that I needed to see someone else and referred me to a rheumatologist.  My rheumatologist found the underlying issue, but the surgery was still necessary.  As such, he referred me to a surgeon who will perform the procedure. Most of us recognize that this is a typical process in the medical field.  While our family doctors take care of our general health concerns, they refer us to specialists when it is necessary.  Thank goodness for that too.  I think my family doctor is great, but I really don’t want him performing surgery on me.  I have a close friend who is a dentist, but I wouldn’t want him to be my optometrist.  We all recognize that when it comes to our...

It will not come as a surprise to you that as I meet with school districts around the country, I find every variation of Mac, PC, or some combination of the two. Inevitably, I’m asked, “What do you recommend, Mac or PC?” This is a legitimate question. I fully understand why I’m being asked the question, but let’s elevate the subject: We’ve all heard that there are “Mac” people and “PC” people. Yes, I’ve lived it. I’m old enough to remember when the debate was legitimate, but if we’re still arguing this matter today, we’re missing the bigger picture. I will not advocate either because the fact is, it doesn’t matter. Let me ask you this; without looking, can you tell me what brand microwave you have at home? Does it really matter? I don’t know what mine is. I have a feeling it’s a Panasonic, but then again, it could be a Sharp. I really don’t know, but here’s what I can tell you. When I want an awesome plate of nachos, it heats the chips and cheese just the way I want! Similarly, do you really think students care what brand of computer they are using? Of course...

As we begin a new year, we have a natural tendency to reflect on the changes that took place over the past 12 months.  While watching TV and listening to the various news stations discussing the many changes that took place in 2011, I am struck by how many events were influenced by technology.  Consider MySpace, the social media juggernaut, at one time sold for more than $500 million.  Experts estimate that it will likely go away in 2012.  In contrast, Facebook boasts more than 700 million users.  And while we may think of Facebook as simply a place to upload photos for our friends to view, 2011 saw many Middle Eastern nations overthrow long-standing governments.  Experts say that these movements would not have been possible without social media networks such as Twitter and Facebook. Think about how technology has changed your daily life. Borders, the one-time book store giant, closed its doors in 2011 because so many people started using electronic readers rather than buying traditional bound books.  The way technology has changed our every-day lives can be seen everywhere.  Do you remember when a trip to your bank was a common occurrence?  Now, many people manage their banking accounts...

I was reading my colleague Joe's blog titled Where do I Begin??? (which I highly recommend).  He was reflecting on his experience with technology, which has ultimately played a part in his position with VARtek.  This led me to consider my own path.  I have a few years of, let's call it "experience" on Joe.  I remember when my parents purchased a calculator from Sears!  It only had 6 digits, but that was more than enough to manage the checkbook on an enlisted man's salary, even if you took three of the positions for the decimal point and cent digits!  The most advanced form of technology in my house was our family microwave. We had a TV that was half as large and half as expensive as the family car.  When the volume needed to be adjusted or the channels changed, I was my dad's remote.  When my father wanted me back in our yard, there was no phone call or texting.  He whistled, and I'd better be within earshot if I was to stay out of trouble. My first computing experience came when I was in the Air Force.  I used a keypunch machine to input flight information.  If you know what a keypunch machine is,...

Research firm IDC estimates that over 62 million tablet computing devices will be shipped in 2011, up from just 18 million in 2010. However the number of PCs shipped will only increase by 3% from last year.* What does that mean for us as educators? That means as students return to school in January, they'll be equipped with more mobile devices than ever before — iPads, Kindles, Nooks, Xoom Tablets, and smartphones that make early computers look like dinosaurs. This growing trend tells us a few things: More and more, our students expect information at their fingertips from anywhere Students have access to tools that increase their capacity to create, research, and collaborate with teachers and peers Our educational environments should be moving toward a model that supports mobile devices The opportunities that come with BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology)Moving toward a BYOT environment helps offset the school's need to provide computing devices. This also opens the door for other technologies such as digital textbooks, which can enhance learning and reduce the cost of textbooks. *Sources:http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/sep/15/ipad-tablet-market-2011-forecasthttp://www.itproportal.com/2011/03/14/18m-tablets-sold-2010-apple-rule-tablets-2011/...

When we talk about technology in education, our conversation often focuses on "stuff."  I recently talked to a director of technology of a district with approximately 6000 students.  "So how is technology in your district?" I asked. "Good," he replied.  "None of our computers is more than 5 years old.  We have 12 mobile laptop carts.  We have 250 iPads," he added.  Clearly, from what he told me, the district has an asset replacement plan, or at least a plan to aquire new "stuff," but with all due respect to my colleague, that's not what I was asking.Emassing technology is not a technology plan. Replacing aging technology is a tactical part of a technology plan, but should never be the focus of the plan. What I was really asking was, "How is technology impacting instruction? How is it impacting student learning?  Have you been able to determine if the use of technology has had a measurable impact on test scores? Are your technology decisions positioning your district to save money?"It's easy to see the "stuff" and loose sight of the purpose for all that "stuff."  As educators, we need to remember that it's not about simply making devices available for students. ...

When was the last time you had your students conduct research for a class assignment?  Those of us who have asked students to conduct research have quickly learned that the days of students checking out the reference section of the school's library are gone.  Instead, it's online or, as far as they are concerned, it doesn't exist.  But online research has its pitfalls.  Specifically, students often need help staying focused as they move between websites.  Too easily, students become overwhelmed by all of the resources available to them.  Moreover, they are often unable to see the relationships among information found on multiple site.  This is where Middlespot.com comes in.  Middlespot is a site that helps students organize all manner of content on a single, online dashboard.  According to the folks at Middlespot, "It's the simplest way to view, read, and watch your documents, photos, links, and videos on all of your devices.  Because student content is managed online, it is available to them anywhere they have an internet connection, and on any device with a web browser.  Students can also share their dashboards with their teachers so you can check their progress and see how they're doing.  Middlespot is just one more...

As a teacher, I know how time consuming creating a lesson can be, but often others have already created the lessons you're looking for, and they are happy to share their work. Curriki is a K-12 open curricula community.  The ideas are broken out by grade level and curricular area so it's easy to search.  The site claims to have 5.6 million subscribers, and the subscription is free.  It's certainly worth checking out....

Learn Out Loud offers many free, education-based podcasts.  The site makes it easy to find podcasts based on topic and/or subject area....

This video has been available on the web for quite some time; however, I'm always surprised by how many people have not seen it yet.  As such, I'm adding it to my blog.  This video project was created in the hopes of inspiring teachers to integrate technology into their daily lessons.  ...