While my hopes is that summer is relaxing, refreshing and rejuvenating, I understand the fundamental nature of teaching (and LMS) as a profession...summer is a time to catch up on all the things you didn't have time for during the year, training, training and more training, and career enrichment activities.
Here are a couple of "easy" tech-suggestions that you can do while actually "lazing" around the pool this summer that will make your life easier.
1. Set up a Box account. Box is an online file storage site that allows you to upload files, store them safely online and share them with others. Box also has iOS and Android apps for all types of devices as well as a Google Chrome app. The beauty of Box is that files are easily viewable on all of your devices. You will start with 5GB of storage space (similar to Google Drive), but over the course of the year, they offer 50GB of storage frequently. 50GB is a ton of space.
Family Photos
Home Videos
Important Documents
2. Read a techie blog or website regularly. Those of you who know me well know I read Mashable everyday, but there are lots of others:
3. Start blogging yourself! Trust me it's fun (I am hoping for you), therapeutic (at least for me) and informational. You have so much knowledge to share...share it.
4. Spend 10 minutes a day looking through apps for your iPad/iPhone or Android device. Even if you don't find any, you will at least know what you don't like. Call it "internal" review.
I am going to say something controversial, apocalyptic and it might upset people.
I don't like iPhones.
(I am waiting for lightning to strike or a fissure to open beneath my desk, hang on...)
I said it. I don't like iPhones. I appreciate everything that Apple, iPhones and Steve Jobs has done for computational design and the tech market, but I still don't like iPhones.
My colleagues, when I tell them of this dislike, say "but you're an Apple guy." Right. I love the iPad and I am trying to get a MacBook by hook or by crook, but still don't like the iPhone. I am not trying to dissuade you from purchasing one or enjoying the one you might have, because they are really nice devices. My wife has a 4 (pre-Siri) and it works nicely. The mockup of the iPhone 5 looks slick as well. So what's my deal?
Meet my new best friend
The Droid Razr Maxx (enter O Fortuna from Carmina Barana or the Exorcist, I guess). Please play while reading the next part...impressive.
Yes, the MAXX.
The "WOW" of the Maxx:
Reception is the best I have ever heard...specially considering my office is in the basement (read that no windows) of the Polk Library.
Droid operating system is incredible...Google developed...Upgrade to ICS (Ice Cream Sandwich) operating system (end of June) will make this so much sweeter.
Battery life is longer than I know. I have used it for two whole days as a "heavy" user trial and got down to 30%. I haven't been under that yet.
Super AMOLed OLED screen...greater colors, faster (not choppy) playbacks and no backlight required which uses less power. This is HD viewing...on a phone.
Camera and video camera are awesome.
Expandable memory through microSD card
More, so very much more...
I am slowly approaching the point where I use my phone for computing more than my iPad.
As a note, stay away from the Droid Razr. Dealers will try to sell you one, but with so many high resolution graphics, 4G access, etc...the battery life of a normal user is about 4 hours. They will also include a battery backup, but seriously, do you want to make calls with this plugged to your phone?
I have seen it done.
If you love your iPhone...awesome. The point with all of this Razr-love I have going on is to test out other, even non-Apple, products occasionally. You will be surprised what you find.
Living in a land of ice and snow...well, normally right?...we spend much of our time, particularly during the school year, inside. When the "weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful", it is so much easier to curl up with a great book and read.
I would be remiss as a "librarian" not to spread the word about summer reading. Like my own kids, I am just as guilty of not making time to read as much as I should during the summer. We spend the entire day running to sports camps (yes, basketball is an all-year sport in my house), league games and travel team tournaments, swimming in the pool, playing in the neighborhood and chatting over the campfire with some awesome neighbors. When we get in the house, we crash like mighty oaks who have outgrown their roots.
Here's my goal for this summer...three simple ABC steps to get the family reading regularly.
A is for Access
Access, access, access is what I normally yell for technology. Access to equipment, access to resources, access to expert assistance. Books are much the same way. To truly embrace a great book, readers need access to places to get books (free is preferable, cheap is acceptable), access to books themselves, and access to professional readers (Librarians of the world unite!). So, how do I (or my children and students) get access to books during the summer...
1. Our awesome public library. Wisconsin is blessed with some excellent public library systems. If you can't find your favorite book at your local library, they will get it shipped from another library to your local one for FREE! Then you can check it out for FREE! I live in the Outagamie-Waupaca Library System (OWLS) and they truly are the greatest library staff and group of libraries anywhere.
2. Reading clubs for children, young adults and adults through public libraries, Starbucks or book stores. Reading with others is always more interesting than reading by yourself. Discussing great books, or even just good books, brings the story to life.
3. Digital or audio books for iPad, Kindle or Nook. Load up your reading list at the beginning of summer and you are good to go. I currently have 32 books on my iPad for summer reading enjoyment and I take them to every kid's sporting event, vacation, barbecue, etc... My intent is to sit by the pool while the kids swim, enjoy our lovely Wisconsin summer and read. I will also bring them on our trip to Florida in August to listen on the way or read at the beach.
Book for my trip south
4. If you are a teacher, please ask your school librarian for a stack of books for the summer. Over my 13 years in districts, I loaned thousands of books to teachers over the summer...why? As we all know, teachers (elementary, esp.) have time over the summer to catch up, reinvigorate, and truly enjoy all the new books that came out during the year.
Call it "literature refreshment" as opposed to the liquid kind.
B is for Books That I Want To Read
Read what interests you. Don't get caught up in "I should read this..." or "I have to read this..." Summer reading needs to be interesting and engaging and make the time investment worthwhile. Read something you don't have time to during the year.
I would encourage you to try audiobooks as well. Easily downloaded to your iPod/iPad, audiobooks are great for long trips, walks, lounging by the pool or at the beach.
The professionals at your local public library will always be there to help you out. If you need suggestions, please email me.
C is for Commitment
Just as we take time to retool and retrain for our increasingly complex profession, make the commitment to re-invest in your own literacy. I am a believer, whether I can prove it or not, that reading voraciously improves writing abilities (no comments please), rational thinking (again with the comments), memory, vocabulary and the ability to communicate effectively.
The Zen side of me also knows reading is a method to calmness, inner peace, and satisfaction.
Make the commitment to find 30 minutes a day to exercise your brain.
