Google docs add templates

Interesting move by google docs templates have a look.
http://docs.google.com/templates

sign of increasing maturity of the Google offer.

Widgets Apps WordPress

Well hows about this Wordpress have produced an app for the Ipod Touch and Iphone http://iphone.wordpress.org and its free works well on my wordpress blog (I dont use it very much). So come on Google where is the Apps for publishing to blogger

32 GB embedded NAND flash memory

Ignore the technobable but just think in really small space in MP4 players, phones, how much memory do you need this is the size of laptop kinetic hard drive 5 years ago !!

http://www.toshiba.com/taec/news/press_releases/2008/memy_08_536.jsp

If I am correct tosh produce the memory for Ipod touch, Iphone . The current 32Gb Touch has two 16GB NAND chips so repeat this and you get 64GB Ipod Touch bring it on !!!

Twofour learning blog

I don't usually comment on companies but had this blog pointed out to me . Doing interesting stuff for a range of clients and range of platforms technologies and keeping a focus on what is good for learners,learning . They also seem to be willing to share and discuss it which is no bad thing .

http://twofourlearning.blogspot.com/

As always no endorsement just personally found it interesting.

Web survey for Committee of Inquiry into the Changing Learner Experience - Survey of use of Web 2.0 technologies in teaching, learning, support and administration

Tom Franklin of Franklin Consulting

is undertaking an international study of the use of Web 2.0 technologies in teaching, learning, support and administration. As part of this study we are collecting evidence, in the form of case studies, of the use of Web 2.0 in higher education in the United Kingdom, Australia, The United States of America, South Africa and the Netherlands.

If you have been using Web 2.0 in your practice he would be very grateful if you would complete the survey, which can be found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=MZjfSlt_2buoldTLQM0ZxB1A_3d_3d or http://tinyurl.com/65ub2s .

Completing the survey should take around 20 - 30 minutes, and if you leave your email address we will send you the draft report for comment and final report.

Please feel free to forward to all interested parties

If you have any questions please contact Tom via his website http://www.franklin-consulting.co.uk/ .

Location Location Location

This is the outputs from an interesting event on Location Based Services at the National Physics laboratory as part of the DIUS funded (formerly DTI) Knowledge Transfer Networks . This KTN of Location and timing is close to my heart


http://lat.globalwatchonline.com/epicentric_portal/site/lat/events/2008/locationapplications/

E learning guild 360 report on mobile learning

going to look at this over the weekend. Interesting to see what those over the Atlantic think.

http://www.elearningguild.com/research/archives/index.cfm?action=viewonly2&id=132

MOBILE LEARNING


What it is, why it matters, and how to incorporate it into your learning strategy

by Steve Wexler, Judy Brown, David Metcalf, David Rogers, and Ellen Wagner

also doing free webinar 8.30 -9.30 Pacific time check your time difference might be worth a listen details and register here

Unsung hero's of mobile learning

Some of you may follow the Handheld learning forum www.handheldlearning.co.uk BTW only few days remaininig of early bird discount for the October conference and that free Nintendo DS.
http://www.handheldlearning2008.com

The site has been running a series of interviews on hero educators including great colleagues in the mobile learning field like Derek Robertson
http://www.handheldlearning.co.uk/content/view/46/
and Mike Sharples
http://www.handheldlearning.co.uk/content/view/55/ .


I have a new category to suggest Unsung hero's of mobile learning. I.e those working in the frontline teaching young and not so young people .

Can I embarrasss two of them by naming them Colin Bell and Mick Mullane of Yorkshire Coast College . Mick is well known in the technical area of mobile and Colin is a frontline practitioners working in the field of podcasting vodcasting with a range of engineering motor vehicle learners . Ive been moving my practice with my ipod touch up a gear and wanted to present from it . Problem two sets of cables you can buy. Rang Apple support sadly not there usual Apple savvy selves. Then rang Mick who put me onto Colin and sorted the problem in fact Colin Bless him provided online support by SMS when setting up .
Whays even funnier is I actually sourced cables from my local Argos .

Andys thought for the day is technology well on the way to being
mainstream when it appears in Argos and fully embedded when it appears
at Sainsbury's Tesco !!!


Colin and Mick Step up to the podium unsung hero's of mobile learning !!!

John Daviit the Iphone and Baking what an eclectic post

Having seen John Davitt http://newtools.org
demonstrate how he has scanned six years of passport sized note books on to his Iphone earlier in the week. This morning I had another revelation when looking for recipe for pancakes. House re build gong on cook books packed away house asleep need i say more. I was brought up with bero cook book http://www.be-ro.com/index.asp
it is now avaiable partially on-line now John I might get that Iphone scan my favourite recipes http://www.be-ro.com/f_insp.htm
when the rush dies down !!!

By the way great pancakes !!!

Mike Short the serial dating phenomena is recognised

Excuse the blog posting title and personal nature of this post . Mike Short a man that makes my skills of making connections to people and events look decidely shabby has been recognised by Staffordshire University with honorary doctorate. Well done Mike
http://web20.telecomtv.com/pages/?newsid=43467&id=e9381817-0593-417a-8639-c4c53e2a2a10&view=news

Times article How the Google generation thinks differently

Thanks to Bob for pointing this article out . Have a read do you agree or disagree let me know ? post a comment .

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article4295414.ece

Alan November goes all Northern European

Well North American based Alan November viewed by many as a guru as regards e-learning holds his own conference this summer and the Keynotes are both European .

John Davitt
Ewan Mcintosh

both legends in their own lunch time or is it lunchbox

check the keynotes out at http://novemberlearning.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=108&Itemid=122

Good stuff great speakers and thinkers and importantly doer's !!

Google Gears for Mobile ??

was just thinking of this as an idea last week and then came invite to next Mobile Mondays London Chapter meeting 14th July . Guess what one of the presentation tiles was

Google Gears Mobile - Charles Wiles

looking forward to it already

Local zone from vodafone

Ok its vodafone New Zeland but this seems an interesting development http://www.vodafone.co.nz/local-zone/ wonder if they will introduce it here.

Ethics of researching and managing mobile learning Workshop at University of Bristol

I couldn't make this event but colleagues ( friends) were kind enough to share the session with the world . Really great to see discussion around ethics of researching mobile learning really well worth a look and a bit of relection !!

https://www.bris.ac.uk/education/research/networks/mobile/events/iaswshop7notes

serendipity leads to cycling article

Travelling back from work on a nightmare train journey had a great conversation with a Librarian from Cambridge University and her daughter . Web 2.00 conservation serendipity and she pointed out a great article on cycling in Copehagen no technology but great article !!

http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/wellbeing/story/0,,2287337,00.html

Iphone as a tool for education

Watch the video from Abilene Christian University who are leading with IPhone development in educational institutions . if you get some time ignore the hype .



The reflections on this blog I read sort of mirror my thoughts

http://enkerli.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/visualizing-touch-devices-in-education/

Interesting blurring of social ,teaching and learning and education administration .
ignore the over production ;-))) think about the content .

It doesnt have to be an iphone a range of devices are emerging !!

FriendFeed

http://friendfeed.com

Blogged from gmail on my iPod touch. Thanks to those powerhouses at edte.ch for this. Hailed by many as the new twitter. Seems a more spotaneos less formal  version of Plato worth a look.

From Toy to Tool Cell phones in learning

Interesting site (North American) on use of cellphones in education. Thanks Bob for pointing this out !!

http://www.cellphonesinlearning.com/
From Toy to Tool: Cell Phones in Learning

UMPC is a new class emerging the ULCPC

The class of Ultra Mobile PC's or low format notebooks has been quite a disruptive technology in the Mobile learning area. The smart phone types suggest they are neither a smart phone or full spec laptop capable of manipulating rich media . There are it appears two classes of machine in terms of specification.

Rich Media devices (small versions of full spec laptops )
Low media devices functions including a range of text editing media viewing.

It strikes me now we have
1)UMPC's (small version of conventional laptops at a cost !!)
2) ULCPC Ultra Low Cost PC's.( cut down version of cnventional laptops with limited functionality)

the next evolution in the chain is smartphone connectivity to conventional monitor and keyboard when in the office environment . The Iphone is it appears nearest to this capability but not quite

APT STAIRS a alternative" Stairway to heaven"

Was lucky enough to attend launch event of APT STAIRS Project (Appropriate Practical Technologies for Students,Teachers, Administrators and Researchers )

Interesting Jisc funded project invovlng looking a cloud computng in this case Google docs and other parts of Google Apps

it involves demonstrator projects in the 6 colleges in the bloomsbury group of UCL

key point to the projects are

• collaboration
  
• communication
  
• coordination

The project invovlves members of the college communties using technologies for collaboration for academic work.

Lots of small projects using google docs across 6 institutions
vet school around placements in first year.
London international development centre using google doc to manage membership
School of Pharmacy drug classification project using Google Docs
Birkbeck science collation data

A member Google staff gave an interesting presentation on what exactly is Google Apps . Remember other products are available including a powerful offer from Microsoft.http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/exchangelabshelp/bb847823.aspx

introduced idea of taking away some in house services and replace it via the "cloud".

Major advantages of cloud computing

• scalability
• collaboration that just wasnt possible before
  
• cloud continual timeline of innovation in stepped changes
  

the apps allow mere mortals to produce tools and collaboration platforms .

education the role of apis to integrate with exisitng institutinal services is common.

the google strap mantra

• communication
• collaborate
• simplify
• innovate

www.google.com/a/edu


watch the youtube video introducing google Apps

Great project interested to see what evolves. follow the project at www.bloomsbury.ac.uk/apt

I Tunes U

Apple going to have a major push in the UK using I Tunes that's the rumour. The fact there stateside I Tunes U guru is over in the UK might be one to watch. Watch the Tunes space ;-)

Piece in Secondary Education magazine

Education in the hand .

Not going to comment on this I contributed but you might be interested. I didn't choose the picture

http://www.sec-ed.co.uk/cgi-bin/go.pl/features/article.html?uid=4010

Unkind words for first projector phone

Ignore the words just thinks projection from phone has arrived and it maybe generation 1.0 but watch it improves. So interface is a bit iphone like but who cares .


http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/13/worlds-first-projector-cellphone-is-also-an-iphone-clone-in-ro/

Firefox Mobile Concept Video. The mobile space just got FOXY !! Well nearly

Firefox is coming to mobile. The innovation, usability, and
extensibility that has propelled Firefox to 200 million users is set to
do the same for Firefox in a mobile setting.

Ok this is only concept and few screencasts and video but design and thinking looking very cool read about it and watch it at :


http://azarask.in/blog/post/firefox-mobile-concept-video

the thinking and discussion on realted posts on the blog is well worth reading !!

Spoof Apple introduces the iPhone 3G Videoconferencing Kit, ZOMG!

This spoof reminds my of the good old VIZ joke "why bother with expensive binoculars just move closer to the object your looking at "? From gizmodo !!!



http://gizmodo.com/5015395/apple-introduces-iphone-3g-videoconferencing-kit-zomg

Serious Allotments in Dundee

Ok its not about technology but hows this for a cool visit. Derek Robertsons Allotment


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Microsoft Labs

Just picked up this through contacts at Microsoft http://labs.live.com/
The Microsoft lab group well worth a look.

Look at the photosynth stuff

http://labs.live.com/National+Geographic+Goes+Synthing.aspx

UK university lectures on iTunes

University College London, the Open University and Trinity College Dublin are putting lectures onto iTunes.

Available on iTunes U another move to M in the learning space ??

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7431918.stm

Google Gadgets for Linux appears

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-6240914.html

any interest to you linux bods ?

Handheld Learning Awards last date for nominations has now been extended to August 15th

Not a duplicate post but to inform you of change of entry deadline.

last date for nominations has now been extended to August 15

go on if your doing stuff with mobile and learners apply you just might win !!

The Becta supported Handheld Learning Conference runs this year from Oct 13th-15th in London.
http://www.handheldlearning2008.com

All delegates registered before July 31st receive a free Nintendo DS and game to keep and bring to the conference.

The Handheld Learning Awards are being hosted at a party in London on October 13th as part of the conference.

The purpose is to celebrate those practitioners, learners and participants who have excelled in the use of emerging technologies for the improvement of their learning and teaching practice.

We are seeking nominations in 4 categories:

1) Primary
2) Secondary
3) Further education ; Tertiary
4) SEN

Within each category we are looking for nominations for a practitioner and an innovation which could be a product, service, initiative or organisation.

We are also seeking nominations for our Special Achievement Award.

We expect nominations to be either made by the nominee themselves or by others.

Nominations are by a simple form and must be submitted by June 6th.

Judges will be announced by July 31st.

Finalists will be announced by September 19th.

Please make your nominations at:
http://www.handheldlearning2008.com/awards

Handheld Learning Awards

go on if your doing stuff with mobile and learners apply you just might win !!

The Becta supported Handheld Learning Conference runs this year from Oct 13th-15th in London.
http://www.handheldlearning2008.com

All delegates registered before July 31st receive a free Nintendo DS and game to keep and bring to the conference.

The Handheld Learning Awards are being hosted at a party in London on October 13th as part of the conference.

The purpose is to celebrate those practitioners, learners and participants who have excelled in the use of emerging technologies for the improvement of their learning and teaching practice.

We are seeking nominations in 4 categories:

1) Primary
2) Secondary
3) Further education ; Tertiary
4) SEN

Within each category we are looking for nominations for a practitioner and an innovation which could be a product, service, initiative or organisation.

We are also seeking nominations for our Special Achievement Award.

We expect nominations to be either made by the nominee themselves or by others.

Nominations are by a simple form and must be submitted by June 6th.

Judges will be announced by July 31st.

Finalists will be announced by September 19th.

Please make your nominations at:
http://www.handheldlearning2008.com/awards

Mapping the webs next utility

This title is my phrase but the article in the US Financial Times seems to bear me out

Way to go? Mapping looks to be the web's next big thing

http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?news_id=fto052120081442070883

my background first in IT was as a geographer 25 years ago doing some of the first computer cartgography and mapping using Apple IIe and mainframe packages symap and symvu . It was a grat but painful experience now its a dream come true its all on the web and increasingly accessed via your mobile or computer .

getting Buzzword

The answer is the browser I have often said and this addition to adobe offerring buzzword currently in beta is the most fully fuctional web base word processor I have yet come across http://blogs.adobe.com/acom/

worth a look at and maybe a contrast with google docs as always you decide !

Digizen youve got to look at this !!

Now this report part funded by a Becta research grant has just gone live and if your interested in

• e-safety
• young peoples behaviours online
• social networking

youve got to have a look http://www.digizen.org/socialnetworking/
for a overview or click the link to download whole report in PDF Download the complete report
The comparison area is particularly good
http://www.digizen.org/socialnetworking/snsComparison.aspx

Learning from digital natives: bridging formal and Informal learning .

Interesting report commissioned by the HEA by
Kathryn Trinder
Jane Guiller
Anoush Margaryan
Allison Littlejohn (Glasgow Caledonian University)
David Nicol (Strathclyde University)

Abstract
Formal and informal learning have been viewed as competing paradigms,
however, students are increasingly adopting the tools and strategies for informal
learning within formalised educational settings.
This project explored the affordances of the informal practices of students in
higher education by examining ways in which they used e-tools such as personal
digital devices, communication tools, and social networking.
Barriers and enablers as examples of such e-tool integration within international
research and practice were identified, and recommendations made on
pedagogical, socio-cultural, organisational and technological aspects of the use of
informal tools to support formal learning within higher education.

Basically well worth a read if your interested in trends in education and social media .


link here

Open day at Islay School.

Islay open day one of my regular readers (Hi Ian). Ian on the Isle of Islay is having a an ICT Open Day on Friday 13th June 08.

This is being aimed at parents, and local businesses, but anyone interested in what they are doing is more than welcome.

Ian is doing great stuff with ICT with mobile and other devices but to be honest as always the pupis are stars.

Ian has more detail on his blog at http://islayian.blogspot.com/2008/05/ict-open-day.html

He is also using google web forms to register peoples interest.

I cant go I am in Scotland 11-12 June ;-( .

Good luck Ian would love to come and loving my rugby (see Islay beach Rugby) would have made a weekend of it. If you do it next year send the dates a bit earlier but good luck.


If you can make it go it wont be a waste of your time !!!!
Being a bit clever and using bloggers recently added ability to date stamp post into the future so they appear at top f the blog for longer . So hopefully more people notice Ians efforts. BTW his blog is in my blog roll.

RSC Eastern New Build event :How new college buildings are creating the ‘wow factor’

Great to see how RSC Eastern are making the new on jisc announce after there recent highly succesful event on new build in FE . Read the great write up at


http://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/stories/2008/05/rscevent.aspx

lookout for presentations on RSC Eastern website and podcast interviews with presenters participants. http://info.rsc-eastern.ac.uk/index.asp
RSC Eastern New Build event "How new college buildings are creating the ‘wow factor’"

Parents speaker louder than ever

Parents Speak Up Louder Than Ever. Kingswood
College of Arts in Hull gains an unprecedented response rate for their
mobile phone parent consultation.

Read more
OnePoint Surveys work with Kingswood College of Arts in Hull to
gain an unprecedented response rate for their mobile phone parent
consultation. The college sent a mobile phone survey to 159 year
7 parents and within a day received 54 completed surveys (34% response
rate). This is a dramatic increase on previous paper based
consultations where the college has received just one or two responses
from the parents from the entire school.
http://www.onepointsurveys.com/box/news18.aspx

mobile web predictions 2008-2009

one persons prediction do you agree or not ? Got any other suggestions.

• Increasing numbers of people accessing the Internet on their mobile phones
• Mobile advertising surges ahead.
• Shift from messaging to Internet for data usage on mobile phones.
• Mobile commerce of physical goods will come of age.
• The PC and mobile will become closely linked.

http://suresh-mobileweb.blogspot.com/2008/05/mobile-predictions-for-2008-2009.html

May edition of Tech news available

Becta's regular lo0k at whats tech in education is out now for download with amongst other things analysis pieces on:

• Context awareness
• Handheld games consoles
• Robots in education
• Online reporting

download it at
http://partners.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=rh&catcode=_re_rp_02&rid=13669


Tech news pages on Becta website are on my links panel

Desktop Asus

Thanks to Ian Stewart for this. Desktop eeepc ?







http://crave.cnet.co.uk/desktops/0,39029426,49297099,00.htm

death of the computer lab ??

Interesting piece but up to you if you think its true

http://chronicle.com/free/v54/i38/38a01301.htm.

worth a read.

MID or Smartphone call them what you like its all getting interesting

As Engadget puts it "iPhone vs. HTC Touch Diamond vs. Xperia X1... Fight!" Its all getting interesting as I have been predicitng for a while.

The killer device like the killer app for mobile doesnt yet exist and probably never will. But the tipping point in functionality moved on by the Iphone is being caught up and some would say surpassed ( Iwouldnt of course pass comment) by other device manufacturers devices and specifically device specifications.

Worth a read a love the visuals
.http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/29/iphone-vs-htc-touch-diamond-vs-xperia-x1-fight/

Mobile web the new cash cow

Interesting piece of work by juniper research . Does make me think back to a economist article that the mobile web is the hope for making money from the internet !
worth a read.


http://www.juniperresearch.com/shop/viewpressrelease.php?pr=91

Beyond Blogs Newsweek points to social media

Interesting article reflecting on an original article three years ago on how blogs would change your business
. The year was 2005, and the story was "Blogs Will Change Your Business."

this update is worth a read.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_22/b4086044617865.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_dialogue+with+readers

Frontline sms now this is such a cool use of technology

Discovered this via the great podcasts from the www.theworld.org The World is a co-production of the BBC World Service, PRI and WGBH Boston.

I listened on the train ride back home from a great but wet and stormy weekend in Southwold courtesey of my Ipod Touch .

One of the pieces was about frontline sms http://www.frontlinesms.com/what/
developed and promted by Ken Banks and colleagues http://www.kiwanja.net/
I first heard of Kens great work through Mike and his name check on theworld podcast made my ears prick up .

Ken also came up again the silverback guerilla mobile phone game http://www.theworld.org/?q=node/17534 working with flora & fauna international who ironically I used to work with two of there ex staff Martin Hollands and Mike Appleton.

so loads to listen to look at go on !!!

Mobile phone ingenuity in Africa

well what a nice post for me combining my interest in development issues and mobile technology to items of interest on this post. With a recycling and possibly benevolent hacking.

http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/15/mobile-phone-ingenuity-in-africa/

Firstly dual sim
This product has two SIM card slots in a single phone - primarily to
support price sensitive/prudent consumers who wish to optimise their
call costs by maintaining SIM cards from two different phone operators.
As in many countries - calls to a customer using a different Ghanaian
operator cost slightly more than those on the same network.


http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/15/mobile-phone-ingenuity-in-africa/

The village phone project in Uganda is also trailed well worth a look

http://www.janchipchase.com/blog/archives/2007/01/village_phone.html

whats interesting in the role of Nokia actually looking at how users are using phone rather than telling them what to do with them.

2gether08

Now I cant make this I am elsewhere but its going to be great so book yourself on contribute debate . Steve Moore the unconference facebook king is yet again driving this great event forward for Channel 4

copy below

http://2gether08.com/about/

2gether 2008

Solving bigger problems

2 – 3 July 2008

Rochelle School

Shoreditch

London E2 7ES

Digital innovations are changing our world, the way we perceive it and our notions of what is possible ….

But are we doing enough or being imaginative enough to harness the potential of internet, mobile and games technologies to:

• promote social progress,
• improve the quality of our public life,
• enhance our collective well-being and happiness and
• tackle the most intractable problems facing the world at the outset of the 21st century ?

The first 2gether Festival will bring together over 300 radical
innovators practical visionaries from a wide range of fields to focus
on how using digital technologies we can generate real social benefits.

2gether is not just about wise words and rousing presentations. A
defining hallmark of the Festival will be how we frame problems and
work towards solutions. This will begin on-line, in advance of the
Festival and continue during and after the event.

Imagine what we might be able to achieve…

Who will be there?

An eclectic mix of technologists, policy makers, campaigners, TV
producers, software and games developers, designers, politicians,
digital innovators, writers, bloggers, social entrepreneurs,
philanthropists, leaders from charities, NGOs and leading players in
the marketing, PR, cultural and creative fields as well as anyone else
who believes that creative use of emerging digital technologies can
generate solutions to society’s most pressing problems.

Format

Our Festival will include a mix of structured content featuring a
showcase of world class speakers and panels, other more
self-organising, conversational sessions with lots of opportunities and
spaces for people to mingle at their leisure.

We will also be hosting ‘open space’ facilitated
conversations, brainstorming sessions, pecha kucha micro-presentations,
short films, musical performances, a big party and a few surprises!

There will also be “white spaces” to include time and
physical space, that participants can use to develop creative inputs
into the event. These could focus on specific issues, for example
climate change or education, or genres for example, serious games, and
many more experimental interventions.

These will make the most of the ingenuity and expertise of those
present and the opportunity to showcase ideas and solutions that have
been developed in the weeks before and during the event.

2gether will include an opportunity to meet the nominees for the inaugural UK Catalyst Awards, the presentation of the 10th anniversary New Statesman New Media Awards and the launch of Channel 4’s new public service pilot fund 4 Innovation Public.

Personally I might make the party !!

EEEPC in a different form is it coing soon ?

Asus hint at eeepc in a different wrapper

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/23/asus-vaguely-hints-at-alternative-eee-form-factors/

It could look like existing asus pc foorms as above

Anyone for Google sites and the APT STAIRS Project

Google apps has been around for a whole and Trinity University Dublin has been using it with students staff in an educational context fro quite a while.

But this is another project I just been made aware of a really interesting project. The APT STAIRS project is an acronym for Appropriate and Practical Technologies for Students, Teachers, Administrators and Researchers.

They are using JISC funding to run six demonstrator projects across the six Bloomsbury institutions. These demonstrator projects will examine how the latest online collaborative tools (Google Docs) can engage all users in supporting and developing learning, teaching, administration and research.

The Bloomsbury Colleges comprise six internationally renowned HE institutions within the University of London. The Colleges collectively have over 15,000 undergraduate and 14,000 postgraduate students (HESA 2005/05).

They are using a range of google services google docs, calendar mail etc .

Going to be exciting to see what outcomes and impacts the project have.

http://sites.google.com/a/jiscapt.net/project-plan/Home

What interesting on the same day I became aware of Google sites uptil now available for business and institutions only is now available for http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/google-sites-now-open-to-everyone.html

going to have a goodl ook at this over the weekend and get back to when Ive had a good luck. But initial looks like it takes integration and prsentation of google services to a new level but I could be wrong !!

I will see how well it works on my ipod touch as well.

Learning at Work Day

presentation I am giving at work later today as part of learning at work day.

same prsentation in sldr using powerpoint slides exported as jpegs to flickr and made into on screen prsentation using slidr


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

And a different way of seeing same slides using splashr picking up the content from flickr

Handheld Learning 2008

When doing a bit of site maintenance I noticed I had the link for Handheld Learning 2007 in my links in the side bar . Well I have updated it worth keeping an eye on it regularly because I know its being updated very regularly . http://www.handheldlearning2008.com/

plus of course its in the sidebar !!

Xacti camera is it waterproof !!

See photo evidence from teachmeet one Sanyo Xacti in a pint glass of water. Thanks Tessa for the photo!

Mobile 2.0 lands in Barcelona

amongst the teachmeet stuff Mobile 2.0 conference thanks to Bob for sending me this.. Anyone going !!!






http://www.m-trends.org/2008/05/mobile-20-europe-conference.html

visualiser forum

From teachmeet the great the excellent visualiser forum. Some great video clips around improving practice.
http://visualiserforum.blogspot.com

teachmeet

--
Andy Black

"Where Technology and Pragmatism Meet"
blog http://andysblackhole.blogspot.com

"One can resist the invasion of an army but one cannot resist the invasion of ideas" Victor Hugo.

teachmeet

http://andysblackhole.blogspot.com



http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=628488082

SMS Burma Donations by SMS

Thanks Mike for pointing this one out !! from 160 characters.org UK mobile operators have have set up a SMS donation shortcode for the
Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to support the Burma / Myanmar
disaster appeal. Text D0NATE to 83696 to make a £1.50 donation.


http://www.160characters.org/news.php?action=view&nid=2583

Well done uk mobile industry

from Sky


Stephen Fry on the BBC for Dec

So go on get your cash going somewhere it can make a difference victims dont choose the regime they live under !!!

Mobile Mondays London anyone want to push for mobile learning focused event !!

Hi All
Ive been in touch with Dan at mobile Monday promoting an idea of a mobile Monday meeting focussed on m learning. Anybody else keen to get involved ?

Just noticed the Finnish chapter are ahead of us http://www.mobilemonday.fi/event/mobile-learning-need-and-tools

will keep blog readers posted !

Burma flood mapping on Google Maps

Now how about this for stunning using of technology its shows the physical toll of the recent Cyclone Nargus but not the terrible human cost

http://maps.google.com/maps/mpl?moduleurl=http:%2F%2Fmw1.google.com%2Fmw-earth-vectordb%2Fmyanmar20080507%2Fmaps%2Fmapplet.xml&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=16.87,95.4&spn=2.170925,3.273926&z=8

or tinyurl http://preview.tinyurl.com/3s7xv3

Computer Weekly Blog IT awards

Computer Weekly are holding a on-line vote for best IT blog under various categories and you can win £50 Amazon voucher just for nominating . Now not suggesting you vote for Andysblackhole but then again.

The link for the blog awards nomination website can be found at :-



http://www.computerweekly.com/blogawards.htm

Facebook Privacy issues video on YouTube

Now I don't subscribe to conspiracy theories much ? This video on YouTube outlining privacy issues relating to Facebook is worth a watch . As usual no comment but make your own mind up. I do use Facebook extensively . Thanks to Zatz forwarding this video via Facebook of course.

embedding video in blogger via email

How cool is this a video sent as an attachment direct to my blogger account it embeds video in blogger page in a player cool eh !!

Constable Road street sale a very web2.0 event

Well how about this for a very web 2.00 event . Last Sunday about 20 houses in our street each had there own simultaneous garage sale organised by word of mouth and email .

Local photographer and street resident Andy Hendry took these pics and has for the first time used Flckr Ive embedded the shots here slide www.flickrslidr.com

now cutting edge it isnt but isnt it a nice project !! Great Photo's by the way Andy


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Is unlimited really unlimited vodafone 500mb data tariff

From a correspondent re data tariffs on vodafone

the report is as follows

I wanted clarification on the cost of data thereafter on the 500mb.

I had a very interesting conversation where they said that it was an unlimited bundle, but they have to state a cap as nothing in the world is truly unlimited, but they can use the word unlimited so long as they state a price per MB thereafter. What is really interesting here, and I have it in writing from them, the cost per MB thereafter is actually £0.00p – so truly unlimited !!

so get using that data tariff other tariffs providers are available and do check the small print !!!

3M mini-projectors set to land in / with Samsung phones later this year

Mobile projectors here we come 3 years after toshiba bought out the stunning FF1.

samsung are bringing out pico projectors
http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/14/3m-mini-projectors-set-to-land-in-with-samsung-phones-later-th/

Texting cost interesting statisitc but is it the full picture

From the metro this morning.
text messaging cost four times as much a receiving info from hubble space telescope .
It costs £85 per MB form hubble and mere 595km form the earth.
1 Mb at 5p a text costs £375.

now this might be not the whole picture but an interesting if unsupported stat all the same.

Clark Quinns New draft white paper on mobile technologies, the devices and the networks

Clark has kindly put a draft white paper out on mobile tech ,the devices and the networks and asked people to comment. Its worth a read and I am sure Clark would welcome your comments white paper can be found here.

Clarks blog can be found at http://blog.learnlets.com/wp/?p=326


go on have look

It’s not all just geek talk and texts – phones are first with the news

Really interesting article that just shows how mobile is changing the face of the information landscape
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article3896667.ece

Social networking the future on mobiles

Missed this article in times but one of my roving correspondents spotted in the hard copy . I failed to get hold of hard copy but here link to online version

http://tinyurl.com/6764f2

The article looks how features becoming widely available in mobile devices will change how some use social networking sites.

vodafone unlimited data package for free

Not my words review the small print and remember other operators are available . Is this another step towards the tipping point for mobile you decide ???

Vodafone has just announced that all new and currentcustomers on monthly plans will now have an Unlimited Data Packagethrown in for free. Until now Vodafone had charged £7.50 to add theirUnlimited Data package to a monthly plan.

Of course in the Mobile Industry "Unlimited" is always finite and limited bya fair-use policy. In the past Vodafone have set this limited at a thrifty120MB but the announcement indicates that the limit has been raised toa more useful 500MB.

Tomorrow’s Wireless World: Ofcom report on future communications technology

Thanks to Mike Short and Bob Harrison two mobile enthusiasts dare I say mobile mentors for pointing this out .

Ofcom report on Tomorrows Wireless World report on future communications technology

Tomorrow’s Wireless World scans the horizon ten to
twenty years in the future to discover potentially significant advances
and new, innovative technologies which are being developed that could
improve healthcare and transport provision.

The examples cited in areas of transport and healthcare suggest the ways wireless will be employed in society.

The annexes with graphics to support them like prtrayed below are worth a look
The Ofcom report can be viewed from the following weblink
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2008/05/nr_20080507





Interestingly look at how the Guardian reported the story link here

Hammersmith and Fulham BSF programme video on YouTube

If your involved with or interested in Building Schools for Future Programme you might like to to look at

you might like to look at other videos on the page. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHSdzj52Ozo

Google docs offline hits my account

Hi to Seb Schmoller who first noted roll out of offline access was a geographically biased roll out to US google Docs users. Well they just added offline access to my account and I am currently off to try it on my PC and then my Mac . Now I am not planning to dump my existing Microsoft Office and Open Office Suite on my range of devices . This addition of google doc with the help of google gears to the suite of tools available is another option.

going to give it a try and get back to you !!

Flash on mobiles

Now is this what all you mad keen flash developers having been waiting for !! Is it a firework to kick things of or a damp squib .

read the BBC story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7379575.stm

come on you mobile and flash geeks what do you think !!

Handheld Learning event with Handheld to go !!

Some of my regular readers will know Ive been attending contributing to the handheld learning conference since its first offering at Goldsmiths back in 2005 (cant be that long ago surely !!?) .its grown a bit since then but its still a great place to see stuff and network till your jaw and your feet hurt !! they are also giving away a nintendo DS to those that register early. So go on have read through official stuff below and follow the link


Now the official stuff
http://www.handheldlearning2008.com

The conference takes place from Oct 13th-15th at The
Brewery, Barbican, London EC1 with the first day being open to the general
public. The event is about learning and examines the current and potential
future effects of the proliferation of technologies; from smart phones to low cost laptops, MIDs,
mp3 players and gaming consoles to entertainment software, virtual worlds,
social networks and web 2.0 applications.
This years confirmed speakers include, Andrew Pinder,
Steven Berlin Johnson, John Seely Brown, danah boyd, David Cavallo, Keri Facer,
Mike Sharples and Stephen Heppell.

The conference programme is already extensive in its
scope. In addition to inspiring presentations from some of the worlds leading
thought leaders and practitioners there will be plenty of networking
opportunities as well as participatory sessions and discussions.

The call for papers is open until May 30th and poster
sessions by June 20th.
Our first awards event is also taking place and we're now
taking nominations that celebrate innovative practitioners as well as
initiatives, organisations or products that have made significant impacts on
learning using mobile or ubiquitous technologies.
All "Early Bird" registrations before 31st July
will receive a FREE Nintendo DS handheld with game cartridge for use at the
conference (and to keep afterwards!). Delegates registering for Handheld
Learning will also receive a 10% discount to register for the mLearn.

2008 research conference being held the previous week in
Shropshire.

More information visit:http://www.handheldlearning2008.com

Yankee group report on why web 2.0 tools must reach the Handheld

Hi interesting business orientated report on how mobile business is over reliant on email and adding true access to web 2.0 tools on handhelds may increase activity .

The link below works for me but you might have to register to receive the report.
http://edge.networkworld.com/whitepapers/nww/pdf/Web_2_Tools_Must_Reach_the_Handheld-Grey.pdf

not convinced about all the report but worth a look.

voxur big brother diary room in a box

Well sort of. this kit is a system where you open the box its bright yellow and its starts recording complete with lights and mic .

http://www.voxur.com/

described as It’s a ‘film crew in a box’ – everything you need to ask questions,

• record answers and playback the opinions of those who count.
• This portable easy to use videobooth enables you to:
• Set your questions and voxur gets the answers
• Record their response without peer pressure or interference
• Review and Re-Record the answers
• Use voxur for playback in presentations

the spec is interesting its a mac with kit plugged in

• Voxur software version 3.0
• Easy to follow introduction video & training manual
• Black 13.3" MacBook SuperDrive Laptop
• Processor: 2.2GHz Intel Core Duo
• Hard Drive: 120GB Serial ATA; 5400rpm
• Display: 13.3" Glossy Widescreen Display (1280x800)
• Mac OSX Leopard 10.5
• Memory: 1GB (2x 512MB) DDR2 667 MHz
• Built in: iSight Camera, Microphone
• Connectivity: Airport Extreme, Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2
• Lights: USB superbright 4 x LED, low power consumption
• USB Speakers: 220Hz - 20KHz
• Power cables, Projector connection cable
• All stored in an ULTRA durable Peli Case
• Peli Case also available in orange, grey and black

£5000 now is that a completive price you decide but interesting approach

Scribefire 2.00

Now I've blogged about this before but the recent upgrade of this firefox add on that allows you open a rich text blogging tool in the lower half of your browser screen. It was great before but the new version supports

• tabs that allow mutiple blog postings at the same time
• Easy flickr photo embedding
• YouTube video embedding
  

I havent made it exciting but it is a great tool and the tab allowing sharing of blog posting via stumble upon,facebook reddit etc etc go on have a look its a great tool. plus abilty to bookmarket on delcious from within the tool
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1730

culture trip at channel 4

Interesting evening out a channel 4 at event put together by Steve Moore of Policy Unplugged on behalf of channel 4 . going to blog throughout got Margaret Hodge from the government and friend of the learner Estelle Morris. Jeremy Hunt shadow secretary of culture media etc was also speaking .

full Speaker list

Anna Cutler - Head of Learning at Tate Modern

The Rt. Hon Estelle Morris - Baroness Morris of Yardley

Helen Reddington – Musician and Lecturer

Jeremy Hunt – Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport & MP, South West Surrey

Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MBE - Minister of State for Culture , Creative Industries and Tourism

Tony Lyng – Headteacher, Brockhill Park Performing Arts College

The event will be chaired by Peter Jenkinson, OBE, Cultural Broker.

Lovely mates in the audience Graham Brown Martin of handheld Learning Jamie Cason of Avril Digital.

Jeremy hunt raised issue of
Culture as a target being negative. He promoted the idea of culture helps learners thrive not just survive..

Tony Lyng passion was great what a inspiring head !! Culture as search for social status and social justice.


Estelle Morris spoke with her usual passion and healthy dose of commonsense. The thought that culture makes sense.

Access to culture in the curriculum is not teaching promoting a creative curriculum

1:1 access to mobile learning devices interim report now available for download

This relates to my work at Becta so here on the blog for information dissemination purposes only
The interim report commissioned by Becta and undertaken by Professor Angela McFarlane and her team from Bristol University is now live on the Becta website http://partners.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=rh&catcode=_re_rp_02&rid=14204
The Researchers from the University of Bristol are investigating the educational impact of personal access to mobile learning devices at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 4 in five schools.

This development and research project is using mixed methods to evaluate the impact of using personal digital assistants (PDAs) on learners' learning skills, attendance, behaviour and attainment. It will also review the success of the implementation and sustainability of the schools' PDA initiatives and provide examples of emerging good pedagogic practice.

Copies of the interim and executive summary are available for download.

Hellotxt

This is how Hellotxt describe themselves .

HelloTxt is an aggregate of microblogging services
through which the user can insert their messages on all main
microblogging services in a simply and simultaneous way.

http://www.hellotxt.com/

In my own words put it simpy one post updates,twitter jaiku,facebook,myspace and Bebo . Its webbased they have a mobile version and of course a facebook app.

Argosi: Alternate Reality Games for Orientation, Socialisation and Induction

this project was pointed out to me by Dr Nicola Whitton of Manchester Metropolitan University her blog is worth a look at http://www.playthinklearn.net

who is part of the project team well actually project manager http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/programme_users_and_innovation/argosi.aspx

Its in its early stages but could be one to watch !!

Learning in emerging markets - the impact of mobile technologies session at London Knowledge lab

Sadly I cant make but hope you can its in the afternoon Thursday 24

http://www.lkl.ac.uk/cms/index.php?option=com_events&task=view_detail&Itemid=27&agid=155&year=2008&month=04&day=24

The description is very tempting

ICT for education is still an issue in emerging countries due to lack
of connectivity, access and digital divide regarding teacher training
and content production adequate for the means being used. In recent
years, the mobile has grown tremendously. Brazil's population of 192
million people now owns 130 million mobile phones. Consequently, this
media is assuming roles in learning and social networking, offering a
reliable user-base never seen before.
We will discuss somescenarios and see some different usages of mobile technologies that areaffecting formal ICT inside and outside classrooms.

First commercially available pico projector

not available in the Uk yet . I mentioned these were coming ages ago post below from engadget with an intersting further comment on visual pollution risk . But exciting all the same .

http://www.engadget.com/tag/picoprojector/

Huge thanks to Mike for keeping me informed for keeping me informed around these developments.

Respect to the Gadget Boys

Inverkeithing High School Radiowaves project these two stars are running a regular gadget show this is so cool watch follow it subscribe to the podcast and if you like post a comment to the lads.

http://www.radiowaves.co.uk/station.aspx?lngSiteID=681

Should Andy gadget Black give up??

blog off the questions? What do you look at listen to in the area of technology in education

This is a simple survey just to get a flavour of the blogs you read and the podcasts you subscribe to in the area of Technology in education . click on the links or just fill in the form . This is very much an experiment thanks for your help

you can fill it out here:

http://tinyurl.com/4qsfvo

I will post back general results to my blog

Thanks Andy

Wii Johnny Lee hack on Ted talk

From youtube to Ted talk Johnny Lee does a great talk and think his Wii hack software has been downloaded half a million times and he's given it away for free .

watch the talk and also pick up his message of viral marketing of great ideas !!

Google docs on mobile devices

Google docs on mobile devices wow just tried viewing my Google docs on my Ipod touch at url http://docs.google.com/m

now I expected documents and spreadsheets to work but was really impressed that Google presentations also worked well another good addition to Google docs functionality !!

Tipping point an over worked phrase but have we reached one

A bit more philosophical reflection than usual. There has been much activity in three areas relating to mobile devices and maybe even computers in general. This maybe part of the usual cycle of innovation but maybe in fact MAYBE a real change in the cycle. A true break from a range of disruptive technologies

Devices

The changes in the area of devices are quite marked and breathtaking. He are just a few from the last 12 months...

• Ultra Mobile Personal Computers be it the Asus eeePC the Elonex £99 PC
  
• Smart Phones be it the Apples iconic Iphone Nokia N96 etc etc
  
• Other devices often referred to as Mobile Internet Devices. I love my IPod Touch for example
  
• General laptops just getting lighter and lighter with better battery life and chip developments means we are near all day battery life at a reasonable price. The ultra lights of The type of Toshiba R500 and the Apple Air
  

Software

Where does one start

• Google the list is long .Google mail integration via mapi for use of Gmail on range of devices especially important in the mobile field. Its integration with outlook exchange allowing both way editing of calendars. Google docs the launch of Google presenter and this week soft launch of ability to download these presentations in PowerPoint format. Google Gears is a back room product that allows Google and other products? To be available offline. I run it on a Mac and a PC and have used it for Google RSS reader for a while and this week they have launched this for Google Docs. It's been rolled out to users over coming weeks. This means you can word process, spreadsheet and design presentation offline. Have a look at the Google blog
  
• Apps for web based products widgets for mobile devices .Face Book a stealthy success that is described as BEBO (Blog Early Blog Often) for grown up (well maybe grown ups) has spawned a whole developer community of apps around it. For example dopplr (travel plan sharer). The whole vibrancy of mobile apps as typified by success of over the air at the weekend. What's an interesting growth is the effect of iphone/touch apps and importantly distribution route via iTunes. It comes at a cost but with an opportunity for easy widespread distribution.
  
• Service convergence the launch this week of video publishing on the digital image site Flickr for subscription customers. Images on the web via picas
  

Connectivity

The changes here are just starting o hit. 3G coverage is increasing costs are tumbling and all inclusive data packages are making mobile connectivity a real option for most users.

Broadband is evolving with Ultra Wide Band becoming a possibility though challenges presented by growth of bandwidth hungry application such as video services like BBC iplayer

Wi Max will make it to the UK in more than a limited way late in 2008 and with manufacturers in the UK rolling out built in 3g in laptops and wimax in the states

Conclusion

The market is going to get really interesting with the winners being individual consumers on a corporate level the picture is much more complicated. Technology choices take your pick you might be wrong. But you don't have an option you've got to choose.

Two thoughts it's not the technology you predict that's important it's the ones you mss and Daniel Applequist (of mobile Mondays and Vodafone) "In five years time there will be one internet and it will be mobile!

"Over the Air" covered on digital planet on the world service

The great goings on at Over the air was covered at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/digital_planet.shtml

worth listening again or downloading as a podcast

Over the air slide and some feedback now available.

Over the air feedback looks http://overtheair.org/blog

thanks to slide share some really great presentations that are well worth spending an hour or two getting your head round. I plan to later this evening . Go on have a look you know you want to !!

HP Mini-Note 2133 UMPC or not UMPC

Now the fact its qwerty keyboard is only 8% smaller than usual laptop keyboards (whats usual anymore) is this a UMPC or low format laptop you decide two posts from our friends at engadget

this one has spec

http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/08/hp-mini-note-2133-officially-official/

this one has cost range

http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/08/hp-2133-mini-note-pc-on-sale-now/

is it a good box or a good buy as usual you decide . Is it handheld ? So many choices oh what fun !!

Funny coment on if I ruled the internet !!

Its not new but worth a look for the amusement factor . slam poet rives off the renowned and informative TED talks website

described by himself as

How many poets could cram eBay, Friendster and Monster.com into 3-minute poem worthy of a standing ovation? "If I were in charge of the Internet," Rives says, "You could Mapquest your lover's mood swings / Hang left at cranky / Right at preoccupied / U-turn at silent treatment ..." Enjoy a unique talent.

book :Access Denied The Practice and Policy of Global Internet Filtering

Interesting book on the subject of global internet filtering . great read if your interested in the filed of cnsorship and control of the internet. The role f the mobile web is heralded as a further progression of net freedom and how certain governments are looking at filtering controlling mobile internet content. The country by country listing is interesting.

http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=2&tid=11329&mode=toc

sample chapters also available on the site .

over the air do the Guardian read my blog ??

Sorry Guardian blogged it first and I used hackaday parallel first !!!

Guardian link

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/apr/03/digitalmedia.mobilephones?

My blog post

http://andysblackhole.blogspot.com/2008/03/momo-cracking-night-leads-to-revelation.html

The power of google maps being empolyed for good

Some readers may find this posting a little upsetting but the subject is really important. I don't mention politics very often on my blog. This website using google maps "Sokwanele", meaning “enough is enough” is produced by a group tracking issues infringements relating to the current election in Zimbabwe. I picked this up while listening to digital planet podcast from the world service on the BBC.
A way in which web 2.0 technologies are changing the information landscape for good or ill you decide.


http://www.sokwanele.com/map/all_breachesPublish Post


now currently this is being updated using web based technology but with widespread use of SMS in Africa it wont be long before developer adds this functionality.

Emerging technologies for learning volume 3 (2008)

No apologies for blogging this Becta publication my colleague David Ley has worked with colleagues to bring this together. If you interested in emerging tech you've got to read this go on you know you want to !!!


Emerging technologies for learning volume 3 (2008)
Becta is pleased to announce that ‘Emerging technologies for learning- volume 3’ has just been published. This follow-up edition complements the first two ‘Emerging technologies for learning’ publications from 2006 and 2007.

The 'Emerging technologies for learning' series aims to help readers consider how emerging technologies may impact on education and learners in the medium term. The publications are not intended to be a comprehensive review of educational technologies, but offer some highlights across the broad spectrum of developments and trends. It should open readers up to some of the possibilities that are developing and the potential for technology to transform our ways of working, learning and interacting over the next three to five years.

Copies can be downloaded from
http://www.becta.org.uk/research/reports/emergingtechnologies

This latest publication includes the following articles:
• Growing up with Google - what it means to education (Diane Oblinger, EDUCAUSE)
• Mobile, wireless, connected - information clouds and learning (Mark van’t Hooft, Kent State University)
• Location-based and context-aware education - prospects and perils (Adam Greenfield, NYU)
• Emerging trends in serious games and virtual words (Sara de Freitas, SGI)
• ‘If it quacks like a duck…’ - developments in search technologies (Emma Tonkin, UKOLN)
• Interactive displays and next generation interfaces (Michael Haller, Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences)

MET office site gadget for Vista and firefox

Great gadget to add the Met office info into a sidebar in Firefox or Vista great
tool!
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/gadgets/firefox.html

weather reports, shipping areas and infra red satellite images really really worth a look. No Ipod touch facebook pluggin yet !!