I think, therefore I am

I really liked this clear, no-nonsense video on hooking up the hardware for the SmartBoard. Sometimes, those of us with geeky tendencies forget that there are non-geeky people who really need very basic visuals for the simplest operations to avoid being frustrated.

How To Set Up A SmartBoard from AdamBellow on Vimeo.

Thanks to Ransomtech on Twitter for this Tweet!

Walking my dog provides me with an opportunity to people (and house) watch in suburbia — something easily accomplished in the city, but more difficult to achieve out here in the ‘burbs. Since my dog is smallish and adorable and loves everyone, I’ve had a chance to meet and greet most of my neighbors in a six block radius. I also notice who invests lots of time in their garden, who doesn’t (guilty as charged), who has an affinity for sports cars and who is schlepping around in a minivan (again, guilty as charged).

The other day, while being walked by my dog, I had an opportunity to use my observational skills to perform a good deed for my neighbors across the way. They seem to be a lovely and close knit family, often spotted working together (parents and three young men) on their lawn, flower beds, and such. I’ve noticed that since the weather has taken a turn for the warm, the mom has started hanging her parakeets out to air. Not literally clipping them to a clothesline and letting them flap in the breeze, but hanging their cute little pink cage under the overhang by the garage in the front of the house. They like to sing, and it’s very pleasant to hear them warbling away as I am dragged through the streets by my 19 lb. cairn.

On this particular morning, I heard another sound, in lieu of warbling, coming from the pink cage. It was a metallic click. Curious, I approached the cage only to see the two birds huddled as if in deep conference, at the bottom of the cage. Every few seconds, one of the birds (they took turns) would poke its beak at the bottom of what seemed to be a gate in the cage and lift it an inch or two. Then it would let the gate drop down again. When I looked closer, I saw that these two feathered friends had figured out how to escape into the wild. So I rang the doorbell. I’ve never really spoken much to these neighbors, we’re on a “hi how are you” wave basis, so it took a while for someone to come to the door. I warned the young man that his birds were planning to make a break for it. His look of shock let me know that he had no idea how the cage opened, and less of an idea that the birds would ever want to get out of it in the first place. But he did the right thing and took them inside.

They were back outside the next day, hanging in their usual spot, but this time the gated side was put facing the wall. The birds seem less intent on poking the gate open in this new position, but unless it has been secured, I fully expect them to confer and figure it out pretty fast. I find myself checking to see if they have made a break for it when we go walking now.

While I was at NECC this year, I was able to participate in the Constructivist Celebration where I put together this teeny tiny video using Frames.

My second NECC venture. I opted for the Acela in lieu of the chaos at JFK and found riding the train (at least this one) to be a treat. I listened to Pandora on my computer as I read, knit and napped my way to Washington, D.C. I don’t remember the last time I had three uninterrupted hours all to myself. I was actually depressed when we reached Baltimore, because I knew my trip would be ending soon and I could have traveled for another three hours quite happily.

My hotel is interesting. Small, near Georgetown, with a life size statue of Marilyn Monroe reenacting the famous dress scene from “The Seven Year Itch” to greet you in the lobby. Jr. Suite is adequate, but I think a bit overpriced for the level of amenities. Just my two cents.

As for NECC, I spent Sunday at the Constructivist Celebration at the Sidwell Friends Upper School. While I felt last year’s event was more interactive, I had a great time. I guess it was the luck of the draw as far as table partners goes, but I was sitting with a terrific, fun group. I did put together a short animation with Twist and Frames, and now have a nice little collection of software to explore for the next few weeks. I probably should have taken the opportunity to test out some of the other less familiar software, but I love playing with Twist — it makes me believe I can draw, and I can’t resist trying to animate whatever I draw in Frames. We all have our favorite children, even when we don’t admit it.

I did learn that it is unwise to attack a convention floor without a plan, and without roller skates. In spite of the fact that I was wearing what amounted to large sponges with straps on my feet, wandering up and down seemingly endless aisles without a specific destination was just plain dumb. I found myself stopping at booths simply for the seat time. Had fun with my spiel at the Tech4Learning booth (always a fun and friendly stop) in spite of some technical difficulties. But hey, what would a presentation be without a few glitches? Tomorrow I will go with a plan and a floor map in hand.

Thank you Elluminate for the cozy get together at the Old Ebbitt Grill and to MICCA, T4L etal for the reception at the convention hall afterwards (even though all the brownies were gone in a nanosecond — hungry techies are like locusts). The best part of NECC this year was seeing all the great friends I made at NECC last year. I am motivated to fill my piggy bank in advance of next year’s NECC in Denver.

Now it’s time to put the feet up, turn on the TV, take out my knitting and vegetate. Tomorrrow is another day.

Ms. Iannece,the art teacher at PS 111 in New York City, along with a group of her second graders created their first clay animation using Leo Lionni’s “Geraldine The Music Mouse” as inspiration.   This was their first effort at animation, and I think you’ll agree, it is a rousing success!

They used Tech4Learning’s Frames to create their movie and my hope is that they will continue to create more wonderful projects going forward.

Kudos to Ms. Iannece and her kids!

It’s impossible to keep pace with the plethora of new tools that come rolling down the virtual pike, and while I often visit something new, set up an account and am momentarily dazzled, I suffer from Virtual ADD which has me checking on the next new thing to cross my path.  I rediscovered Dipity today and am newly impressed.  I think it might be worth investing $4.95 a month (pay as you go, so you don’t feel the pinch) to use this in the classroom to avoid the advertising and gain some extra upload space. Here’s an example I found on Dipity using “Age of Exploration” to search for a timeline. It might be an interesting project to have students populate a timeline collaboratively. Suggestions anyone?

This is the slideshow for my NYSCATE 2008 one hour presentation on stop motion animation.