Thursday, September 18, 2014

The @BlackboardK12 BITS Learning Sessions #3 #BbK12Live with @Web20Classroom

I've partnered with BlackboardK12 to share out the awesome sessions they are having this Fall. Educators can sign up to attend and share with other great educators what they have learned. I'll feature the session and the description on my blog each week and on my Twitter account. If you have questions, feel free to shoot a tweet to @BlackboardK12. Have fun learning and sharing!

Curating Content The Right Way

Going digital has made all information available at our finger tips. From research to consumption it is easy, however, to get lost in the rabbit hole of content. Join us as we will look at curation from start to finish. We will answer questions like how to find reliable information and tell its actually reliable and how to save this information so you can get back to it when you need it. We’ll examine the tools, sites and skills necessary to be a Master Curator.

Steven Anderson, Learning and Relationship Evangelist

Steven W. Anderson is a learner, blogger, speaker, educational evangelist and Dad. As a former teacher and Director of Instructional Technology he is highly sought after for his expertise in educational technology integration and using social media for learning. As @web20classroom he regularly travels the country talking to schools and districts about the use of Social Media in the classroom and how they can better serve students through technology. Steven has been a presenter and keynoter at several educational technology conferences, including ISTE, ASCD and FETC, VSTE as well as numerous state and local conferences. He is also responsible in helping create #edchat, a weekly education discussion on Twitter that boasts over 500 weekly participants. Steven has been recognized with the the 2009 and 2011 Edublogs, Twitterer of The Year Award, a Microsoft Heros of Education award, along with a 2013 Bammy Award, recognized worldwide as the Educational Emmy, for his work with #edchat.

Twitter: @Web20Classroom

When: Monday, September 22, 2014 - 3:30 PM EST

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Don't forget to check out the Blackboard Live App. It has all of the sessions you might have missed and much much more.


Here is the playlist where you can watch this recorded session and other sessions you might have missed.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Chromebook Resources by @IntelEDU #IntelChromebooks

Title: Chromebook Resources by @IntelEDU #IntelChromebooks


Interested in Chromebooks? Intel has collected amazing resources by wonderful educators that share the wonderful things that can be done with Chromebooks in the classroom. If you visit intel.com/ChromeEdu, you will see information from Erin Klein, Lisa Neilsen, Viki Davis, and more.
You can also win an Intel-Powered Chromebook following @IntelEDU and tweeting which Intel-powered Chromebook feature is your favorite. Use hashtag #IntelChromebooks and you'll be entered to win a Chromebook with Intel Inside! Click here for more details.




Chromebooks have been growing in popularity and I’m seeing more and more educators with them as well as students. I am always pleased with my experience using a Chromebook and I am a big fan of the Intel-powered Chromebooks. They load much faster than others and the streaming is just better in my opinion. If you are looking for a new device solution for yourself or your classroom, Intel-Powered Chromebooks is where you should start your research. Check out their resources to see all of the great things you can do.


Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to edit and post it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.)

Monday, September 15, 2014

HP ElitePad 1000 G2 Review #EdTech

HP ElitePad 1000 G2


I'm really excited to share with your my thoughts on the HP ElitePad 1000 G2. I've been playing with the ElitePad for a few weeks and I have to say that I am very impressed. I did not have the best experience with a Windows device when I used the Surface, but the ElitePad was very different. 

Windows looked beautiful on the device and everything was lightning quick. I was able to load new apps and update the software in a matter of minutes. I customized my screen and moved my favorite apps to the different screens. I opened Evernote and was able to access all of my notes and notebooks without a problem. Everything just went wonderfully! Here are some stats on the ElitePad:

 The specs of the ElitePad 1000 G2 include:
  • Intel Atom Processor (quad-core Intel Bay Trail Atom)
  • 4 GB RAM
  • 64 or 128 GB solid state drive
  • Bright and beautiful 10.1" (1900x1200) Gorilla Glass display
  • Dual cameras: 2.1MP HD (front) and 8 MP with flash (rear)
  • HD audio with 2 stereo speakers
  • SDXC card reader
  • USB port (with optional adapter)
  • Microphone/headphone jack 
  • Up to 10 hours of battery life
  • WiFi (a/b/g/n) and Bluetooth (4G is an option)
  • Weight: 1.5 lbs.
  • Dimensions: 7.01 x 10.28 x 0.36 in. (178 x 261 x 9.2 mm)

I was able to stream YouTube and Netflix without a problem and the sound was perfect. All of my favorite apps were opening quickly and I was able to easily take pictures and share them with friends and family. The battery life lived up to its billing. I used it during one full school day instead of my iPad and I was able to do everything I would have done with my iPad without missing a beat. 

Another great part of ElitePad was this wonderful accessory. 


I love this Docking Station. Most of these are just for your to set it up and charge. This does so much more. It has the USB ports as well as an HDMI and VGA port. I can connect the ElitePad to anything I want. I can connect it to my project in class and use it as another computer. I can just switch from one computer to the other without any problems. I could connect it to my TV at home and show a slide show or watch Netflix there. This Docking Station opens a world of possibilities of different use scenarios. I can do all of these things and charge my tablet at the same time. It is a wonderful collection of options that others need to start making standard for their docking stations. 

Overall, I have to say that I am a fan of the ElitePad. It does everything you want it to do and it does it quickly and it  looks good doing it. Check out more info on the ElitePad here


 

The @BlackboardK12 BITS Learning Sessions #2 #BbK12Live

I've partnered with BlackboardK12 to share out the awesome sessions they are having this Fall. Educators can sign up to attend and share with other great educators what they have learned. I'll feature the session and the description on my blog each week and on my Twitter account. If you have questions, feel free to shoot a tweet to @BlackboardK12. Have fun learning and sharing!

Lunch & Learn: Introducing Bb Grader for iOS for Teachers

Stuck waiting for an oil change? Hanging out watching soccer practice? Sipping a latte at the coffee shop on a lazy Saturday? ...But you still have virtual piles of student papers to grade in Blackboard? Pull out your iPad! Bb Grader enables teachers to view, provide rich feedback, and ultimately grade student submissions to Blackboard Learn Assignments from anywhere, anytime. Join us for a a live demo of the new Bb Grade App for teachers by Trey Buck, the Bb Grader Product Manager! Bb Grader is available to all Blackboard Learn customers.

By: Trey Buck, Product Manager

Trey is a Product Manager for Blackboard covering end-user services, including mobile products, SafeAssign, Profiles, and more. He has been with Blackboard for two years, and came from the acquisition of the Moodlerooms team where he worked on the xpLor product. Trey is a new father and enjoys soccer, tech, and beer!

Twitter: @TreyBuck

When: Friday September 19 12:00EST

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