Attached is my updated presentation for the CUE Conference.  I will be presenting Thursday March 5th, 2009, from 2:00pm to 3:00pm.  Info on my “bonus session” can be found HERE about 2/3 of the way down the page.

Wiimote Whiteboard Presentation

From the CUE Conference Catalog:

How to Build an Interactive Whiteboard for Under $100
Dan Eliot             2046
A do-it-yourself project to create an interactive whiteboard system using an existing LCD projector, Nintendo Wiimote, and an IR LED pen.
Intermediate, Experienced, Not grade-level specific
Multi, TL, IN, IT    Andreas    Wyndham Hotel

Educational Technology has always been a mixed bag. From old equipment, to lack of training, to lack of time to implement change, public schools have always had it tough. Recently on techlearning.com, a great article was posted which clearly discusses how to perform Staff Development the smart way. A great read which hits all of the important points. Thanks to Nori Murphy for pointing out this article. It can be found HERE.

A great summary from the article:

Technology-based professional development activities should be anchored with the following fundamental principles:

• Participants learn by doing.
• Activities are relevant to the participants’ educational roles.
• Leaders model appropriate instructional strategies.
• Schedules include time for reflection and collaboration.
• Leaders and other participants provide ongoing support.

One of the great podcasts available on “The Interweb” is Radiolab.  For me, RadioLab is a great mix of science, technology, and philosophy.  A recent favorite is the episode on Emergence which discusses how, for example, individual ants or brain cells can do little on their own and have little power, but when grouped together they can do amazing things.  Emergence, I believe, helps explain the real power behind social networking sites such as Google, MySpace and Facebook.  Google is a social networking site you say?  Well think about it, a web site’s Google search placement is based (mostly) on how many other sites are linked to it, often known as “Google Juice“.  So the power if many “weak” links results in a site being popular within Google.

Well, the Hundred Dollar Laptop actually came in at $189.00 (and dropping), but it’s still pretty amazing and revolutionary in it’s own way. David Pogue of the New York Times has a wonderful overview of the laptop that can be watched below or by clicking HERE. In November, US residents can participate in a “give one, get one” program. If you pay $400, you get your own “XO” laptop AND purchase one to be given away in another country. Very cool idea, and it’s a tax deduction.

One of the great promises of the digital age is the paperless workplace. The only problem is, people like paper (and books and printers and scantrons) and have often tended to keep both digital and paper copies of important information. While some businesses have moved in the direction of a paperless workplace, few educational institutions have. However, here is an interesting article from Education World which discusses three classrooms trying to make the transition.  A particularly interesting quote:

 ”The school district’s goal to move to a paperless environment is an ongoing process that requires constant evaluation and new initiatives,” he said. “Although in today’s world, some processes are more efficiently completed using paper, the school district recognizes that rapidly advancing technology will result in more and more practical applications of paperless processes.”