Category Archives: Savvy Technologist Podcast

Episodes of the Savvy Technologist Podcast for your listening pleasure.

Savvy Technologist Podcast program update

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I’m delighted to announce that I will be producing a multi-episode podcast series on digital storytelling over the next few weeks. I’ve got some great guests lined up included Joe Lambert from the Center for Digital Storytelling, Bernajean Porter from Bernajean Porter Consulting and Digitales, and Jeanne Biddle, Technology Director from the Scott County Schools in Kentucky.

The purpose of this post is to whet your appetite and invite you to participate by submitting questions. Audio questions can be submitted by sending an audio file to savvytechnologistpodcast@gmail.com. Written questions are fine too, but not nearly as fun. If you do submit an audio question, please make sure you identify yourself by name (if you’re brave enough) and let me know where you’re “calling” from.

Download: STP-ProgramUpdate-20060223 (1.3 MB, 1:55)

digital storytelling

Aaron Doering: Adventure learning in the Arctic

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I don’t know about you, but I don’t usually picture -40°F and roving polar bears when think of the perfect classroom. But for Prof. Aaron Doering and the rest of the GoNorth! team, spending a few months in their arctic classroom is the perfect way to connect with millions of school children from around the world.

Aaron is a proponent of adventure learning, and the GoNorth! team is putting the concept to the test this spring for the second time during a trek from Circle, Alaska to Prudhoe Bay. They’re calling the trip “GoNorth! Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 2006” and along the way the team will be interacting with native peoples, exploring environmental issues, and providing an amazing learning opportunity for any student, teacher, or parent who signs up at their Web site.

It’s not too late to sign up at PolarHusky.com and participate in this year’s trip. There is a ton of free K–12 curriculum at their site that cuts across content areas and will really draw students into the trip and the issues it raises. If nothing else, at least take a look at the huskies. If you and your students check out the site, the frequent trip updates via text, audio, and video will keep you coming back.

Download: STP-AaronDoering (29.5 MB, 39:26)

adventure learning, polarhusky, anwr, online learning, podcast, environmental education

Paul Nelson: K-12 Linux Terminal Server Project

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Paul Nelson is Technology Director at Riverdale High School in Portland, OR and co-creator of the K-12 Linux Terminal Server Project. K-12 LTSP is a really cool way to take older machines and breathe new life into them by connecting them to a powerful server that takes over the bulk of the computing tasks. For standard Web browsing and Office-like applications, schools can save a bunch of money using thin clients vs. full PCs.

Our podcast should be a pretty good introduction to Linux, open source, and thin client computing. We mention RedHat and Edubuntu, two Linux distributions of particular interest to schools, and the K-12 Linux in School Project which seeks to promote free and open source software in educational settings.

Download: STP-PaulNelson (16.9 MB, 36:35)

k12ltsp, thin clients, edubuntu

Dan McCreary: Metadata, SIF, and interoperability

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Dan McCreary has been around the block a time or two in his years of working in the technology industry. He’s worked at cutting edge technology companies and started companies of his own. His latest project was building a data dictionary for the Minnesota Dept of Education.

Our conversation centered on metadata and interoperability issues. Many of you are familiar with SIF, probably the most widely known effort to build a standardized framework for communicating about education data. Dan explains a lot of the background information about metadata, XML, OWL, ISO 11179, and other alphabet soup acronyms that, once you understand a bit about them, make SIF more comprehensible. We also discuss how interoperability fits into the future of online learning, student transcripts, and standardized testing. Finally, Dan’s got some tips for school technology leaders as they evaluate vendors who claim that their products interoperate.

This one’s more technical that most of my podcasts, but there’s some good stuff in there. Let your inner greek out for recess and give it a listen.

Download: STP-DanMcCreary (16.2 MB, 35:10)

Michael Searson: Pre-service teacher education

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Dr. Michael Searson is the Dean of the College of Education at Kean University in Union, NJ. We met last July in San Jose, CA at the ADE Summer Institute and I knew right away that Mike would be a thought-provoking podcast guest.

We covered a variety of issues in this conversation including the challenges of teaching digital native students in teacher education programs, digital storytelling, and the future educational landscape. I’ll bet Mike would be willing to interact with anyone who posts a comment, so don’t hesitate to put in your $0.02.

Download: STP-MichaelSearson (24.6 MB, 45:54)

podcast, kean, teacher education

David Glick: Online learning

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I sat down with David Glick recently at a local library that just happens to have a coffee shop. We talked about online learning while I sipped my chai latté. Dave has been consulting with organizations that are developing online learning programs for a couple years now, and before that he was the first online learning coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Education. Check out his company’s Web site for more info about the kind of work Dave does around the country.

We talked about the characteristics of quality online learning programs, some pitfalls to avoid, and wondered aloud what would become of the course management system software space now that Blackboard and WebCT have merged and Moodle is gaining ground quickly. Cook this podcast for 15 minutes per pound, baste frequently, and enjoy with a hearty portion of sweet potatoes and that green bean casserole with the crunchy onions on top.

Other sites mentioned:

Download: STP-DavidGlick (18.3 MB, 39:57)

podcast, blackboard, moodle, mit opencourseware

Martin Dougiamas: Moodle CMS

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Moodle is the biggest open source course management system in the world. It competes head-to-head with Blackboard on features and crushes the commercial competition on price. I’ve posted about the use of Moodle in my school district in the past, and anyone who’s read any of those posts knows that I’m a huge fan. I thought it would be cool to go to the source and ask Martin Dougiamas, Moodle founder and project leader, a bit more about the project. I think you’ll enjoy this podcast very much!

I continue to be impressed by Skype. Martin’s in Perth, Western Australia, and our conversation from (literally) halfway around the world sounds like we’re sitting in the same room. Is Skype worth $1.6 billion? eBay thinks so. Premature or not, VoIP is going to be huge.

Download: STP-MartinDougiamas (13.1 MB, 28:20)

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NSBA: Laptops For All

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Scott Roiger and I gave our presentation on the Hopkins 1-to-1 computing project this morning. I think it went pretty well and we were fortunate to get a mixer installed in our room so that we could record the session. This may be the first session ever podcast from a T+L2 conference.

Download: STP-NSBA-1to1 (26.9 MB, 58:31)

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