ISTE 2011

Day one ISTE is over and two tech tips that were gleaned today:  

• for the iPad - splashtop white board, is a remote app to your desktop or laptop from your iPad over wifi.  Works nicely even on the portable hotspot from my phone.
• Livebinders.com - check out this site for creating tabbed site.  Can be embedded in your LMS and limits where your students can go.  Good way of organizing sites for a presentation.

Lots of walking in Philadelphia.  Conference is really good.  Looking forward to learning more Tuesday.

Blackboard vs. Moodle

If you are looking at using Blackboard or Moodle as your LMS, consider several items I have experienced using Blackboard.  First, students don't like BB because of the multiple clicks to get to places in the course.  Second, BB doesn't play nicely with iPads,especially as an instructor.  Third, file management in BB is far too cumbersome and time consuming in uploading multiple files.  Finally, cost!  BB is expensive whereas Moodle is free with minimal hosting cost.  Does anyone have experience with D2L (Desire to Learn)?  Would love to hear from you about your experience.

SWPRSC

Had two great  days in Sublette, KS at the Southwest Plains Regional Service Center doing teacher training.  Day one was learning all the possibilities with Google Apps for the classroom and school.  Two of the administrators got into Google Forms and the all the possibilities with the calendar.  Special thank you to Tom for his assistant others and giving of good suggestions.  His district is fortunate to have him.  The SPRSC for hosting and taking good care of us.