Essentially, it takes a feed from my broadband connection and broadcasts 3G (full bars) throughout my house. Prior, we had terrrrrrrrible service with AT&T with our iPhones at home, so I’m ecstatic about strong signal now.

Some have complained, during the pilot period of this project, that you shouldn’t have to use your own network connection to pick up where AT&T is dropping the ball, but since it isn’t costing me anything above what I’m already paying, for now it isn’t a problem.

Regardless, I now have the ability to actually use the cell service I’ve been paying for for the last year.

So, yay me?

Also, I need to trash all of my iPhone apps that are not optimized for the iPad, that is just annoying.

I probably should have mentioned that I’m composing this post from said iPad. I really can’t complain about the typing, once you get used to not resting on the keys, it isn’t too bad!

I’m anxious to see how this tool performs in a work setting…

yeah.  I know.  I need to get one of these things…

But, that’s not all.

Sometimes I have ideas in weird places (my physical location, not the body part from whence the idea is originating), and I would like to collect them all in one place.

There’s an app for that.  Specifically, there is an Evernote iPhone app, that seamlessly syncs with the mothership so that ALL of my scattered crazy is in one location. (there’s also an iPad app, which I believe would be IDEAL for meetings – provided, of course, that you own an iPad.)

If you are scattered between mobile devices and browsers and apps, you should check it out…

Since the focus of most of my writing generally involves technology, I am interested in exploring the divide between those who are connected, and those who are not.  However, I don’t see this as a simple dichotomy; instead, I believe that there are actually three distinct groups, based not on age, instead, on ability.

If you haven’t heard of Marc Prensky, you’ve probably heard the terms digital natives/digital immigrants.  Although he has detractors, in large part, I subscribe to his POV on this.  People who have grown up with technology infused in their lives do have a different perspective than those who have been around longer than cell phones. While Prensky’s premise is that this divide is primarily generational, I think it extends beyond that.

I see three classes of technology users: regular users, power users, and non-users.

The non-user group (at the left end of the bell curve) is populated by those who choose to refrain from technology use whenever possible, as well as those individuals whom technology has overwhelmed (think of your grandma trying to set up her Netflix account for Instant Viewing on a Tivo).  I believe that this first group will continue to grow smaller each year for a reason beyond the simplistic one of aging populations: technology is becoming more accessible and integrated (think: iPad – particularly, the conclusion of this piece on Ars Technica). As this group migrates to regular user status (via technology that is accessible both in cost and skill required to operate) the possibility for substantive disruptions in communication and connection will increase.

If everyone had a smart device that was connected to the network all of the time, daily life would be significantly differ, I would venture.

To stay with the iPad (or a similar tool) for a moment, this same device is derided by some at the other end of the curve (the power users) who see it as merely another media consumption device, incapable of serious computing (read Cory Doctorow’s perspective). While harsh, this sentiment is certainly understandable.  Certainly, the inability to create software for computer hardware, on that hardware, is an issue at this time.

Key words here are certainly “at this time.”  Even though there are only a few accessories for the iPad that provide access to some light content creation, this is also the first iteration of this device.  Track the iPhone for example.  When it first came out, it allowed only the initial Apple apps and web apps.

Now?

I think we all know how that’s going.

Billions of apps downloaded, even inside the high walls of the app store approval process.  I’m sure that some of the power users will see this next comment as naive, but I’m ok with that.  I love the fact that when I download something onto my iPhone, it has been vetted in some way.

I want to use good things, not things that crash (or worse, infect) my hardware.

Since I see myself towards the right border between regular users and power users (I neither speak code beyond functional HTML, nor do I physically create or repair hardware), I am not bound by the constraints described in Doctorow’s writing.  In fact, I see myself as a prime candidate for a device like this.

Why?

I see the iPad, and the many many similar devices to follow, as a means of reducing the gap in technology between the Power Users and the Non Users.  Regular Users and Power Users, even whilst griping about shortcomings, will have absolutely no problem figuring out how to operate the iPad.  The beautiful thing about this device is that Non Users will also be able to easily operate it without extensive training or explanation.

Who cares about file directories when you have a computer that starts up instantly?  Ashamedly, I admit that I frequently resort to using Spotlight (system search feature on Mac OS X) to find files that I haven’t used in a long time.

I would much rather launch an app, and be presented with a list of files that belong to that app, especially on a device that is primarily to be used for consumption and light creation.

I’m anxious to see how long it takes the Non User group to fade into the lower end of the Regular Users.

(lower cost and ease of use) + time = connected people.

After watching these videos, I can really see the potential for a tool like this.  Maybe not a complete world-changer with version 1, but just wait until software designers completely embrace the change in mindset…

Do you know http://www.donorschoose.org/?

DonorsChoose allows teachers to create projects, that are funded by external donors (like, us for example).  Visitors can browse projects and determine which projects merit their hard earned dollars (there are a TON of projects for you to choose from) and then fund them.

The coolest part of this connection between donor and classroom?  There actually IS a connection.  You get to interact with the classroom that you are funding!

I found out about this site through my wife, who is also an educator.  One of her former colleagues started a project at the site, posted about it on Facebook (who said that social networking was all Farmville and Mafia Wars?), and my wife became a donor. After her donation had been received, months later my wife got a Birthday card in the mail from DonorsChoose that was a giving card (as opposed to a gift card).  The giving card was additional money (in this case $25.00) that could be applied to another project.

Did we donate the additional $25.00?

Nope. It was a B-Day present from DonorsChoose.

So, she could dole this money out to other projects and help those students achieve their goals as well.

I asked her what she thought about this site in general, she found this amazing, “They make it simple and have some great marketing tools built in to the site (ability to share the project via email, facebook, twitter, linkedin, etc.).  They are helping teachers find funds to help children.  Who does that??”

Seriously.  Who does that?

Also, when asked if the organization inspired my wife, she responded, “Yes.  This is the epitome of “paying it forward.”  It also gives you an opportunity to help areas of education that aren’t normally well funded (can you say, “gifted”?).”

Did I forget to mention that she is a gifted intervention specialist?  :)

Anyway, if you think that the planet is composed entirely of navel gazers, I think that this site is out to prove you wrong.

At least when it comes to crowdsourced funding of school projects…

If you have expertise of any kind, I think that it is your obligation to share said expertise with others.

For example, I recently attended a conference on Christian Distance Education as a presenter.  (Disclaimer: any claims of authority below are extremely limited to the very narrow focus of my research interests.)

The topic of my talk was the use of video feedback as a means of establishing social presence for the facilitator, while also serving as a means of fostering community among the participants, in an online course.

I presented the same talk two times over two days, and I believe that a few individuals actually got something from it. How do I know, or at least purport to know?

Because of the depth of the discussion at the conclusion of the presentation.

Sure, I got plenty of props (not boasting, honest), but you always get props when you can screw up the courage to speak in front of your academic (insert your group here) peers, even when you’re not so awesome.  Right?

No, I knew that  I had sparked change in at least a few individuals, with potential for much greater spread.  The language used in the discussion centered around direct application of the principles I discussed to their professional practices.

If you can give one person a new perspective on a problem, based on your experience and expertise, you can change that person’s life.  If they are truly changed and inspired by that change, they infect others (in a good way, of course).  I have encountered this phenomenon in schools, during my time as a professional development specialist.  I found that if you can get a few key players on board, the others want in on it too (“hey, don’t leave ME out of the fun new thing going on here”).

Obviously, then, presenting at conferences, if that is your thing, is an excellent means of sharing your expertise. However, this is certainly not the only way to spread your message.  Write an article, a letter to the editor, or a guest editorial for your paper.  Create a podcast.  BLOG about it!!!  (again, I feel compelled to remind you that this missive is directed back to the author)

“But,” you may be thinking, “my area of expertise is lame/of limited interest/obscure/bizarre. Should I share?”

Yes.

Trust me, someone else in the world is into what you’re into.  If you share, you are far more likely to make some real connections not possible before the Internet.

Also, if we all shared and made crazy worldwide connections, isn’t it possible that some barriers and animosities might be destroyed and forgotten?

When we make connections by sharing, we find that we’re not alone.

I’m going to be honest, at first I felt what many other Apple fans have already expressed: it’s just an iPod on roids.

But then, I took some time to actually consider the device (and its potential), based on Phil Schiller‘s (Senior Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing, Apple) assertion in a PR video that “it’s going to change the way we do the things we do everyday.”

Really?

Setting aside the awkward phrasing, it sounds like Mr. Schiller is saying that the iPad will change the way we interact with our technology.

Like, a total game changer.

Even though I haven’t touched one yet (keyword: yet), the more I consider, the more I tend to agree. Particularly when I read John Gruber’s musings on how the operating system on the iPad/iPhone is akin to an automatic transmission, compared to the manual transmission of the Mac OS (or Windows, or Linux, or).  Additionally, his thoughts on the Popovers (an extremely contextual take on the menu concept) helped me to see how we can indeed shift away a keyboard/mouse combo for full on touch control.

Oh, alright, that seems cool enough, but I generally write about technology in the context of education. Do I see the iPad as a tool that could completely revolutionize education?

Seriously? Maybe.

How?

First, as this device is (in part, at least) being touted as an eBook reader, one possible innovation could be in the delivery of textbooks.  Instead of printing static (read: dated) textbooks that carry a big footprint financially (as well as physically in backpacks) for students, why couldn’t the iPad become an eBook reader that provides strong academic tools (i.e., integrated smart highlighting – a user highlights a passage and the passage is saved/searchable, while also creating a citation in APA or MLA or what have you).

Imagine the introduction of an eTextbook that contains not only text to read, but interactive formative assessments that can be tied to an LMS like Blackboard, Moodle, or ANGEL.  What about video clips or other rich media that provides connections for visual and aural learners?  Additionally, updates to textbooks could be far more seamless, providing students with the most current research in their learning materials.

One of the biggest issues with the current implementation of the iPad is heavy text input.  Based on what I’ve read thus far, as well as my experience with typing on an iPhone touch screen, the iPad’s virtual keyboard is more appropriate for short missives, than it is for longer written works. Of course, this is the first version of the device, who knows what is possible down the road?  Add in haptic technology, where the keyboard raises when needed, and you may have a device that could (as it evolves in power, storage size, and educational app availability) become ubiquitous in schools, K-20.

Yeah, I can’t wait to get my hands on one…