Dell Coming with Desktop and Laptop Linux Option

According to an article on DesktopLinux.com,

Dell contacted DesktopLinux.com on March 28 to let us know that the company will be releasing select desktop and notebook systems with pre-installed Linux as an option in the coming weeks.

Dell, however, is still playing its Linux cards close to its vest. For example, we do not know at this time which Linux distribution -- or distributions -- it will be supporting, or what Dell desktop and laptop machines will have pre-installed Linux as an option.

David Lord, a Dell spokesperson, did say, however, that Dell has been listening to its users and that the users want home and office desktops and laptops. Dell's current offering in this area includes the Inspiron and Latitude laptops and the Dimension and OptiPlex desktops

The new systems, Lord added, will be true pre-installed Linux systems -- and not just a PC with a blank hard drive and a bootable CD or DVD. Software support is likely to come from the community, however, rather than from Dell. Lord added, however, that hardware support on the Dell Linux systems is likely to be the same as it offers on its Windows-powered systems.

This could be BIG!

With the One Laptop Per Child program progressing, the likelihood of 1 to 1 learning is rapidly increasing. For sustainability some think that free and open source is the only truly affordable option. I'm following Indiana's Linux program closely.

With all of the highly interactive tools available on the web today... "Give me a browser with a high speed Internet connection and I'll see you in June!"

For what it's worth,
KP

Tags: Linux, opensource

PBwiki freebies

During my web 2.0 presentations I often include pbwiki, wikispaces, edublogs, google tools, etc.

Well, here's a nice bonus if you include pbwiki in your presentations:

PBwiki Presenter Packs
If you're giving a presentation about wikis, we'll ship you a free PBwiki
t-shirt, an easy-to-read PDF about wikis, a Powerpoint with pictures of
real PBwiki users, and 3 FREE Gold Premium wikis to give out to your
audience. We've already distributed over 100 Presenter Packs to educators
around the world, and we'd love to give you one, too.

Get your PBwiki Presenter Pack here:
http://educators.pbwiki.com/PBwiki%20Presenter%20Packs

The Gold Premium pack is a VERY nice offer. I've applied for mine! Get 'em while they're hot!

KP

Online video for Teachers

I'm not doing well with regular posting. I'm going to try something a bit different. Maybe some shorter posts that are less developed.

I find that I start posts, they don't fully develop into anything coherent and I never publish. So I think I'll try shorter blurbs and see if that works for me.

A nice resource, at first glance, was posted by Cliotech. YouTube is being blocked by many companies and schools for various reasons. If that's true for you then be sure to check out TeacherTube.

This site looks like it may be in it's infancy. What a great idea! It will be interesting to see if it can be policed. Miguel Guhlin (sorry Miguel, couldn't find the walled garden or eduTube / eduFlickr posts) has been calling for this for quite some time now. Can't wait to see it evolve into an excellent instructional tool.

KP

Interactive Whiteboards- Are they worth it?

I've been negligent. No posts in a few weeks.

I had a conversation with one of Pennsylvania's most influential bloggers, Jim Gates, the other day. Our discussion, as it usually does, centers around current happenings in education technology. While it's not always the case, this time we agreed on the topic.

Interactive whiteboards were the topic of discussion. We spoke about the cost of whiteboards, the software requirements, connectivity, logistical considerations, and more. There is an undeniable "cool" factor that instantly happens in a classroom when a new whiteboard is introduced.

I have seen some very cool lessons involving whiteboards. What I haven't witnessed, on a regular basis, is a shift from the teacher-centered classroom. The whiteboard is typically used as a teacher tool.

At the elementary level, teachers often invite their students to interact with learning manipulatives. At the secondary level we most often see the whiteboard being used as a presentation device. Now I'm not suggesting that there aren't highly engaging activities that can be done. There are. But typically... it's a presentation device.

The cost, at $1100 - $1500 or more, is quite steep. There are cables and connectivity to consider. The boards are large and despite having a rolling stand, mobility is just not practical.
And the one that hits my school the hardest... locally installed software. With hundreds of teachers and a handful of techs, the continuous updating of locally installed software can be problematic.

What I'd like to see develop is (and I know I sound like a broken record) is web-based interactive whiteboard software!! Here's one that I've come to like and I hope you'll give it a try too. It's called Thinkature and it appears to have great potential. Upload your pictures, draw, comment, chat, INVITE OTHERS!

So with a $50 remote mouse and a web-based interactive workspace... homerun!!

There are other web-based spaces such as Skrbl but I've come to like Thinkature.

Tags: web 2.0, Internet, software, whiteboard, interactive whiteboard