So, first up is a conversation with one of my best friends, Joanne, a high school math teacher and entrepreneur. It’s amazing to me, but some of my friends don’t think of themselves as “gadget gurls”. Yet I see them using tech gadgets and other technology in multiple areas of their lives. So, you’ll see in the questions I posed it took a little coaxing with Joanne but her passion for her tech gadgets came alive….
GGG: Why do you like your Mac Book? Has it changed how you watch TV? ;)
Jo: I love my MACBOOK! I watch my dvd/movies on it as well as catch up on my Ugly Betty if I miss an episode.
GGG: How does it make your life easier or better?
Jo: iWork.com has made my life much easier! I no longer have to save a file as a particular type and then attach. I can just upload, choose types for downloading, and send a link. I also like iPhoto for its accessibility and user friendliness. Everything on MAC acts, behaves, and responds so intuitively!
GGG: Do you use technology in the classroom? How does it affect the educational experience? Does it enhance it?
Jo: I use Geometer's Sketchpad, TI-84 Graphing Calculators, Fathom Dynamic Data Software
, and CAHSEE PREP software. I use the two listed every class session. I also use an LCD projector to display and guide my students through the investigations we’re doing. If I find somewhere where I've already written how technology enhances my curriculum, I'll send it to you. It's not a short answer and I'm sure I have it written up somewhere for a grant. GGG: Do you have any ideas on how you would like to use technology in the classroom? Either things you have seen or ideas you have but have yet to see implemented?
Jo: YES YES YES.... will send response later.... also a long one.
GGG: Switching gears... I know you and your parents video chat sometimes, how or why did you start? Has it caught on with other family members and/or friends?
Jo: I started because of the renovations on our house.... wanted to share them with my mom and dad. My cousin started too because of the same reason... I encouraged her to iChat me in to show me the house.... she's anti-computer for the most part but now loves it. Although, now she wants to do it with me all the time and I don't have that kinda time. I also don't see a need for iChat as opposed to chatting on the phone with her, unless she literally has something to show me.
GGG: I know you're a huge fan of soccer :) And you often watch your nephews games on the Internet. Tell me more about that experience?
Jo: CRAP!!!! Just recently I found out that lots of the games I want to see are offered through an online streaming site (actually, there are lots of them) that you can pay a small fee (like $40/year) but the U.S. is blocked out from access!!!!! Other countries, no problem. What Crap!!!! I do use espn360.com to view some of the games, including my nephew's games, and I used the remote access option to set it up so my mom and dad could use my password and watch on their mac at home (there's some flash plug in something or other that had to be loaded on the computer first and my mom couldn't get it to work so i just did remote access and gave her my password). I'm also pissed that sometimes I can't watch accselect.com on my computer for the same reason... something about a plug in that I couldn't figure out!
