Let me know what tech you like.

Thank you to those who have read my blog. It was just a project to keep me busy this summer because I am not teaching summer school and have to recoup from a back injury. So, instead of sitting around and watching TV or outlining one more textbook, I decided to blog what I know about personally - tech stuff for the classroom. So I would like to know what tech my fellow teachers in cyberspace like to use for the classroom or to help them prepare lesson plans. Let me know what devices, websites or services you think are great and want to share. Thanks again for reading and I look forward to your ideas.

Using Smile.Amazon.com to donate to worthy charities.

I just wanted to put this out to people who don't know about a great Amazon service. It's called Smile.Amazon.com. Go to the site and it is the same setup as the regular Amazon page. You can choose any of the charities listed (and there are thousands - schools, animal rescues, children services, you name it) and .05% of anything you buy at Amazon will go towards your selected charity. That may not seem like a lot but think of how much that is when lots of people use the service. The great thing is you don't need to set up a new account if you are already an Amazon customer and you can still use your prime membership to get your orders in a shorter time. Think about this! You pay the same price, get the same service and products and you're donating to charity without doing anything other than what you would normally do by using Amazon. So you can buy from Amazon and feel good about donating to your charity.

Kindle and Audible.com

Book are expensive and they take up space. If you are anything like me, you have a ton of books scattered around the house. Let's face it, most teachers are big readers and love books, one reason we are teachers. But you can only add so many shelves until things start getting cluttered in your classroom or home. Thank goodness for Amazon's Kindle. Kindle books are usually cheaper than many of the hardcover and softcover books on sale, unless you buy used. There are many books on Kindle available for free and there are also magazines for a fraction of the newsstand price from Kindle. And you don't need a Kindle to get Kindle books, as I am sure you know. The Kindle app is available for all computer, tablet and smartphone platforms. I only carry my smartphone with me when I am out. But, if I get stuck somewhere - dentist, doctor, auto repair - I can just pull out my smartphone and catch up on a book or the latest edition of PC Magazine to pass the time. That way I can avoid the stupid talk shows that always seem to be playing in the waiting rooms across America. There are also many textbooks that students can download to use for classes. One of my student textbooks is available online, on Kindle and in softcover form for $20. So my students can choose how they want to view their text. Kindle has another option that lets students rent textbooks for a defined period of time, the shorter the time the cheaper the price - another way to cut textbook costs and kids don't have to lug another heavy book in their backpacks that are loaded to the gills already.//// I like to read but don't always have the time to sit down with a book. But I do a lot of driving and sometimes get stuck in traffic. There is seldom something playing that I really want to hear on the radio. So I started using Audible.com several years ago. There is a monthly subscription fee of around $15.00. For that fee you can download 1 credit (usually 1 book) each month. The selection of books is wide and varied. Members can choose from a particular genre or by topic or author. Not sure you would be interested in a book? There is the option to listen to a snippet of the book so you can decide if you like the content and/or the narrator before adding the book to your shopping cart. The narrators are professional actors and professional voice actors. You may have seen some on television or in movies. Or it might be the author of the book reading his or her own book for you. So I can get into my car, plug my smartphone into the audio port and start listening as I drive. Years before I had an audio port, I used a small set of portable speakers in my car to listen. If I get behind in my listening I can suspend my membership for a few months so that I am still a member but I am not being charged. And then I can restart my subscription later to start getting books again. Both Kindle and Audible.com are Amazon products. The benefit is in using the Amazon website. When you find a book, Amazon will let you know if it is in Kindle and/or in Audible version and how much each costs - an all-in-one shopping experience. I know I have mentioned that I am an Amazon fan before in a previous post. But there are so many reasons that Amazon is a great place for teachers. So here are two more.

Mac's or PC's?

Many years ago when we were putting in the first computer lab for our school, we had to choose which platform to use. The choices, as now, were Mac's or PC's. (Yes, some of you might be saying that all laptops, regardless of operating system, are PC's.) But we chose to use the Microsoft Windows. Why? It came down to two points - cost and availability of software. As with most choices in education, we had to look for the biggest bang for our buck. Years ago, IBM (at least I think it was IBM) made the decision to allow third party companies to produce compatible hardware for their computers. This meant that competition could kick in and prices would be cheaper. In order to buy an IBM compatible computer, you didn't need an IBM computer. You could have it made by someone else. You could make it yourself with individually selected parts. Or you could go with a big brand like IBM. But most of the IBM computers ran Microsoft Windows. And, because of the that, other software companies were able to start producing Windows based programs. So, my school chose IBM compatible PC's. Ironically, at the same time, most school districts in the nation were going with Apple products. I remember working on an Apple II. I had an Apple IIc at home with a color printer. (The old days.) The reason schools were going with Apple was because the company was putting itself out there for the educational sector. Apple was producing a lot more educational software than other companies. It was giving discounts to schools. And those were the days when education had a lot more money to invest in their classrooms and new techniques/strategies. But by the mid-1990's funding was starting to dry up. The people I worked with and myself were learning as we went. So we got the cheapest computers we could buy (they didn't even have hard drives), ran a network, loaded the software and watched what would happen. Fast forward to 2014. It is still a PC or Apple/Mac world. I am not going to deal with Android or Chrome. Chrome, no way for a school wide network. Android is not there yet. I don't know how many schools are now PC but I suspect most out there are still Apple/Mac schools. And, unless you use a program that allows you to run Windows in your Mac or the Mac OS in your Windows, you are still looking at a choice. So what are the advantages of Apple products? The biggest argument in their favor is quality. Macs are made well and they are great products. Ask anyone who had worked with either and he or she will tell you there are less hassles with Macs. I can start tweaking a PC and make it crash in no time at all, too many glitches. It takes me a lot longer to crash a Mac and I have only done so a few times. (Can you count the number of times your PC has frozen, stalled, crashed, buffered, or whatever on you? I can't.) And these days Apple has almost as many different software products as software for Windows machines. (Sorry, Linux users. This is not your fight.) Of course, for years Apple has led the tablet wars with the iPad. (Actually, Apple launched the first salvo with the iPad and waited for the others to try and catch up.) Ipad is still the best tablet out there, in my humble opinion, regardless of the lack of USB and printing limitations. But the others are getting better and Surface Pro 3 is leading the way by creating a tablet that is really a full computer in disguise. Apple has so many great apps. Android is hard on their heels. But Apple is still generally more expensive than comparable PC products. So, back to the question...Mac or PC? If I had unlimited funds, I would go with Macs. They are well-made, durable, reliable and Apple has established a good foundation in the educational arena. But money is never unlimited. The other reason we went with PC's years ago was that most businesses at the time were using Windows. Look at the checkout counter the next time you are at the store. It is probably a Windows based machine. In business offices Windows has been winning for years. So we wanted our students to have a basis in Windows based computing. Today, Apple may be making inroads into other areas besides education and creative design but it is mostly a Microsoft world and that is primarily because of one thing, cost. So, you have to decide if the quality of the product and long term investment is enough to decide on an Apple foundation. But, then again, long term is not something you want in the computer world. Buy an Apple product and it is already out-dated when it leaves the store. Don't believe me? Check the history of the various versions of iPhones. Anyone still using their 1st generation iPad? So you may invest the money long-term and then find your Macs or iPads are out of date and no longer will run the software you need. I know I keep adding a lot of ideas to the mix but you really have to decide for yourself based on what you have to spend, what you need, and where you plan to take your program in the future. Personally, I would love a Mac but I just can't afford one. So I am still hammering out this blog on a PC laptop. (All opinions in this blog are based on my own information and experience of 20+ in computers and education.)

The Microsoft Wedge Mobile Bluetooth Keyboard is a great choice for your tablet

So you have a tablet and are not happy with the task of using the touchscreen every time you want to type. Maybe it doesn't feel right or you are a touch typist like me. Or maybe you are thinking of getting a keyboard to use with your cell phone. You may be considering the option of a wireless bluetooth keyboard, which is the best option (in my opinion) for most tablets. Some tablets already have a proprietary keyboard that you can purchase optionally such as the Asus Transformer series or the Microsoft Surface Pro or RT. But those keyboards are over $100 and they don't work with any other device. What about an all around bluetooth keyboard? The Microsoft Wedge Mobile Bluetooth Keyboard is a great choice. It uses AA batteries so you know that it will last as long as you keep putting in 2 AAA batteries. It is 10" in length and 4" wide and only weights around a pound. It is a comfortable keyboard with great touch feedback. The best feature of the keyboard it that it turns on when you take off the cover and automatically turns off when you put the cover back on. I have bluetooth keyboards that I have to turn on and off. I invariably forget to turn the keyboard off and, when I need it, the battery is dead. No such problem with this keyboard. The cover is a nice, flexible rubber cover that is thick enough to provide great protection. The battery compartment under the back also raises the keyboard at a perfect angle for typing. My overall evaluation is a 5 out of 5. Microsoft got this keyboard right.

What computer accessories to carry with you

On a daily basis you may carry your computer or tablet around with you, from home to school or to meetings. What accessories should you include in your case when you travel around during your day? First and foremost is the charger for your tablet or computer. You never know when you will need it. One of the ways you can avoid having to drag your charger around is to purchase another one for your classroom. I know that some of these chargers are expensive but you can sometimes find cheaper ones on the Internet at Amazon or Cyberguys. Just make sure you get the right one and check the reviews before you buy. Some chargers are small enough that they don't add too much weight or inconvenience so that won't be a problem. You can also get portable chargers for your devices but the devices for your tablets are usually bigger, heavier and more expensive than the ones you might be used to for your phone. I don't carry one since I try to have my computer/tablet charged and ready to roll before I leave the house. Another toy that might be useful is a small USB hub if you tend to attach several peripheral items to your computer through the USB or if your device does not have enough USB ports. However, there are several tablets that do not have USB ports (Apple for one) and others that only have a mini-USB port. In that case, you will either need a mini-USB converter cable to plug into your computer or you are out of luck. In fact, most tablets do not have the power to support more than one USB device anyway. If you use your computer/tablet for the classroom, you may want a VGA adapte r for the projector in your room. The type of adapter you get will be determined by the type of tablet you have and you will probably will not need one if you have a computer since most computers have a VGA port already. The Surface and other tablets will have an HDMI (High Density Multimedia Interface) port. So you will need to get one of those. Apple has a different type (surprise, surprise) that is connected through the docking port where you charge the tablet. If you have a lot of pictures from your camera you might want an external card reader to read your camera's SD card. Again, it depends on the tablet. Of course, just loading your pictures on the iCloud, Skydrive or whatever Internet storage you use) will be easier in the long run. Same for your phone's pictures. If you have an Apple product you are probably using the iCloud already. Most other devices do have some type of Internet storage you get with the product. This is also a great place to backup your files. (If you don't already backup files onto another device or storage place, you need to do that NOW! My motto is "backup, backup and, if in doubt, backup again. I have a backup of my backup and, yes, I have had to use the backup's backup.) One thing that I use frequently is a presentation device that also has a laser pointer. I have written about one of my favorites in a previous post. They almost never need additional software to run. Just give the computer/tablet a chance to recognize the device and off you go. That way you are no longer tied to the computer/device or have to rely on a student to advance slides. I am a touch typist from years gone by and I prefer an external keyboard to using the on screen keyboard so I always buy a case with a separate keyboard. The Surface RT and Pro have a proprietary keyboard that you can purchase separately that is great and it doubles as a cover (2 for 1!) but it is over $100. Several other tablets have an additional keyboard that connects directly to the tablet (see my previous post on the Asus Transformer). But many tablet do not and you will to rely on a bluetooth or mini-USB keyboard. They even have smaller keyboards for the 7" tablets but it is harder to use unless you have tiny hands. You can also get projection keyboards for around $100 (The keyboard is projected onto a flat surface from a box the size of a deck of cards and the box will keep track of your hand movements or key strokes). But I don't think they are worth the money. The one problem with bluetooth keyboards is you have to charge them separately and then turn them on as well as connect them to the tablet. And, as I mentioned before, several tablets do not have a USB port for a keyboard so be aware. Still, I like the separate keyboards better than the ones on the tablet screen. It is faster and easier for me. You may feel differently, especially if you are not a touch typist. How about a stylus for the screen? Me, I never use them. There is never a place to put them that is convenient and they are like pens in my purse, always and the bottom and hard to find when I need them. So, in the end, I always have my VGA converter, my charger, the keyboard (usually in the case or the type that is connects directly to the tablet) and a mini-USB adapter. I also carry a flashdrive because you never know when it may come in handy and they are small so they don't take up very much room.

Buying a printer - laser or inkjet?

You are in the market for a new printer? If you are unsure of what to buy, you probably have been checking out the prices on printers and have noticed that some lower end laser printers are about the same price as some of the inkjet printers. So how do you choose? Laser or inkjet? Color or black only? Inkjets with only two cartridges (black and color) or separated cartridges for the primary colors? The first thing you have to ask yourself, just like any hardware you might purchase, is what will you use it for? The second question is always your budget. If you don't work in an office and do not plan to print out thousands of copies a month, then you are not going to need a high-end, expensive office printer. But you might like to print out your photographs or student projects. There are several things to keep in mind when deciding on a laser or an inkjet printer. Inkjet printers, as you probably aware, use small cartridges filled with liquid ink. Once you open the cartridge and install it in the printer, air can get to the liquid. This means that if you don't use your printer on a regular basis, the ink will dry up and you will have to buy new ink. That is money down the tube because ink is the most expensive thing about printers. Whereas, lasers use a fine powder called toner that does not dry and you can leave a printer sitting for years (I have) and then use it again with little to no problem (provided the software driver that helps your computer recognize the printer is still available for your operating system or OS and the connection ports are still current-anyone remember parallel ports?). The other thing to be aware of is the quality of printing. Some laser printers are sharper than others so you will get a crisp image or text document. Color lasers are nice if you have some simple pictures (not photos) to print such as cards and name tags or signs for class. As far as pictures or photographs, most laser printers will not do as well as inkjet printers unless you have a higher priced model for an office. Inkjet printers are generally better at photos. But even among inkjet printers there is variation so do your research and check for reviews. Better yet, ask for a demonstration at the store. If you are buying one mostly for text documents and such, laser is the way to go. You will get more miles for your money because the cost of per page printing will be much less. Ink for your printers is not cheap and does not last once opened. Laser toner is more expensive up front but lasts forever. If you decide on an inkjet printer check out how much the cartridges by themselves cost because that's where your money will go. If you plan on lots of photo printing you might want to go with a printer that has separate cartridges so that you only have to replace the one color you need and not the cartridge that has all the colors in one. They also tend to be slightly cheaper in the long run. But check the PRICES OF INK. I can't stress this enough. You can buy a really cheap printer and find that it is less expensive to replace the entire printer that comes with new ink rather than buy just the ink itself. Again, check the reviews for printers. There are also a lot of different types of papers that you can use with the inkjet printer: card stock, glossy, mat finish, even canvas that looks like a painting (it's neat). These papers won't work with most laser printers and they probably won't feed into the printer well and might jam. The last question to ask is do you want a wireless printer? To get a wireless printer you need a wireless network at home or work or wherever you want to use the printer. Then you will set up your printer on the network and can print from anywhere on that network. These can sometimes be quirky but they are great to use because there's no fooling with cables and you can be in any room and print. No hassles. However, I do not use the wireless in my room at school because other teachers may accidentally print to my room and that would use my ink if it happened. But at home is an ideal place. I have a Cannon all-in-one inkjet(scanner, fax, printer, window washer, vacuum cleaner - ok, not the last two) but it works great and the photos and other color printing come out great. I will leave it up to you if you need a fax and scanner with your printer. The fax is not as handy as the scanner and I have an all-in-one in my classroom. The prices for all-in-ones are around the same as the inkjet printers but laser all-in-ones are slightly higher. So now you have some questions and homework to do before you buy your printer. Don't forget to always, always check the reviews and, if possible, go to a store and get a demo. Then check the price of the toner or ink. That is where you will be putting your money as long as you have your printer. I have no partiality to brands. I have used Samsungs, Cannons, Epsons, HPs and Brothers. Samsung has the cheapest color lasers that I know of and they are pretty good. HP and Cannon are probably the most well known and highest rated, followed by Epson. But it all depends on your preference and needs.