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Microsoft Enters Tablet Market

SurfaceNo, that image to the left is not an iPad surrounded by SmartCovers. That is the Microsoft Surface. Not to be confused with the giant table-sized computer the company released a while ago, the Surface is Microsoft’s entry into the tablet market.

Attempting to take a page out of Apple’s playbook on several levels, Microsoft revealed the Surface during a mystery press event in California. What those in attendance saw was an iPad knock-off that is heavier, boasts shorter batter life and an inferior chip. To be fair, the Surface does have an impressive cover that contains a fully functioning keyboard, but that is an accessory that must be purchased.

Microsoft has two versions of the Surface in the works, each for a very different audience. There’s a “consumer version” that will run Windows RT and a “business version” that will run Windows 8.

Microsoft isn’t saying exactly when the Surface will be available for purchase, or how much it will cost, but experts are predicting the “consumer version” to fall in the $500 price range with the “business version” to come in at over $1,000. The pricier version does have better overall tech specs than its cheaper brother, but that improved performance comes at the cost of weight and, of course, cost.

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Students Show Shocking Changes In Their...

Researchers at Kent State University studied the general knowledge of students throughout the United States in order to compare what facts they knew in 1980 versus 2012.

The studyused college students~ and shows some major differences between what was most often absorbed in 1980 and what's filling the minds of today's students.

The folks at...

Adventures in Substitute Teaching

The job of a substitute teacher is not an easy one. Subs have to be prepared to teach any subject in any classroom~ and to top it all off~ they have to learn loads of new names each time that they cover for a classroom teacher.

Especially in one's early days of serving as a sub~ bad days can happen. Kids can be unruly and disrespectful. Instructions left by the classroom teacher can be unclear. The school's routines can be confusing.

If these scenarios sound familiar~ we want...

The Use of Social Media in School

The folks over at Best Masters in Educationhave provided the EducationWorldCommunitywith this excellent infographic on the use of social media in education.Enjoy!

The Use of Social Media in School
Teens are actively Tweeting~ Posting~ Liking~ and Commenting all across Social Media and there...

Woz Says 'Jobs' No Good

Apple co-founder and tech icon Steve Wozniak doesn't think too highly of the recent biopic made about his former partner Steve Jobs.

Asked to offer a review of the Ashton Kutcher-led film by Gizmodo, Wozniak was cordial while saying it wasn't as good as he'd hoped.

...

A Little Lego

The idea for this post comes from an old Lego piece that lies on my desk.

Its a black piece with eight notches. I have no idea what Lego kit it comes from~ nor do I care.

But the piece will stay on my desk as a powerful reminder~ a reminder that we owe it to ourselves and to the children in the schools where we work to allow kids to share their interests and passions~ and whenever possible~ provide time and encouragement to pursue those passions with vigor.

First...

Time: Invest In Yourself

Time in yourself is time well invested! Reflect on the time you spend each day in essential preparations for others: as a professional, a care-giver, a parent, a spouse, a pet owner, or with a partner in your life, your time is centered on the wellness of others. Caring is the essence of our profession; it is what attracted us to the profession in many instances. Here are some of the best nuggets I can offer you for self-care to remain focused, healthy, and...

Time: Spend It Building Community First

Time is a currency of teachers; spend it on building community! Building any community is centered around the idea of shared common visions and shared story telling. Tell your story to your students in simple ways that can transform learning and create teams of learners. Start small to create your shared classroom legends and legacies.

  1. 1. Each student has a story; help share the story by telling your vision first. "I am here because I purposely applied...

Time: The Real Currency of Teachers

Time: The Real Currency of Teachers
Time is either our best friend or our nagging older sibling! Time is an educators currency and it requires that we harness it through- determination (save time)~ imagination (invent time)~ and collaboration (invest time). Let's examine the essentials of these ideals for first year years.
1. We need you to maintain your compassion for teaching! Manage your time!
2....

IN THE NEWS: 18 BELUGA WHALES CAN'...

I saw an article on beluga whales today that brought a smile to my face. The world's largest aquarium~ the Georgia Aquarium~ in Atlanta~ Georgia~ was told they can not acquire 18 more beluga whales. They currently have four such whales. The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration said that the beluga whales~which are very intelligent~should exist in their natural habitat~ the polar oceans~ and not in an aquarium. I realize that there are two sides to the issue. In captivity~ scientists...

Meet The Real WALL-E

Robot creator Mike McMaster made a replica with his team of robot tinkerers (also successful in coming up with some perfect R2D2s) of WALL-E~ Pixar's earth cleaning~ garbage-collecting bucket of bolts that audiences fell in love with. The robot is a 1:1 scale as shown in the movie~ determining the size of their WALL-E by references held in...

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