Virtual Graduation

University of Hawaii plans Internet graduation for education technology students :: The Republic

(Image from this Tech Xav Article)

The University of Hawaii is planning an internet graduation for it's students that will be taking place virtually in Second Life. The article mentions that even some students are planning parties with family and friends. What do you think about this? I have never heard of something like this happening. I think it is definitely different, but there is a part of me that would still want the traditional graduation and receive an actual diploma. Something about walking into that huge arena of all those people makes the day feel larger than life, which it should from all of the hard work that is put into it. (Now I'm just referring back to graduating high school and imagining what it will be like to finally be done with College!). Maybe that some feeling of accomplishment and hard will be there for these students graduating. Whichever way you feel about it, you have to agree, it is something that shows us how technology really gives us a world that is full of limitless possibilities.

The Blog of All Blogs!

While watching a video for an extra credit assignment, I learned about this awesome blog, Connected Principals. This blog is a collection of blogs from different principals and administrators. The idea is for these administrators to share ideas that they have, ideas they use in their schools, and to empower teachers and facility within the schools. Any administrator can sign up, and once you do you can add to the blog, share and learn from other schools all of the world. I love the idea behind this and after hearing the story from the creators of the blog, I hope that I teach in a school where the principal and assistant principals are involved in this amazing opportunity. Have any of you heard of this website before? Do you know of any administrators within Iowa that are involved?

Kindles in Schools

(Image from article in News Tribute/ Kemp Smith)

How much different could schools be with the use of Kindles? Would the benefits outweigh the negatives? From the moment the iPad and Kindle came out one of the first thoughts through my mind was, "I'm sure these are going to be in schools by the time my daughter goes to school! There are no limits with the doors this could open for students and teachers.", so it was not suprising when I found this article, Kindles go to school in a big way this month. In the article Andrys Basten discusses the benefits and negatives with using Kindles. The major advantage this is bringing to the schools, according to what Basten found out from librarians is the excitement and motivation it has put in students to wanting to read again. I could not agree more, I think by having these in schools it can get students excited to read more, possibly save money in the long run, and expand the possibilities of their learning. What do you think? would another device be better, the Nook? iPad? Why or why not?