Where should I be in tech.

[scitechsociety]

I am pretty good with tech, but I feel I've hit a wall.

I do facebook, have a blog with my work (I'm a teacher), Flickr, listen to podcasts, read newspapers online, have a Google G1, am in the Google cloud.

I am in a masters program for instructional technology.

I just feel like I've hit a wall, but I know there is more out there to do. Tell me where I should be online or what else I can do to get a full internet/connectivity experience.

Thanks

*****Added details. I teach jr high science. Yes, I've included the kids in the blog, sharing files through gmail and using video/ppt/xl/doc/dreamweaver/frontpage. I'm just looking for the next big step. I tried twitter, I wasn't impressed. I'm not a hardware/software geek. I'm mostly interested in the implications of using technology in society and education.

thanks

[tokenuser]

Sounds like you have already bought into the FLOSS argument (good, bad or indifferent - I am not going to pass judgement).

BUT, its all current tech. Leading edge, but current.

The challenge isn't in looking at whats out there. By the time you see it, its too late. The challenge is looking for whats coming.

Social networks? Please ... :rolleyes: the question is what can you do with them.
Mobile gadgets? don't show me or tell me about your cellphone. They all do it. What can't it do ... and how can you make it do it??
Mobile social networks? Getting warmer. Mashups are the big cloud/social thing. Pick the right mashup and you have a winner.

[phatlip]

I am pretty good with tech, but I feel I've hit a wall.

I do facebook, have a blog with my work (I'm a teacher), Flickr, listen to podcasts, read newspapers online, have a Google G1, am in the Google cloud.

I am in a masters program for instructional technology.

I just feel like I've hit a wall, but I know there is more out there to do. Tell me where I should be online or what else I can do to get a full internet/connectivity experience.

Thanks

Can you be a little more specific? What interests you most with technology? Are you a hardware guy? Software? Gadgets?

Have you ever considered the impact online video may have as a tool in the classroom? What subject do you teach? That should help too. Have you attempted to converge the social networking experience with the learning experience in the classroom?

[murphy1d]

Speaking of convergence, the lines between things are starting to blur.

Take the news. Recently I saw that TMZ broke the news of Jackson's death at least an hour before CNN (I can attest to that, saw it and sent to my friends and they all said "that's stupid, CNN says he's just in a coma. Hour later I felt vindicated). Twitter instantly put to rest the rumors of Jeff Goldblum's death.

And how about the music industry making its money on ringtones and Rockband vs. CDs and Music Videos ("what's a Music video daddy?").

And then "Watch Instantly" queues and PUSH-based DVD use (Netflix) Vs. PULL-Based DVD rentals and sales (Blockbuster). This trend is converging into X-box interfaces and Hulu sites.

I'd keep a watch out for the music industry. This is like an Oil Baron seeing his wells dry up. The dumb Baron will start charging more per barrel and flooding Congress with Lobbyists to regulate the competition. The smart Baron will spend his money investing in the next version of fuel.

The music industry is on the verge of finding a new business strategy for music. Once you find out what that is, it will change everything ("you had to pay money for a song, daddy?").

So don't just focus on Chocolate. Figure out if it tastes good with Peanut Butter. :)

[ariastar]

Do you realize the tech fields are flooded right now with people who've been laid off? If you've got a steady teaching job, keep it. If you try switching to a more tech field than the teaching you do, you're going to be going up against people who are already experienced in the field who are out of work. So many of the jobs have been sent overseas. There are two few jobs for the people with experience as it is.

Yes, this is an attempt at discouraging you from trying to move to this field right now. It's a very bad time. Especially when what you're listing here to qualify you as "pretty good at tech" is a lot less than your average social networker does.

Where you should be in tech is either as a hobby or taking classes right now.

[gta_bmx]

Do you realize the tech fields are flooded right now with people who've been laid off? If you've got a steady teaching job, keep it.

I think the OP isn't looking to get a job in tech, but instead wants to use tech in their teaching -- to help improve the methods that they use to teach the kids.

A large part of the problem with tech is getting people to actually use it and use it to its full potential. Like my wife, for example, she has tons of Post-It Notes scattered around the desk, when all she should do is start a "to do" list using WordPad on the PC.

I think what would revolutionize teaching is if there were a central place where experts could upload video lectures pertaining to a certain aspect of their academic field -- areas where they are experts. Like if a Historian who teaches American History at a college and is a Civil War expert were to upload lectures about the Civil War. Then an elementary teacher somewhere could simply play these files for her class.

[gta_bmx]

Forgot to mention. The video lecture idea work work like this: the next chapter in the History book is the Revolutionary War. So the teacher, of course, has the kids to read the chapter. But also, the teacher can pull up some of these video lectures given by Revolutionary War experts and have the kids watch them. This would be cooperative learning -- tapping the greatest minds for the benefit of our students.

[scoobydiesel]

Look ahead to what the tech world will bring us in the years to come, like someone else had said what is out now is already in the past. the future holds the better tech. Learn about it now so you know about it when its old news

[ArmpitOfDeath]

Probably time to get a base grounding in hardware - as in making. Tech is not just about using software, and it could prove a useful teaching tool.

Hackerspaces can get you started in DIY tech. The more electronics-biased can get hold of Arduino, a series of open source general-purpose controller boards and accessories.

[tokenuser]

Probably time to get a base grounding in hardware - as in making. Tech is not just about using software, and it could prove a useful teaching tool.

Hackerspaces can get you started in DIY tech. The more electronics-biased can get hold of Arduino, a series of open source general-purpose controller boards and accessories.Especially since he teaches science in jr high.

An interest in electronics is fun ... but more importantly can translate directly to a lesson plan in a science class. If a teacher can impart their enthusiasm for a subject so hat students run with it and encourages them to enter science and engineering disciplines - then you have a winner.

[trunolimit]

get into programing. what I would have loved was to have a class that introduces me into the concepts behind computer programing teach me the basics of some languages and Boolean logic. All I got was a visual basic class. Although I did write a VB street fighter style video game. I took pictures of me and my friends and used us as sprites.

But yeah learn how to write a couple scripts or something. There is something extremely satisfying about writing a program. It's like a puzzle that you must solve and once you do you get that WOOT feeling.

[dam7ri]

While the rest of you are having your little pissing contest, I'm going to offer the OP some advice.

What are you interested in? There is programming (pick a language), networking, security, and other specializations. Find what interests you, and run with it. I like networking and security; so that is what I focus on.

Ask me about networking and/or security, I'm your guy. If you're asking me about programming, you are asking the wrong guy.

Focus on what interests you. The rest will come in good time.

[phatlip]

While the rest of you are having your little pissing contest, I'm going to offer the OP some advice.

Your hostility and delusions are really annoying. Nobody is in a pissing contest and the OP was given advice. Where are you getting this stuff from? Seriously.

[scitechsociety]

Exactly. Most of the teaching websites are subpar. My district subscribes to some that have some decent content, but the navigation is awkward and the application doesnt have the depth I want. I cant keep building everything from scratch regarding tech though.