My Long Silence

I received an email from Goggle telling me I had posted objectionable content on this site (when I hadn't posted for several months). Their response was to shut down my blog and my access to it and to cut me off from Google mail.

Without warning I found myself unable to communicate on multiple levels.

I had to Google search for others to whom this has happened to find that I could appeal my case to Google. Eventually they reinstated my mail and much later, to my surprise, I regained access to this blog. Using it, however, became a big question mark.

In the past, when I taught about Google and Google products I would say "Google wants to take over the world. Should we care?" This is becoming more apparent as Google+ sends its tendrils throughout personal networks, seeking but one more way to take over. And now I care more than I used to.

Professionally everyone is creating their Personal Learning Network, expanding their connections exponentially on sites like Linked In, inviting people into their Google+ circles, following and being followed. It's the smart thing to do, right? The more the world becomes divided into the haves and the have-nots, the more important it is to belong, to get the current information, to be recognized, be recommended, and to be made valuable, to be "liked."

The alternative, technological isolation, feels like professional suicide. Right?

But remember who holds all the cards, and can fold your hand without warning.

With Google, Apple, Microsoft and so many major players driving us toward the Cloud, I find myself more and more resistent, wanting to keep my feet firmly planted on the ground, holding on to my own content, my own gathered resources, hoping, perhaps in vain, that I won't lose it all again because.... I never did find out why.

A "Cybrarian" makes our online life a little more organized

Julie Greller, a "cybrarian," has posted an amazing list of Internet resources. In a class for life-long learners, this could be your syllabus!

Leadership

Be the first one to spot the lone nut doing something you admire and follow him, showing others how to follow as well.

Thanks Charley for finding this!

"The Fourth Screen"

As a teacher I have been deeply frustrated by administrative policies seeking to protect students from the Internet by blocking access, instead of allowing us to teach them how to use it safely and intelligently.

On first viewing this video I appreciated the rationalization that technology has taken society to a new place and that schools should embrace the powerful personal technology kids bring every day. I planned on showing it to my classes for discussion solely on this topic, but the end screen shows it to be embedded advertising! How clever of the phone maker to create a video for educators to use in the classroom--and how much more to discuss!

DIIGO for educators

This could be good for classes!

Big Bang Big Boom

The amazing talent one finds passed around online. How could you calculate how long this piece took to produce?

BIG BANG BIG BOOM - the new wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

Prezi Power

A Prezi presentation presents an information map, visually spinning through the pieces and revealing the whole. It's a visual and mental treat! Here's one I found on their website:

Mixing Mind and Metaphor on Prezi