EdTech Situation Room Episode 98

Welcome to episode 98 of the EdTech Situation Room from June 13, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed “the day net neutrality died” (and what it means for schools now,) the coming tidal wave of giant media company mergers, and exciting developments in the world of ChromeOS. Jason unveiled his new Google PixelBook laptop, and 72 hours into ownership reports it’s the highest end laptop he’s ever owned. Additional topics included rumors of redesigned Surfacebooks by Microsoft, and Microsoft Office’s new “Fluent” design perhaps influenced by Google. On the Apple front, exciting announcements from WWDC18 including FaceTime for Groups and AppleTV Aerials recorded by the astronauts aboard the International Space Station were highlighted. Additionally, the potential impact of Apple making the “substrate” level of MacOS and iOS compatible was discussed, as highlighted in the WWDC 2018 keynote. Final articles discussed included one about Elon Musk and his noteable entrepreneurial work in so many areas, and charges that the FCC fabricated tales of DDOS attacks during its open commenting period on net neutrality. Geeks of the week included the ZigZag Podcast from Manoush Zomorodi, Saturday’s “Open Mic” show on Classroom 2.0 Live, upcoming “Make Media Camp” workshops, and Jive Voice, a VOiP Cloud-hosted Phone System. Check out all our links on https://edtechsr.com/links for these and all other referenced resources from the show. Please follow us on Twitter @edtechSR for updates and remember to subscribe with PocketCasts, Stitcher, on YouTube, or wherever you prefer to aggregate your favorite podcasts!

Shownotes:

  1. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  2. Follow @edtechSR on Twitter!
  3. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  4. Video version on YouTube
  5. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  6. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) – blog: blog.ncce.org
  7. Wes Fryer (@wfryer) – blog: speedofcreativity.org
  8. The FCC’s net neutrality rules are officially repealed today. Here’s what that really means (Washington Post; 11 June 2018)
  9. Net neutrality rules are now repealed: What it means (CNN; 11 June 2018)
  10. Trump administration fails to block AT&T/Time Warner merger (ArsTechnica, 12 June 2018)
  11. Comcast offers $65 billion for Fox, says government won’t stop merger (ArsTechnica, 13 June 2018)
  12. Microsoft’s Surface Pro 6 will reportedly be ‘heavily redesigned’ for 2019 debut (THe Verge; 13 June 2018)
  13. Microsoft Office’s new Fluent Design overhaul makes it easier to use (The Verge; 13 June 2018)
  14. Microsoft gives Office a refreshed look and feel (TechCrunch; 13 June 2018)
  15. The buzz after Apple’s WWDC 2018 keynote: Ho hum (Philip Elmer-DeWitt, 4 June 2018)
  16. Hands-on: 50+ new macOS Mojave changes and features [Video] (9 to 5 Mac; 12 June 2018)
  17. Apple to bring iOS apps to macOS (Tech Crunch; 4 June 2018)
  18. Apple is launching FaceTime group chats with up to 32 people (The Verge, 4 June 2018)
  19. WWDC 2018: Apple to add out-of-this-world Ariels from space (BestAppleTV, 4 June 2018)
  20. Musk promises manufacturing, self-driving, battery breakthroughs—and profits (ArsTechnica, 6 June 2018)
  21. Adobe Spark for Education
  22. New ChromeOS, Version 67: Chrome OS 67 Arrives With Material 2.0, Split Screen Support and Much More (Chrome Unboxed; 8 June 2018)
  23. Upcoming Chrome OS Files ‘refresh’ highlights Android, Linux files w/ redesigned navigation (9 to 5 Google; 13 June 2018)
  24. Google appears to be working on Windows 10 certification for the Pixelbook from Microsoft (9 to 5 Google; 13 June 2018)
  25. Chrome OS Dictation Goes Live In The Canary Channel (Chrome Unboxed; 11 June 2018)
  26. Team Drive Accessible in Chrome OS Files App (Chrome Unboxed; 5 June 2018)
  27. FCC accused of “spreading lies” about DDoS hitting comment system (ArsTechnica, 6 June 2018)
  28. Jason’s Geek of the Week: ZigZag Podcast from Manoush Zomorodi
  29. Wes’ Geeks of the Week: “Classroom 2.0 Live – Open Mic on June 16, 2018 – Your Summer Bucket List”MakeMediaCamp.com (@makemediacamp), and Jive Voice (VOiP Cloud-hosted Phone System)

EdTech Situation Room Episode 97

Welcome to episode 97 of the EdTech Situation Room from June 6, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) welcomed special guest Michael J. Crawford (@mjcraw). Topics discussed included Mary Meeker’s essential 2018 Internet Trends report and new microcontrols for iOS announced at WWDC 2018 available to developers to potentially exercise more control over user screentime. The value of limiting the length of shared video as well as the availability of those videos for others to watch and interact with them was also discussed. EdSpace Live (www.edspace.live) is Michael’s current product focusing on these questions and potentials. Instagram’s announced launch of a long form video platform to compete with YouTube, and Microsoft’s recently released  book “Transforming Education” challenging K12 school leaders to be more thoughtful, deliberate, and intentional in their deployment of technologies in the classroom were also highlighted. Michael shared a shout out to Angela Maiers’ article “Tactical Serendipity” as it relates to the value of teachers being connected and collaborating with each other. New revelations about the VPNFilter router vulnerability which potentially affects half a million routers worldwide, and the FBI is recommendation to reboot your router, was also discussed. Jason provided commentary about a recent article highlighting the privacy differences between the FireFox and Chrome browsers, and Wes recommended an article giving specific instructions about changing default privacy settings on social networks including Facebook. Check out all our links on https://edtechsr.com/links for these and all other referenced resources from the show. Please follow us on Twitter @edtechSR for updates and remember to subscribe with PocketCasts, Stitcher, on YouTube, or wherever you prefer to aggregate your favorite podcasts!

Shownotes:

  1. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  2. Follow @edtechSR on Twitter!
  3. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  4. Video version on YouTube
  5. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  6. Michael J. Crawford (@mjcraw) – Real World Scholars
  7. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) – blog: blog.ncce.org
  8. Wes Fryer (@wfryer) – blog: speedofcreativity.org
  9. Shout out to Beth Holland (@brholland) who connected Jason and Wes to Michael!
  10. Here’s Mary Meeker’s essential 2018 Internet Trends report (TechCrunch; 30 May 2018)
  11. Instagram plans new long-form video hub to compete with YouTube & Snapchat Discover (9to5Mac, 6 June 2017)
  12. The wheels are falling off technology in schools: Microsoft (Sydney Morning Herald, 4 June 2018)
  13. EdSpace Live (a “virtual, video-based, global professional social network for the world of education” currently under development)
  14. A FREE online conference for teachers: #DitchSummit! (Fall 2017)
  15. Tactical Serendipity by Angela Maiers (@AngelaMaiers)
  16. The FBI would like you to reboot your WiFi router (WaPo; 30 May 2018)
  17. VPNFilter malware infecting 500,000 devices is worse than we thought (ArsTechnica, 6 June 2018)
  18. Tim Cook: Steve Jobs put big emphasis on privacy at Apple (CNN; 4 June 2018)
  19. WWDC 2018 keynote video now available to watch (9to5 Mac, 4 June 2018)
  20. The end of OpenGL support, plus other updates Apple didn’t share at the keynote (ArsTechnica, 6 June 2018)
  21. Bye, Chrome: Why I’m switching to Firefox and you should too (Co.Design; 30 May 2018)
  22. If You Care About Data, Change These 15 Default Privacy Settings Right Now (Washington Post Science Alert, 3 June 2018)
  23. Jason’s Geek of the Week: PixelBook down to $750 on Amazon!
  24. Michael’s Geek of the Week: Students Step up to Lead Tech Implementation at Their Elementary School (EdSurge, 25 May 2018)
  25. Wes’ Geeks of the Week:  Remote for Slides (Google Chrome Extension) and “YouTube Creators for Change” and Summer Online PD: #hivesummit

EdTech Situation Room Episode 96

Welcome to episode 96 of the EdTech Situation Room from May 30, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) welcomed special guest Dave Quinn (@EduQuinn) to discuss Amazon Alexa’s latest (and improbable) privacy snafu, Facebook marketing videos to restore public trust, Redit’s ascendency over Facebook to become the number three most popular website in the United States, and the much anticipated release of the Acer Chromebook Spin 13. Additional topics included Europe’s GDPR (General Data Privacy Regulation), Apple’s new patent on an “ultra-flexible ‘living hinge’ laptop design,” the newly refreshed Google News app and it’s “full coverage” feature, and the value of Google’s Custom Search Engines. In the course of conversations Dave also mentioned the excellent work Mike Caulfield (@holden) has done on information literacy and web literacy focusing on “4 Moves,” and a shoutout to Nevada STEM educator Brian Crosby (@bcrosby) for his awesome balloon project “High Hopes” (@HighHopesSTEM). Geeks of the week included the Netflix original movie “Into the Inferno” by Werner Herzog, the 1st Inspired Learning Convention, Hummingbird Robotics Kits, and the value of pre-purchasing GoGo InFlight WiFi credits. Check out all our links on https://edtechsr.com/links for these and all other referenced resources from the show. Please follow us on Twitter @edtechSR for updates and remember to subscribe with PocketCasts, Stitcher, on YouTube, or wherever you prefer to aggregate your favorite podcasts!

Shownotes:

  1. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  2. Follow @edtechSR on Twitter!
  3. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  4. Video version on YouTube
  5. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  6. Dave Quinn (@EduQuinn) – The Inspired Learning Project
  7. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) – blog: blog.ncce.org
  8. Wes Fryer (@wfryer) – blog: speedofcreativity.org
  9. Shout out to Beth Holland (@brholland) who connected Jason and Wes to Dave!
  10. Alexa listened to a couple’s conversation and sent it to the husband’s employee without permission (BoingBoing; 24 May 2018)
  11. After pushing back, Amazon hands over Echo data in Arkansas murder case (TechCrunch, 7 March 2017)
  12. Book: Program or Be Programmed by Douglas Rushkoff (@rushkoff)
  13. Reddit passes Facebook as #3 website in the United States
  14. Facebook and Google hit with $8.8 billion in lawsuits on day one of GDPR (The Verge; 25 May 2018)
  15. Confirmed: ‘Scarlet’ Is The Acer Chromebook Tab 10 (Chrome Unboxed; 27 May 2018)
  16. GDPR Explained In 5 Minutes: Everything You Need to Know (Core DNA; 21 May 2018)
  17. The FBI would like you to reboot your WiFi router (WaPo; 30 May 2018)
  18. Google Custom Search Engines: https://cse.google.com
  19. Review: the Google News app is a news junkie’s dream come true (Mashable, 26 May 2018)
  20. Apple continues work on ultra-flexible ‘living hinge’ design for MacBooks (9 to 5 Mac, 27 May 2018)
  21. Facebook Opens Up About False News (Wired, 23 May 2018) Outstanding 12 minute film by Facebook about Facebook addressing #FakeNews following the 2016 Election hacks)
  22. Facebook Starts Labeling Political Ads in the U.S. (Wired, 24 May 2018)
  23. Facebook, Uber & Wells Fargo Apology Ads (Fast Company, 17 May 2018)
  24. The backlash that never happened: New data shows people actually increased their Facebook usage after the Cambridge Analytica scandal (Business Insider, 20 May 2018)
  25. All Sides: Balanced News
  26. AboutChromebooks.com by @kevinctofel
  27. Wes’ Geek of the Week: Into the Inferno on Netflix (Werner Herzog)
  28. Dave’s Geek of the Week: Hummingbird Robotics Kits1st Inspired Learning Convention
  29. Jason’s Geek of the Week / Travel Tip: Pre-Purchase GoGo Inflight Wifi for Incredible Savings

EdTech Situation Room Episode 95

Welcome to episode 95 of the EdTech Situation Room from May 16, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the recent vote in the U.S. Senate to preserve net neutrality, Android-related updates from Google promoting more frequent security patches by smartphone manufacturers / OEMs, and the forthcoming Oneplus 6 Smartphone. The U.S. President’s reversal of a trade ban on ZTE smartphones in the United States, updates to Gmail, Google Drive, and Google News, and imminently expected announcements about new Chromebooks rounded out the Android and Google-focused news articles in the show. Computer security firm Kaspersky’s decision to relocate from Russia to Switzerland amidst continued concerns over its integrity, NASA’s plan to send a drone helicopter to Mars, and the recent Toronto Declaration calling on algorithms to respect human rights were also discussed headlines. Under the title of “Technology Correction,” the release of over 3500 advertisements funded by Russians to influence the 2016 US Presidential election were discussed, along with articles highlighting how over fifty percent of those ads focused on race and many ads targeted U.S. teens. Cambridge Analytica, which has been in the news constantly in the Facebook / Russian election influence story, declared bankruptcy but has apparently reformed as the company Emerdata. Wes shared his pessimism that these kinds of election psyops are going to continue unabated in the upcoming mid-term and regular term elections in the United States. Microsoft’s work on a $400 tablet to compete with the iPad rounded out the discussed tech news. Geeks of the week included “The Most Useful Podcast in the World” by Popular Mechanics (from Jason), and two from Wes: a YouTube video of Sylvia Martinez INTED2018 Keynote Speech, “The Maker Movement” and the July 15-20, 2018 Summer Institute in Digital Literacy. Check out our shownotes for links to all these articles and referenced resources, and please follow us on Twitter @edtechSR for updates. Stay safe and stay savvy!

Shownotes:

  1. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  2. Follow @edtechSR on Twitter!
  3. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  4. Video version on YouTube
  5. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  6. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) – blog: blog.ncce.org
  7. Wes Fryer (@wfryer) – blog: speedofcreativity.org
  8. Senate votes to restore net neutrality: Here’s how every senator voted (CNET, 16 May 2018)
  9. AT&T will ask Supreme Court to cripple the FTC’s authority over broadband (ArsTechnica, 7 May 2018)
  10. Upcoming Chromebooks: New Devices Aplenty (Chrome Unboxed; 13 May 2018)
  11. Oneplus 6 Announced With A Glass Back And A Notched 6.3-inch Display (The Verge, 16 May 2018)
  12. Trump helps sanctioned Chinese phone maker after China delivers a big loan to a Trump project (Vox, 15 May 2018)
  13. Project Treble is turning out to be more important than we thought (Android Central, 13 May 2018)
  14. Google is starting to require that OEMs roll out regular security patches (XDA Developers, 10 May 2018)
  15. Enable hosted S/MIME for enhanced message security (Google Support)
  16. Google Drive Getting a Redesign, Looks More Like The New Gmail (Chrome Unboxed, 14 May 2018)
  17. Google News to be revamped, incorporate YouTube videos and magazines  (ArsTechnica, 4 May 2018)
  18. The Internet is going the wrong way (Dave Weiner @davewiner, 10 May 2018)
  19. NASA is sending a helicopter to Mars to get a bird’s-eye view of the planet (Verge, 11 May 2018)
  20. Common Sense Supports BOT Act to Identify Bot Accounts on Social Media (@CommonSenseED)
  21. New Toronto Declaration calls on algorithms to respect human rights (Verge, 16 May 2018)
  22. Kaspersky Lab relocating infrastructure to Switzerland amid Russian spying allegations (Washington Times, 15 May 2018)
  23. Russian trolls targeted teens on Facebook with memes (CNet, 11 May 2018)
  24. House Democrats Release 3,500 Russia-linked Facebook Ads (Wired, 10 May 2018)
  25. More Than Half of Russian Facebook Ads Focused on Race (NY Magazine, 12 May 2018)
  26. Cambridge Analytica dismantled for good? Nope: It just changed its name to Emerdata (2 May 2018)
  27. Microsoft reportedly working on $400 Surface tablets to compete with the iPad (The Verge, 16 May 2018)
  28. Jason’s Geek of the Week: The Most Useful Podcast in the World by Popular Mechanics
  29. Wes’ Geeks of the Week: Sylvia Martinez – The Maker Movement – INTED2018 Keynote Speech (@smartinez) and Summer Institute in Digital Literacy: July 15-20, 2018 (@reneehobbs)

Android by othree, on Flickr
Android” (CC BY 2.0) by othree

EdTech Situation Room Episode 94

Welcome to episode 94 of the EdTech Situation Room from May 9, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week newly minted Ph.D. Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed lots of news from the Google IO developer’s conference, as well as news from the Microsoft Build Conference. The continued march of artificial intelligence is evident in the forthcoming release of Google Duplex, which was demonstrated at Google IO and allows your Google Assistant to make phone calls to real people and book appointments for things like haircuts and restaurant reservations. Google’s new Android P operating system will focus on wellness and greater awareness of screentime to promote healthy living. They also discussed Facebook’s “Sauron Alert” feature for employees, now called “Security Watchdog,” which is not available publicly but warns when someone is using content or personal information in unauthorized ways on the platform. Microsoft’s announcements for WindowsOS features which integrate with both Android phones as well as iPhones were discussed, as well as their efforts to bring machine learning benefits to all their applications. The use of AI technologies to potentially open up access to the Vatican’s Secret Library was highlighted, along with an older article (September 2017) from “The Conversation” about how software licensing restrictions affecting objects we purchase for our homes is bringing a property rights / intellectual property rights situation into our lives which is regressive and feudal in nature. Geeks of the week included open source software for DVD ripping (Handbrake) and YouTube video downloading (y2mate), as well as software for identifying and installing optimal Windows OS drivers on older computer systems (Snappy Driver Installer). Check out our shownotes for links to all referenced resources, and links to articles we didn’t have time to discuss in this week’s show on edtechSR.com/links. Please follow us on Twitter @edtechSR for updates, and join us live weekly on Wednesday nights at 10 pm Eastern / 9 pm Central / 8 pm Mountain / 7 pm Pacific.

Shownotes:

  1. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  2. Follow @edtechSR on Twitter!
  3. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  4. Video version on YouTube
  5. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  6. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) – blog: blog.ncce.org
  7. Wes Fryer (@wfryer) – blog: speedofcreativity.org
  8. Android P: An Exclusive First Look At Google’s Most Ambitious Update In Years (Verge, 8 May 2018)
  9. The 10 biggest announcements from Google I/O 2018 (The Verge, 8 May 2018)
  10. Google Duplex Is Mesmerizing, Terrifying (Chrome Unboxed, 9 May 2018)
  11. Google Assistant making calls on your behalf (Nathan Sichilongo, 8 May 2018)
  12. Google Maps is getting augmented reality directions and recommendation features (Verge, 8 May 2018)
  13. For Facebook, Change Is Political. For Google, It’s Personal (Variety, 8 May 2018)
  14. 4 Big Takeaways From Google’s I/O Developer Conference Today (Fortune, 8 May 2018)
  15. Here’s everything Google unveiled at its biggest conference of the year (TechInsider, 9 May 2018)
  16. Facebook Has a ‘Sauron Alert’ to Protect Employees’ Privacy—But Not Yours (Gizmodo, 4 May 2018)
  17. Here’s how your iPhone, Android phone will work with Windows 10 PCs (CNET, 8 May 2018)
  18. Microsoft undercuts Apple and Google to offer Windows 10 app developers more money (The Verge, 8 May 2018)
  19. Microsoft continues its quest to bring machine learning to every application (Arts Technica, 7 May 2018)
  20. Microsoft Build: All the News You Need To Know (PC Magazine, 7 May 2018)
  21. Artificial Intelligence Is Cracking Open the Vatican’s Secret Archives (The Atlantic, 30 April 2018)
  22. The ‘internet of things’ is sending us back to the Middle Ages (The Conversation, 5 September 2017)
  23. Jason’s Geek of the Week: Snappy Driver Installer
  24. Wes’ Geeks of the Week: Handbrake (for DVD ripping) and Y2Mate (YouTube video downloading)

EdTech Situation Room Episode 93

Welcome to episode 93 of the EdTech Situation Room from May 2, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the predictable demise of Cambridge Analytica, Facebook’s F8 Developer Conference and its newly announced dating website, and the announced merger of TMobile and Sprint in the United States to turbocharge the build-out of 5G cellular networks. Additional topics included the demise of TodaysMeet because of the EU’s GDPR, Google’s proliferating task management apps, new features in Windows10’s latest update, Apple’s decision to kill AirPort wifi routers, and slower than expected iPhoneX sales by Apple. Final topics included the continuing march of CRISPR to revolutionize animal genetics and our food chain, along with a shocking use of confidential DNA information to arrest the suspected “Golden State Killer.” Please follow us on Twitter @edtechSR for updates, and join us live weekly on Wednesday nights at 10 pm Eastern / 9 pm Central / 8 pm Mountain / 7 pm Pacific.

Shownotes:

  1. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  2. Follow @edtechSR on Twitter!
  3. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  4. Video version on YouTube
  5. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  6. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) – blog: blog.ncce.org
  7. Wes Fryer (@wfryer) – blog: speedofcreativity.org
  8. Official: Cambridge Analytica shutting down following Facebook data mining scandal (CNet, 2 May 2018)
  9. Facebook is using billions of Instagram images to train artificial intelligence algorithms (The Verge, 2 May 2018)
  10. Mark Zuckerberg pledges Facebook will put ‘people first,’ avoid past mistakes (USA Today, 1 May 2018)
  11. Facebook dating service will be test of user trust in platform (CNN Money, 2 May 2018)
  12. Remembering TodaysMeet (By @jamessocol, 28 April 2018)
  13. T-Mobile and Sprint announce $26B merger, plan powerful nationwide 5G network (9 to 5 Google, 29 April 2018)
  14. T-Mobile and Sprint: all the news about the merger (The Verge, 30 April 2018)
  15. What a combined T-Mobile and Sprint would look like (The Verge, 30 April 2018)
  16. TMobile and Sprint’s Pro-Merger and 5G website: https://allfor5g.com
  17. Hey Google, Why Do You Have Four Different Task Apps? (How To Geek, 26 April 2018)
  18. Getting Things Done by David Allen
  19. RocketBook: https://getrocketbook.com
  20. http://bulletjournal.com/ or look on Instagram for #BulletJournal
  21. Google starts throwing cash at Google Assistant startups (The Verge 2 May 2018)
  22. Best Mesh Router System: Eero vs. Orbi vs. Google WiFi  vs. Velop (Power Moves, 18 April 2018)
  23. This Geneticist Is Creating Gene-Edited Animals for Our Plates (@ozy, 29 April 2018)
  24. How a Genealogy Site Led to the Front Door of the Golden State Killer Suspect (NYTimes, 26 April 2018)
  25. BSOD https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Screen_of_Death
  26. How to get the Windows 10 April 2018 Update (The Verge, 30 April 2018)
  27. Windows 10 April 2018 Update: the 10 best new features (The Verge, 30 April 2018)
  28. More evidence emerges that Apple is killing its iPhone X, analyst says (CNBC, 1 May 2018)
  29. Apple’s AirPort Dies as iTunes Reaches a Milestone (Fortune Magazine, 28 April 2018)
  30. Wes’ Geeks of the Week: “Chromebook Inventory” AddOn for Google Sheets and etherpad.org
  31. Jason’s Geek of the Week: Adobe Spark Now Free for Schools (spark.adobe.com/edu)

EdTech Situation Room Episode 92

Welcome to episode 92 of the EdTech Situation Room from April 25, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed new national standards for online courses in the USA, a strange case of liability for an ewaste recycler, exciting updates for Gmail from Google, and several other tidbits of Google news. These included the movie editor in Google Photos, controversy at Google over proposed AI contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense, and a strange Gmail spam issue which modified email headers so new messages showed up as “sent mail.” Forthcoming updates to the YouTube Kids app featuring human-moderated channels and a new Google Tasks update rounded out the Google focused news updates. On the Apple front, Tim Cook’s announcement that MacOS and iOS will NOT be merging was mentioned, along with sizable reported profits from the iOS port of the game Fortnite. A few thoughts about SmugMug’s recent purchase of Flickr from Verizon were shared. Security hacks including hotel door locks and home wifi routers by Russian agents were also discussed. It was great to have Jason back after a multi-week hiatus as he completed his dissertation, which he’s scheduled to defend in early May. Follow the show on Twitter @edtechSR for updates and please try and join us live on Wednesday evenings if you can on YouTube Live. Thanks for watching / listening!

Shownotes:

  1. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  2. Follow @edtechSR on Twitter!
  3. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  4. Video version on YouTube
  5. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  6. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) – blog: blog.ncce.org
  7. Wes Fryer (@wfryer) – blog: speedofcreativity.org
  8. K-12 National Standards for Quality Online Courses, Teaching and Program to be Revised by QM and VLLA
  9. Electronics-recycling innovator faces prison for trying to extend computers’ lives (Los Angeles Times, 25 April 2018)
  10. 5 New Gmail Features to Check Out Now (PC Magazine, 25 April 2018)
  11. Gmail’s biggest redesign is now live (The Verge, 25 April 2018)
  12. How to enable the new Gmail right now (The Verge, 25 April 2018)
  13. Google Photos is rolling out a friendlier and more powerful movie editor (Android Police, 20 April 2018)
  14. Google is Pursuing the Pentagon’s Giant Cloud Contract Quietly, Fearing An Employee Revolt (NextGov, 13 April 2018)
  15. Gmail accounts appear to send out spam, and their owners are baffled (Mashable, 22 April 2018)
  16. YouTube Kids adding human curated channel collections, more parental restrictions (9 to 5 Google, 25 April 2018)
  17. Google debuts a standalone to-do app, Google Tasks (TechCrunch; 25 April 2018)
  18. Making Media Mondays at Casady School
  19. Tim Cook says Apple won’t merge Mac and iPad (AppleInsider, 19 April 2018)
  20. iOS release of ‘Fortnite’ rakes in over $25M in first 30 days (AppleInsider, 18 April 2018)
  21. Flickr acquired by professional photo hosting service SmugMug (The Verge, 20 April 2018)
  22. Flickr has been sold after 13 years at Yahoo. Can Flickr be relevant again? (Recode, 20 April 2018)
  23. PSA: There’s a new fake Flash Player installer for Macs, and it’s nastier than usual (9 to 5 Mac; 25 April 2018)
  24. Hotel door locks worldwide were vulnerable to hack (BBC News; 25 April 2018)
  25. Has a Russian intelligence agent hacked your wifi? (The Guardian, 17 April 2018)
  26. US, UK warn of Russian hackers targeting millions of routers (CNet, 16 April 2018)
  27. Jason’s Geek of the Week: Spotify Free
  28. Wes’ Geeks of the Week: Wordable and Mentimeter (h/t @kjarrett)

EdTech Situation Room Episode 91

Welcome to episode 91 of the EdTech Situation Room from April 4, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week special guests Alice Barr (@alicebarr) and Cheryl Oakes (@cheryloakes50) along with host Wes Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the accessibility Chrome extension Plazma, the “Teach Wonder” robotics and PD program from Wonder Workshop, and Ripple’s amazing fund of all DonorsChoose classroom projects recently. Additional topics included iOS 11.3’s battery problems, Apple’s new hire to improve Siri’s AI abilities, favorite uses of smart assistants (Madame A and the Google Home Mini), and new DNS projects speeding up Internet access and improving security. New developments in the Facebook and Cambridge Analytica story were also highlighted. Geeks of the week included BusyKid, ClaroRead Chrome Extension, and 12 Augmented Reality Tools for Schools. Follow us on Twitter on @edtechSR for updates!

Shownotes:

  1. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  2. Follow @edtechSR on Twitter!
  3. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  4. Video version on YouTube
  5. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  6. Alice Barr (@alicebarr) – blog: alicebarr.com
  7. Cheryl Oakes (@cheryloakes50) – blog: cheryloakes.com
  8. Wes Fryer (@wfryer) – blog: speedofcreativity.org
  9. In honor of Autism Month: Plazma (a sensory app on Chrome extension as well (oh now, people will try it and stop listening!), free, like a lava lamp)
  10. ACTEM has teamed up with Teach Wonder (Robotics and teacher professional development)
  11. How to Get $29 Million for Classroom Projects? Just Ask (NYTimes, 20 March 2018)
  12. Apple iOS 11.3 Release Has Five Nasty Surprises (Forbes, 3 April 2018)
  13. Apple hires Google’s former AI boss to help improve Siri (Verge, 3 April 2018)
  14. DNS Resolvers Performance Compared: CloudFlare x Google x Quad9 x OpenDNS (Linux.com, 3 April 2018)
  15. Cloudflare launches 1.1.1.1 DNS service that will speed up your internet (Verge, 1 April 2018)
  16. New “Quad9” DNS service blocks malicious domains for everyone (ArsTechnica, 16 Nov 2017)
  17. Facebook Says Cambridge Analytica Harvested Data of Up to 87 Million Users
  18. Facebook Collected Your Android Call History and SMS Data For Years (Hacker News, 25 March 2018)
  19. Here’s how to download all your data from Facebook. It might be a wake-up call. (Washington Post, 27 March 2018)
  20. How to download a copy of everything Google knows about you (CNBC, 30 March 2018)
  21. Dave Perloff – Perloff Family Foundation  (generous donor for #STEM and #MakerEd projects in Maine classrooms)
  22. Merge Cube Object Viewer
  23. Family Online Safety Institute (@FOSI)
  24. Apple will replace old iPhone batteries, regardless of diagnostic test results (Verge, 2 Jan 2018)
  25. Upload VR News (@uploadvr)
  26. Apple’s new augmented reality kit makes Minecraft look magical in AR (TNW, 27 June 2017)
  27. Google Expeditions AR Pioneer Program FAQs
  28. Wes’ Geek of the Week: BusyKid: Allowance Chores – Kids Chore Chart App via Tech News Weekly Episode 25 (@technews_weekly)
  29. Cheryl’s Geek of the Week:  ClaroRead Chrome Extension (extension in Chrome) Web based, PDF  FREE, with option to upgrade.
  30. Alice’s Geek of the Week: 12 Augmented reality Apps Schools can use today

EdTech Situation Room Episode 90

Welcome to episode 90 of the EdTech Situation Room from March 28, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week special guest Felix Jacomino (@FelixJacomino) and Wes Fryer (@wfryer) discussed a gripping tale of iPhone10 survival on the SheiKra Roller Coaster in Busch Gardens, Apple’s Education Event in Chicago on Tuesday, digital citizenship themes surrounding the Facebook / Cambridge Analytica hoopla as well as Florida school shootings, and the upcoming closure of WikiSpaces. Additional topics included some amazing, recent biotech headlines about protein engineering and the discovery of a new human organ, YouTube’s decision to use WikiPedia links to fight online conspiracy theories, and Google’s launch of a ChromeOS tablet. Geeks of the week included Sketchnoting apps ProCreate (iOS) and ArtFlow (Android) and Branded URL Shortening Service thetinyLINQ.com. Please follow us on Twitter @edtechSR for updates. Refer to the podcast shownotes for links to all our referenced articles and resources. Next week tune in 2 hours early on Wednesday for a conversation with special guests Alice Barr (@alicebarr) and Cheryl Oakes (@cheryloakes50).

Shownotes:

  1. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  2. Follow @edtechSR on Twitter!
  3. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  4. Video version on YouTube
  5. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  6. Felix Jacomino (@FelixJacomino) – blog: felixjacomino.com
  7. Wes Fryer (@wfryer) – blog: speedofcreativity.org
  8. SheiKra Roller Coaster in Busch Gardens
  9. Ad-Blocker Ghostery Just Went Open Source—And Has a New Business Model (Wired, 18 March 2018)
  10. Social Media Privacy Settings and Election Hacking (DigCit.us video)
  11. Book recommendation: Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World (by @DevorahHeitner)
  12. WikiSpaces Shutting Down 31 July 2018
  13. CDs and vinyl are outselling digital music downloads (Engadget, 22 March 2018)
  14. Parkland student David Hogg has been dismantling lawmakers on social media (ABC News, 27 March 2018)
  15. Big data is watching you – and it wants your vote (Spectator, 24 March 2018)
  16. FTC confirms Facebook probe over Cambridge Analytica user data fiasco (AppleInsider, 26 March 2018)
  17. How Your Data on Facebook Is Collected and Used to Win Elections (MakeUseOf, 22 March 2018)
  18. Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica problems are nothing compared to what’s coming for all of online publishing (@dsearls, 23 March 2018)
  19. As Apple Plans to Launch New Low-Cost iPad, Google Debuts First Chrome OS Tablet (MacRumors, 26 March 2018)
  20. YouTube Will Link Directly to Wikipedia to Fight Conspiracy Theories (Wired, 13 March 2018)
  21. Apple’s low-cost iPad ‘will likely’ support the Pencil, analyst says (Verge, 23 March 2018)
  22. “Live from Apple’s ‘Field Trip’ education event in Chicago” (AppleInsider, 27 March 2018)
  23. Newly-discovered human organ may help explain how cancer spreads (New Scientist, 27 March 2018)
  24. Protein Engineering May Be the Future of Science (Bloomberg, 27 March 2018)
  25. Wes’ Geek of the Week: Sketchnote with ProCreate (iOS) and ArtFlow (Android)
  26. Felix’ Geek of the Week: tinyLINQ.com – Branded URL Shortening Service

EdTech Situation Room Episode 89

Welcome to episode 89 of the EdTech Situation Room from March 22, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week special guest Carl Hooker (@mrhooker) and Wes Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the transition of iPadPalooza into LearningFest, Virtual Reality at SxSW 2018 and in the classroom, and the upcoming Apple Education Event in Chicago on March 27th. Additional topics included Facebook, Cambridge Analytica, and the response of Mark Zuckerberg to allegations his social media platform has become “a weapon” posing an existential threat to democracies worldwide. Geeks of the week included the forthcoming movie, “Ready Player One,” and a new Cadillac ad, “Future Cars.” Check our shownotes for links to these and additional referenced articles and websites.

Shownotes:

  1. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  2. Follow @edtechSR on Twitter!
  3. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  4. Video version on YouTube
  5. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  6. Carl Hooker (@mrhooker) – blog: hookedoninnovation.com
  7. Wes Fryer (@wfryer) – blog: speedofcreativity.org
  8. The Learning Festival (@TheLearnFest)
  9. VR headsets have become the new arthouse—the best of SXSW’s fantastic VR festival (ArsTechnica, 18 March 2018)
  10. TiltBrush Art VR by Google
  11. Clouds of Sidra – Documentary in VR
  12. Merge VR Goggles $20 at Best Buy
  13. Vive VR Platform
  14. Ring Cam for Home Security
  15. Apple is fighting to regain its position in America’s classrooms (Washington Post, 20 March 2018)
  16. Students and teachers are the focus of Apple’s surprise March 27 event (ArsTechnica, 16 March 2018)
  17. Pearson Set to Sell K-12 Curriculum Business, But Not Assessment (EdWeek Market Brief, 26 Feb 2018)
  18. Alphabet bumped to third as Amazon becomes second most valuable company in the world (9to5Google, 20 March 2018)
  19. Facebook isn’t a ‘community’. It’s a weapon (CNET, 21 March 2018)
  20. How To Change Your Facebook Settings To Opt Out of Platform API Sharing (EFF, 19 March 2018)
  21. A Hurricane Flattens Facebook (Wired, 20 March 2018)
  22. [VIDEO] Cambridge Analytica whistleblower: ‘We spent $1m harvesting millions of Facebook profiles’ (Guardian, 17 March 2018)
  23. We Allowed This to Happen. We’re Sorry. We Need Your Help. (NewCo Shift, 20 March 2018)
  24. Mark Zuckerberg’s Reckoning: ‘This Is a Major Trust Issue’ (NY Times, 21 March 2018)
  25. Mark Zuckerberg’s Post on Cambridge Analytica (Facebook, 21 March 2018)
  26. Carl’s Geek of the Week: Ready Player One Movie
  27. Wes’ Geek of the Week: Cadillac Ad [VIDEO] Future Cars