Welcome to episode 103 of the EdTech Situation Room from August 15, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed universities deploying smart assistants in student dorms to answer questions, the privacy concerns of smart assistants in educational contexts, and the shortcomings of the latest MacBook Pro laptops relative to Windows-based competitors. Rumors of dual-booting Chromebooks (also booting to Windows), whether or not social media platforms are “publishers,” and strategies to stop or avoid “stalking ads” on social media were also addressed. Social media / fake news controversies over the temporary (7 day) banning of Alex Jones / InfoWars on Twitter, hacker threats to home routers (VPNfilter) and IoT devices, the advent of Fortnite on ALL Android devices (but not via the Google Play Store), and Google’s location tracking of users who turn off location services rounded out the news articles addressed in this show. Geeks of the Week included the Timer Tab app (ad-free), an incredible photo of our sun during a “Coronal Mass Ejection” with the earth shown to scale, and the recent PBS documentary, “Documenting Hate: Charlottesville.” Please follow us on Twitter @edtechSR for updates, and join us LIVE on Wednesday nights if you can at 10 pm Eastern / 9 pm Central / 8 pm Mountain / 7 pm Pacific or 3 am UTC.
Resources on Privacy Issues for Smart Assistants in the Classroom: Common Sense Media Privacy (@cs_privacy) Bill Fitzgerald (@funnymonkey) and Susan Bearden (@s_bearden)
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.
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.
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!
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).
Welcome to episode 84 of the EdTech Situation Room from January 31, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wes Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the weaponization of information as propaganda via online advertising and what this portends for open / democratic societies, exhortations from leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos relating to education and artificial intelligence, and the financial impact of Facebook’s recently announced changes to its news feed algorithm. Additional topics included the EU’s GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and what those privacy directives might mean for schools and educational technology use, Google’s embrace of Neverware, Apple rumors about new processors to power new Macs, dramatic reductions in iPhone 10 production numbers, and Google’s success (as well as struggle) vetting apps and removing those which violate its terms of service. Access all our shownotes (including links to articles we didn’t have time to discuss) on http://edtechSR.com/links and follow us on Twitter @edtechSR for updates. Thanks for tuning in, please shout out to us on Twitter and consider writing a favorable review of us on iTunes or elsewhere online. We love listener feedback!
Welcome to episode 83 of the EdTech Situation Room from January 24, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wes Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the Montana governor’s announcement to require net neutrality respect from ISPs with state contracts, the Hawaii governor’s Twitter password gaffe during the recent false ICBM alert incident, and a series of new Google announcements relating to an IT certification program and cybersecurity spinoff company. Additional topics included new affordable laptops from Lenovo, Acer, and Microsoft targeting the education market, wifi issues with Chromecast and Google Home devices, and some Apple updates on battery throttling, HomePod, and the Siri Assistant who can new read daily news briefings like Google Home and Alexa. The show rounded out with a discussion of new YouTube changes to channel monetization eligibility, the issues raised around “YouTube pranking culture” by the Logan Paul Japan suicide video, and a shout out to Ben Wilkoff’s new “Educator and Student Youtube 1000 List.” Please follow us on Twitter for updates and links to our live shows on Wednesday night on YouTube. Check out the full list of links, including some we did not cover in this episode, on http://edtechSR.com/links.
Welcome to episode 82 of the EdTech Situation Room from January 17, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wes Fryer (@wfryer) discussed upcoming changes to the Facebook news feed, the performance impact of software patches for Meltdown and Spectre, our human tendency to anthropomorphize technologies, and new highlights from CES 2018. Geeks of the week included Google’s Art App (Jason), the Microsoft Launcher for Android and the YouTube Safety Center (Wes). Check out all our links and shownotes, including many articles we didn’t have time to address in this week’s show, on http://edtechSR.com/links – Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/edtechSR to stay up to date on upcoming shows. Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes and anywhere else you find us! Remember you can listen to our latest episode on Google Home by simply saying, “Hey Google, play the latest episode of The EdTech Situation Room podcast!”
Welcome to episode 81 of the EdTech Situation Room from January 10, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wes Fryer (@wfryer) discussed important updates on the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerability issues, a few videos and articles focusing on the rise of Artificial Intelligence and the importance of putting ethics into coding, and some update from CES 2018 including the competition between Amazon and Google with smart assistants. The importance of the blockchain and the rise of cryptocurrencies were also discussed, along with a late December CNN Op-Ed advocating for the banning of all cell phones in U.S. middle schools. Geeks of the week included NeverWare for Chrome, Digital Citizenship Conversations (digcit.us) and the newest, blazingly fast FireFox browser from Mozilla with Tracking Protection turned ON. Check out these links in our shownotes, as well as more news links we didn’t have time to discuss on edtechsr.com/links. Follow @edtechSR on Twitter for updates on upcoming shows.
Welcome to episode 70 of the EdTech Situation Room from October 18, 2017, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wes Fryer (@wfryer) discussed Google’s new “Advanced Protection” security mode, hacker threats in several US states to parents of students, Microsoft Windows 10 “Creator Updates,” and reports that our solar system has a mysterious “Super Earth” 9th planet well beyond the orbit of Neptune. Additional topics included several updates to Google Earth and Google Maps mashups, recent Amazon advertising mistakes, the importance of media literacy education, and the emerging narrative of how Russian operatives appear to have subverted democracy in the U.S. 2016 Presidential election using Facebook targeted ads. “Speed round” article topics included a new Russian cryptocurrency, Netflix’ push for original movie and show content, Equifax hack blame falling on “one IT guy,” RSA encryption hacks, the cost of product placement advertisements, Eli Pariser’s “Filter Bubble,” and the secrets of Yahoo search. Geeks of the week included a $10 “FIDO U2F Security Key” and the weather website and app “Dark Sky.” Please follow us on Twitter @edtechSR for updates, and reach out to us if you listen to the show! The EdTech Situation Room is produced live each week (almost) on Wednesday nights at 9 pm Central / 8 pm Mountain time. Thanks for tuning in. Stay safe and stay savvy!
