Forgot Your Flash Drive? Who Cares? You've Got Dropbox!

Setting aside time to get work done is not something that just happens for everyone. Some need to make it a priority. Those working full-time, going to school, and raising children know exactly what I’m talking about. So when the environment and time are conducive to being highly productive, it's very frustrating when technical issues are what's keeping you from getting your work done.

So imagine how I feel in this scenario-

I’ve followed through with my scheduling priorities and have just pulled into the local coffee shop. I’ve got my laptop with me and I’m looking forward to a 20 oz. caramel macchiato, free Wi-Fi, and a few hours of uninterrupted “zone” time to get my work done (I actually look forward to these types of study dates with myself!). I gently and oh-so-slowly enjoy my first sip of coffee while taking out and turning on my laptop, only to find out that the file I needed was on my flash drive which I left at home!!!! 

Never work at coffee shops?  Well, imagine you’re teaching at school and you remembered your flash drive because you will be using a poetry presentation on “The Raven” with supplemental notes you’ve typed up in Word. Well, guess what?  When you stick in your flash drive you realize that your last save was done on your home computer! Yikes! There goes that lesson plan!

No matter what field we’re in or what scenario you can think of, EVERYONE has in some way or another had to deal with needed files. It’s inevitable. We’re all using a multitude of devices and we’ve got files saved all over the place. Enter Dropbox.

Dropbox just might be the solution for me. I need to simplify! (Turns out, Dropbox’s motto is “Simplify your life” but I didn’t know that when I typed this.) Dropbox is a free service that securely stores your files and and allows you access via multiple devices (computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, etc) anywhere.  If you download Dropbox onto all your work/school/home computers and cell phones, when you update a file on your phone, it’s automatically updated on all your other devices and on the Dropbox website too.  Having duplicate files and parts here, there, and everywhere does add some level of stress in my life.  The prospect of not having to email myself files so I can access them on all my devices is very appealing!

The program is free for 2 GB. You can upgrade to 50 GB for $9.99 a month and 100 GB for $19.99 a month. The process of downloading and getting started was very easy and user friendly. After I signed in they had all the steps outlined for me, including the ones I had already completed. I was able to add the program to my mini-laptop and right away I could see the files I had added from my other laptop. The first thing I added into my Dropbox folder was my wedding planning folder. I had folders and multiple files on 2 laptops and a flash drive and it was refreshing to have it all in one place. I thought, “Now my fiancé can have access to these files too!” (not that he wants to!)

Next, I’ll be simplifying my life by putting all my college class folders and teacher files onto Dropbox. I’ll play around on it a little more so that I can start sharing with family, friends, colleagues, and classmates.  When I share a folder with someone through Dropbox, it appears inside their Dropbox and syncs to their computers automatically.  Groups can collaborate on projects together easily.  Another great perk is if my computer crashes, all is not lost if my files are on Dropbox!

Dropbox is going to be one of those technologies that helps me see technology is not making life more complicated, but is helping make my life easier. Now that's refreshing!

Sitting is Hard on the Body

I don’t know about you, but being a grad student is a pain in the bottom-literally. I sit for hours at the computer without realizing the time passing by! I’ll look at the clock and it astonishes me that two hours have just vanished. Did I move at all during this time?  I am a living statue at my desk.  My bottom is sore, my shoulders are sore, my right arm is sore, my knees are sore.  Exercising regularly is not enough, I need to take more breaks from sitting. Prolonged immobility and restricted blood flow have led to harmful conditions such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or eThrombosis, a variant form of venous thromboembolism (VTE).  Mixing this risk with the news that sitting long periods shaves years off life (CNN.com) and you’ve got a recipe for disaster if you’re not careful. We learn about viruses and harmful material on the Internet. We need to be aware of the potential harm that exists for our bodies with living in a techno-savvy environment.

DVT was first attributed to problems during the air-raids of WWII when Londoners would sleep upright in deck chairs in the shelters. The inactivity led to a blood clot forming in the legs. This could be fatal if the clot lodged in the lungs (pulmonary embolism).  Sitting for prolonged periods contributes to life threatening VTE¹.This is why people traveling for extensive periods are at risk too (See Dying to Fly). There are other factors that contribute to likelihood of blood clotting but most people don’t know if they are at risk.  Monitoring your movement is key and easy for anyone to do.

When I was teaching in the classroom, I hardly sat at my desk. Now that I’m the student, I feel empathy for those who work on computers all day. Different strokes for different folks, but let me just say I don’t envy them. It can really drain a person and sometimes I feel as though the last thing I want to do in my spare time is sit and look at a computer, phone, or TV screen.  Most of us are sitting for long periods of time when we work or play on computers. There are extreme cases of these immobile hazards, including two that involved technology. I will say veteran techies and serious gamers seem to get very defensive when you hear about such cases. I’m not saying that computers are the problem. Experts are telling us move around and take breaks, exercise, eat healthy, and be sensible. Although these are extreme (and real) scenarios, it is likely that some people are working at their computers ten, twelve, or even more hours a day.

• Korea- 24 year old male dies from “eThrombosis” after playing an online computer game for almost 80 hours. Minimal sleep and instant noodles.

• Britain-20 year old marathon gaming male dies from blood clot (DVT) 

• NBC journalist David Bloom, 39, dies from DVT after riding in army tanks while reporting from Iraq. 

The more we know about these health risks, the more likely we are to change our lifestyles so that we are living sensibly and healthy even in the realm of technology. According to the Coalition to Prevent Deep-Vein Thrombosis, the number of pulmonary embolism (a complication from DVT) deaths per year in the U.S. is more than the number of AIDS and breast cancer fatalities combined. I think it’s worthwhile we take note of this to remind ourselves, our students, friends, and family to take those short breaks to move around a bit. It just could save a life.

How are you making sure you’re not sitting in one position too long, whether it’s traveling or working on the computer?  Leave a comment and share your ideas.

1. Lee, H. (2004). A new case of fatalpulmonary thromboembolism associated with prolonged sitting at computer in Korea.  YonseiMedical Journal, 45(2), 349-351.

iTunes for Educators – More Than Meets the “i”

©2011 Mannaz, Flickr

               I’ve been reading about connectivism in education. This simply means that “learning occurs as part of a social network of many diverse connections and ties”(see Networked Student by Dr. Wendy Drexler). As I’ve been learning in my Technology for Educators Course, technology is rapidly changing and it’s important to understand how educators can use these technologies in the classroom.  This week, we covered a plethora of subjects surrounding technologies ranging from blogging, Common Craft, and communications networks to Apple for educators, Virtual Reality, and Netiquette.  Amongst all this learning, the one thing that really caught my i…I mean eye, was Apple iTunes.  I’ve been using iTunes for years so I already feel like an expert. When I say years, I’m talking about ever since I got my 5^th generation iPod with video (bought it through Apple using their educator discount back in 2005). Yep, I’m still using that baby every day and it’s still going strong. I definitely got my money’s worth. Back to my expertise…I feel like an expert because I have used iTunes for multiple features, both personally and for my classroom. I download music often. I download all sorts of free podcasts, including Ben Greenfield, Focus on the Family, and Clark Howard.

                In my first grade classroom, I used iTunes for music. I also started downloading podcasts like Storynory and Free Audiobooks for children.  I would put these on a CD and have 2-3 students listening to the CD at the Listening Station during Literacy Centers.  Listening not only gave the students time to chill out and enjoy stories, but it also provided for fluency modeling and encouraged visualization.  I also had my first graders listen to various fourth grade classes from all around the world who uploaded their own podcasts.  These students had teachers who made the typical assignment not only more interesting, but more global.  They were reading and summarizing stories, discussing how to develop a character, and explaining simple machines for a world audience. 

Top iTunes Podcast ©2008 Marcopako, Flickr

                So with my course assignment this week, I wanted to look into more of what Apple provides for educators seeking to teach with a connectivist approach. Apple offers many resources but I decided to focus only on how iTunes can help educators.  Boy, were my blinders taken off!  All this time I was overlooking many worthwhile iTunes features.  I'm sharing a few simple ways iTunes can help enhance your students’ learning experience.  You can access culturally diverse music when teaching on different cultures or time periods.  There are all kinds of free audio and video podcasts available.  Download some lessons on learning French or Spanish.  There’s even CNN Student News, Why? Science for Kids, and Poem of the Day.  The English as a Second Language (ESL) podcast has short lessons for improving English speaking and listening skills. Lessons vary and include paycheck deductions, animals at the zoo, and being in a flood.

                I don’t know what I thought iTunes U was, but I did notice that tab in the iTunes Store before. With all my exploring this week, I’ve  learned iTunes U is where educators can design and distribute complete courses. You can download lessons, videos, discussions, and music from schools all around the world.  Watch a video podcast about a geometry lesson in building spaghetti bridges from a high school in New Jersey.  Check out a series on the Civil War produced by Mrs. Lee’s 4^th grade class in Columbia County, Florida.  I just watched a 55-minute video podcast of Harvard professor Michael Sandel teaching on justice and morals – The Case for Cannibalism. Who says I’m not smart enough to learn at Harvard? There truly is “more than meets the eye” on iTunes and what I mentioned here is just a tiny snippet of all iTunes has to offer. To learn more about iTunes, visit Apple’s official page.  I’d love to hear how you’re using iTunes in your classroom or even in your personal life. Leave me a comment. After all, I’m still learning too.