So my next Mac will be...

Since Leopard won't be out until October, I will wait until then to make my purchase. I don't mind waiting, as the newer products from Apple will be undoubtedly be faster and cheaper by then.
The dual-boot feature of Boot Camp is worth the price differential between Macs and PCs. It's like having two computers in one. A friend of mine told me yesterday that with Parallels (which allows the user to use the Windows environment within the Mac OS), he doesn't have to install two separate copies of Windows on his MacBook; the program simply uses the Boot Camp install files. I will have to check up on this, but if this is true, then it's all the more reason to use Macs for all my computing needs.
I still haven't decided on which Mac to choose. There are different things I like about each one: the MacBook for its portability, the iMac for its value, and the MacPro for its scalability. I'm leaning towards the MacPro because it looks sturdy and fast enough to last me a decade.
I have created this blog in partial fulfillment of a professional development course and have enjoyed sharing my thoughts with my colleagues. I now intend on keeping it updated with posts that further describe this melding between my profession and my favorite hobby. Thanks for reading.

Apples in Education

From watching Steve Job's keynote speech earlier this week at the World Wide Developers Conference, I was reminded of the fact that technology is changing the way we teach. As boring as traditional keynote speeches can be, Apple has turned keynotes into world-changing, cataclysmic events that command the attention of millions. As I watched the webcast, my interest in Apple's new operating system (due out in October) grew, while at the same time I was learning how to use it.

That's how education must work--teachers need to demonstrate how to apply new skills and simultaneously raise the interest level of their students. No one does this better than Apple. If we can get students on the edge of their seats (as I was straining to watch the fuzzy Quicktime feed on my laptop), we can raise test scores, close the achievement gap, and adequately prepare students for college.

This past week, I reviewed a few podcasts and educational video streaming sites that do just that. One in particular that I found interesting was from the Educational Podcast Network: "English idioms and slang." Students at a lower reading level may be turned off by reading plain black and white text. But put that same information on a podcast and they are hooked. I know I was.

Wiki's in Education

I have decided to reward myself with a new computer when I complete my District Intern program. I feel that I deserve it, since I had to put up with 3 years of night school (usually on weeknights after a full day of teaching). Needless to say, it will be a Mac. And yes, I will benefit from the education discount. (I was about to insert a large imaginary grin here, but could not find one big enough).
Speaking of education, I am excited about the potential that wikis offer to the classroom. Students these days go directly to Wikipedia for their first primer on any subject. Heck, that's what I do. Anyway, I am also concerned about the pitfalls. Wikis are already turning into a medium whereby information is not simply accessed, but commented on. If I want to learn about a historical figure on Wikipedia, I may end up reading propaganda instead of facts. Open source education is messy. Wikis have given a voice to the silent majority--for better or worse.
I look forward to contributing to the conversation--on a new Mac!