One of the very useful, but perhaps under utilised features of mountain lion is the dictation tool. Once its switched on the world of dictation is opened. Switch it on by going to system preferences > dictation and speech and switching dictation on you can also select your language type. From here it’s really easy double click on the function key FN  and speak. I found the Apple care page on this useful as well. Here is a selection that covers the basic problems you often have with dictation. cap (for example, "this is a cap Test") Capitalize next word all caps (for example, "this is a all caps TEST") Type in all caps caps on Caps lock on caps off (for example, "this is caps on A VERY IMPORTANT TEST caps off tomorrow") Caps lock off no caps(for example, "what time is my meeting in no caps boston today") All lowercase new line Insert new text line next line Go to the next text line new paragraph Begin new paragraph next paragraph Go to the next paragraph no space Do not insert a space after the next word no space on (for example, "the new car is no space on reallyreallyexpensive") Do not insert any spaces between words no space off Resume inserting spaces between words space bar (for example, "this restaurant is first space bar class") Type a space numeral (for example, "he starts from position numeral 5″) Type the numeral, such as 5 instead of "five" Roman numeral (for example, "in January it’s Roman numeral MMXIII") Type the spoken as a Roman number http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5449 Do you have an iPad 3? Try out siri for dictation. Once you have enabled it in settings by clicking on the microphone icon in the pop up keyboard  (Settings > General > Siri). Here is the help file - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5176 Source: http://km.support.apple.com/library/APPLE/APPLECARE_ALLGEOS/HT5176/HT5176_01-mike-002-en.png    

Here are a couple of educause updates. These are part of the excellent seven things you should know series, published monthly by Educause. The latest two are: 7 Things you should know about microlectures - http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/7-things-you-should-know-about-microlectures 7 Things you should know about group texting - http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/7-things-you-should-know-about-group-texting Educause has a number of interesting libraries that are worth exploring - here is one I like, the video and multimedia production library - http://www.educause.edu/library/video-and-multimedia-production. Have a look at this 7 things about the evolution of the textbook  to see the links that are coming through with video and multimedia production - http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/7-things-you-should-know-about-evolution-textbook Also have a loom at the K-12 Library - http://www.educause.edu/library/k-12

This starter sheets is looking at the online service Crocodoc which allows the users to upload, share and annotate document. The documents can then be downloaded in the mark-up format or in the original format. This service supports PDF and Microsoft office files. This is a useful way of collating student work sharing  exemplars and adding comments and drawing with out modifying the original document. starter sheet - crocodoc formative assessment Other Starter sheets are available at http://edorigami.wikispaces.com Educational origami wiki

The new facebook poke app raises a concern or two for me in regards to appropriate use. The app which is essentially facebook’s version of snapchat allows the user to do a number of interesting things. Here is what they say about it in the 12 December news release "With the Poke app, you can poke or send a message, photo, or video to Facebook friends to share what you’re up to in a lightweight way. You can poke an individual friend or several at once. Each message expires after a specific time you’ve set, either 1, 3, 5 or 10 seconds. When time runs out, the message disappears from the app. " source: http://newsroom.fb.com/News/559/Introducing-Poke-for-Mobile So you can set a message that is only visible for a short space of time and then deletes. The message could be text, image or video. but wait there is more facebook will only hold the message and the encryption keys for the message for 2 days (source: http://techcrunch.com/2012/12/22/your-facebook-pokes-are-stored-for-two-days-then-their-encryption-keys-are-deleted/) When working with students we ask them, if they are being repeatedly bullied to: Talk with a trusted adult - be it the school Councillor, teacher etc not delete the messages and hold them as evidence Now they have a message that will appear for upto 10 seconds and then disappear/deleted, even the most tech savvy user is going to struggle to take a screen grab in that time. What’s more there is a 48 hour window to get facebook to recover the the poke. If you have ever tried to get facebook to do anything it is usually more than 48 hours. Am I concerned, yes - this is a tool for the cyber bully. I know concerns have been raised to about snapchat as a tool of choice in sexting. Does facebook really need to match it? They ahve attempted to match some of the terms and conditions of snapchat "When you send or receive messages using the Snapchat services, we temporarily process and store your images and videos in order to provide our services… we attempt to delete image data as soon as possible after the message is transmitted." (Source: http://www.snapchat.com/# click on terms at the bottom of the page) Advice? Well, what would I say to my students about this application? Don’t use it - this is suspect will fall on deaf ears but, it may raise some awareness if its abusive or inappropriate, unfriend the sender or is you are struggling to see who it is uninstall the app If its serious and/or persistent, talk to a trusted adult and move with speed to report the issue to facebook - Facebook - report a violation - http://www.facebook.com/help/263149623790594/ Resources and links: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/21/tech/social-media/facebook-poke-app/index.html http://newsroom.fb.com/News/559/Introducing-Poke-for-Mobile http://www.snapchat.com/ http://techcrunch.com/2012/12/22/your-facebook-pokes-are-stored-for-two-days-then-their-encryption-keys-are-deleted/ http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2012/dec/27/facebook-poke-snapchat-app-thumbs-down http://www.netsafe.org.nz/ http://www.netsafe.org.nz/how-and-where-to-report-website-abuse/ Facebook - report a violation - http://www.facebook.com/help/263149623790594/ Digital citizenship resources - http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/Digital+Citizen+AUA Follow me on Twitter - @achurches  

Its been a while since I have had the time to pen an on the wire update, but here is one. 1. TinEye Labs - http://labs.tineye.com/ This is a search engine with a difference, this one is based on colour. The search feature allows you to select a colour and then search through Flickr for creative commons images that match this colour. There is also TinEye which is the reverse search engine that allows you to search by inputting an image. 2. The Flynn effect - http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Are-You-Smarter-Than-Your-Grandfather-Probably-Not-181842991.html The Flynn effect is a discovery by a NZ scientist in the 1980′s that Human intelligence in the developed world increases by about 3 points every 10 years. Average human intelligence is meant to be 100. This is an interesting discussion on this phenomena. 3.Is artificial intelligence a threat to humanity? http://www.3news.co.nz/Is-artificial-intelligence-a-threat-to-humanity/tabid/1160/articleID/278117/Default.aspx This is an interesting opinion piece syndicated on to New Zealand’s TV3 News. worth a read as we see the speed at which artificial intelligence is progressing 4. 3D Printing  - educause - 7 things you shoould know about 3D printing - http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/7-things-you-should-know-about-3d-printing If you are not familiar with this series of resources, they are a great and balanced perspective on the impact of a tech nology on education (its focused on higher education). Each paper asks seven questions: What is it? How does it work? Who’s doing it? Why is it signficant? What are the downsides? Where is it going? What are the implications for higher education? This one is looking at 3D printing and benefits and downsides. No long ago you were looking at 3D printers costing in the thousands of dollars, but now you can pick them up for under AU$1000 and if you look to the US there are lots available - http://www.3ders.org/pricecompare/3dprinters/ This is an amazing development and I would imagine that the price will come down a little more. Unlike printer ink, the plastic for the these tools is probably more easily obtained, so companies will be hard pressed to maintain there monopoly and there for extortionate cost on the consumables. What a great opportunity for students to work right through the creative and development process - Solution Fluency For those with an endless budget, check this out - Buildatron - http://buildatron.com/ 5. Cambridge Digital Library - http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/ This is an amazing and fascinating site to visit. It holds, in digital format, an array of books, manuscripts and works from various religions, authors and scientists. Follow me on Twitter?

On the wire today we have a focus on digital citizenship, and a little on a global project   1. Facebook privacy settings http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/facebooks-privacy-settings-a-complete-guide/ This week seems to have had a number of digital citizenship articles in the various online news sites that I subscribe to: Stuff article on "mum’s cell phone contract" - http://t.co/UWVQINiY  Bank hacking - http://t.co/YcC9juMb 70% of Kiwi’s effected by cyber crime - http://t.co/iE5I09RE Drivers using social media to avoid check points - http://t.co/9pILRXke Safe sexting app and the facebook poke - http://t.co/14UD7lWn Mashable article on facebook and violoence against women - http://mashable.com/2013/01/08/facebook-violence-against-women/ So its appropriate to look at some advice from Make use of http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/facebooks-privacy-settings-a-complete-guide/ and stuff’s how to avoid internet fraud - http://t.co/BqMnvKKw 2. Unfortunate truth about child pornography and the internet http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/unfortunate-truths-about-child-pornography-and-the-internet-feature/ Another interesting feature on make use of. Its disturbing and at times alarming, but there is a need for awareness and balanced responce. Also check out the article from the university of new hampshire - http://www.unh.edu/ccrc/pdf/CV269_Child%20Porn%20Possession%20Bulletin_4-13-12.pdf 3. 8 Good tech habits to adopt right now - http://mashable.com/2013/01/08/good-tech-habits/ This is in a slightly lighter vein, but is offering good solid advice that would save most people a degree of heart ache and stress - especially the back up you device regularly part. 4. 1 face watch fundraising  http://1facewatch.com/ I like this site, select the cause you want to support, buy the watch that suits you while making a difference. Check out how much of a difference you have made and the different causes which include: AIDS - keep a child alive HUNGER - one days wages CANCER - the american cancer society ENVIRONMENT - the adventure project WATER - charity water BREAST CANCER - National breast cancer Source: http://1facewatch.com/skin/frontend/default/oneface/images/metrics.gif    

I was a little concerned when I read in a recent post on Mashable that Joe Biden has been asked not to investigate any linkage between violent video games and recent school shootings - http://mashable.com/2013/01/08/biden-video-games/ While we are never going to be able to definitely prove that exposure or addiction to violent video games is responsible for these tragedies, it is critical that this potential contributing factor is investigated and considered in addressing the events that have seen so many lives wasted. There are a number of reputable studies that indicate there is a relationship between exposure to violent video games and altuism. People exposed to violent video games physiologically and mentally react with a reduced level of responce when exposed to violent behaviour. http://lol.medieraadet.dk/upload/mulige_aasager_social_hensynsloeshed.pdf The people become desensitized and this behaviour becomes more the expected norm. I suspect that the games industry is protecting itself and its abundant revenue stream derived from these graphic and captivating games. Further articles: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/08/us-usa-guns-nra-idUSBRE9070TT20130108?irpc=932 http://www.gamespot.com/news/joe-biden-appeals-to-games-industry-on-gun-control-task-force-6402155 http://www.gamespot.com/news/nra-condemns-games-in-wake-of-connecticut-shooting-6401901 http://www.gamespot.com/news/connecticut-town-collecting-and-destroying-games-6401982 http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/09/us-usa-guns-biden-idUSBRE9080UA20130109

In this on the wire post I have revisited one of my favourite media sits - Mediastorm to see the latest work they are doing. They are brilliant and their videos are challenging and moving. 1. Mediastorm http://mediastorm.com Media storm produces "Cinamatic Narratives", short videos that tell a story. The stories are wide ranging some made by Mediastorm themselves, some for clients and some are the product of student workshops. Check out the links: About mediastorm - http://mediastorm.com/about Client projects - http://mediastorm.com/client/projects Student projects - http://mediastorm.com/train/projects Publications - http://mediastorm.com/pub/projects Check out "a darkness visible - Afghanistan" http://mediastorm.com/publication/a-darkness-visible-afghanistan 2. Make online learning more personal - http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/977276#ixzz2HJU5P54C This is a  list some of which that is worth considering if you are looking at an online environment or reviewing your existing one. The list includes: document sharing co-working spaces group projects discussion groups social media channels 3. Ask3 ipad application - http://blogs.techsmith.com/for-educators/ask3-for-ipad/ This is a free ipad application developed by Techsmith. Here is the Blurb: "Ask3 is a free app that allows teachers and students with iPads to easily share knowledge and collaborate via threaded, text and video conversations. By recording voice, drawings, and images, Ask3 can be used to quickly create videos that are shared directly through the app to a small group or class through a private code. To foster collaborative learning, students can pin questions at exact points within a video that are visible to the entire class, and other students can create responses in real-time by adding their own text and video responses. For educators, Ask3 helps teachers learn what information their students understand and areas where they need extra help, allowing them to quickly address challenging and confusing areas right away." Also check out - http://blogs.techsmith.com/tips-how-tos/ 4. ipads for learning ebook - https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ipads-for-learning/id588683835?ls=1&utm_source=buffer&buffer_share=b9e25 This is a free ebook about ipads for learning. Downloads to iTunes and has some good information and suggestions.  

The last week and a bit I have been in Edmonton Canada working with the teachers and facilitators of the Edmonton Catholic School district. The purpose of the week was that, with Lee Crockett, we were developing an understanding of the 21st Century Fluencies and beginning the development of problem based units of learning for implementation across the schools, across the curriculum and throughout the years. It was a pleasure to work with such enthusiastic and committed teachers and managers. Everyone got stuck in and had a considerable amount of fun and came away with an improved understanding of how they could make learning contextual, relevance and integrating higher order thinking , specifically creativity. Core to our workshops was solution fluency and information fluency which underpin the whole concept. The teachers developed problem based scenarios based on their curriculum that had relevance and context to the students. For some people this is rather hard, but the groups that we worked with did a superb job at this. They then had to use a structured problem solving process, solution fluency, to define the problem, discover the background dream, design and deliver  a solution and debrief. Design includes group formation, roles and time wise planning. Torkel Klingberg in his book the overflowing brain states that students in their early teens who have education focused on problem solving, inductive and deductive reasoning, inventiveness, decision taking and observation skills will have a 10% increase in IQ. The quoted study was supported by Israeli, Yugoslavian and German studies supporting the teaching of problem solving processes, creativity and inductive and deductive reasoning. All of the studies showed increases in the students IQ irrespective of age, sex or initial test scores. In other words its beneficial for every one. [Klingberg, Torkel, The overflowing brain: information overload and the limits of working memory, 2009 Oxford University press Inc ISBN 978-0-19-537288-5] While we were in Edmonton we were invited to see St Joesphs Catholic High School. A school of 1100 student with 600 on Self directed learning programmes. It was fascinating! The students were motivated and engaged learners. The courses while self directed and personalized were very well organised and presented, students had access to support and regular structured session with their teahcer advisors and course advisors. It was not a here is the stuff and go away and learn. Rather a managed approach which saw student taking responsibility for their own learning. The students who struggled were quickly identified and very well supported. As they say there is constant review of student progress. Here are two quotes from their manual that I like… "At St Josephs, student are personally responsible for their learning and are engaged within their learning" "Students at St Joesph are active participants in their learning on a daily basis whether it is though group discussions, participation in social justice activities, participation in field trips, etc. St Josephs students are amongst the most active in the city!" St Josephs is a BYOD school which teaches the Alberta curriculum and the IB Diploma and Certificate courses. A fascinating and exciting trip, even if it was a warm (for edmonton) -5c.  

I have watched the theatrics of Kim Dotcoms opening of his new site MEGA https://mega.co.nz with a degree of distaste, but what concerns me more is that under the banner of privacy, Dotcom has divorced himeslf from responsibility for the use of HIS site. To protect the privacy of the users, everything uploaded is encrypted and the administrators and staff do not have the encryption keys, therefore in a move reminiscent of Pontius Pilate and the classical monkeys that can see no evil, hear no evil etc the company absolves itself of any responsibility for the use of the site. It is obvious that this site will now become the trading hub for those who distribute child pornography and other such abuse. Protected by  encryption and safe in the knowledge that the administrators, even if requested or ordered by the courts, are unable to provide access they will ply their abuse with little concern. The site will become a center to for the pirates who again under the banner of "privacy" will trade other people hard work, skills and IP with disregard for their developers rights of ownership and their right to profit from their time, investment, effort and work. I think it is time we balanced the need for "privacy", self interest and self indulgence with the greater good. Just because you can do something, in this case developing a site that allows any form of use while accepting no responsibility for its use, does not mean we should. Privacy in this case  is a catch cry for not accepting responsibility and avoiding accountability. http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/technology/15936784/specific-knowledge-important-in-considering-legality-of-mega-website/