In the last day or two, privacy and surveillance have been regular features of the online news sources I read and twitter articles from (@achurches). Globally, we are seeing (IMHO), an increase in surveillance and correspondingly a potential decrease in privacy. The New Zealand Herald  reported in two articles that the police are using drones for surveillance and that A new "super spy" camera with facial recognition is being used to monitor the crowd at Eden Park, recognising trouble makers and recording faces. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10868668 - Super camera spies on crowds at Eden Park http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10868674 - Police use drones to catch criminals Here is an interesting quote from the "super camera" article  - "Recent advances in CCTV technology have brought warnings from overseas privacy advocates. In the United Kingdom, new 16-megapixel HD cameras can pick out a face more than 800m away, and match it against wanted people. Such technology scans faces and "maps" their points out into a series of algorithms. Comparisons can then be made using facial recognition software to verify people’s identity." http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10868668 How comfortable do you feel with your face and data being matched against a database of "wanted people"? Its not just security cameras that are of concern to young people. TV3 reported that 1 in 6 secondary school students didn’t see a doctor or nurse when they needed to over a year period and that one third report it was privacy concerns that were a reason for this. http://www.3news.co.nz/Young-people-concerned-about-privacy/tabid/423/articleID/288722/Default.aspx We live in a connected community and world where much, if not everything, we do is recorded and public. Our students need to be aware that they live in this connected world and that there actions are no longer private. We might want to complain about the invasion of privacy, but we can’t change this and the level of surveillance is going to increase. Awareness is critical, understanding of their and our rights to privacy is important. Also encouraging behaviours that are going to protect privacy. http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/Digital+Citizen+AUA These articles are a great stimulus for discussion and debate around privacy and surveillance.

Here are a couple of useful links that I have come across recently. 1. Educause  - 7 things you should know - http://www.educause.edu/ There are two recent updates in this useful series. The first is collaborative learning spaces and the second infographics tools. We are seeing across education a shift towards learning happening not just in the classroom but beyond. Collaborative learning spaces are useful tools that allow a common point for the learners to link to. http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/7-things-you-should-know-about-collaborative-learning-spaces http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/7-things-you-should-know-about-infographic-creation-tools 2. The commoncraft show - http://www.commoncraft.com This is one of my favourite sites and I am happy to pay the annual membership to get access to these resources. You can access this site for free and view the videos by going to http://www.commoncraft.com. There are three things that are worth highlighting on this site at the moment: http://www.commoncraft.com/blog  - this blog has a number of very useful tips and posts about constructing your own explanation videos - its good reading http://www.commoncraft.com/new-video-credit-card-responsibility-0 This is an appropriate video that would be useful in the social sciences and economics as well as at home. Credit card responcibility http://www.commoncraft.com/new-video-email-access-explained-common-craft This is in the tech series and is useful resource 3.  Robotics articles in the news Robotics has recieved a little bit of press recently and here are some useful articles from my twitter feed (@achurches) When are we going to learn to trust robots - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21623892 Robot warriors: Lethal machines coming of age - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21576376 BigDog four-legged robot now sports throwing arm http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21630212 Police use drones to catch criminals - http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10868674

I am working on an end of unit review that I want to use with all of the teachers in my faculty. The purpose of the review is multiple: I would like the students to give us feedback on the unit of learning they have just undertaken Assessment and learning objectives should be clear and transparent, again I would like feedback on this Teaching and learning should be purposeful and deliberate The students workload and the level of challenge in their learning needs to be appriopriate learning should be engaging, motivating and have logical structure and flow. I would appreciate feedback on this review tool (download the PDF file here End of Unit Review Questions)

I have been looking around for a simple quality assurance test plan that my students could use for developing multi-page websites. I haven’t found one that really seemed to cover the bases. So I made one up. This is not a testing process, rather a guide for what should be asked. To put this in context - My students have to create a multipage website including graphics, images and potentially video and animation using Cascading style sheets to render the formatting and layout. Here is what I came up with. Simple Quality Assurance Test Plan Stage Elements Outcomes Check all text Check test for errors or issues with: Spelling Grammar Flow is it Relevance and in Context is suitable for the Target audience? is it Appropriate? is it Accurate? Text that is grammatically correct and makes sense to the target audience Check all graphics Is the image appropriate? Is the image relevant? Is the file format is web suitable? Consider image resolution, file size & Pixilation? Is the folder structure suitable ? Is Alt text included and accurate? Is the Legal and comply with copyright and fair use? Images and graphics that are clear, viewable, fast loading and appropriate for the purpose and audience Check all anchors/links Are the links accurate? Do they functioning as expected? Are the pages loading appropriately - suitable targets - self, new page etc? Are the linked pages suitable? Anchors and links that are accurate and working Check forms and mailto links Are form labels are appropriate and descriptive? Are the data collection elements are suitable and function as expected? Do the form Submit correctly and check results Check error messages Forms that deliver accurate information to the appropriate person/client Check layout & CSS Does the page render as expected? Does the CSS work as expected? Is the pages suitable for the audience? Does the page have: Consistency/repetition Harmony Balance Flow A site that suits the audience and the purpose Pages that are consistent and in harmony Client testing Does it work as expected? Does it appear as planned? Are all the features present? A site that is suitable for the purpose and audience A site that matches the plans and refinements End-user testing Does it work? Is it easy to navigate? Can I easily access the information required? An easy to use experience for the end user at a site that is fit for purpose and the audience Love some feedback, what have I forgotten? (here is the file as aPDF - Simple Quality Assurance Test Plan)

Here are a selection of interesting articles on education, technology and digital citizenship: New Zealand Herald Defence force highlights social network dangers - http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10870096 - This is a Digital citizenship basic concept, look after yourself by not posting information that can potentially put you at risk. For these guys it could be life and limb at risk Dotcom’s shut down good for studios - http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10870142 This another DC related post, this time for respecting and protecting intellectual property. The big studios are reporting they are better off now Dotocom’s Megaupload is Mega closed. New MOE figures show its true - Kids struggling at maths - http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10870138 - Basic arthimatic skills are suffering. This is a bit of a powder keg, but its actually very healthy to take a critical eye and look at what we do. We expect our kids to be reflective, we need to model this. BBC News US state (south Dakota) to arm teachers - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21722377 This is sad. This isn’t how you fix a problem, by introducing more of the problem into the system. The answer isn’t peace through superior firepower. Web based brain for robots goes live - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21714191 - This is both cool and alarming at the same time. The opening paragraph explains it " Robots confused about what they encounter in the world of humans can now get help online. European scientists have turned on the first part of a web-based database of information to help them cope. Called Rapyuta, the online "brain" describes objects robots have met and can also carry out complicated computation on behalf of a robot." I will keep this in mind next time I encounter a robot on the street. Stuff Your new boss is a robot - http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/gadgets/8399881/Your-new-boss-is-a-robot  - This robot being developed by MIT is learning to run a factory and give orders to artifical co-workers - this is an interesting topic and links with the interesting BBC article abot the web based brain for robots 3D printing revolution: Rethinking form - http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/gadgets/8394655/3D-printing-revolution-Rethinking-form  - Fascinating article and the example of use are amazing - 3D printing is becoming affordable for the classroom and schools. This is a trend to watch.   One NEWS News Corp unveils new tablet for schools - http://tvnz.co.nz/technology-news/corp-unveils-new-tablet-schools-5362867 - Interesting - an android powered tablet for schools, particularly secondary schools. "digital innovation to transform teaching and learning" hum 3 News Beer Goggles to raise awareness of drink-driving - http://www.3news.co.nz/Beer-goggles-to-raise-awareness-of-drink-driving/tabid/423/articleID/289563/Default.aspx - This a driver education tactic by Auckland transport. I like it and its worth doing. I use a similar concept with my senior IT students when we are looking at accessibility and disability with computers - earplugs, glasses, think gloves you name it we try it.          

Source: http://travelblog.portfoliocollection.com/FeaturedImage/BBC-Africa1.jpg The kids have just finished watching the final episode of the Brilliant BBC series Africa, hosted and narrated by David Attenborough. As we watch the last part of the last episode, Attenborough made a point about the importance of the wild places and the need for these to sustain the planet. The series was predictably brilliant, and for those schools in New Zealand who subscribe to screenrights, you can record and use this legally in our classes. But the point that Attenborough makes about the importance of preserving the wild places and their vital role in powering the planet is important, but unless you experience "the wild" then often this is a concept with out support and or experience. To be able to understand the beauty, scale, size, variety and critically importance of these wild places can only be touched on by documentaries like Africa. That is not to decry the brilliant cinematography, stunning vistas and awe inspiring settings. But the wild is not just visual, it is not just sound it is a holistic experience. To gain an appreciation of the diversity and complexity of the outdoors, of the wild places, it is best to experience them, even if it is in a limited setting. I am fortunate that my school takes all of our students out for an Outdoor education week, and we run outdoor education as a subject at senior levels. It encourages adventure sports, promotes the brilliant duke of Edinburgh scheme and happily supports the Roots and Shoots club based on the work by another legendary figure in Biology, Jane Goodall.  Outdoor education is a medium for understanding, experience and developing a passion for the wilder places, and the need to conserve them for not just our future generations but for our very survival. Outdoor education as a subject, and as an event is potentially one of the keys to our survival.  Screenrights - http://www.screenrights.org/content-users/new-zealand-services

In this update of on the wire I have a couple of interesting articles and the odd infographic to share 1. BBC Future - Why your brain loves to get feedback - http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20130226-why-your-brain-loves-feedback An interesting article on the importance of feedback. This supports the research from Professor John Hattie in his book Visual Learning about the importance of feedback (not that I think Hattie’s work needed further support - http://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/media-speeches/guestlectures/pdfs/tgls-hattie.pdf) 2. Free Stock Photos - There are some excellent sites that will provide you with access to good quality stock photography for free. Here are a couple to check out http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images http://www.kozzi.com/ http://www.morguefile.com/ 3. On a lighter note - Paper is Not Dead. This video about the iPad and paper is doing the rounds at the moment, and it makes a valuable as well as humorous point that is worth considering. technology isn’t a replacements for traditional approaches to activities, its an alternative. We need to consider the best tool for the job. paper is not dead 4. Virtual Tours from Mountain peaks and Base camps - http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10872387 This is an article from the NZ Herald that contains a number of virtual tours of mountain peaks and base camps. Here is the link to the blog post by the adventurer who created the tours - http://googleblog.blogspot.co.nz/2013/03/explore-everest-kilimanjaro-and-more.html and finally an infographic on apps and the impact these are having - http://mobilefuture.org/resources/app-infographic/

This is a very interesting infographic examining generation media consumption http://adage.com/article/adagestat/infographic-generational-media-usage-time-day/229831/ especially if we start to link this with the recent BBC article and the anecdotal vignettes from teenagers about their sleepless habits - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21876118 There is a definite digital citizenship aspect to this. The students in the BBC article are not looking after themselves or others. They are struggling to maintqain healthy relationship and this is supported by the inforgraphic showing the timing of their technology use.

Social media, like twitter or facebook, is neither positive or negative. It isn’t good or bad, its just a tool, a facility or a feature we can use. On the traditional medias like television these mediums are collecting a bit of criticism for the comments, tweets and posts published in light of the recent tragedies we have witnessed in the US. Its not the medium that is at fault here, rather it is the behaviours of the users that is more of a concern. We have seen the power of twitter to help facilitate the change or regimes in the Arab Spring, to break the news to the world of devastating earthquakes in China. But we have also seen it used to organize flash mobs in the London riots or recently to do the equivalent of spreading rumors in the digital medium around the unfolding nightmare that is the Boston marathon. There has to be balance. As a good digital citizen we are expected to: respect and protect yourself - looking after yourself respect and protect others - looking after others respect and protect property - looking after property Part of respecting and protecting others, is considering the impact, accuracy and significance of the material that we post. While sometimes the tweets we post can change the world in a positive way. Sometimes, the speed and ease at which we can post these comments and the potential size of the audience we can reach means we need to consider the impact, importance, significance and relationships effected by the material we post. In a world of immediacy, and instant communication we need to stop, take a deep breath and wait. Taking a considered and deliberate pause, and then…… Resources: Digital Citizenship - http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/The+Digital+Citizen The Fluencies - http://fluency21.com/fluencies.html

privacy noun [ mass noun ] a state in which one is not observed or disturbed by other people: she returned to the privacy of her own home. • the state of being free from public attention: a law to restrict newspapers’ freedom to invade people’s privacy. [Dictionary Version 2.2.1 Apple] I read this morning in Stuff that Google Glass is being send out, for a small fee, to the lucky winners of the contest held in the US (8000 winners and US$1500 per pair) - http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/gadgets/8573092/Google-Glass-distribution-begins-this-week The Google glass’es look amazing and they are the forerunner of a wave of wearable technologies. In fact the Horizon report for 2013 - higher education edition has wearable technology on its 4-5 year horizon - http://www.nmc.org/publications/2013-horizon-report-higher-ed and http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2013-horizon-report-HE.pdf. Google glass is the start of what we are to see, but I am left wondering if the price we pay for these technologies isn’t just financial but also with our privacy. I love the the idea of voice activated functionality, the immediacy and potential that this technology has. The promo videos are amazing, but they are meant to be. The concern is giving all my information to Google. (I know that’s an exaggeration, but…..) Would Google, or in fact any other global cooperation actually be interested in me beyond the general trends about what I do and see? I don’t think so, I am not that interesting, but the general trends that I contribute to that is a different matter. Am I prepared to pay this price for the potential that these technologies hold? Yes, I think I am, because with my member ship of social media site, I have already given this away. But my decision must be a conscious one, informed, aware and deliberate. Resources: http://www.google.com/glass/start/ http://www.google.com/glass/start/how-it-feels/ Above video on Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1uyQZNg2vE