tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8720972055883409222024-03-21T14:57:45.041-07:00Tech-nappedAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13920886432801244724noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872097205588340922.post-18363423748384205782014-01-12T15:17:00.005-08:002014-01-12T15:19:41.888-08:00Glass in Class: Part 1<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When I first started playing with Glass, I
immediately envisioned several uses for it in my classroom, but with no
experience in programming, I am not the one to make these ideas a reality.
Glass's modest variety of apps through MyGlass temporarily limits the device's
capabilities, although rumors of presentation programs and sideloaded apps that
are still in development give me hope that the general as well as classroom-specific
utility of Glass will improve with time. However, I have found a few pertinent
uses for Glass in the classroom, and even if these uses are all predicated on
using the camera, I have found that Glass has aided my teaching practices in unique
ways that other technology has not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1) <b>Video
Critiques:</b> I use Glass to record my critiques of physical projects, for
example, plate tectonic game boards and science fair projects. Sure, rubrics
elegantly outline every point made (or lost), but if you watch a room full of
twelve year old students who hail from a highly competitive community, you will
witness forty sets of eyes scan the rubric from top to bottom, where they eagerly
come to rest on that final grade. My detailed comments are often neglected or
simply skimmed. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Recording video critiques obliges students to listen
to those comments before hearing that final grade, so the critique becomes yet
another learning experience in which students learn how their work is evaluated
and how to improve next time. I still use the rubric as a type of script as I
deliver the evaluation for each required component. Additionally, I find it
useful that I can manipulate the project while continuing to record. For a
school trying to convert to primarily digital learning, this version of a video
rubric allows me to waste less paper, to spend less time writing a rubric
evaluation that will be largely ignored, and to emphasize the critique portion
before reciting the final grade. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2) <b>Video
Field Trip</b>: I am fortunate in that my personal interests intertwine with my
subject matter. I hike, backpack, and travel often, giving me wide exposure to
places and things of scientific interest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For example, when I was backpacking last summer, I
recorded a short video about microorganism in the forest. Juggling a camera
while trying to use a hand lens to show in more detail those microorganisms was
a laborious process that led to a mediocre video that seemed more like The
Blair Witch Project than a neat, mini documentary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Much like video critiques, being able to shoot from
a first person perspective frees my hands to manipulate objects within the
camera's view. It also frees mental space that would otherwise be dedicated to
balancing the camera and monitoring the framing of each shot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3) <b>Calendar: </b>Teachers
spend only about half their time on the actual instruction; the other half of
the time is dedicated to curriculum planning, workshops, and meetings. Daily
schedules are planned down to the minute, so punctuality is an essential tool
in a teacher's repertoire. Email calendars are helpful but require actively
engaging with email in order for reminders to appear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Glass puts those calendar reminders in front of my
face, so as I am teaching seventh period, I receive reminders for afterschool
IEP meetings and parent conferences. I can mentally prep for these events by
being aware of my schedule in advance, and I find that advantage invaluable in
being able to quickly and intelligently transition from one even to the next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4) <b>BTSA</b>: Otherwise
known as Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment, this program, as its name
implies, supports and assesses first and second year teachers. We are required
to collect extensive evidence of the efficacy of our teaching practices and
their alignment with state standards, district standards, and personal goals. This
year, the program switched to a digital format, allowing teachers to collect a
wider variety of evidence to validate their progress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whereas last year I was confined to filling out
documents and providing student work samples, this year, I can photograph and
record evidence that is difficult to quantify in a document. Using the Glass camera,
I have recorded students debating ethical issues within science, collaborating
on group projects, and presenting final products. The Glass camera allows my
attention to stay on the students, because recording becomes a passive,
background process with Glass. My recordings are faithful narratives of my classroom
experience, as students act more naturally for Glass than they do when a typical
camera is recording them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5) <b>Parking
Duty</b>: On my campus, teachers participate in parking duty. Our school is
notorious for our parking "situation" (they even made new segments
and newspaper articles about our campus). The parking situation is particularly
problematic in the afternoon, with traffic backups as long as twenty minutes if
parents elect to arrive right at the end-of-school bell. Due to some unethical
choices being made in the parking lot, our principal advised teachers to bring
to parking duty their school-issued iPad in order to photograph the license
plates of offending vehicles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Much of my time is spent trying to direct parents
who more often are looking sideways onto campus for their child/children rather
than focusing on the cars and pedestrians in front of them, so holding an iPad
while trying to flag down cars is an inconvenience. Glass, however, allows me
to quickly and surreptitiously photograph license plates and incidents that
happen on my shift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Again, my uses for Glass are centered around the
camera, but I am confident that in the future, Glass will offer services and
apps that improve the classroom experience. For example, taking role by voice
command allows me to keep a visual on my students without having to duck behind
a computer (or even an iPad). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Also, I am excited by the rumors of an app that
projects presentation notes through Glass while the actual slides appear on the
compute. The Glass touchpad controls the movement of slides, allowing me to
move around the room as I deliver direct instruction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I would also like to be able to instantly access
student grades via Glass. Right now, I have to navigate quite a beefy process
on my iPad to access grades, but with the quick access that Glass could
provide, I would be able to instantly address missing work for each student.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lastly, a random student selector based on the class
roster would provide a more non-biased way for calling on students. If you have
never managed a group of forty middle school students, then you may not
understand the executive planning involved in these "micro" decisions,
which have to balance fairness, student shyness, with classroom management. If
there is a consistent expectation that each person has an equal opportunity of
being called on, there is more accountability and less of a feeling of
"teacher's pet" ruling the classroom. There are mobile apps that
address this concept, and perhaps those mobile apps are just as effective as a
Glass version would be, but I value being able to keep an active eye on my
students. Seeing their facial expressions helps me to judge how much they
"get it", before I even call on someone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is only an abbreviated list of the many
possibilities for uses of Glass in the classroom. I tend to be app focused, but
I am sure there are opportunities for services as well to aid in the classroom
experience. I want technology to improve my efficacy and access to data, and I
believe the unique interface of Glass can do just that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13920886432801244724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872097205588340922.post-35583207091953095602013-12-22T17:31:00.001-08:002013-12-22T17:31:06.631-08:00Glass in the Wild<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I've
never seen another Explorer in the wild. It's been near isolation in my
tech-napped</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">world for the past five weeks, sans Google hangouts with my
inspiration for investing in Glass.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Then,
I met Aaron*, a fellow second generation Explorer and programmer. Just days
before Christmas, amidst the throngs of holiday guests to the happiest place on
Earth, I stood at the checkout counter of a store along the main street in
California Adventure. The cast member registering my purchase took an eager interest
in Glass, so I began my friendly, routine explanation. Out of the corner of my
eye, I could see a figure lingering nearby, not even eight feet away from me. As
I glanced sideways, I caught the startling image of a face with Glass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
sight shouldn't surprise me, yet, since this was my first public encounter with
another Explorer, I was unprepared for meeting my kin. In a way, my initial
mild shock is probably similar to what the general public upon meeting
"one of us". Note to self, smile even more and look even more
approachable to assuage that shock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
grinned and slowly approached me, and we exchanged pleasantries and names. At
this point, with two of us bearing the same unfamiliar gadgets on our faces,
the curiosity of the people around us became insatiable, and the flood of
questions began. Typical, expected. However, he was well-versed in his
response. He whipped out his phone and opened his screencast so fast that I
simply deferred to his explanation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> While
his words were amicable and demonstrated patience, he certainly moved and spoke
with, might I say, aloofness, with a general lack of eye contact and an over
confidence in his knowledge of Glass. I can't say for sure that it was true
aloofness, but at the time, I couldn't put my finger on the meaning of his
demeanor. He brusquely pointed out that should show my screencast as well, but,
in my mind, our holding up the entire line to demonstrate Glass felt a little
selfish and, with attention spans waning, perhaps unnecessary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> His
explanation was rehearsed yet approachable, and when one of the cast members
asked if we received a lot of questions about Glass, he replied with,
"Yes." That tinge of exasperation in his voice was so subtle, so
brief, that I'm sure I'm the only one who caught it (intuition of people's
feeling courtesy of my counseling background). Then, as quickly as he appeared, he wrapped up
his three line explanation and left the store at a quick pace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I
didn't know what to make of this encounter. In all, everyone we talked to
walked away with positive awe about Glass, which is one of our primary goals as
technology ambassadors. However, something felt odd: the way he kept distance
from people; the forced, albeit friendly, recitation of how Glass works; the tinge
of exasperation; even the lack of eye contact; the quick departure. These all spoke
of someone who has been jaded by the Glass experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I
messaged my Glass friend about meeting another Explorer "in the wild"
and gave a brief synopsis of the experience, ending with my dismay at Aaron's
apparent aloofness. My friend messaged back,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Yeah,
I could see that happening. A lot of Explorers would probably fall on the
introverted side of the spectrum."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I
sensed validity to this assertion, as several of my technology-oriented friends,
many of whom are self-proclaimed or are otherwise labeled as a
"geek", tend to exhibit the very traits I saw in Aaron: socially
awkward, intensely occupied with technology, unconsciously didactic, friendly
but skittish. Of course, individual experiences tend to bias in a particular
direction, and with pop culture directing the masses toward believing geeks to
be introverted, technology-oriented, and often socially awkward. Just look at
The Big Bang Theory's characterization of geeks, and you'll see my point. Even
American author Julie Smith described a geek as <span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">"a bright young man turned inward, poorly socialized,
who felt so little kinship with his own planet that he routinely traveled to
the ones invented by his favorite authors, who thought of that secret, dreamy
place his computer took him to as cyberspace</span>."</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Don't
get me wrong; most geeks are amazing people who tend to cluster around a specific
set of personality traits, including introversion, and I am not saying there is
anything wrong with introversion. Even I tend toward introversion the Myers
Briggs Personality Profile. However, this classic geek trait does carry certain
ramifications in the introduction of Glass by an almost exclusively
technology-oriented population, such as programmers and developers. The original
premise of the Explorer program was to invite individuals to test, for a price,
Glass before it reached the general public, meaning that it has fallen upon
those introverted individuals to interface with the public about Glass. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I
have a feeling that a lot of people, while curious and excited by the new
technology, see it as a geek gadget for that exclusive population of
programmers and developers. Nearly every person I have spoken with while
wearing Glass has asked if I work for or am somehow affiliated with Google. The
next question is always an assumption formed as a question about my being a
programmer. People do not yet see this product as a gadget for the general
population, which I think is being perpetuated by the fact that the lovable but
not exactly extroverted population of Explorers happen to be technology savants
who can demonstrate the product well but leave doubt in the minds of the public
they interface with if this product can be useful anyone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> With
third generation Explorer invites being submitted as I speak, I hope the Glass population
waters down to include more "average" people, such as myself, not
because I don't appreciate the tech-geeks responsible for initially introducing
Glass, but because the public needs to feel like they are an extension of this
project, too, capable of becoming, in their own right, a self-proclaimed
tech-geek.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*Name has been changed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13920886432801244724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872097205588340922.post-48498236774940732162013-12-09T22:17:00.000-08:002013-12-09T22:17:47.650-08:00My Sister Has Been Glass-napped<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-B4XMoomWDTDpxc9z9WhcafNCDY23EC8gShmq-RshfC5UuLvOcXu632GhUyFA4L0MPWpTtmUU_BblqIIHhqTxM8q6y6kkOZGIniOgnBmi63MvWzCNaxhjJ7ShAJOloWkB0OpkHyMo2A/s1600/Screenshot_2013-12-09-22-00-54.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-B4XMoomWDTDpxc9z9WhcafNCDY23EC8gShmq-RshfC5UuLvOcXu632GhUyFA4L0MPWpTtmUU_BblqIIHhqTxM8q6y6kkOZGIniOgnBmi63MvWzCNaxhjJ7ShAJOloWkB0OpkHyMo2A/s1600/Screenshot_2013-12-09-22-00-54.png" height="320" width="192" /></a></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It was
inevitable that I would have to introduce my family to Glass. Walking around at
the next holiday dinner and wearing a computer on my face would probably trigger
some well-justified curiosity. Being previously tech-averse, I knew this would
be a big unveiling, and I wanted to introduce it in as positive and enthusiastic a way as
possible.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With an
upcoming brunch with my dad's family, I decided to take Glass for a test drive.
I rehearsed my phraseology and sharpened my fluidity with Glass to ensure I
came off, to their technologically untrained ears and eyes, as an expert in my new gadget.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Although I'm
more introverted in public, I am much less shy around my family, so I decided
to make a show of wearing Glass into the restaurant. I marched up to the table
with a big, self-satisfied grin on my face, feeling something between pride and
embarrassment as I pretended that the computer on my face was as natural as the
blue in the summer sky. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They reacted
with as much enthusiastic curiosity as I could have hoped, and while their
positive responses empowered me, my nine year old sister was the one who stole
the show. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With nearly
nineteen years between us, my sister and I aren't exactly your standard
siblings, and in many ways, we are complete opposites. Where I wanted to please
others when I was her age, my sister is headstrong and single-minded in
her pursuit of pleasure. For example, when I tried rehearsing with her single-digit
multiplication facts, her eyes glazed over, and her self-inflicted ADD
tendencies flickered away conscious thought. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Rochelle,
what is two times four?" I asked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Seven,"
she replied absently, her eyes roving the restaurant in search of anything but
math and numbers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Wrong.
And you know it. What is two times four?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I don't
know. Let's go play. Come on, Ashley!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I thought
for a moment and concocted what seemed like a brilliant plan. "Sure, I'll
play with you."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Really?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"As
soon as you tell me the product of fifteen times four." I grinned and
turned back to the adults, convinced that I had put her in her place.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Four seconds
later, "Sixty. Let's play!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That's the
kind of little sister I have. I adore her, and while she may not be the
standard academician, she is both bright and an independent thinker. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Fast forward
back to her introduction to Glass: for a few minutes, she watched me
demonstrate to my dad and grandparents how to use Glass. Then, she boldly
asked, "Can I try?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sure, </i>I figured. Let her give it a try.
I'm curious how long it will take her to figure this thing out. With a few
directives from me, she managed to navigate through many of basic voice
commands. I decided to give her free reign to try out as many functions as she
possible. My mistake wasn't in giving her an open invitation to Glass surf on my account; my mistake was in diverting my attention to something else. In that absent moment, as I further explained Glass to my dad and
grandparents, she managed to voice initiate a video call to someone on my
contact list. I managed to connect the dots just after she said his name, and
before I could stop the call, my friend had already picked up, his small image just visible to me on Glass's screen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I would have
done a better job explaining the situation to my poor friend, who had obviously
only woken up because of the incoming call, had I not been in a fit of giggling
hysterics. Video calling from Glass means that the person on the other end is
seeing what the person wearing Glass is seeing. My sister could see my friend
through Glass, as he was using a standard webcam, but he could see my entire
family eating brunch and hear my sister talking with him. I can only imagine
how confused he was. Fortunately, he was a good sport about the whole thing and
graciously listened to her chatter before I finally garnered sense enough to end the call.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>By the end
of the meal, my sister had mastered voice initiated texting, taking pictures, Google
searching, phone calling, and video calling. Of course, being a nine year old,
her sole concern was when Glass would have games, like the ones on her tablet.
When I apparently didn't adequately explain why Glass didn't have those games,
she took to asking Glass, in her most playfully condescending voice possible,
for the answer to why Glass doesn't have good games. Sometimes, sisters can be brats (and I say this in the most loving way possible). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Even if she
did use my own toy against me, I'm excited that she intuitively figured out
Glass, which I interpret as a positive harbinger for future, juvenile Glass users.
More importantly, I can officially say that my sister has been Glass-napped. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13920886432801244724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872097205588340922.post-18958876967929617132013-12-05T21:53:00.001-08:002013-12-05T21:53:16.341-08:00Taking Glass for a Run
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> As a tech
neophyte - I didn't even own a smart phone until I decided to purchase Glass -
the world of apps is still new to me. A couple years ago, when my students asked
for app recommendations, I naively mentioned that my dumb phone had a calculator.
We all giggled and smiled as I held up my phone. I thought we were laughing at
how students are so reliant on calculators to do math; they honestly thought I
was telling a joke. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Of course, I
have since learned to think differently about apps and phones. Most
importantly, apps are a way to personalize the technology experience: games, sports,
shopping, e-readers, and more. However, Glass's nascent existence means fewer Glass-compatible
apps at present. Combined with my general lack of familiarity with apps, personalizing
my technology experience could be a challenge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Cue my
resident Glass expert, who recommended a running app that works with Glass. In
hindsight, this recommendation was brilliant, as it gave me a reason to wear
Glass on a daily basis. However, upon hearing about the Strava running app, I
blithely dismissed it as an over-glorified timer, perhaps a pedometer with an
appealing UI to compensate for lack of content. However, I am fully vested in
this adventure and want to try everything on for size, so I loaded the app and
went for a run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nLbANGEl4dE/UqFl_cVIRDI/AAAAAAAAA28/a6-bTD0gQpM/s1600/Screenshot_2013-12-03-12-08-38.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nLbANGEl4dE/UqFl_cVIRDI/AAAAAAAAA28/a6-bTD0gQpM/s1600/Screenshot_2013-12-03-12-08-38.png" height="320" width="192" /></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Needless to
say that when the Glass lady's crisp voice suddenly chirped my distance, time,
split, and pace, I skipped a step and nearly tripped myself. Even with my music
blaring full volume in my ear buds, that voice cut through the music and
startled me. Bemused, I kept running and pushed myself just a little faster.
When her voice rang out again at the one mile mark, I was prepared for the
update.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> I usually
reserve running outdoors for distance or relaxing runs, while treadmill runs
are used for interval and speed training. However, the simple act of providing split
times and pacing activated my self-competitiveness, and I found myself pushing
harder than usual. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> At one
point, I tried nodding to trigger Glass in order to find out my elapsed time
between half miles, but as soon as the clock flickered to life, it went dark
again. I tried again, only to meet with the same result. It took me a few tries
to connect the dots and realize that the jostling of my head simulated nodding,
which activates and deactivates Glass. I have since learned that I can turn off
this function, but, whether it's sheer laziness on my part or a genuine lack of
needing to know my exact, current time, I have opted to keep on the head tilt
function.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> If I had a
heart rate monitor, I could sync it with Strava and create a more complete
fitness profile. However, even without tracking heart rate, I think Strava
meets my needs. Ironically, I didn't even know I had a need for a running app,
but I've used it for every outdoor run since that first time. I am still under
the impression that I don't <i>need</i>
technology, but I certainly can benefit from using it in my daily life. I think
this is going to be the great thing about my grand, technology adventure:
finding ways for technology to complement and enhance my lifestyle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13920886432801244724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872097205588340922.post-18615405253387702622013-12-02T21:08:00.003-08:002013-12-02T21:08:26.648-08:00An Introvert's Battle<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Wearing a
computer on my face isn't exactly an effective way to blend into the masses. While
I am not necessarily shy, particularly in front of forty squirming and flighty preteens,
I naturally tend toward introversion, and a well-documented history with stage
fright confirms that, at the very least, I do my best to avoid public
attention. Yet, for my first outing with Glass, I brazenly chose to wear it to
Disneyland.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> I suppose I was
superficially conscious of the social repercussions of wearing Glass, and I
knew that reactions could err in either direction. However, as soon as I
entered the throngs at Disneyland, I suddenly became fully aware of the quantity
and spectrum of responses that Glass would elicit: baffled looks, curious
glances, awed gazes, morbid stares, double-takes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> I walked
through the crowds trying my best to project an aura of approachability and
affability. I may not be a tech wiz, but I am an ambassador for Glass by being
interfacing with the public. With great respect for that responsibility, I want
people to associate Glass with friendliness and, to be honest, a sense of
normalcy, as if this device could easily be used by anyone. Admittedly,
stomaching those first ten minutes of public attention require a good deal of
fortitude and resiliency, lest I be intimidated by mere looks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> I purposely
planned my Glass experience to coincide with regular Saturday swing dancing
event so that, at the very least, Glass time could blend with the normal course
of my day. It just so happens that this dance event is held inside Disneyland.
I left an hour earlier than usual in order to get used to wearing Glass out in
public. Why not experiment with trial by fire?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> In the hustle
and bustle of the park, most people did not confront me about Glass. Outside a
curious glance, people seemed content to curiously gawk, so I usually returned
a friendly smile and kept walking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> If only that
could be said for my first verbal interaction regarding Glass. As I rested on a
bench inside the park, two men walking by did a double take and whirled around.
I summoned courage for my first Glass dialogue with a genuine smile, but before
I could so much as utter a greeting, they began spewing acrimony. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> "Glass
is evil!" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> "Demon
woman!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> "Apple
is better!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Now, this is
not a commentary on Apple aficionados. Idiots come from all backgrounds. I was
so startled that I fortunately couldn't manage a response and reveal my snarky
side, which would run contrary to my goal of positive public interfacing with
Glass. This apparently atypically hostile confrontation did, however, put me through
trial by fire, and instead of withdrawing into the introverted side of me, I kept
on Glass and continued my tour through the park. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> The rest of
the night I experienced only baffled or positive reactions to Glass; however,
no one else verbally acknowledged the device. Perhaps it was the pedestrian
nature of my observers that prevented direct interactions; however, I wanted
more than just notice - I wanted to dialogue about Glass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> The next
day, my mom and I went for a hike, and, to respect the boundaries of a
technophobic parent, I left Glass at home. When I mentioned needing to buy a
new computer charger, she acted uncharacteristically interested in my intended
outing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> "Are
you going to Best Buy after you eat lunch?" she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> "Probably."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> "Can I
go?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> "What?
You don't like running errands with me."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> "I want
to go. You should wear Glass."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Ah! There it
was. Her curiosity must have been stronger than her tech aversion, because,
before that, she wanted little to do with Glass (or technology in general). In
this case, she could be an observer and directly interface with Glass. I hadn't
planned on wearing it to the store, but curiosity won me over as well - how
will people "in the know" with technology respond to Glass?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> The tech
geeks at Best Buy didn't disappoint. (Trust me, tech geek is a compliment of
the highest order from me. The one and only solution to technology problems is
to turn off the device and then turn it back on.) Mostly, they whispered,
stared, and gawked. However, a brave and vocal minority approached me and asked
about Glass. Two asked to take a photo with me, which were then posted to
social media, and one even asked to have his photo taken by Glass. A middle-aged
printer rep was the bravest of the bunch and spoke with me for a solid fifteen
minutes about the marvels of modern technology. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Warm and
genuine interactions like the ones I experienced at Best Buy reaffirm my
decision to become an Explorer. I am the average person acting as an ambassador
for a high-tech gadget that has been, to this point, associated exclusively with
the tech crowd. In addition to Glass being a rare sighting in general, seeing
an regular, non-tech individual with Glass makes a statement about the device's
image. I may be, as a group of Best Buy employees stated, "the cute blonde
with Glass" or "an evil woman with a devil device", according to
the bozos at Disneyland. Either way, for someone like me, it's as much about
the social experience as it is about actually integrating Glass into my daily
life. Additionally, until Glass becomes widely available, wearing it forces me
out of my comfort zone, and I get to live the introvert-turned-extrovert fairytale
for a short while.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13920886432801244724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872097205588340922.post-50943786225480323672013-11-21T06:43:00.003-08:002013-11-22T20:55:48.380-08:00Somewhere between technophobe and technophile<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> At the
beginning of every school year, I hold up my apparently antiquated, seven year
old slide phone for my students' parents at back-to-school night and explain,
"This is my phone. No, it is not smart. No, just because I can't email you
back immediately does not mean I am ignoring you. I have a life, just like you.
And having a life makes me a better, happier teacher." They always chuckle
good-naturedly, reassuring me that I can survive another school year without
the expectation of instantaneous emails.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I wouldn't classify myself as
technophobic, but I pride myself on being able to genuinely thrive an
increasingly technology-dependent world without being constantly tethered to an
electronic device. At heart, I am a wilderness aficionado who can spend weeks
at a time backpacking in the solitude of the mountains, connecting only with my
immediate environs and a few other trekkers who share my passion for the
secluded wild. Stripping down to the bare minimum is more than a mere choice,
it's a necessity in backpacking; and finding supreme happiness while disconnecting
from civilization is a strong persuader in favor of simple living.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Even my more urban hobbies of city
running and swing dancing rarely require the use of handheld technology. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I live without the latest tech trends
decorating my purse, my ear, or my house. Until recently, I sported that seven
year old slide phone, a device that didn't even offer internet access. I rarely
watch television, and I own an iPod because my best friend gave it to me as a
birthday gift. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In fact, the only reason I have any
modicum of expertise in anything technology is because I work at a high
performing school that is leading the way in digital learning. This year, we
are expecting one-to-one digital devices for all students grades six to twelve,
which means that we, the teachers, must become proficient in not only their use
for teaching but also in educating students in how to use them for learning. Honestly,
I had never even touched an iPad, much less used one, until last year, when all
of teachers at my site were given one with the caveat of becoming tech masters
within one year. No pressure.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lest I dwell too much on Apple
products, let's turn to the purpose of this narrative. Early in 2013, one of my
good friends from dancing arrived at our local venue wearing a curious,
electronic contraption across his forehead. As he excitedly described his
headwear as Google Glass, a small, just-above-eye-level computer that acts as
both phone and computer, a litany of less than polite phrases dashed through my
mind. Cyborg. Weirdo. Tech addict. Stalker. Self-absorbed. Oddball. Extreme
geek. Mindless drone. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Being proud of my tech aversion, I
immediately disdained Glass for being, to me, a more efficient tool for gratifying
the insatiable impulse to Google everything and for staying relentlessly connected.
Plus, it just looked weird, some unsettling but miniaturized hybrid between
Iron Man and Terminator. I also questioned the social implications of a device
that would seem to perpetuate, even exacerbate, the rudeness that so many
people exhibit when they can't seem to put down their phone to enjoy real human
interaction or a genuine life experience. I thought to myself, is he filming me
with Glass? Is he looking at emails while we're talking? Is this just some
bizarre meeting of tech obsession and desperate attention seeking? Because with
that contraction on, he stands out like a pee stain in a field of snow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Fortunately, I acclimatized to
Glass. If he took a picture or video, he told me in advance; his interactions
with the device were quick and generally nonintrusive; and, I inured to its
physical appearance. I can't say I yearned for one myself, but it had some advantageous
quirks, such as navigation, voice command texting and internet searching, and
first person photographing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Needless to say, when that same
friend extended one of his three invites to me to join the exclusive group of
Glass Explorers and own a Glass device myself, I felt as shocked as I felt
confused. I have never been shy about expressing my affinity for a relatively
technology-free life, and with only three invites to give and an entire
community of eager technophiles dying to receive such an invitation, I felt
this offer to be ill-judged and, frankly, ridiculous. Would you give an
airplane to someone who fears flying? Would you give a set of steak knives to a
hemophiliac?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I immediately demurred, breezing
past the already expressed philosophical issues and reminding him that I didn't
even own a smart phone, a necessity for Glass to function. Besides, the cost
was too high for someone with only a vague curiosity. My friend shook his head
and stated that he figured as much. It was a lovely thought to include me, but
what a preposterous idea!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I went to sleep without a second
thought to the whole business. However, sleep and dreamland can do funny things
to an unsuspecting mind, and I somehow woke up to thoughts about Glass. As with
most mornings, my mind turned to teaching as well, and soon, the two trains of
thoughts collided. I never even thought about how Glass could affect me outside
my usual hobbies of backpacking, running, and dancing, and here I was, at six
in the morning, already envisioning some amorphous ways to incorporate Glass
into education. Education, more than anything else, is my passion, and in the
midst of laughing at a waste of an invite on tech adverse me, I forgot that,
for eight hours a day, I am immersed in a digitally-dependent world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Naturally, after ruminating over professional
implications, I reverted back to how I, personally, could apply Glass to my own
life. Somehow, in the light and freshness of a new day, I could somehow fathom
the use of Glass in my social and personal spheres. They weren't revolutionary
thoughts - navigation purposes, internet searching, emailing and messaging -
standard fare for the average user. But I could imagine more, such as
translating foreign languages and a check in app for hikers and trail runners.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At this juncture, where I could
feasibly imagine Glass's potential roles in my life, I began to understand my
importance in the Explorer program, whose user base is slowly diluting from
developers to average users. I thought, how can someone like me utilize a
device such as this? Can this improve my quality of life? What do I need that
this device does not yet provide?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I couldn't name many specifics, but
I started to realize that I may have given up on a golden opportunity. I spoke
with my mom, a few friends, and several coworkers that morning and found that
they each had great input for the use of Glass. There I was, surrounded by
people with superior ideas for technology I did not yet understand, and while I
may not be the innovator Google wants, it became clear that I could be a nexus
for suggestions and improvements for to their latest device.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To make a long story short, I called
my friend and managed to reinstate my invite. Two weeks later, I sat at the
Google campus in Venice Beach trying on my cotton Glass, scared of looking like
a cyborg but excited to be an ambassador of this technology. At times, I wonder
if I'll make a difference in the development of this historic product, but
mostly, I am excited for the unknown and the novel. I have the support of my school
site, my district, and the few family and friends that know I am taking on this
opportunity. Those who know me best question how someone who is usually
technology avoidant, whose hobbies are not conductive to the latest and
greatest devices and gadgets, will utilize Glass in daily life. The honest
answer is that I simply don't know. And that's kind of exciting.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13920886432801244724noreply@blogger.com0