Here’s the video link–Connected Life – September 11 – Video Centre–and the press release from the Provincial government–$14.8 MILLION TO BUILD GREENER GLEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL–about the coolness there. Sadly I couldn’t find out much about the new school ahead of time, so I learned a lot about it from the segment. Here are some highlights not in the press release:

• Computers in each classroom for teachers
• WiFi throughout the building
• All the classrooms networked together (I assume so they can collaborate together)
• Flat panel displays in the classrooms (again I assume for displaying things to the class)

As Bradley correctly pointed out in the segment with Steve Darling, we have to think about computers in classes as tools no different than books, paper, and pencils in the classroom. Think about this: how many business do you go into that have absolutely no computers there? Even my hairstylist has a laptop to manage the calendar (and play music) for the salon! Students used to be able to leave school just needing to know how to read, write, and do math. Then being able to type was important (but not for everyone). Later we learned about computers in college/university. Then computers came into high schools. Then computers (and then laptops) became required for college/university. It only makes sense that now computers, and learning how to use them for learning, is now required in elementary schools.

In my opinion, any school that doesn’t start kids learning how to use computers for more than blasting aliens is doing an extreme disservice to its students. Good thing my kids have benefitted from having computers both at school and home(s). Let’s all make sure that computers become more and more important tools in education.

Maybe the day is still a ways off where kids stop lugging books back and forth to school and have a laptop instead, but that day is coming. And our schools and kids need to be ready for it.

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Bradley talked about some great apps and services here is the list (plus my two cents about them too):

• Evernote–Remember Everything. | Evernote Corporation. I have been using this app for a long time. For taking notes there are few better apps. Evernote works on Macs, PCs, iPhone, BlackBerries, and the Web. Evernote lets you not only take notes during class, but you can also record videos and put other media into Evernote. Teachers and students can share public-private folders for notes, homework, and research. I use Evernote to gather things from the web with a web clipper then have these things available for the team. Similar to to Evernote is Pear Note: Pear Note – Note Taking Utility for Mac – Useful Fruit Software. Unlike Evernote, which has free and pay versions, Pear Note is pay only and Mac only. Pear Note, however, is cool because it can sync what you type with what you record through the microphone!
• GradeMate–GradeMate | Free Online Student Organizer. Looks like an interesting web service (I haven’t used it myself).
• TeacherTube–TeacherTube – Teach the World | Teacher Videos | Lesson Plan Videos | Student Video Lessons | Online Teacher Made Videos | TeacherTube.com. This is a YouTube alternative for teachers. A little more focused. More education, fewer skateboarding dogs.

A lot of these resources can be found on the timely back to school post on Mashable–Back to School: 15 Essential Web Tools for Students–one of my favourite sites for keeping up on all that is geeky. This brings me to Bradley’s suggestion of Google Reader. Google Reader is a really good RSS reader, but a mite geeky I think. I’d suggest starting with something like Netvibes or Pageflakes for a web-based tool. If you prefer a “real” application I suggest FeedDemon (Win) or NetNewsWire (Mac) from NewsGator. If you’re confused about what this Arr Ess Ess thing is watch this video from a couple friends of mine–RSS in plain english.

Being a a teacher myself, I think leveraging all kinds of different tools to learn is absolutely key to learning. I am one of those visual learners so my world changed when I discovered mind mapping. I wish I had it back in the day.

What are your favourite tools for teachers, students, or both that help the whole learning/teaching thing? Leave your comments below!

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Brand new episode of Connected Life. TV Tech, part 1

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Why?

Because it shows both what kind of man Bradley is and his vision of the online world and technology in general. Come on, faced with a pink slip would you have thought about not only starting a company but also pulling the team together who were also let go too?

Maybe, buy, but could you have pulled it off? Could you have a business doing great in year two with some pretty darn cool (secret) projects on the go?

Yeah I didn’t think so.

So here’s how it went down…

Media2o Productions was spun out of Chalk Media last year after the company abandoned the video production business to develop an e-learning application for smartphones. Although Chalk Media’s decision to shift gears proved successful – it’s finalizing its $23.1 million sale to BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion (TSX:RIM) – Bradley Shende, Media2o’s CEO, believes the sponsored-content premise that made Chalk Media’s show a success on television will translate to the Internet.

“In my opinion, they threw the baby out with the bathwater,” said Shende, an executive producer of Dave Chalk Connected for six years. “I ran outside and caught the baby – seven people that otherwise were looking at pink slips.”

With Shende as host, Media2o launched the second season of ConnectedLifeTV.com last November.

[From Business in Vancouver February 24-March 2, 2009; issue 1009]

Not bad eh?

Now you understand why I love coming to work everyday.

Okay the 52″ Sony Bravia sitting here to test out/shoot doesn’t hurt either.

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While “The Talent” (aka Bradley) was getting ready, I stood in for him on set to check the lighting, camera angles, and sound. Good thing we’re the same height! Of course, I couldn’t resist taking a few behind the scenes pics…

This segment of Connected Life is due out next week, look for it on MSN.ca and on the Connected Life Blog .

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Now that might be a wee too early for a lot of you, but fear not we make sure you can watch the episodes later.

This week? Digital cameras, including the Sony alpha 300, Sony Cybershot DSC-T77, Nikon’s Coolpix S60, Coolpix P6000, and the most awesome D90.

Don’t forget the Gorilla pod, always fun (make sure if you’re getting one you get the SLR version if you have a DSLR).

You can always catch the episodes on the Media2o webiste or the Connected Life Blog.

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While both shows seem to have similar production values, Connected Life feels better edited. For hosts, Dotto has always had a friendly, accessible style . Connected Life’s Bradley Shende makes a good, young, dynamic host that isn’t afraid to throw in a humorous reference to “BC bud”. GetConnected’s Lindsay Smith adds a nice female presence on male-dominated tech shows.

While on the topic of tech TV made in Vancouver, I’d like to have a quick moment of silence for The Lab with Leo, a great, short-lived show that aired on TechTV Canada starring the godfather of tech media, Leo Laporte.

[From Comparisons: GetConnectedTV vs. Connected Life vs. Dotto Tech - Techvibes Blog]

Then Backbone TV is featured in iTunes on the Business News and New & Notable sections, actually not only is it featured, it rockets to #3 on iTunes!

We’re pretty happy (to say the least).

Check out the latest episode below:

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