The Professor's Notes

I received a comment on the previous post, and wanted to share it with those who may not check out the comments.   Please, share your ideas with us here!

Brief and quick thoughts about Kindle and higher education.

Like you I see the Kindle as a ‘killer device’ in higher education.
Just as I saw the mobile phone/smartphone in 2002. Colleges & Universities were motivated by finances to devise a way to recapture the income lost to dorm phones on traditional landlines. 6 years later and few schools have been able to construct a means to generate revenue from mobile student based mobile technology. A segment of the faculty don’t want mobile devices in their class. Some faculty adopt the technology to aid learning (interactive, polling, twitter, etc.). The administration can’t figure them out.
They got sidetracked with the cell phone as an emergency notification device.
Where is the $$$$?

So, how to motivate higher ed leadership to adopt the Kindle as an instructional tool integral to learning? The answer may be in the money stream.

Your suggestion of self-publishing or co-publishing with commercial publishers has merit.
The landscape is strewn with disjointed efforts to self-publish. Use of learning management systems, faculty blogs, twitter, course/faculty facebook accounts, iTunes University, faculty generated web pages, etc. etc.
The challenge here is to provide a platform to aggregate ‘published’ works across diverse platforms.
How to get all these self-published works loaded onto the Kindle?

There is the green consideration. As more faculty select e-texts for their courses students inevitably will print pages/chapter(s)/books at college provided printers or printers in their dorms. Defeats the inherent value of e-texts: lower unit cost, ease of transport, bookstore floor space & inventory management, etc.
Interesting side note. I use an e-text for my digital photography course. The primary rationale is the text is updated more frequently than publishers can print new version. The main argument from students is they are restricted to read the text while at a computer. Can’t time-shift reading assignments, read on the train/bus/standing in line. Annotate, highlight, dog ear pages, etc. And there are the inherent challenges of laptop technology.

There is the possibility of providing all incoming freshmen with a Kindle: included in the tuition. This is no different than colleges that require the purchase of a laptop. In fact it is better, IMHO. A joint effort with Amazon would seal the deal. As would a partner relationship between Amazon and publishers.

In any case it seems Amazon has given this some measure of consideration. Where do they go from here?

How quickly can those of us who have a shared vision for e-readers like the Kindle advance this technology along the Rodgers innovation adoption curve?

In writing my previous blog entry, I sang the praises of the highlighting and clipping feature of the Kindle, and pointed out that it actually makes highlighting “useable” for the reader and academic.  Of course, there is only so much one can do with a text file, especially since the txt document stores the notes and highlights in order, based on when you entered it, not based on the book or document you were reading.

So, the usefulness is a bit limited.  Until now.  Read the rest of this entry »

As I  mentioned in the previous post, my favorite feature of the Kindle is the ability to highlight sections of the text, add notations, and then use those clippings.  I wrote then:

With the Kindle I can highlight sections of the text, for later searching or referencing, and I can add my own personal notations to that text.  Think of it as “digital margin writing.”

What makes this remarkable for me is that it has actual made highlighting accessible–even more than with paper books.  Have you ever highlighted text, and perhaps written some thoughts in the margin, only to not be able to find it later?  Or at least not find it without considerable searching?  This set of features actually makes the marking, and retrieval, of text easy, and quick–and with the myclippings.txt file, quoting and citing texts are made simpler.

I thought I would write a little bit about how that works, and share a few screen captures to show just how convenient it can be. Read the rest of this entry »

Today I had to take one of my cars to the dealer for the state inspection.  As usual, I took my Kindle
to read while I waited, and as usual, I also found good conversation among my compatriots.  While I was twittering awayI was asked how I liked that.  Which that I asked (I  had the iPhone and the Kindle out!)  Admittedly the answer is the same regardless–I love ‘em!  “The Kindle” she said.

Well, I do love the Kindle.  In fact, I have it linked on the right here in the “recommended” widget for people to find, and buy.  I decided perhaps it was time for me to share my thoughts on the Kindle, now that has been out for a year. Read the rest of this entry »

As I mentioned, the Magic Pan post I wrote back in January 2008 seems to have drawn daily interest.  It was even cited in WIkipedia! (How cool is that?)

Given that so many people wanted recipes (and @melanig from twitter wanted vegetarian!) I have putting up yet another recipe. (see post here for basic crepe recipe!)

Magic Pan Banana Crepes Chantilly

You take a fresh crepe, and spread it with apricot jam. Then you slice one
banana (just ripe, not mushy), carefully toss the slices with a little brown
sugar and sweet vermouth, and let them steep for a couple of minutes. You lay the
steeped banana slices in a line across the middle of the crepe, blanket the
line in whipped cream, and then flap the crepe edges one over the other around
the puffy line of bananas and whipped cream. Finally, you dust the outside of
the rolled crepe with powdered sugar, top it with another dollop of whipped
cream, top the dollop of cream with toasted slivered almonds and maybe a banana
slice and a mint sprig.

This podcast took off from a conversation a few of us were having in Twitter.  Cumberland Valley High School was having another “non-emergency lock down” so that police could conduct another drug-dog sweep.  I started asking in Twitter what people thought of locking 2600 students in their classrooms to find (what has historically been) 15 students with illicit drugs in their lockers.  Given that we are constrained to 140 characters per “tweet” you can imagine the limitations we felt in our conversation. So… I asked..
“Should we podcast?”

Dominic Salvucci and Jimbo Lamb both thought it was a good idea, and we set a time, and the podcast proceeded from there!

It turns into a discussion about technology in the classroom, and we are setting stage for further discussions on technology, and how we introduce and allow students to use technology.

Let us know what you think in the comments here, and if you want to join us in a podcast, let us know!

-S

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

While I am on the Star Trek kick, I thought I would share with you all some great Fan Fiction.

I enjoy listening to podcasts (and producing them, as you all know!)  I have been finding there are some really good fan fiction productions out there.  I will point to some others soon, but I wanted to share with you two from “Darker Projects” productions.

The first is “Star Trek:  Lost Frontier.”  True to the name of the production house, this is a “darker” series.  From their site:

Star Trek: Lost Frontier is a look at a dark time in the future of Star Trek. It is the dawn of the 25th century and the galaxy is coming-out of a period of great war. The story of Lost Frontier focuses on the crew of the new Enterprise F as they go forth to unite the lost worlds of the Federation.

I have enjoyed listening to these, and find their stories to be quite captivating.  That said, it is fan fiction, and there are at times bouts of over (and under) acting, and awkward uses of special effects and sounds, but you know what?  That’s what makes it special.  It’s a labor of love.  I especially enjoy the way they have turned the series into a serial, complete with resolution and new cliff-hangers!

In addition, they have created a “spin off” series based on a “secret” group first introduced I believe in Star Trek:  The Next Generation.  The secret group “Section 31″ moves from the shadows to a full-fledged show in it’s own right with this podcast.  As they describe it:

Space is dark. Let’s face it.The universe of shiny, well-groomed Starfleet officers and the pristine starships of the United Federation of Planets where the Prime Directive rules and hopes for galactic unity of all species is an ongoing quest is reinterpreted in our vision of the reality of the Star Trek Universe. It’s not all “let’s be friends with our alien brethren”. Here the Federation has a dark underbelly and the daring crew of the Nosferatu boldly goes where Starfleet fears to tread.

These are desperate times.
We are the desperate measure.

And finally, the full length VIDEO episode  of Star Trek the New Voyages.  (great story, great special effects, and solid acting).  This is just my first find in this realm of (relatively High) quality video fan fiction.  It is truly amazing what a few dedicated fans can accomplish with what I can assume is a limited budget, and a whole lot of heart!

I have found a few others, and will watch/listen to them, and then come back with more links, and reviews.

I hope you enjoy these pieces of fan fiction as much as I, and please, if you have any recommendations for podcasts, please pass them on to me (here in the comments would be fine!)

The JJ Abrams view of the Star Trek world is coming.  Obviously there is much anticipation among the “trekkie” and the “Trekker” worlds (You do know the difference, right? *wink*)  This movie takes a look at the original ST screw, but before they were in ST:TOS.   A young Kirk, and Spock, and Scotty, etc.

In just looking at the stills released on the site, I have to say, the actors have the mannerisms down.  The Dr McCoy character looks the part, and I would swear that the Chekov actor has to be the son (or some other close relative) of Walter Koenig. (For grins, go watch Walter Koenig in a 1965 Gidget!)

Anyway–now *I* have a movie to look forward to!

Wow, the response is amazing! This recipe was one of my all time favorites growing up.  My memories of the Magic Pan Restaurant mostly center around the one in Bethesda Maryland.  It was a favorite spot for us after church on Sundays, or when we would have a “significant event” (Our piano recitals, and such.)  Occasionally we would even go there after attending the Piano Concert series at the Kennedy Center.  Ahh, good times.

The Magic Pan Chicken Crepe Elegante
Yield: 6 servings.

For crepes:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 pinch salt
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil or melted butter

For filling:
1 cup chicken stock
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups diced cooked chicken
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

To prepare crepes: Sift flour and salt together into a large mixing bowl. Add eggs; mix thoroughly (mixture will form a thick paste). Add milk gradually, beating until smooth. Batter will have the consistency of heavy cream. Cover bowl; refrigerate for 2 hours.

Brush a hot crepe pan with oil or melted butter. Pour in about 1 1/2 tablespoons of batter, depending on the size of the pan. Tip the pan to coat it with a thin layer of batter. Cook over medium-high heat until crepe is golden brown, about 1 minute, then turn and brown other side. Continue cooking crepes, adding oil or butter to pan as needed.

To prepare filling: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bring stock to a boil in a small pan. Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in flour. Cook, stirring for 1 minute.  Gradually add stock. Bring to a boil. Cook, stirring over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes or until mixture thickens. Remove from heat. Stir in chicken, salt, pepper, parsley and chives.

Beat egg yolks and half-and-half in a small mixing bowl. Add a little of the hot sauce; mix well. Stir egg mixture into remaining hot sauce in pan.  Put a portion of the mixture in the center of each crepe. Roll up crepes.

Place in a buttered oven-to-table baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 10 to 15 minutes. Serve at once.

PER SERVING: 500 calories; 34g fat (61 percent calories from fat); 11g saturated fat; 248mg cholesterol; 24.5g protein; 23.5g carbohydrate; 5g sugar; 1g fiber; 519mg sodium; 173mg calcium; 285mg potassium.

Before I go much further, I think people everywhere should have the basic crepe recipe!  So here you are:

For crepes:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 pinch salt
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil or melted butter

To prepare crepes: Sift flour and salt together into a large mixing bowl.
Add eggs; mix thoroughly (mixture will form a thick paste). Add milk
gradually, beating until smooth. Batter will have the consistency of heavy
cream. Cover bowl; refrigerate for 2 hours.

Brush a hot crepe pan with oil or melted butter. Pour in about 1 1/2
tablespoons of batter, depending on the size of the pan. Tip the pan to
coat it with a thin layer of batter. Cook over medium-high heat until crepe
is golden brown, about 1 minute, then turn and brown other side. Continue
cooking crepes, adding oil or butter to pan as needed.