Designing Learning Technology

Tue, 18 Jun 2002

Radio post #83
Macintouch has a series of reader reports about challenges to using Mac OS X in education settings, including compatibility, security, and vendor support.

@19.04 #

Sat, 15 Jun 2002

Radio post #82
Richard Muller argues that improvements in energy and resource conservation may offset the looming population bomb.

@22.07 #

Fri, 14 Jun 2002

Radio post #81
I don't like to get drawn into platform wars, but here's an interesting article that compares total cost of ownership for Macs and Windows machines for one Austrailian university. Total cost of ownership takes into account support costs over the lifetime of the computer, and it a better measure to use that initial cost, particularly for institutions that have to support the machines over time. The article has links to a variety of other reports assessing lifetime costs. All of these links point to Macs being cheaper to own in the long run, but take it with a grain of salt: these are predominantly Mac-biased sites. If there are studies showing the Windows machines are cheaper in the long run, I'd be happy to point to them.

@23.23 #

Radio post #80
This year, we waited until nearly Memorial Day to start planting outdoors. Next year, we want to start earlier, and I found a nice description of how to build a cloche to extend the growing season.

@20.29 #

Tue, 11 Jun 2002

Radio post #79
The Chronicle reports that Dartmouth College is transitioning from Macs to Windows machines for both administration and students. I worked at Dartmouth in the late 80s and early 90s, back in the heyday of HyperCard and the use of videodiscs to support interaction video applications. Macs were visible throught the campus, and it was fascinating to see how students integrated Macs into their social and academic life. Some great software came out of that time, including the Dartmouth XCMDs, Fetch, Internews, and BlitzMail (an IMAP-ish email client that was years ahead of its time). Ah, well. Times change.

@02.20 #

Radio post #78
Apple overhauls its education group.

@02.10 #

Tue, 04 Jun 2002

Radio post #77
Interesting: the EPA is planning to revise its designation of old computer equipment from "waste" to "reusable equipment". Theoretically this will create a greater incentive to reuse or recycle old technology. One small step for sustainability in the high-tech sector...

@02.53 #