I have a lot to say about this but I think it can be summed up in looking at systems. I am a systems-thinker and when I implement an idea, I follow it through as a process to show how the system will work. I have to see it operate and reverse-engineer it to work properly so I try to think of it from the perspective of a new person trying it out. It is time-consuming but in the end, I have an idea of how it will operate for the most basic of users to the advanced one as well.

I don’t think the district wants me to be over Substitutes. I think they just need help developing a system for overseeing how Substitutes are put in to the work force. As much as someone could complain about having a new responsibility to manage that belongs in another department, I actually choose to see this as a blessing! Someone believes in my systems-approach (and thus believes in me) to handle more responsibility to make such a precious commodity work better. I have to choose this perspective because the alternative is to think that someone wants me to do more than just manage the visioneering of technology and actually take on more work because they might think I have nothing to do. I hope this isn’t the case but then no one has told me that this is truth so I am putting my eggs in the basket of hope.

As I look around the web at how other districts do Substitute training, I see that they are copping to the same method as before: scheduled dates of training taking place 2-4 times a year. Large group instruction that is set within the four-walled institution of instruction usually with some sort of snack, a sign-in sheet, and a riveting presentation.

I can see why this system isn’t working.

Subs are in high demand! And they want to come in and work but are restricted to having to attend one set meeting for each semester.

How about offering online video training modules for substitute candidates that allows them to get trained as they become available. Making online training work for the commodity that districts need to help our teachers succeed: Substitutes.

As I said before, I don’t want to think that I have to be responsible for managing subs and for being the human resources department in the future. I am thinking this is a way to help a department move from an antiquated use of time to a system that takes time out of the process by making it work 24/7 to be on their side.

Maybe by doing this, we are helping someone use their time better and the entire process can be handed back to them because it is successfully implemented. Or maybe the Technology Department merges to become the Human & Technology Resource Department??!

Your thoughts? Because mine….are in a deep well of depression right now.

Twitter looks like it released a new front page that is focused all on…..search.

No more explanations on what Twitter is or can do. No videos about Twitter or how to use it.

The main page of Twitter is now focused on search.

I wonder what other sites will be redesigning soon? Look for more sites to emphasize Search and less emphasis on that distracting content. Simplified web searching!

I wonder how this new design will affect mobile touchscreen devices like cell phones and Apple tablet PCs? How long until the mouse is obsolete?

Also – here’s an update on the new iPhone 4GS.

But in order to compete with Google, Microsoft has to drop their prices. CNN Money reported today that Microsoft will soon announce that the web version of Office 2010 will be free. This is a direct assault on Google who last week announced that they are going to release a web OS that will be free to compete with other OS’s (SP?) on the market.

Google and Microsoft are tearing it up at each other right now which means some really interesting things for those of us in education who need to provide ways to get students using technology at a small price.

So…let’s do some simple math (because I am a simpleton when it comes to Math).

1 Netbook with a Web-based OS + Web 2.0 Tools + Online Office Suite = Rich, collaborative working tools for the cost of the hardware. A Netbook costs in a range from $100 to about $450 without the cost of the operating system.

Microsoft’s licensing for Windows XP is currently running near $100 per machine because they are pushing Vista on us all. Google releases a FREE Web Operating System which will be available in August.

Throw in some neat Web 2.0 Tools that include document, spreadsheet, presentation tools along with photo, audio, and video editors also available online for free.

Or, get access to Microsoft Office 2010 online (document, spreadsheet, and presentation tools) and throw in the other Web 2.0 tools as well.

And you get a fast track to 1:1 computing for your schools. Prices are dropping on the hardware and the giants of industry are competing by literally throwing their purses to the ground.

But what about network infrastructure? With all this need for Web OS, Web 2.0, and all resources online – how do we get high speed Internet. This is the boom to end the war between all these companies. How will the world access high speed Internet? Will it be owned by the government? Will we be taxed?

Aren’t you glad I have talked about this before? See my previous blog post from Feb 5, 2009 about how Google has been working with Motorola and Microsoft (huh?) to use the old American Broadcast System (pre-digital cable) to funnel GB-TB data lines through our existing cable systems. This old system is owned by the people and for use for the people – you and I. The “white spaces” is the old analog system which is not encumbered with broadcast television frequency and allows for some interesting testing right now to push high speed wireless broadband to any home running that old analog line.

I know. This seems ridiculous right? A little too much of a reach? Kind of like my post from September 8, 2008 about Google releasing a new browser called “Chrome” and how I predicted that they would not make an operating system – but a browser operating system??

What’s next? What’s the next prediction?
Riddle me this – I have to open a spreadsheet program now to access a database. I have to open a separate document program to create a document. I have to open another program for photos and a presentation program to work on a that system.

But what if there was only one program that not only had all these programs running simultaneously but allowed collaboration, sharing, and kept a history for the entire project? What if I didn’t need an office suite but a one-stop shop that let me do everything I needed in one window (whether I used Firefox, IE, Safari, Android, Chrome, etc.) and from whatever web device I had?

I believe this is the next WAVE. How long until Microsoft/Apple starts their own? And will they name it something similar to Wave like Tsunami? Current? Tide?

Google has developed the idea of Wave but they haven’t combined all these elements into the one system yet. I think that may be Wave 2.0 or Apple’s Me 2.0 or Windows 7.5…

Whatever the case will be, it looks like the math problem is more simplified if this is the next evolution:

Netbook/Phone + Web (Wave) = Collaboration All-in-one access point

Is this crystal ball prediction correct? We will have to wait and see….

See previews of Microsoft Office 2010 on my summer tech training site (at the bottom of the page).