When life gives you lemons

Well this week has been full of shock and disappointment for me professionally but as the saying goes, I'm about to make a big ol' batch of lemonade. I'd rather not get into all that right now. Hopefully there will be some updates soon.

Click here for this weeks blog on apps for English Language Learners. This was an especially fun for me as my wife, Beata, came to this country as a very young elementary school student and did not have the benefits of technology to assist her in acquiring English.

Enjoy and most of all feel free to comment and get some discussion going. I'd love to hear and chat about other people's thoughts and experiences.

iPads for students with Emotional Behavioral Disorders

New post this week on using the iPad for students with Emotional Behavioral Disorders and how I plan to use the iPad with one of my students.

http://jcavicchioadl.blogspot.com/2013/03/apps-for-students-with-emotional.html

Why you should learn code

I just happened to be on youtube the other night looking for nothing in particular and found a video that really motivated me. After seeing the thumbnails for all of the intellectually stimulating Harlem Shake Videos I happened to see a thumbnail for a featured clip. It was a clip done by code.org that talked about why everyone should learn coding. There were interviews with Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat, who took programming classes in college, will.i.am, who is currently taking programming classes, and a who's who in computer sciences. I have been teaching myself more about computers and coding. I've done some java programming. I've used block editors to make my own apps. I've taken a web-based calculator and made it into a point of sale system to use with my students. This video just got me even more motivated to learn code. I am now going through the tutorials on code.org and learncpp.com. I have been telling people some of these same things, such as taking the time to learn how to make the computer do what you want it to is very empowering. It also talked about how programming is not learning complicated algorithms but really just breaking a problem down into smaller chunks.

After seeing this video I was convinced I am doing the right thing and pursuing a degree in Educational Technology. I have told some of my co-workers I am not satisfied with just finding apps to use, I want to be the person to make those apps and programs that can be used with students with special needs. This video gave me some extra motivation and confidence that I can be that person.  

Here is the 5 minute video. There is also a 1 minute teaser and a 9 minute version.

 Finally a shameless plug for my other blog. This weeks topic was Funding.