Every time I part with this blog for extended periods of time, which I sincerely regret every time it happens, I always seem to re-enter this place with thoughts on writing. Perhaps it is absence of writing that allows me to appreciate its existence. Writing is one of the few many things in life that never ceases to compel and excite me (this list is increasing, exponentially, hourly). And you have no idea how painful such departures from writing truly are for me. And yet here I am, once more apologizing for doing just that.

To “fix” this problem (or, more realistically, to temporarily remedy this abortion, or to “band-aid” this wound, which is, honestly, just as painful as not-writing, for I would much rather permanently cure this disease), I have, at the moment, four or five specific ideas I plan to write on. For now, these mini-essays will be oriented more to the philosophical partition of my brain, mind, and body, but I intend to prepare more thoughts on art and technology, as well. I want to write again, and here is this place, waiting, for someone to write in it. Perfect, no?

I digress. As I said above, I will (re)start today with writing (hah!).

This, for some reason, reminds me of writing.

Over the past few months and years, I have been more seriously considering writing to be a deep(er) and true(r) representation, realization, and manifestation of my thoughts, my mind, and my body (I am still unsure what writing is deeper or truer than, but bear with me). Without writing, I find that my thoughts never make it out of the depths of my soul. Without writing, I am unable to ascend with Zarathustra to the cave in the mountains. It is only as I ascended, climbed the mountain, and learned to embrace my inner being in my writing that I cried out to the clouds and the sun and the rest of the world, Buh, I have ideas! (This is becoming very Nietzschean).

Writing need not necessarily be polished and completed collections of paragraphs. On the one hand, the act of rewriting and revising a piece of work allows an author the ability to consider again her creation, judging its correctness, veracity, and validity. But on the other hand, simple free-writing, or letting the mind talk directly with the allows raw, nude, and untouched letters to be exposed the way they are. Sometimes, revising an essay, ridding it of errors and reexamining its substance, clothes and masks what was once bare. (This assumes, however, that nudity and innocence is good, which I do not necessarily think is true).

I realize this is turning into a scathing critique of essay revision, which itself is in no way not-free and is, actually, something I am doing right now. This is/was not my intention. I suppose all I really want to say here is that writing-freely is one of the most important tools we, as thinking things, posses in order that we may understand ourselves and others. In the age of technology in which “undoing” requires only the press of a button, writing openly and freely has become under-appreciated and has nearly disappeared. Writing (which is inherently different from typing – writing, here, refers strictly to the relationship between the mind, hand, pen, and paper) is the art of presenting thoughts, ideas, and truths. It is the act of presenting the self. Perhaps contrary to why Socrates did not write, writings are not imitations, re-presentations, or mere appearances of the truth. If anything, writing is who we are. We only become ourselves in action: writing.

Well, shit. I thought that was shorter than it in fact was. But this is good. I will spend more time in this place, in this notebook, and on this webpage. I promise (eek!).

I am giving you an assignment, as well — maybe this will force me to participate more actively in this project. Here it is: Get a blank piece of paper and a pen. And write, for five minutes. Do not allow yourself to stop your hand from moving across the page. Do not edit what you write or cross a word out. And, begin.

I wrote this piece for a course called “Race and the Pastoral: Aesthetics, Landscape, Embodiment.” The course is, in short, about the pastoral. I am fascinated by “difference” and the pastoral, particularly Jewishness and the pastoral. This is a review of the film Avatar. In it, I refer to Francis Bacon‘s New Atlantis and Hegel‘s Philosophy of History. It is intense. It talks about the “white man” and notions of body, self, and identity. It is honest, as well — more on the side of a freewrite. Anyways, here it is.

I saw Avatar after not only reading Francis Bacon’s New Atlantis, which itself is an adequate enough preview, review, and analysis of this Christmas 2009 blockbuster (already I’m detecting some bias), but I saw the film after engaging with notions of white guilt, blackness and otherness, and the pastoral. I read one review, before I saw the film, which positioned the film in the same position all alien/zombie/freaky-strange creature movies place the white man and the “other.” But Avatar was all too “real.” While District 9 (I think – I did not see it) made these “others” authentic sci-fi CGI aliens in the traditional sense, Avatar made the others wild savages who were sexually engaged with each other and nature and who resisted the big muscled Western White man. These others took human form and thought with human intellect. The music played while they were on screen, the clothing they wore, the way they spoke English, and even the supposedly “weird” color of their skin reminded me of Africa and its inhabitants. But even then, the Navi people are not really that different – they live in the forest, speak the White man’s tongue, and ultimately embrace the White man.

I saw the New Atlantis operating among among the White men and among the savage others. First, Jakesully, or “Jake Sully.” He was the half-muscled White Marine who’s initial assignment was to infiltrate the Navi people to help America capitalize upon this gorgeous pastoral place. However, he falls in love with the savages. He does not want to let them go. He becomes their savior. He frees them. He becomes their Jesus Christ. Jake Sully reminded me of Joabin the Jew from Bacon’s New Atlantis. Both characters are hated and loved, at the same time. Joabin is the dirty rat who is “different” and deviant from the Christian norm. He is circumcised and physically “deformed.” Joabin is not even really a Jew, he is a bad Christian. But at the same time, he is honored with a position and title in the highly-regarded research institution in Bensalem. So is Jake. Jake is at first an outcast in the Navi culture. The elders distrust him and the people do not acknowledge him. He is dirty. In the end, though, he “becomes” one of them, even though at heart, he still occupies a human body and was raised with human values. He only embodied their form, but was still physically different. Jake and Joabin occupy the same positions within the societies they live in.

Jake Sully is also New-Atlantan on another level, this time among the White men. He is physically different from the rest of them. He was just different enough. He was the one assigned to evacuate the different “things.” Joabin, the Jew, too. In relationship to the greater community of Jews, he is different. He is still a Jew, but is he? One could say the same about Jake – is he inhuman because he does not have the use of his legs?

Avatar can also be seen through an analysis of Hegel’s ideas about history of the world and the philosophy of history. In Hegel’s view, Africa is contained in a loop of itself – it cannot “progress” for it is perpetually imitating itself. On the other hand, Europe and America imitate each other, in a sense, which does create “progress.” The same is true with Earth and Pandora, the Navi land. It is far away and does not progress, it is contained within itself. While Earth and America are propelling themselves into the future, the people of Pandora do not even know the worth of their own land. they need the White man to “save” them.

While science-fiction movies in general position the White man above the other, Avatar made this “other” into the Black man. It explicitly approved the cultural, historical, and environmental rape and colonization of Africa by White men, while at the same time making the audience feel “good” about themselves, for the “other” was saved by the White man. The New-Atlantan and Hegelian views are only two questions and interpretations of Avatar, the film is littered with small things, like language and animation choices. While the film was disturbing on a philosophical level, it was also distressing on a practical level. Why were “earth” and the “earth” people all Marines, all American, and led by White men? Why couldn’t Pandora save itself? Was the audience really unable to relate to the Navi people, and was this why the “figure” who saves the Navi was a White man? And here is my biggest and most immediate problem with the movie: Why did they use 3D technology that not only made my head hurt but forsook the use and necessity of new and emerging technologies?

KfL.

Two Thousand and Ten. Wow.

From This Studio.

I’ll start off by saying that 2009 was one of the best years of my life. Even though college began in 2008, it really became fun in 2009 — socially and academically. A lot has happened; I was co-head of the Jewish Students Organization, I Moderated, which is something real important here at Bard (I’ll write more about that later), I took some (mostly) phenomenal courses, made great friends, and in general, had a damn good time. I’ve evolved as a person, in a lot of ways; my “creativity,” my writing, photography, “thinking” or “philosophy,” and just, really, my mind, are all coming alive in new and exciting ways. With every year, month, week, and day, there are new things I want to do.

I’ll be writing a few more blog posts in the coming weeks, as I’m still on winter break — I’ll talk about my moderation, my thoughts on Twitter and social media, and some other exciting stuff. I’ve also been doing thinking about my podcast, Nerd News Radio, which I think is largely defunct. Nerd News Radio is only one of my projects for 2010. I’ll be thinking more about my musical life (dee-jaying), my artistic life (photography + design), my thought-life (philosophy!), and my technological life (this blog + NNR). So, Happy New Year! I hope this year brings life, love, and satisfaction to you.

Some pictures from this year:
]]> http://www.kabrenlevinson.com/blog/blog/2010/01/01/twenty-ten/feed/ 0 http://www.kabrenlevinson.com/blog/blog/2009/12/07/writing/ http://www.kabrenlevinson.com/blog/blog/2009/12/07/writing/#comments Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:36:37 +0000 Kabren http://www.kabrenlevinson.com/blog/?p=406

Second Semester has been busy — busier than I had expected. In short, I have been taking five courses (Intro to Psych, Hebrew 101, Philosophy and the Arts, Computing: Simulating Reality, and Race and the Pastoral), and, in addition, have been going through Moderation here at Bard (I will write about this in two weeks). I have also been working at SPARC here at Bard, and have continued to Co-Lead the Bard Jewish Students Organization – been fun, but busy.

Anyways, here are three new essays from two courses and the third is for my moderation (actually, it is a revision of a past essay, but I’m adding this one in addition):

“Free Will”, Revised for Moderation download
“What do you see?”, Philosophy and the Arts download
“Identifying Pastoral”, Race & the Pastoral download
Link to my other essays.

Anyways, I will be writing here more as I go on Winter Break in about two weeks – until then, however, I am swamped – projects, essays, exams, and Hanukkah!

Talk to you soon.

KfL.

Even though it’s coming late, this is the final installment of my, “Life in the Cloud” series. In this last, but certainly not least, post, I will provide a criticism of Web 2.0 and cloud computing and raise some questions and implications about the future of the Internet. Before I begin, I just want to thank you all for your comments and suggestions. You really helped make this series what it was.

A Disruptive Innovation

Just as the Ford Model-T changed the world of transportation and provided a new solution and opportunity for getting around, the Internet has changed the way humans interact with information. More specifically, Web 2.0 has created new ways of communicating and sharing information and ideas among individuals, groups, and the public. The Internet has created a new landscape, a “cloud” landscape in which people can innovate in. The Internet disrupts our lives; it has virtually no hierarchy and unlike the modern world of professionals and specialty, it has become easy for every-day people to create, communicate, and develop ideas on the web. The Internet is an incredibly open and decentralized system. One of the main functions and purposes of the Internet is to be transparent – governments, corporations, and individuals use it to show themselves and expose what was once hidden. Today, people live-blog their lives on Twitter and publicly share family moments on YouTube.

Questions

I will briefly present three major issues I have with Web 2.0 and cloud computing.

Trust/Privacy – Every day, I essentially set free hundreds of thoughts and small personal innovations; I send emails to family, tweet my happenings to strangers, and comment on photos of my friends. I live an Internet life parallel to my, well, “real” life. Who owns all of this information? Is it still mine? Since I don’t own and control each website, server, and connection I use each day, I have lost control of my digital life. Ever since Wired published a series about Radical Transparency and the “See Through CEO,” I have tried my best to embrace similar ideals. But it is not easy – I struggle with this exposure every day. As primarily private, autonomous, and self-directed beings, should we really feel comfortable letting vital parts of our own existence out of our own hands?

Quality of Information – Critics of Web 2.0 cite the increasing amount of “unproductively” and bad and inaccurate content that plagues the web (just look at YouTube). Using modernist ideas of truth and quality and relying on ancient ideas about the difference between high (scholarly) and low (popular) culture does not work on the Internet. In order to wholly and truly embrace the Internet, we must abandon our previous opinions about truth, accuracy, and hierarchy. The web should be a new space, not an old one. We must redefine public and private. In order to believe in the future of the Internet and human interaction, we must redetermine the meaning of ownership and copyright.

Access – A big part of Web 2.0, if you’ve been keeping up, is being able to reliably store data on the Internet only and not rely on local copies. This is, sadly, still an unrealistic idea. Not enough people are able to access with freedom the entire Internet wherever they are and not enough places (businesses, schools, governments, etc) are equipped to “handle” the Internet. Open wireless standards are not yet global, and wired and wireless Internet is still not as wide spread as it should be. Smart Phones are attempts to close this gap, but again, the price is too high and the freedom doesn’t exist (not in the United States, at least). Again, to truly embrace the Internet,access should not be an accessory – it should be mandatory. As we move forward, we must be careful about how we use this access, but it is an important part of the future of computing. The Internet must be considered critically and seriously as a life-impacting technology. The true potential of the Internet is not yet being embraced.

In Conclusion

Thank you for bearing with me. This post has turned into more of a manifesto, but I hope it inspires more questions than it answers. This does not signify the end – I will continue to write, think, and invent. Please be in touch.

K.

It’s been a long while since I’ve written, let alone published a blog post. But I’m here today to ask something of all you loyal readers – will you vote for my SXSW 2010 presentation proposal? But I want you to first go to the SXSW PanelPicker, and check out some of the other panels. They’re really cool. Here’s a little video to give you an idea of what I’ll be talking about:

Socrates, Dude: Social Media and Philosophy

Where does the Internet come from? What about “social media”? I show how modern social technologies originate in the Ancient philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristophanes. By looking at specific texts, the clouds in the sky, and the Internet, I will draw connections between the ancient and the modern. I’m dealing with the intersection of philosophy and technology, the old and the new.

Here are the 10 Questions:

What is conversation, in both digital and analog contexts and how can we use new technologies while respecting ancient technologies?
What does Socrates teach us about conversation in the modern age?
What is Socrates’ idea of “self-image” in relation to the Internet?
How can we use decentralized communication systems to enhance our own lives?
How can one use history and philosophy to understand and create new social technologies?
What does the Internet teach us about conversation?
What is a, or the cloud?
What is Social Media?
What is the Internet?
What is philosophy?

Anyways, I’d love your vote. I had an amazing time at SXSW last year, and it would be great to go back and lead a presentation of my own. And, more posts will be coming _soon_. Been busy, even this summer.

kl.

My SXSW Badge

On Tuesday, I got back from Austin, Texas. I was speaking at SXSW Interactive 2009. It was my first time at South-By, and I can say right now that I am going next year – no matter what. My presentation was great (thank you, Alex, for offering me this great opportunity!) – read on for more about my presentation. I met so many incredible people, including Gary Vaynerchuk, Kevin Rose, and danah boyd. Being under 21 at SXSW was tough, since so many after-parties were at 21+ venues, but it worked out. SXSW was overwhelming, especially going for the first time. Basically, it doesn’t stop. Day, night, morning, evening – you name it. There is always something going on at SXSW. Just check my Twitter stream. I reconnected with some “old” friends from the Boston Social Media scene, like Steve Garfield, Clarence Smith, and Chris Brogan. The Bigg Digg Schindigg was amazing – I finally saw a live Diggnation! Check my Flickr for pictures. I’ll be uploading many more in the coming days. The panels I saw were amazing. Gary Vaynerchuk was the most inspirational speaker I saw, up there with the “SHIFT Happens” people and the Web and Feminism panel. I made a PDF of all the tweets I tweeted during SXSW. Download it. Most recent at the top.

SHIFT Happens: Benefits of Visual Thinking

My Presentation

As you all _should_ know, I was on a panel about the future of technology in education, called Blackboards or Backchannels: The Techno-Induced Classroom of Tomorrow. Alex Leavitt Moderated, and I spoke along with Archana Ramachandran, Kelly Sutton, and Diana Kimball. Someone liveblogged our panel, check it out! I spoke of my EduTech project and my feelings about, at least in small class settings, the use of off-hours technology only. For example, in small seminar classes, I see laptops as walls and severe distractions. They might be employed to “enhance” communication, but instead, they replace human-human interaction with superficial and removed conversation. Technology cannot replace or fix bad teaching – I was surprised to see some teachers react negatively to that statement, for surely I thought that they would all be in favor of quality teaching, too. I was also surprised to find out that predominately older K-12 teachers and university professors saw my own (and the groups) views as conservative. I never thought about it that way. The educators in the room appeared to want validation from us students. They wanted us to approve the unbridled use of technology in their classrooms. Not to say that risk-taking and experimentation are bad, because they are very crucial to the learning process, but the successful use of technology in classrooms need to be thoughtfully planned out. Technology cannot be there just to be there. One needs a goal. A teacher should be able to answer the question, “Why are you using technology in your classroom?” A teacher does not, or should not, just assign an essay or exam. Just to let you know, my philosophy of technology and education only applies to small class settings. I have yet to seriously consider the implications of technology in large classrooms, simply because I haven’t been in those situations and, I don’t particularly agree with lecture based styles of education.

My Name Plate!

The response to our panel was mixed. Following the Twitter hash tag (#sxswed) was interesting: one person thought she should have been on the panel and did not restrain her anger, and others were frustrated with our “non-techno induced” classroom. Questions were engaging, but somewhat strange. One woman suggested that Kelly and I had been brainwashed by the educational systems in this country. Why? Because we both go to smaller liberal arts colleges? Or because at least I (don’t know about Kelly…) had a very progressive education in high school without standards? Anyways, others were more positive. One man raised the issue of learning, in general – how do you learn of find things on the Internet? Another man, who seemed younger, perhaps a recent college graduate, seemed offended by my advocating against the use of technology in the classroom, and proceeded to give various reasons how Twitter had helped him. Just to clarify, I think Twitter is amazing, but, do you really have a need to use it in class? How about on the weekends, when the students and the professor are not in the same room together?

Check out the Twitter search for #sxswed. Again, go back a few pages. You’ll find some interesting responses.

Tote Bag

Overall

I’m gong next year. Meet me there. I will try to get myself on a panel (email me if you have ideas or are interested in having me speak on your panel), but we’ll see. Don’t forget to check out my pre-SXSW interview with SXTXState. Want to meet next year? Email me. Check out Flickr photos, too.

K.

I am only speaking for myself in this post. I cannot vouch for the other panelists. Just FYI.

Photos

@kevinrose

Who doesn’t love LEGO’s?

@alexalbrecht

Slideshow

Video

I will be speaking on a panel at SXSW Interactive 2009, in just a few weeks. I’m excited. A year ago, I barely dreamed of attending SXSW, but being able to speak is such an honor. For those of you who don’t know about the organization, SXSW is a company that is devloted to histing and promoting events related to media. They have three conferences: Music, Film, and Interactive. For more info, check out their website.

In August, Alex Leavitt, a senior at Boston University, invited me to speak on his panel – he had been looking into my Academic Technology work and was interested in my EduTech program I created at the Cambridge School of Weston. I was amazed – my only previous speaking engagemtns were at PodCamps in the Boston area and at an education conference in Hawaii. I didn’t realize the impact of my work as a high school student. Of course, I accepted his offer.

So, Here I am, creating my own Educational and Technological Philosophy. I’ve just begun rethinking and redefining my thoughts on Education and Technology. Once I have something, I’ll let you know.

Here are the details about my presentatinon and the panel I will be speaking on. If you’re planning on attending SXSW Interactive, it’d be great to meet. Send me an email.

Panel Info

Blackboards or Backchannels: The Techno-Induced Classroom of Tomorrow
Room B
Sunday, March 15th
11:30 am – 12:30 pm

The traditional classroom: obsolete? Chalkboards, lectures, and even teachers may be on their way out as social technology enters the classroom. How do kids want technology integrated into the curriculum? Or do they even want it? Five students speak out to debate the potential for Wikis, backchannels, and social tech, and dispute tomorrow’s r/evolution in teaching and learning.

Alex Leavitt / Boston University
Kelly Sutton / Founder, HackCollege
Kabren Levinson / Philosopher, Technologist, Artist, Bard College
Archana Ramachandran / Campus Ambassador, Radar/Tiny Pictures/UT Austin
Diana Kimball / Harvard College

Anyone else going? Let me know.

My Schedule

It has been a while since I finished my EduTech capstone project, and my ideas on Academic Technology have changed. I recently began thinking again about tech in the classroom, especially since I spoke about Academic Technology in Hawai’i in early January, and in March, I will be speaking at SXSW on a panel of students about the future of the classroom.

My Vision

Jeff Han demonstrating his multi-touch technology. Photo Credit: jurvetson

I have complex and radical visions for how technology will be apart of our lives. I imagine classrooms being outfitted with interactive and touch human-friendly technology that allows students to better collaborate and work in groups in and out oft he classroom. I picture libraries actually being great places for study. I picture technologically elaborate and visually appealing technology and multi-media laboratories. I see blackboards being transformed into information hubs (backchannels) that make it easy for students and teachers to share information. Unfortunately, schools do not have money to spare these days and teachers and students are no longer motivated to talk to each other or interested in going to school. Education moves slowly, while technology moves quickly. Education in general does not know how to adapt to the future. Technology budgets are slim and often misspent leaving both teachers and students behind.

Reality

During my capstone project, I mostly experimented with free social internet technologies, like Moodle, WordPress, Twitter, Tumblr, and others. Throughout most of high school, I had a laptop in front of me. I multitasked; taking notes, looking up terms in science class, and more. However, in college, there has been only one class in which I used my computer (my first semester Media and Society class. Today, I find technology to be more destructive and distracting. Most of the applications and services I praised I now find to be useless inside the classroom. On the other hand, I find technology to be more useful outside the classroom. In college, an environment where oftentimes teachers and students do not communicate outside of the classroom (the division between academics and life are clearly defined), social technology usage outside of the classroom is more effective and really engages students with students, students with teachers, and teachers with teachers. I realize now that technology can not be a replacement for human to human classroom discussion and involvement. Besides, I again am reminded that technology is so often misused and misguided in educational environments. My number one recommendation still stands; in order to successfully use technology inside and outside of the classroom, Academic must be a top priority to students, teachers, and administrators. Technology must be just as thought out as any assigned reading or writing.

Conclusion

As you can see, I’m well on my way to developing my own Educational and Technological philosophy. I will be writing more about this topic. I may even start a blog about it. We’ll see. Please, I beg of you, email me.

Just thought I’d mention I posted two new essays on my website I wrote as final projects for two different classes. The first is called “Free Will,” which I wrote for my Intro to Philosophy class, and the second is called “The Apprehensive,” which I wrote for my First Year Seminar. “Free Will” is about whether or not human beings have freedom of will, using the texts of Descartes, Nietzsche, and Richard Linklater. “The Apprehensive” is about the role of philosopher in society according to Descartes.

Download “Free Will” and “The Apprehensive” as PDF’s. Let me know what you think!

Also, be sure to check out some of the other essays I’ve written – I plan to keep that page updated over time.

• Get up early in the morning to see the sun rise and have a cup of tea
• Practice Judaism more seriously
• Blog more
• Learn how to podcast in college
• Publish an essay (or two) in a journal
• Become a “Jewish Buddhist”, or Jubu
• Design a website from scratch
• Write more for my own enjoyment
• Learn how to make certain things (writing, photography, etc) part of my life
• Play cello again
• Push myself at school

Happy Hanukkah! You know, I haven’t yet seem Menorah’s around campus (and I doubt I will), but Christmas carols are being played on the radio and Kline, our dining hall, is slowly becoming red and green.

Digital Hanukkah. Photo Credit: oskay.

In America, or anywhere in the world, really, excluding Israel and other non-Christian parts of the Middle East, Asia, Africa, etc, it is a bit awkward being Jewish. Everything here is Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. The songs, decorations, and even the Tweets. Now, I’m not complaining – I think that “Happy Holidays” spell of the past 5 years or so is a load of crap – I’m happy people are expressing themselves truly these days. If you say Merry Christmas to me, you’ll get Happy Hanukkah in return. As you can tell, I’ve become more Jewish over the past six months and I’ve recently watched “The Hebrew Hammer” a few times (go see it!). It was hard for me growing up in a society and going to a school where barely anyone celebrated the holiday’s I celebrated, or performed the weekly rituals I performed. That being said, I love being Jewish. Happy Hanukkah!

Gifts

“Festival of Lights”. Photo Credit: digidi.

Christmas and Hanukkah do have something in common, besides the time of year, and at least in the U.S., in Israel, I don’t think gifts are so common (there, the holiday is less about money and consumerism, and more about the story, which I will get to in a minute). I will probably get some clothes this year, maybe a piece of software and a new iPod Nano. If I get lucky, I’ll get another lens, but I doubt it.

The Story

A lit Menorah. Photo Credit: ableman.

Since Jews only occupy 2% of the world, I assume that many of you do not know the story of Hanukkah, so here it is. 2000 years ago, the Greeks ruled the land of Israel, or Judea, and controlled the Jews who lived there. Antiochus Epiphanes, a Greco-Syrian king, outlawed the Jews from worshipping and praying to our God, studying Torah, and practicing our own customs. He forced the Jews to worship Greek Gods, and allegedly erected a statue of Zeus in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem.

Judah Maccabee created a resistance force that fought against oppression known as the Maccabees. Judah’s rather small army was so determined, coming from their strong belief and faith in God, that they were able to defeat and intimidate larger and more powerful armies. Judah used the power of God to encourage his soldiers. The Maccabees, after almost three years of fighting, drove the Greco-Syrian armies out of Judea. The message here and the message of Hanukkah is “Not by might, not by power, but by spirit.”

After the Greco-Syrians vacated Judea, Judah Maccabee and his people reoccupied the HOly Temple. They cleaned it, renovated it, and rededicated it. When they first reentered the Temple, they found that the holy oil was de-purified by the Greco-Syrians. Only one jug of pure oil remained, only enough for one day. “Then a miracle occurred.” When the Maccabees lit the Menorah, it lasted not for one day, but for eight, which was enough time for them to purify more oil. This is why Hanukkah is observed for eight days, and why the Hanukkah menorah has not seven candles, but eight. So there you go, the story of Hanukkah. (Source).

I hope you have a Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, or whatever holiday you observe (festivus, maybe?).

A few weeks ago I announced and introduced a series I’m starting on the blog called “Life in the Cloud.” This series talks about how one uses Web 2.0 and cloud computing in his or her daily life, whether at home, work, or school. This weeks installment will (hopefully) answer the question “Why Web 2.0?” and inspire a philosophical discussion about Web 2.0.

Honestly, I do not know why Web 2.0 is happening – these days, technology (particularly the Internet) moves very quickly and people are not able to think about the changes that are occuring. Web 2.0 and cloud computing is about making the Internet and the Web more social. Ideally, Web 2.0 enhances relationships, discussions, and communities, but does not replace them. Web 2.0 is “happening” because the Internet is capable of it – most of the programming languages people design Web 2.0 services in were around twenty years ago. This is only the beginning – there is still a long way to go, but users and developers are finally taking advantage of the full potential of the Internet.

Global Network

Fifteen years ago, the Net was not being fully exploited. Because the Internet is so decentralized, it is a perfect mode of communication; if one user, section, or part goes offline, the entire network is not affected. Web 2.0 and cloud computing is the “true destiny” of the Internet – it was meant for this type of community building. In the past, technological revelations in the fields of communication have enriched only one-to-one communication or mass one-way communication. The Internet enables people to create global communities but still remain attached to themselves, their families, and hometowns.

Desktop Computer

Web 2.0 decereases dependence on desktop computers. Cloud computing makes technology more mobile, portable, and ultimately, more human. In its essence, Web 2.0 is the experession, using the Internet, of a basic human need to talk and to create. One could say cloud computing is happening because up until now, technology, including the Internet, has been very mechanic, systematic, and uncreative – humans have had to adapt to technology instead of technology adapting to us. The Internet makes mobile computing on devices like the iPhone and Google’s Android more useful and successful – there is no longer a need to sync a device with a desktop or laptop computer. Because of the Internet, mobile devices are actually mobile devices.

Democracy

Web 2.0 also represents a shift of power on the Internet and has enabled, or reenabled, I should say, old and new ways of personal expression that have been lost in todays world. Cloud computing is democracy on the Internet – no one is really in control, but the Internet doesn’t just run on its own, either. The Internet is a managed decentralized network, if that makes sense.

Web 2.0 Services. Image Source.

Though this barely breaks the ice on the question “Why Web 2.0?,” I hope this post provides a good philosophical basis for some of the questions surrounding Web 2.0, cloud computing, and the Internet in general. I will answer more of these questions in Part 4, where I will address what is missing from Web 2.0. Check out the Introduction for more info about the series.

As always, please email me, Twitter me, or otherwise-me your feedback.

Now that I am in college, I have a decently-fast Internet connection around the clock. I have noticed myself moving more of my activities online – I’m not using the desktop (or laptop, in this case) as much. I’m hoping to start a four or five part series about cloud life and what it’s like to compute only in the cloud. The four sections are as follows:

1. Philosophy of cloud computing, Why Web 2.0?
2. Web 2.0 tools I use
3. Moving into the cloud, how to use all these tools
4. Criticism for life in the cloud

The series will start in the next week or so, and will last over the next month or two. I’m going to start today by offering an introduction to the cloud – I will offer a succinct definition of Web 2.0 and the Internet in general.

The Internet

A section of a map of the Internet. Original Image.

The Internet is a series of tubes. Well, not exactly, but Ted Steven’s definition isn’t that far off. The Internet is a huge network of computer. Think about your network at home; you have two, three, or maybe four computers, that all share the same connection. In your house, you are actually running a mini-Internet – all the connected computers can share resources and send information between each other. There is no “center” or main-server of the Internet; it is a highly decentralized network designed for sharing information. Email, VoIP, and the World Wide Web are parts of the Internet. Email is a way to send messages between computers connected to the Internet, VoIP is a voice-message protocol, and the Web is a file-sharing network, designed for exchanging documents.

Web 2.0

Examples of Web 2.0 Services. Image Credit: Ross Mayfield.

I do not particularly like the term Web 2.0, because it creates a certain type of hierarchy in a system that is supposedly order-less. But, that’s what people are using these days. Web 2.0 is not actually a second version of the World Wide Web or the Internet – there is no major software or hardware difference between Web 2.0 and 1.0, or whatever was before these terms emerged. Instead, Web 2.0 is a shift in the way people use the Internet and the services offered by it. According to Tim O’Reilly, the supposed father of Web 2.0, “Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the Internet as platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform.” For more on the shift from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0, the metamorphosis from the expert-driven Internet to a user-generated Internet, read a paper I wrote during high school called “Tubes.” Download it as a PDF, but please don’t steal my writing. Also, check Wikipedia, it does have lots of good information.

In short, Web 2.0 aims at connection more people and encourages collaboration. Examples of Web 2.0 websites or services are Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Blogger (or any blog or podcast), and Wikipedia – basically, any social networking site falls into the genre of Web 2.0. It is a shift in the way programmers write soft ware and how we, the general public, Interact with those programs.

Cloud Computing

Clouds. Image Credit: kevindooley.

The cloud is a way of talking about the Internet – when viewing at a map of the Internet or considering how the Internet works, it looks and to some extent, acts, like a cloud. Cloud computing is the development and use of Internet based technologies. It is a genre of computing that allows people to access services on the Internet, or the cloud, “without knowledge of, expertise with, or control over the technology infrastructure that supports them” (Wikipedia). Google, Amazon, and Yahoo! all are driving forces in the development of cloud computing. Cloud computing includes many, if not all, Web 2.0 services and is an example of the idea of “software as a service.”

Up Next…

I hope this gives you a better idea and greater understanding of the Internet, Web 2.0, and cloud computing. I hope these definitions will lay a groundwork for the rest of the series. Be sure to check out my paper about the Internet, “Tubes,” which I wrote during my junior year of high school. It is about the fundamental shift in the way people use the Internet. I’ve had fun writing this post, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it! In the coming weeks, I will publish “Part 1: Why Web 2.0?” detailing some of the philosophy behind Web 2.0 and cloud computing. I also made a video, watch it below. Be sure to comment and email me your feedback!

Video

Life in the Cloud: Introduction from Kabren Levinson on Vimeo.

Email Me!

The MacBook Pro on a Griffin Elevator.

On Wednesday, I received my new Apple MacBook Pro 15″. I upgraded from a 2006 Black MacBook – a huge step up. If you did not already know, my MacBook had lots of problems – first, during the summer of 2006, I had to send my laptop into Apple for the Random Shutdown problem, then, only weeks after my one-year warranty ran out, two chips came off of the computer. I now have a brand new Apple MacBook Pro 15″ laptop computer in my hands. I’ve posted a lot of photos on Flickr, so please check them out! Here are the specs:

• 2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• 4 GB RAM
• 250 GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M and 9600M GT

Apple Welcome screen on the MacBook Pro.

The Good

Once again, the design and construction of this machine is unbelievable. On taking the laptop out of the box, it felt much sturdier than my rather-flimsy MacBook, and it even felt sturdier than previous MacBook Pro’s. It is engineered out of a solid-brick of aluminum – it is laser-cut with uttermost precision. The computer feels good to use, it is comfortable, it works. The edges are rounded more, to give the machine a more “unified” look. All the ports are on one side, including the new Display Port. Though I was initially skeptical about the no-button trackpad, after a little getting used to, it is amazing, though it is a bit loud. All multi-touch actions work, even when one’s thumb is placed on the trackpad. Now, you do not have to worry about where your thumb is located, all you need to do is click. I like the black keyboard – when lit up in dark conditions, it is more dazzling, and, after using a MacBook for two years, I’m used to the Chicklet-style keys – though I can understand how some people will not enjoy it. The screen is bright and the colors are more than impressive. It is fast – I can now bearable edit photos in Aperture, all the while browsing the web and listening to music. Sound quality has also been greatly improved.

Ports on the left side of the MacBook Pro.

The Bad

No Firewire 400. While this is certainly not a deal breaker for me, I can understand how serious video and audio editors might be upset. You can buy adapters, but that becomes cumbersome. I understand that Apple is pushing the envelope – someone has to, and who better than Apple to change the standards of computing. The mouse button is noisy, though I suspect it will quiet down after extensive use. It only felt “loud” while in the library, again, not a deal breaker. The glossy screen attracts finger prints, almost like a magnet. You can clean it, but it is a pain.

Chicklet-style keyboard of the MacBook Pro.

Overall

I highly recommend the new MacBook Pro. It is a huge upgrade from my previous machine, so I am speaking with some, if not great, bias. There are a few minor issues, but nothing to make me want to return the computer or not want it at all. Apple wowed me again with their seamless, aesthetic, and attractive design – it is not just about looks, this computer actually feels sturdy, too. I will keep you posted. What do you think of the new MacBook’s and MacBook Pro’s? What else would you like to know. I will be posting an unboxing video at some point in the near future.

The MacBook Pro keyboard lit up.

The LoveSac in my dorm room.

LoveSac is a company that makes “Alternative Furniture,” things like bean bag chairs, couches, and blankets, stufed with DuraFoam, a long-lasting stuffing material unlike beans or feathers. I bought a GamerSac, a 3-foot diameter bean bag chair. They are expensive, but my first impressions are that this product is amazing!

Why?

I needed a comfortable place to sit in my room. Dorm rooms do not, by nature, have good furniture, and they really don’t have good places to sit. A bean bag chair seemed like the perfect solution. Believe me, it was. It is a great place to read, write, and study. Along with the standard, plain, Khaki LoveSac, you can order some amazing covers – I got “Earth MicroSuede.” The LoveSac is the most comfortable bean bag chair I’ve sat in – when you get up, it doesn’t just sit there, it “regrows,” so to speak. If you’re room is big enough, pick one up, you won’t regret it. The only major downside is the price, which is more than a bit high. If only they could lower their prices some and offer discounts for college student. The LoveSac is also bulky; only get one if you’re sure you have the space.

Where do you sit?

Email Me.

My Blog Moleskine.

My blogging practices have evolved a lot lately, especially now that my entire life is structured differently (being in college and all). i’ve been thinking a lot about the purpose of my blog, especially since I made several design improvements over the past few weeks. I thought I’d give a brief outline of how I blog and my thoughts and ideas for the future of the blog, content wise.

How I Blog

During the 3 week intensive workshop in Language and Thinking I took in August as part of my matriculation into Bard College, my instructor had us write, by hand, for five minutes each morning – a free write, no limits, no directions, just write. I enjoyed putting pen to paper, I have never enjoyed it so much in my life. I hand write almost everything these days, from essays to blog posts. I urge you all to try writing freely for five minutes each morning – it helped connect my thoughts with my pen. I have a Moleskine dedicated to blog posts. Not every post I write in the notebook makes it to the blog. Hand writing gives me the opportunity to get all of my ideas out freely, and hand writing makes a great first draft – it is, in my opinoin, much easier to edit my own writing when going from pen and paper to the computer. After I hand-write a rough draft, I type it up directly in WordPress, and modify specific words, add subsections and images, and check the overall spelling and grammar of the post. When I hand-write, my honest opinion comes out, my exact thoughts. I also try to write my first draft away from the computer, so the post contains my true, honest thoughts (the computer is also really distracting). Whereas when I write on the computer, it feels detached. Blogging has greatly improved my own writing (in and out of school), and I’m willing to bet that it will have the same effect on your writing too.

Future of the Blog

THis is a personal blog, it’s not for tech news and reviews (that’s what my podcast, Nerd News Radio, is for), but it is for content relating to my life. At times, a review of some sort may pop up, only if it has a direct impact on the way I conduct my life. In the future, I see myself writing more about technological philosophy and politics. Now that I am separated from the EduTech program I created in high school, I will probably write less about academic technology, but we’ll see. I also added Skribit, a “blog topic suggestion application,” to the blog, so please, make suggestions!

Conclusion

Now that I started writing by hand, I find it much easier to sit down and focus on writing a blog post without the distractions of the Internet (don’t worry, I still love the Internet, but at times, it needs to be quiet!). I used to hate writing with pen and paper, but today I love it, so give it a try. Please give me suggestions, I want to hear what you think about the blog and what you would like me to write about.

How do you blog?

I’ve been at Bard College for a month now; the Workshop in Language and Thinking is over, and I began my “real” courses last Monday. I went home last weekend to see family, pick up my bike, tennis rackets, and relax. It feels very different having upperclassmen on campus now(they arrived last weekend), Language and Thinking was a lot like high school, everyone had (almost) the same schedule, and studied similar material, but now that courses have started, everyone seems a lot more independent.

L&T was truly amazing – now that the workshop has ended, I appreciate what I learned even more. My teacher was fantastic, and I’m happy to have him as my First Year Seminar teacher, too. He helped me most with my writing and development of ideas. He is also the reason I’m now taking Ancient Greek. During L&T, we read such amazing texts; Hannah Arendt, Aristotle, Samuel Beckett, Susan Sontag, Franz Kafka, Charles Darwin, Prigogine and Stengers, and more. My final essay was surrounded around the question, “Why do we speak?” It was a political analysis of communication and media throughout history. I talked about the idea that speech makes us human, and humans are, by nature, “political animals,” in reference to Aristotle and Arendt. I also talked about Internet Censorship in china, and the importance of sharing our opinions using free new media tools available on the Internet. I touched upon sousveillance, or inverse-surveillance, surveillance as a means of speaking. You can read my essay, but please don’t steal it or use parts of it without my permission. Download it as a PDF.

My class schedule.

I started courses on Monday, Labor Day. Here’s what I’m taking: First Year Seminar, Media and Society, Intro to Philosophy: Philosophical Classics, and Ancient Greek. All of my courses have been great so far, though I have spent a fortune on books, 22 in total. To me, it is strange having most classes only twice a week.

My side of the room.

College has been an overwhelming positive experience, so far. On Friday night, I attended Shabbat services at Beit Shalom Salaam – twenty people showed up, in contrast to the two or three who would show up last year, the upperclassmen tell me. The school just got a new Rabbi, who really wants to reinvigorate Jewish life at Bard. I helped cook dinner, too – we made Challah, lasagna, and salad. I have not yet recorded a new episode of Nerd News Radio, but hopefully I’ll get around to that next weekend.

What was your college experience like?

I’m in college. A little early, but that’s the way Bard College does it. All freshman take a three-week workshop called “Language and Thinking.” So far, being at Bard has been an amazing experience. I love being in such an intellectually stimulating environment. I have an excellent teacher, Thomas Bartscherer, and a great class – everyone seemed to get along, right out of the box. L&T moves fast, and the course started in “the deep end;” no introductions or family histories. The class works, as Thomas said today, no one is sitting it out, everyone is involved.

I have never seen an entire class get along so well, so soon. In fact, the class began by writing for five minutes. Over the past few days, I’ve grown to love free-writing with a pen and paper. It’s nice to be unplugged. In middle and high school, free-writes never had a purpose, they were a filler, and if anything, they were too structured. The campus is so beautiful. Today with some people from my dorm, we went walking around the campus, hiking around, I forgot my camera, but I’ll be sure to make the walk again and take some photos.

My pen. On my paper.

My dorm room is almost all set up, only a few small details to tend to. Bard is great, I’ve been having a good time. I’m happy to have an actual break this weekend, though, I’ve been in “meet new people” mode for 7 days now, need some time for myself (you know, I’m a very quiet almost anti-social person). I’ll keep blogging. Podcast next week Sunday, I hope.

My desk.

I go to college this Saturday, August 9th, 2008. I will be a freshman at Bard College, in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. I have a little more packing to do (misc items and clothes). Bard College starts rather early, as they have a three week workshop for freshman, called “Language and Thinking.” I’m not so excited about doing work during summer, but at least it’s better than going right into a 4-5 course schedule.

Map of campus.

My roommate is from China, which is totally rad. I’m in the dorm Oberholzer, a 5-10 minute walk from campus. I’m excited and nervous. I’m happy I’m not going to be across the country, I’ll be 3.5 hours away from home, and 2 hours away from New York City. Also, it will be nice to go to school with a few people I know (there are 3 from my high school going to Bard, in addition to a few others).

The one thing I’m upset about, is that Apple hasn’t yet released new MacBook Pro’s. My college technology “situation” will be simple(r), as I’ll only have one computer (my MacBook, and in the future, a MBP). I’ve made a few purchases (hard drives, mouse, keyboard, monitor), but nothing major.

I can’t promise anything, but I hope to keep blogging and podcasting, maybe even more regularly. I’m sure my Twitter stream will be over-active, particularly in the first few days and weeks, and I’m going to take lots of photos. I’m bringing my (new) portable recorder, USB interface, and my microphone, so I’ll be well equipped to podcast. I’ll probably write a blog post a week after I settle in, but if I’m feeling particularly lonely, you may hear from me sooner.

Wish me luck.

PodCamp Boston 3 was amazing. The venue this year was unbelievable, thank you, Harvard! It was easier to run into people this year, which was fun. PodCamp Boston 2 was nice and big, but this year the event was very close knit. I was more social at PCB3, and this year overall – last year I was very reserved. I also knew more people in general, those I had met on Twitter and at various Social Media Breakfasts. (For those interested in the Academic Technology session I led at PodCamp, check the end of the post.)

My junior achievement award. Photo Credit: Gradon Tripp

I won a Junior achievement award this year! Thank you, Adam Zand (I think, at least.) Unfortunately, I was the only teenager (I knew of) at PodCamp Boston 3. Last year, I was 1 of 2, this year, I was 1 of 1. I had hoped more teens would show up. I did know a few who wanted to come, but couldn’t. Next year!

Jamming at PodCamp.

Being social and having fun makes a huge difference. Don’t be afraid, introduce yourself to everyone. We have so much virtual, or digital, contact with each other, it makes such a huge difference to get together and have fun in person. Twitter went down for maintenance on Saturday July 19th, during PodCamp, and I think it actually was for the better – it helped people actually connect with each other. Not to say that Twitter is bad; sometimes, the best part of the session was the conversation taking place on Twitter. Check out the PCB3 tag on Twitter Search.

Steven Sherlock.

My Session

I led a session at PodCamp Boston about Academic Technology, mostly outlining the work I did at the Cambridge School of Weston, for my Capstone Project. If you’re interested in the presentation, you can see it on Slideshare, download it as a PDF, and download the audio recording.

I haven’t blogged in a while, so I’m going to talk about my big trip to Israel, Vienna, and Berlin. This trip changed my life, in so many ways. I believe it is imperative that more American’s see the world. There’s so much great “stuff” out there to be seen. We really do live in a bubble. Check out my Flickr Collection for Summer ’08.

Israel

Dome of the Rock (Click to Enlarge)

I spent about 3 weeks in Israel, traveling all over the country; Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Amirim, Ein Gedi, and back to Jerusalem. I was in Israel for my cousin’s wedding (his wife is Israeli.) He made the entire trip possible (plus it was great having the entire family in the Holy land.) Being in Israel was a life changing experience for me. I’ve been raised Jewish, Reform Judiasm, but being in Israel, surrounded by so many other Jews, and passionate people in general, made me want to be more religious. We’ll see.

Police in Jerusalem (Click to Enlarge)

I never felt unsafe in Israel. I got used to having my bag searched each time I entered a resteraunt, and I got used to the constant military/police presence in the country. But I always felt safe. Israel wasn’t like a “police state” either, people appeared to be free.

Justin and Galit (Click to Enlarge)

My cousin’s wedding was unbelievable. The energy at an Israeli wedding is unbelievable; they just kept going and going. This was the first wedding where I took photos semi-professionally; in other words, I wasn’t the official photographer, just doing it on my own. I’ve uploaded a few photos, but I plan on assembling a more professional slideshow in the near future. Taking photos for a wedding is fun, but stressful.

Sunrise at Masada (Click to Enlarge)

Traveling through out Israel is easy, since it’s such a small country. I’d say my favorite part of Israel was the north, the city of Safed, in particular – it had the piousness of Jerusalem, but isolated in the mountains. Swimming in the Dead Sea was “fun,” but nothing beats watching sunrise atop Masada. Ein Gedi was beautiful, I _think_ I saw a Gazelle in the national park there, but I’m not quite sure. If you go to the Dead Sea, stop by and see the botanical gardens at the Ein Gedi Kibbutz, it’s phenomenal.

The Arab Markets (Click to Enlarge)

I miss Israel, Jerusalem in particular – wandering through the Arab Markets in the Muslim Quarter, bargaining with shop keepers, and stuffing a note in the Western Wall. In Jerusalem, one could see three religious living so close together, yet the difference between the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim quarters is so great. I’ll be going back to Israel, hopefully sooner than later.

A Gazelle…I think (Click to Enlarge)

Vienna

Graffiti in Vienna (Click to Enlarge)

I went to Vienna with my mom, mostly to search through records, to learn more about her side of the family, 17 members of which were murdered during the Holocaust. So, as you can imagine, the trip wasn’t really for “pleasure.” Vienna’s a nice city, pleasant and livable. It works – the subways, buses, trams, and it’s safe. Check out my mom’s website for more about her project in Vienna. There was amazing Graffiti in Vienna, best graffiti I’ve ever seen. Lots of photos on Flickr.

Berlin

A Holocaust Memorial (Click to Enlarge)

Berlin was nice, but tiring. Constantly being surrounded by memories of the Holocaust was tough, as there were memorials and museums everywhere. The city hasn’t forgotten. It’s a good place to visit, and has lots of history.

Overall

I had a good trip, if you have specific questions regarding my trip, don’t hesitate to email me.

Tomorrow afternoon, Monday, June 9th, I’ll be taking a big trip overseas: I will be in Israel for 2.5 weeks, Vienna for a week, and Berlin for a few days. I’m going to be busy; my cousin is getting married in Israel, and I’ll be meeting with a lot of people in Vienna. I will take lots of photos, most of which will be uploaded to Flickr, (I may set up a separate gallery on my website), and I’ll (try) be active on Twitter – when I have Internet access I’ll be online.

My Agenda

In Israel, I will be at my cousin’s wedding – almost the whole family is coming – and I will be touring the country (Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Golan Heights, etc).

I’m visiting Vienna with my mom, Karen Frostig (check out her new website!), to meet with various people about the Holocaust and Holocaust Education. My mom is a Jewish artist, activist, and author.

In Berlin, I’m just visiting, you know, for fun.

Do you have any recommendations? Places to visit? Good food? Free WiFi? Let me know: kabren@kabrenlevinson.com.

Here is the video from my capstone presentation. It’s about 35 minutes, and the audio isn’t great (I was only using the built-in microphone of the video camera). Anyways, hope you enjoy!

Here are the materials associated with my capstone:

• Presentation in PDF Format
• Reflection in PDF Format
• Recommended Technologies Wiki

The Video

Capstone Presentation from Kabren Levinson on Vimeo.

This is a video about a final project for a class I’m taking, “Search for Meaning.” It’s about my soul and how I think the soul creates lenses – it alters my perspective of the world. My vision of my soul, is a falling stream of shards of glass, mirror, and other material. As these shards fall, they form together to create a lens. As you age, you loose and gain shards. Just an idea.

Search for Meaning: Final Project from Kabren Levinson on Vimeo.

On Friday May 2nd, I had the privilege to attend a Digital Natives Forum at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School. The event was labeled as an “interdisciplinary roundtable discussion: Investigating young people’s use of digital and networked technologies.” When I arrived, I was surprised to discover that I was the only teenager, or “young person”, at the meeting. I already felt out of place.

Background

The event was amazing – I found out how adults observe and understand teenagers’ use of technology and the Internet. At the beginning of the meeting, there was a short presentation by Andrea Flores and John Francis citing research conducted about kids using technology. They talked about identity, privacy, skills and tools for teenagers and adults, and the importance of design. For more about the content of the forum, check out this blog post and my Twitter, I live-blogged most of the meeting.

Silence

I didn’t speak during the entire meeting, only to some people individually during lunch. I wish I had spoken up. I learned, but didn’t teach. It felt like people in the room didn’t understand what kids were about. With the exception of a few, it seemed that people were only beginning to formulate their opinions; it was too early to introduce the young-person’s point of view. Being a teen in the room, it felt like we were being addressed as the problem that needed fixing. Per usual, adults were assigning issues to kids. As the group discussed how some kids feel safer sharing their thoughts online versus offline, I only felt comfortable sharing my thoughts on Twitter. I let the group silence me.

For next time…

The only problem, I can think of, was the lack of primary sources, or “young people,” in the room. Yes, case studies and reports were cited throughout, but as my history teachers tell me, you need primary sources to support your argument. I was the only teen in the room, and I wasn’t even previously involved with the project. It is difficult to discuss teens, or any other group of people, without them present. Not only that, it is undiplomatic to discuss and refer to teens as if they’re not in the room, when in fact, I was sitting right there. My presence was never acknowledged – the adults failed to exploit me as a resource. It felt weird having adults tell me how I used technology.

Video about the event

Digital Navies Forum from Kabren Levinson on Vimeo.

Or on Viddler.

Kabren Levinson
kabren@kabrenlevinson.com
www.kabrenlevinson.com

I will be streaming my capstone presentation tomorrow, Wednesday May 21st at 12:00 PM EST. My capstone was all the Academic/Educational Technology work I’ve been doing over the past many months. Check it out. Join in in the discussion remotely! I hope the stream will work, school Internet is slow.

Click here to watch the stream, or look below. Here’s the Facebook event.

Stream:
Broadcast powered by Ustream.TV

Chat:

I talk about the list of recommended educational technologies I am releasing to the public in a Wiki. You can find the list here: http://kabren.wikispaces.com/rec-tech . Go in, make your edits. I am only a student; if you’re a teacher working with technology, let me know what you’re using and why you use it.

Recommended Technologies from Kabren Levinson on Vimeo.

Here are two videos. The first is about the EduTech conference I attended this past Wednesday, April 9th, and the second is about my capstone “Plan.” Enjoy!

EduTech Conference from Kabren Levinson on Vimeo.


The “Plan” from Kabren Levinson on Vimeo.

Read this blog post to understand what I’m talking about. Also, those videos I’ve talked about will be put up on Sunday – I got a little busy.

A Tech Fellow

Working with Martha was a job for a “tech fellow,” a crucial part of my educational technology program. Over the past few days, with the help of the assistant head of the school, I’ve been rethinking the roles of the “tech fellow.” Much of our conversation had to do with the marketing and branding of the “Tech Fellows” program. We used the Geek Squad as an example; they have uniforms, they’re easy to identify; they have phone numbers, they’re easy to contact; they have cars, they come to YOU. A “tech fellow” just doesn’t sound right – if I were a teacher, and was deciding between contactacting a “tech fellow” or the “tech squad,” for example, I’d probably call the “tech squad.” We need to make it known who we are, make sure it’s easy to contact us, and make it clear that we (the student) will come to YOU (the teacher). Of course, since this is high school, we won’t actually have the uniforms and cars (I wish), but metaphorically, we will.

Customer Service

Another aspect of being a “tech fellow” or on a “tech squad” is customer service. Instead of walking into the job with an agenda, we need to make an “ego-less swoop.” A tech fellow neds to make sure the teacher is in control; we ask what the teacher wants to accomplish with technology, before jumping into what we think they should be doing. Even though my school is a progressive school, for teachers, suddenly having students be the “smart ones” will be tough, and perhaps, frightening.

It’s a Brand

A lot of the issues I’m facing right now have to do with marketing and branding – how can I get teachers to use and enjoy an educational implementation of the Geek Squad. As the assistant head of my school said, you’d be more likely to call upon “Mr. Fix-It” than “Boston Electric” because “Mr. Fix-It” contains the word fix – Mr. Fix-It will fix my problem.

Video