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This past Tuesday, November 4th, 2008, at about 11:30 PM, the United States of America elected its 44th President, Barack Obama, in a near-landslide. For the past almost two years, Barack Obama has led an extraordinary campaign based on the idea of hope and change in America. “Yes We Can!” was chanted by hundreds of thousands supporters at rallies around the country. I can finally truly be proud to be American.

The American flag. Photo Credit: vector1771.

Barack Obama had a very humble entrance into politics as a community organizer in Chicago. Having been somewhat of a community organizer myself at my Temple in 2006-2008, organizing and social action gets you engaged and attached to a community. Obama and his campaign directors never forgot that civic engagement is key to democracy. Not only was there amazing grass-roots organizing and campaigning going on, Obama’s Internet campaign was just as strong, if not stronger. Obama’s website was designed to help people get involved, not by simply donating, but by offering time in the shape of phone calls, organizing events, and arranging house meetings. Obama presents a brighter future for traditional politics, but also for finally involving technology in the political process using “Web 2.0″ and new media tools available on the Internet.

The Problem

The problem with mass contemporary democracy is people don’t care any longer - they may get upset, but they never act upon their anger. Over the past twenty years and particularly over the past eight, the government has acted independently from the people, only using mainstream media as an interface to the general public. Even serving in the Army, offering your life for your country, is no longer honorable. Public service holds no meaning today. There has been a frighteningly large feeling and atmosphere of apathy in the United States. We don’t care about the government, and the government doesn’t care about us.

A Solution

Change.gov.

I truly believe things will change when Barack Obama moves into office. This change won’t come quickly or easily - it will rely on the continued and increased involvement of the American people. Barack Obama plans to appoint a Chief Technology Officer of the nation, as a cabinet position. Why not? Obama has already demonstrated he knows how to use the Internet well in connection to political matters. His campaign website didn’t replace face-to-face contact with and between voters - it enhanced it and made it easier. Barack Obama and Joe Biden have already set up a website called Change.gov that offers easy access to government related information, lets people apply for jobs, and encourages us to get involved with our government. This the first time I have seen such a website, and the first time such a website has been appealing to the eye. The government is and will finally reengage with its citizens. The Internet is and has helped people think globally but act locally.

Do you see change in the future of the United States of America? How should the Internet be used by the government, if at all?

I assure you I will keep writing about this topic. Please email me and follow me on Twitter!

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.

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.

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 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.

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

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been focusing primarily on the Tech Fellows aspect of my EduTech project. A few weeks ago, I began working with Martha, a History teacher at my school, to figure out how she could use technology more in her classroom. We talked a lot about her use of the school’s discussion forum - she’s an early adopter. I figured she should start a blog that would allow her to post items for the class and would require students to post, comment, and respond to other students’ work. You can see her blog here: http://marthasclass.edublogs.org. Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday we purchased a new Apple Airport Express with “N” wireless. It fits in with our “get music into the living room” project, and an even larger overhaul of our living room. If you’ve kept up with my Flickr photos and the videos I’ve been making, you know what I’m talking about.

Setup

The Airport Express is a great device - it’s small, easy to set up, and it works. We’re using it to extend our existing Airport Extreme network and to be able to play music from iTunes wirelessly. Setup was easy: I plugged it in to power (it is it’s own power adapter), opened up the Airport Utility, and followed the simple setup steps which included telling the device what it was going to do (extend a wireless network) and giving it a name. Also, when I told the Airport to extend my existing network, it detected it, asked for the password, and voila, it extended the range. It was easy. Now we have WPA-secured wireless all around the house (even on the front porch), and the ability to play music in the Kitchen, Dining Room, and Living room wirelessly. Open iTunes, and if you are connected to a network with an Airport Express, it’ll show you the available speakers.

Airport Utility

I’m familiar with the Airport Utility - we’re long-time airport users (had the old Airport Extreme before the new one.) I really like the utility. It shows you all the airport networks in your range, and gives you the ability to edit any of those networks, as long as you know the password. I have one complaint with the utility; there is no web interface to log onto the router over the Internet. The only way to edit the network is if you’re local.

Conclusion

A major complaint I have is that it will only play audio from iTunes, not from the computer in general. I have needed to restart the device a couple times, but that may be due to outdated firmware. I’ll let you know. I’ve heard some complaints about Airport Expresses not extending networks correctly and such, but for me (so far, I’ve had it 24 hours) it’s been excellent. A lot of traveling business people have found the device useful to quickly create a wireless network in WiFi-less hotel rooms. If you want wireless music (iTunes only), or want to extend your existing Airport network, get an Airpot Express.