I Heart Podcasts. :) Keeping Up with Tech! #busedu @techmeme

So often in my technology training travels, people ask me how I keep up with so many "new things" and that I must spend all my free time practicing Adobe programs and reading textbooks. I assure you, I do not. Well, I do spend too much time learning new programs (but I love it!) but I also have a great PLN on Twitter/Facebook and that helps a ton!

This summer, though, I ran across a podcast that just really blew me away. I wasn't even familiar with TechMeme, but apparently they've been around awhile. They aggregate technology news. Simple enough. They look for new tech news so I don't have to. But, I don't have time to read more articles. (Come on, I have curriculum that won't rewrite itself.)

They do, however, have the TechMeme Ride Home podcast, which I listen to through Castbox, but you can access through iTunes or any plethora of podcasting apps. Let me give you a simple example of what I heard on my ride to work this week!

1. Uber: I love Uber and use it frequently when I travel. They talked today about the new Spotlight feature, where you can light up your phone with a special color specific to your driver. Your driver will receive a message telling them what color to look for, so you can just hold your phone in the air. 
2. Facebook: Though this wasn't "United States" news, a German court ruled you can inherit Facebook content like a letter or a diary (based on a parent wanting access to their teen's FB to determine if she was suicidal). Under its current policy, FB allows relatives only the ability to change the page into an online memorial or to delete it entirely. They wanted full access.
3. Photoshop: Did you know the full version of Photoshop will be released this next year for iPad? Yep. Seems to be the case. 

Earlier this month, I learned how Netflix is removing their movie review feature soon (all ratings except thumb up or thumb down). They won't allow new user reviews and they were completely remove all current reviews. 

But, five days a week, they put out a 15-20 minute podcast. I listen in my car either on my way to or from work. No reading, just listening to some new trends happening in tech, and this will be great fuel to use to get my students talking in my classroom when they get back to school. Friends, it's such as easy way to stay "up" on technology happenings.

Check it out!

Prime Day is Just a Prime Example #busedu

Well, yesterday, Amazon users "broke the internet" trying to surf for deals online. I was actually online that morning with my daughter helping her pick out a swimsuit for our upcoming vacation and wasn't even worried about waiting until the big deals came out later that afternoon, but my Facebook feed went crazy with anticipation and then with questions about whether Amazon was down. Memes started happening comparing this to the Build-a-Bear fiasco of last week. It seems many businesses are trying innovative techniques to get customers in the door (online and offline) and often, they can't deliver.

What a PRIME EXAMPLE (pun intended) of our society today! We are just go-go-go, want-want-want, and give-give-give me NOW! About everything. I'm at fault, too. Let me be clear. I prefer to DVR my television shows (mostly) so I don't have to deal with waiting for commercials. I binge hardcore on Netflix for hours (thanks, $mom). And, I check reviews online while walking through Best Buy before buying something like some crazy secret shopper.

Let's go back to my youth for a minute.  I communicated with my dad when I was little via the CB radio we had in the house (while he was out on visits to people in the community). I was excited when I got a cassette walkman (which I recorded songs off the radio "live" in order to listen later). I learned to type on a typewriter with no easy spell check. I had a phone with a long cord and no voicemail. I called my boyfriend on the grocery store pay phone to avoid charges to my house. Oh, and we didn't have remote controls for our televisions. Such depravity!

But, I won't criticize people for accepting the wonderful technology advancements we've been blessed with. Likewise, I try to be accepting of businesses when they try hard to accomplish something and don't quite live up to the hype (heck, I'm still shocked I can order something online and have it here two days later!). As a business teacher, it's important for me to help students see that as well. Students must learn from the mistakes of others, but not be afraid to try something, even if they fail.

There is a great lesson out there folks (for Amazon users, it might even be patience). But, this wasn't totally surprising. Do you remember the first Prime day, which is when their "lightning deals" originated? Three years ago, Prime day was considered a bit of a let down for different reasons back then.

The reality is this. As teachers, it is our responsibility to help our students see this as an example, like any other example... an example of how to hype up something (though hopefully with better follow-through), how to take failure in stride (I did have some friends online who jokingly commented how they met all the Amazon dogs yesterday), and how to push through and move on when things do not go as planned (I'm sure Amazon will be just fine and still make tons of money this week). 

As for me this time around? My cart is empty and I'm totally okay just watching the events unfold.