I wish the original artist signed this!!!
Codynet Geektime
Thoughts and experiences on everything from your everyday Colorado liv'n,
bluegrass pickin, husband, dad, geek, coach, professional who is interested in Ed Tech, Geek stuff, and is occasionally a wannabe photographer and cartoonist.
Friday, December 19, 2014
Monday, December 15, 2014
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Southern Flavor - guitar tutorial
Here's my kid throwing down some very nice bluegrass on her guitar with a short tutorial afterward... hope you enjoy!
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
The Drake Equation
I love the Drake Equation. It attempts to guess the mathematical possibility in our galaxy based on your supplied probabilities to questions and other somewhat estimatable factors, such as how many stars, and stars with planets, etc. But what's funny is, even if you take the very very lowest numbers, there is still a good likelihood that there is more life just in our galaxy alone, and there are BILLIONS AND BILLIONS of galaxies.
Check it out for yourself, it's a fun equation: http://www.classbrain.com/artmovies/publish/article_50.shtml
Check it out for yourself, it's a fun equation: http://www.classbrain.com/artmovies/publish/article_50.shtml
Monday, December 1, 2014
Notes from IMS Global Consortium, November 2014
#imsglobal #caliper #edtech #lti
Caliper is poised as way forward to integrate lots of data from diverse ecosystem, including learning data, operational data, and career data.
There were two general over-reaching Goals discussed around Caliper: To personalize the learning experience (via Analytics) but also to maintain a quality record over ones educational career, and potentially a lifetime career. Think 'a super transcript'.
To summaraize, Caliper potentially can personalize learning for students and sumarize for stakeholders.
Another big topic around the conference was Competency Based outcomes as a whole.
The dirty secret of Higher Ed, is that faculty aren't ID/eval exprts. Grades are pretty much BS. Activity and competence, which potentially can be mined from tons of data is really what is important.
--When it comes to Analytics, Grades don't really matter per se. They matter as a data point, but only when coupled with other dimensions, like who actually gave the grade.
Possible Datapoints to be stored are numerous...
What classes (coupled with instructors) are passed
How often assignments are turned in early
How often students watch full videos vs partical videos
How often they are highlighting text
Big Challenges to storing all of these CBE datapoints:
Privacy
Who owns the data
CBE vs. Traditional models have to both work
The fact is, they don't actually know which dimensions are important yet.
Solutions:
Don't expect a single monolithic solution, BUT in general, we are moving away from very specific LMSs and solutions.
Things Higher Ed is starting to realize is important for outcomes
1. just... learning events
2. predictive models, ie, if student completes 1st course in 2 months, they are more likely to succeed
Notes:
Much of what we call analytics isn't at all... it's just... grades. But the more data we can analyze, the better able we are to determine proper analytics
Lots of talk about CBE... and grades... and how grades don't matter.
What matters is activity and competence, and recording that activity. Analyzing will come
Starting to realize that thick LMS's are less useful, and that lean LMS's that are more pluggable, and interoperable are better.
in "Extending the Transcript for #CBE" session w/ registrar panelists #imsglobal
Transcripts are tools that haven't been changed in 100 years but with all of this data that is really being stored for Analytics can also be used to paint a broader competency based picture.
In this regard, drivers are coming more from workforce then institutions. Co-curricular experiences are as important as what happens during class.
Badges seem to try to address this stuff, but maybe not enough. Who knows if badges will even show up on transcripts.
Kentucky has "attached competences" to every course.
IMS Caliper
Caliper White Paper (good read)
Caliper is poised as way forward to integrate lots of data from diverse ecosystem, including learning data, operational data, and career data.
There were two general over-reaching Goals discussed around Caliper: To personalize the learning experience (via Analytics) but also to maintain a quality record over ones educational career, and potentially a lifetime career. Think 'a super transcript'.
To summaraize, Caliper potentially can personalize learning for students and sumarize for stakeholders.
Another big topic around the conference was Competency Based outcomes as a whole.
The dirty secret of Higher Ed, is that faculty aren't ID/eval exprts. Grades are pretty much BS. Activity and competence, which potentially can be mined from tons of data is really what is important.
--When it comes to Analytics, Grades don't really matter per se. They matter as a data point, but only when coupled with other dimensions, like who actually gave the grade.
Possible Datapoints to be stored are numerous...
What classes (coupled with instructors) are passed
How often assignments are turned in early
How often students watch full videos vs partical videos
How often they are highlighting text
Big Challenges to storing all of these CBE datapoints:
Privacy
Who owns the data
CBE vs. Traditional models have to both work
The fact is, they don't actually know which dimensions are important yet.
Solutions:
Don't expect a single monolithic solution, BUT in general, we are moving away from very specific LMSs and solutions.
Things Higher Ed is starting to realize is important for outcomes
1. just... learning events
2. predictive models, ie, if student completes 1st course in 2 months, they are more likely to succeed
Notes:
Much of what we call analytics isn't at all... it's just... grades. But the more data we can analyze, the better able we are to determine proper analytics
Lots of talk about CBE... and grades... and how grades don't matter.
What matters is activity and competence, and recording that activity. Analyzing will come
Starting to realize that thick LMS's are less useful, and that lean LMS's that are more pluggable, and interoperable are better.
in "Extending the Transcript for #CBE" session w/ registrar panelists #imsglobal
Transcripts are tools that haven't been changed in 100 years but with all of this data that is really being stored for Analytics can also be used to paint a broader competency based picture.
In this regard, drivers are coming more from workforce then institutions. Co-curricular experiences are as important as what happens during class.
Badges seem to try to address this stuff, but maybe not enough. Who knows if badges will even show up on transcripts.
Kentucky has "attached competences" to every course.
IMS Caliper
Caliper White Paper (good read)
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Denver School of the Arts Fall Guitar Concert 2014 - Part 2
Part 2 of the Denver School of the Arts 2014 fall guitar oncert
Saturday, November 22, 2014
DSA Fall Concert 2014 - Part 1
This was my first attempt at Producing a full concert.
My wife, daughter, and I each had a camera. I got the audio feed directly from a board mix that was delivered later. I think it turned out ok.
#gitarra #classicalguitar
My wife, daughter, and I each had a camera. I got the audio feed directly from a board mix that was delivered later. I think it turned out ok.
#gitarra #classicalguitar
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Friday, June 20, 2014
Monday, April 28, 2014
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Nosql Performance Comparisons, or... functional vs operational ROI analysis
I haven't done a whole lot of research yet on the performance of nosql dbs, and to be sure, this area is quickly advancing and morphing. Changes in techs seem to happen every day.
The link below shows some nice comparisons of different scenarios implying that none of the major nosql databases available right now completely outshines the others in terms of performance in every workload scenario. Rather, as expected, the different technologies have different strengths and weaknesses. Sort of a pick your hammer for your nail.
I feel that many organizations pick their databases (and other parts of their tech stack) not on their functional needs, but on the other operational factors. Questions like:
Of course it all comes down to cost. Of course it does. That's what we are here to do. We are here to create the best ROI for the stake holders... whatever that 'return' happens to mean. If it were all about performance, you'd by the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport rather then your crappy Toyota Corolla. The simple fact is, ROI in performance dollars is a diminishing figure. However, I don't mean to deny that the operational considerations boil down to bottom line either. It's a tightrope walk game that we play.
Increasingly however, I am finding that intelligent technologists can pick up new technologies far quicker and cheaper then they used to. Maybe it's time we start implementing solutions that are more suited to the functionality, rather then it's operationality (if that's even a word). In the long run, if organizations start to trust that our technologists can efficiently develop/maintain/support these new different technologies, if the organizations can trust their implementers maybe they could realistically realize higher ROI on both sides of the fence... Once you are finished laughing at that last statement, you may continue...
I'd like to see a study (hint hint academia) that looks at the operational vs functional cost analysis. I think that such a study is becoming more and more pertinent, especially as the years roll forward and more technologies are available. My guess is that we will see a trend toward lower cost learning newer technologies as the number of solutions increase. This may appear to fly in the face of logic, but not really. As more technologies become available, we as geeks get better at bouncing between them.
Oh, and if I unknowingly suckered you into reading this post with a poorly named title... forgive me. Here is the link that got me started thinking about all of this mumbo jumbo... Nosql performance comps:
Link to the above mentioned nosql comparisons
Get to it Academics, tell me my assumptions are BS.
The link below shows some nice comparisons of different scenarios implying that none of the major nosql databases available right now completely outshines the others in terms of performance in every workload scenario. Rather, as expected, the different technologies have different strengths and weaknesses. Sort of a pick your hammer for your nail.
I feel that many organizations pick their databases (and other parts of their tech stack) not on their functional needs, but on the other operational factors. Questions like:
- How much does it cost
- How difficult is the skillset to obtain
- How difficult/expensive (same thing) is the technology to maintain
- Lame ass biases of technology managers
Of course it all comes down to cost. Of course it does. That's what we are here to do. We are here to create the best ROI for the stake holders... whatever that 'return' happens to mean. If it were all about performance, you'd by the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport rather then your crappy Toyota Corolla. The simple fact is, ROI in performance dollars is a diminishing figure. However, I don't mean to deny that the operational considerations boil down to bottom line either. It's a tightrope walk game that we play.
Increasingly however, I am finding that intelligent technologists can pick up new technologies far quicker and cheaper then they used to. Maybe it's time we start implementing solutions that are more suited to the functionality, rather then it's operationality (if that's even a word). In the long run, if organizations start to trust that our technologists can efficiently develop/maintain/support these new different technologies, if the organizations can trust their implementers maybe they could realistically realize higher ROI on both sides of the fence... Once you are finished laughing at that last statement, you may continue...
I'd like to see a study (hint hint academia) that looks at the operational vs functional cost analysis. I think that such a study is becoming more and more pertinent, especially as the years roll forward and more technologies are available. My guess is that we will see a trend toward lower cost learning newer technologies as the number of solutions increase. This may appear to fly in the face of logic, but not really. As more technologies become available, we as geeks get better at bouncing between them.
Oh, and if I unknowingly suckered you into reading this post with a poorly named title... forgive me. Here is the link that got me started thinking about all of this mumbo jumbo... Nosql performance comps:
Link to the above mentioned nosql comparisons
Get to it Academics, tell me my assumptions are BS.
Friday, April 4, 2014
How and why do use Scala, an article that I liked, but didn't write
Here's a really good article on using Scala... endorsed by James Ward...
Love that dude, so freaking talented.
This article... right here, click me, cause i'm blue.
Love that dude, so freaking talented.
This article... right here, click me, cause i'm blue.
Ugh
My daughter (last day of a two week spring break mind you) just came downstairs asking for the mustard and a straw.
Kids picking some bluegrass #bluegrass
My kids and their friend rehearsing....
It makes my heart warm knowing how much they love doing this!
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Hang in at Phoenix sky harbor
Not a lot to post....
I sure, I could sit and exploit my impressive vocabulary of offensive explicatives.... But instead, I'll just say poo! I hate airports!
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
Open Relationships
There is no such thing as an 'Open Relationship'.
If it's open, there is no relationship.
If it's open, there is no relationship.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Spells
What if ancient spells were just programs spoken in ancient tongues instructing the universe how to behave?
oh... wait... no such thing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)