Thomas J. Moore

A few weeks ago, Verizon’s “New-Every-Two” program allowed me to upgrade to a new phone with a ridiculous discount. After spending time on various consumer review websites, notably PhoneScoop.com, I decided to opt out of the latest Android craze and hop on the Blackberry bandwagon. This blog isn’t going to weigh the differences between Android and Blackberry phones, but I found that the switch from a normal push-to-talk cellphone to a “smart phone” was more than just smart, it was revolutionary.

Here are some reasons why:

1. Emails

I would assume, with not much risk, that if you’re reading this now you have your own email account. One of the first things I set up on my new phone was the email feature which pulls any email being sent to my address(es) to my phone, and also allows me to send them out. Why is this good? Being contacted by email (and conversely, contacting others by email) is no longer limited to the time that I sit down at a computer and log in. Important Emails about meetings times can be received almost instantly to my pocket. Emails that need to be time-stamped like a request for new equipment or just notifying your work that you’re stuck in traffic can also be sent out on the fly.

2. Blogs

Blogging is a huge part of news creation and gathering today. If you’re an active blogger, you will be happy to find that many phones have had specific applications created to publish material on the fly. That’s right, timeliness for posting a blog is even faster when you can publish that 500 word blog while you’re still at the event you’re covering.  Overkill? Not in this world where light speed timeliness is everything (and patience is obsolete).

3. News/Information Gathering

To piggy-back off my last point about information gathering, smart phones allow for the latest and breaking news to be forwarded instantly as they’re published to your palm. National, International, Sports, and even Entertainment news can be received at any time, anywhere. More “useful” information such as the weather forecast, movie times, restaurant ratings and store hours can also be available wherever your phone is.

4. Communication

Most phones have text messaging and phone capabilities, but smartphones like the Blackberry Bold have conference call features, the ability to create and send voice notes, pictures with +2000 pixel resolutions, and intuitive “conversation style” text message organizing to separate conversations and easily recall a detail from a past message.

5. Podcasts/Vlogcasts

Apple products are not the only ones capable of subscribing to Podcasts or Video Log Podcasts (Vlogcasts). Blackberries today are capable of tuning in and downloading the same feeds, which means you can stay up to date on your favorite programs.

6. Contacts

The typical contact information on a push-to-talk cell phone will include their name, number, and possibly the option for multiple numbers. Blackberry’s contact manager integrates with both Email, Facebook, and Twitter allowing information from all of those to be pulled off the site and put on your phone. Even photos from Facebook for your friend Bobby is used as his contact picture on your phone. Among these details remain room for fax numbers, home and work addresses, birthday, anniversary, company, job title, etc.

7. Scheduler/Calendar

Your phone is also your planner and scheduler, which keeps you organized in a life with meetings, appointments and even simple dinner dates. Blackberry’s scheduling program will sync up to Google Calendar and will allow for reminders and updates in changes to pop up on your phone. Not everyone is a planner and scheduler, but having it available so simply may spark a new leaf of organization.

8. Integration / Consolidation

Ultimately, the biggest reason why a smart-phone would be smart is because it makes life a little bit more efficient. Time and space are shrunk as you require less time to paroozle for news and information from different sources and mediums, and your phone takes up the space of an mp3 players, almanac, dictionary, planner, encyclopedia, thesaurus, phonebook, laptop, notebook, voice recorder, etc. etc.

Downsides

Of course there are downsides can be summed up in one question: Does one need to stay this informed, at all times? This will be explored in a later blog. Suffice it to say having all of these things available at your fingertips doesn’t automatically mean you can use them responsibly and wisely. My blackberry can easily become my God as it ironically closes me off to the world around me while making me “aware” of the world around me.

If you can remember that a Blackberry or any other smart phone is a tool, and not forget other ways to gather information, I think it may be a smart investment. If nothing else, it’s pretty fun to play with.

I’ve been in the school systems for over 15 years. During that time period, I’ve seen and experienced a lot of different teaching styles and types of teachers. You’ve got the classic tyrant-dictator of the classroom, the way-too-encouraging “moderator”, and everything in between. I thought I’d take a minute to recollect the different teachers I’ve encountered over the years and weigh their pros and cons. Note that this is not an exhaustive list and the examples I’ve chosen are the typical (not exclusive) cases.

The Authority

Here’s your classic ruler-to-the-elbow teacher who maintains discipline in the classroom as if his or her life depended on it. Everything that they say is eternal fact, merely by the way they present it. They move quickly through course material regardless of difficulty– the chain is not as weak as the weakest link in this sense.

Pros:

• • Exams tend to exhaustively do their job well
  • Personal progress in the class is never in question– whether you’re doing well, struggling, or failing, you will know (and so will your parents)
  • The person who hits you with a spitball will have their hand cut off

Cons:

• • Not much room for discussion, initially raising a question involves conquering great fear
  • Rigorous and detailed note-taking is essential, even on very “minor” points
  • You will never get out of class early, class will never be canceled

The (cool) Young Guy

Here’s your typical young guy who probably graduated from the school they’re teaching at. They were the cool hansom guy on campus and often still are try to be– they usually coach a sport or run the club that they once participated in.

Pros:

• • Never any awkward moments, does a great job at loosening up the classroom
  • Typically will care a lot about their reputation as the “cool teacher”, thus will work hard to make class material relevant and exciting
  • Class time can be largely chewed up by students commenting on Friday night’s football game

Cons:

• • Lessons will tend to slip into monologues from “the glory days” and other nostalgia
  • Bonus questions on exams require staying up to date on professional sports
  • Will have all the girls in your class smitten (including your girlfriend)

The (energetic) Young Woman

This teacher is typically new(ish) to the program and has enough energy to keep your school running days on end in the event of a power outage. They may sometimes be clutsy, but are extremely passionate about what they do and what they teach which can be highly contagious.

Pros:

• • Extra help is always available and highly encouraged– the teacher cares tremendously for her students
  • Encouragement is always a strong point, both in affirming success and being optimistic in areas of struggle or failure
  • Use of fun stickers and smiley faces to let you know how awesome you are

Cons:

• • Optimism and energy can get old/annoying at 7:30am
  • Will have all of the boys in the class smitten (including your boyfriend)
  • Sad faces make “D”s and “F”s that much more degrading

The Dork

The dork is usually the man or woman who knows a great deal about the field that they’re teaching, but lack a lot of social (and even sometimes teaching) skills that help make their class run smoothly.

Pros:

• • Generally very well educated into the subject they are teaching and curious questions involving deeper analysis and understanding are always met with answers
  • Will not “soften edges” to simplify concepts; you can trust that what you’re getting is the real deal
  • Dorkiness is typically a natural morale booster for anyone in the class

Cons:

• • Has a tendency to favor other dorks and nerds
  • Cares very little if what’s being taught is relevant or exciting
  • Extra help and any one-on-one time is super awkward

The Newbie

The Newbie is a man or woman who is probably teaching for the first time by themselves in their own classroom. They have no system or philosophy toward teaching in the classroom that has been solidified, and they haven’t figured out their own teaching style yet.

Pros:

• • Will create a day-to-day syllabus for the next 13 weeks and stick to it like Holy Scripture– there are no surprises
  • Games are a huge part of class-time, especially of the “get-to-know-you” and “team-building” variants
  • Convincing teacher of “rules” like “early release Fridays” is usually successful

Cons:

• • Anxiety and nervousness are very apparent– When classroom control is lost, teacher is not beyond breaking down and crying in front of class
  • Teaching style may vary day to day as Newbie tries out new ideas regularly (The Authority on Monday, to The Hippie by Friday)
  • Will sometimes integrate an activity or system that is a bit too primitive for the level they’re actually teaching at– a high schooler may find themselves sitting in a corner

The Hippie

The Hippie teacher not only likes, but loves each and every one of their students. They are very encouraging of differences (especially of opinion) and will typically arrange their classroom in a circle so that everyone can see each other. In extreme cases, desks and tables will be replaced with miniature rugs for each student.

Pros:

• • No real due dates and all assignments have a “creative alternative”
  • Arguments to hold class outside due to the “magnificent weather” is easily won
  • You are never wrong

Cons:

• • Curriculum is loosely (if ever) followed, grading is always “completed” or “not completed” with no real feedback beyond that
  • Basic changes to classroom rules like the appropriate time for bathroom use must be dealt with by full-class discussion where everyone must weigh their opinion, followed by a vote, followed by a compromise for the minority group who lost
  • Everyone has to participate in end-of-the-year class dance performance

The (Grumpy) Old Woman

The grumpy old woman has been teaching for half a century and has seen it all. This is not your nice and cute grandmother who brings in muffins for everyone in the class. Part Authority teaching style, part Devil, she won’t take crap from anyone.

Pros:

• • Consistency — Assignments and Exams are the same every year and class materials can be handed down for generations at a time to save money
  • Will waste 30 minutes of class time getting the VCR to work for a video. When finally working, all videos include poor acting with out-of-date information and fashion senses (great source of humor)
  • Won’t be around for much longer…

Cons:

• • Has no problem staying after school late to administer detentions
  • Extra help/one-on-one time is dreadfully scary– emails will never be responded to because she has no idea what the heck that is
  • Can get away with hitting you over the head with a cane and other “old school” methods of teaching

The (Awesome) Old Man

The Awesome Old Man is the guy who’s been around forever and is a lot of fun to have as a teacher. He is a legend at the school and although close to retirement and excited to get there, he also loves doing what he’s been doing for years. This is personally my favorite type of teacher.

Pros:

• • Will often blow stuff up and engage in other very dangerous “demonstrations”
  • Doesn’t care about protocol or other teachers– Awesome Old Man is the true “cool teacher”
  • Amazing stories (unlike Young Cool Guy’s memoirs), great life wisdom

Cons:

• • Often gone from class to teach other Newbies, Young Cool Guys, Young Energetic Women, etc.
  • Will openly make fun of you when you’re wrong or say something stupid
  • Won’t be around for much longer…