2 Guys Show: Jon Corippo talks all things CUE Rock Star Teacher Camp

The founder of CUE Rock Star Jon Corippo hung out with Drew Minock and Brad Waid on the 2 Guys Show Tuesday night and talked about the evolution of one of the coolest professional development franchises ever. Jon will be here in West Michigan this summer co-directing Rock Star Teacher Camp Saugatuck with me.

Jon and I connected in 2011 when we became Apple Distinguished Educators in Arizona. We've been friends and even co-presenters ever since and it's been all leading up to this summer adventure we are hosting.

Get the inside story on Rock Star and  a little glimpse into what is coming to Saugatuck in July.

EducationAmbassador.com: Five Ways To Protect Your Sony Xperia Tablet Z Out On A Winter Adventure

The Sony Xperia tablet Z has some amazing dust and water resistant qualities, but the device isn't invincible. With a little care, you can capture great adventure shots and insure the device has a long and productive life.

I love bundling up in a Michigan winter and spending as much time as possible outside. Whether it is sledding, snow shoeing, playing pond hockey or ice fishing I try to take advantage of the chance to break free from cabin fever and also capture some photos or video of my time outside. Here are some tips to insure your Sony Xperia tablet Z is a dependable hearty companion but don't let the elements get to it too much.

Close your ports. Check and periodically re-check that the power, SD card, and headphone ports are securely closed. These provide the most protection against any moisture from snow or ice that might enter your devise and cause corrosion or a short circuit.

Bring a towel. Even though the "Z" is water resistent to a meter deep, bring a towel along to wipe it off when not using it. That will prevent any excess moisture or condensation from somehow sneaking into the device. It will also reduce the chance of ice forming which could be harmful to the body or screen of the tablet.

Fresh water only. If you are trekking out onto the Polar Ice, you are probably going to be bringing fancier equipment than a Sony Xperia tablet Z. Anyway, it is important to remember that the tablet is only fresh water resistant so avoiding salt water in any season is a must.

Put it in a cooler. By bringing a small cooler like an Igloo Playmate (without ice of course) you can prevent the tablet from getting too cold. Sony doesn't really state a minimum temperature for it, but in the users' manual it states to prevent the device from being in extreme heat or cold for prolonged periods of time. I would err on the side of caution if the Polar Vortex returns and you are tempted to go out and capture images when the temps are below zero. The little cooler also provides a dry place for the tablet to rest while you are showing off for your kids riding boogie board down the sledding hill.

Avoid impact. It is better to be the person at the bottom of the hill capturing the sledders whizzing by you than trying to get that wicked point of view shot using your tablet while barreling down the slopes yourself. Invest in Sony's Action Cam if that is the shot you must have. The tablet can get some great shots but not designed to go hurling down any hills.

Taking advantage of this device's great features can help you create some great captures. With a little care you can make sure it lasts many many seasons to come.

Don't let educational technology become the NBA

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="525"] Let's not all be like Mike.[/caption]

Blame it on Sportscenter and ESPN. Blame it on YouTube. Whatever the cause, the National Basketball Association has seen its game change drastically over the years. Players are great at flashy dunks and great at raining in long-range three pointers. Very few are good at the 10-18 foot jump shot, playing sound defense, and dribbling through traffic. A number of experts will tell you it is because dunks and threes make the highlight reels. Nobody is going to upload a mix tape of a guy hitting mid-range shots. That is boring. Players want to get noticed, go viral.

My fear in education is that if we are not careful, our use of technology has the potential to be just like the NBA. Augmented reality (AR) is amazing. Spreadsheets? Hmm...not so much. Let's not ignore what tech is really for, to enhance great teaching and learning. If AR helps kids understand and explore deeper like the setting in a novel, then use. Just don't use it just to use it. Make it impactful.

Don't let edtech become the NBA; nothing but dunks and threes with no time for the fundamentals. Make more impact and not just flashy magic tricks.

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You've landed at the new Internet home of Hamilton Community Schools (Michigan) elementary infotech teacher, integration specialist, consultant, presenter, helpful guy, and all-around techno-geek Andy Losik.

This space is designed to be a one-stop-shopping spot all of my many Internet and educational technology related pursuits.