I have explored Remember the Milk and Jott.  For now, I think I am just going to stick with plain old Google Calendar.  The problem I can see with these, for someone like me, is excessive text messaging which, after some time, can actually get pricey if I am not careful.

Useful with Google Calendar is the ability to share my calendars, get e-mail and SMS updates, and also it is easy to get to when I open my home page (iGoogle).

At Downtown Elementary, we assign a limited amount of summer homework: summer reading lists. These help students keep sharp on their reading skills by practicing, and also get students ready to boost up their Accelerated Reader points right off the bat.

In a short article by Sara Ring on Edutopia, she says:

Though proponents argue that summer homework helps students maintain their academic skills, many students and their families resent mandatory work over vacation. In fact, in 2005, a Wisconsin teen sued his math teacher, the school district, and the state department of education, arguing that his school was outside of its rights to assign work before his class technically began.

It is something interesting to think about. Read more of the article here. Also, there is an Edutopia poll included as part of the article. Take it, look at the results, and join in the discussion.

I read a quick article today on PCMag with some good tips for shooting and editing videos. Although the author uses examples that show editing in Pinnacle, the tips can work well for iMovie or any editing software.

Editing rule 1: Break long videos into short scenes.

Editing rule 2: Spend the time to fix your videos.

Shooting rule 1: Shoot steady footage and have enough light.

Shooting rule 2: Shoot good “coverage” and get a balance of subjects (like both family and location).

The author also includes “Five Easy Steps for Making a Great Home Movie.” Read the rest of the article by Jan Ozer, “Shooting and Editing Better Videos,” here.

Even though this article is geared to mom or dad who will be editing family vacation videos, the tips are universal and could be useful when teaching students some basics in the computer lab or classroom. Also, these tips can be very helpful for any teachers who are required to shoot and edit videos for school functions!