My Boy Billy is getting a Tablet just like Me!

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I went to the parent's orientation meeting for Billy's new school last week. The session opened with a wonderful slide show featuring the boys of Year 7, 2006 who had been at the school earlier in the day for their school orientation. All the staff spoke at length about the school, the culture and the values. Made me feel good about the choice we have made about Billy's high school.

When then had a session, by the Director of Learning Technologies on the technologies to be used by the boys, and this really made me sit up and take notice.  The school has an excellent notebook program, which this year will include Tablet PCs - in particular the Toshiba Protégé  M200 (just like mine). Now this is cool!

But wait there's more.

The Director of Learning Technologies then went on extoling the virtues of the Tablet PC, and outlined some of the products that will be used, such as the Experiene Pack for Tablet PC, the Education Pack for Tablet PC, Office 2003, OneNote 2003, PhotoStory 3, Microsoft Producer and Microsoft Student 2006. WOW!

He then spoke of the education portal they are using, which is the world class Toolbox from Janison Solutions (big shout out to Wayne Houlden and the rest of the folks at Janison, in Coffs Harbour. Looks like you will finally have an Arrigo using your product. How's the ASP.NET conversion going??). Double WOW!

Now I can't control my enthusiasm - my boy will be using the very tools that I have been evangelising. This stuff is real and it is being including in curriculum and being exposed to the next generation. I'm itching to jump up and high five someone. My wife tells me to settle down.

At the end of the presentation I do jump up from my seat and introduce myself to the Director of Learning Technologies. I offer to help. I don't know what this will look like, but I am really really pumped. I'm thinking of getting the local Tablet MVP, Dr Neil Roodyn involved and doing some brainstorming - maybe we can get some of the boys programming, or blogging (like I did at Billy's primary school), or something. Whatever is needed, I will try and lend a hand. Even if it means doing some basic "How to use a Tablet PC" sessions with the boys.

I'll keep you posted on what happens!

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