Comments for Jim Butt's Blog http://jimbutt.com A place to collect thoughts, share ideas, and spark collaboration. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:09:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Why I’m Skeptical About Apple iBooks by David Cohen http://jimbutt.com/why-im-skeptical-about-apple-ibooks/#comment-52 David Cohen Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:09:12 +0000 http://jimbutt.com/?p=337#comment-52 Jim, I tend to disagree with a number of points in this matter. To some degree, Apple does care about the workers at Foxconn; could and should the care more, yes. Key issues in this regard are that the Foxconn employees are not Apple employees and that working conditions and policies in China are not the same in the U.S., and that the employees are largely out of our sight and mind. Apple cares about more than profits; they care about providing very well designed consumer devices and controlling the infrastructure to ensure a high degree of user satsifaction. I support open standards, but recognize that through open standards, we did not get the iPod or the iPhone or perhaps most improtantly iTunes, which is well designed store that enables content creators and provides to provide merchandise and consumers to purchase it. Also while open standards means that the ebook can be viewed on more devices, true open standards (without adequate controls), means that the ebook and be shared and/or transferred, which could hurt the content creator. I believe that nothing is preventing a publisher of textbooks and developers/manufacturers of tablet devices from also publishing content outside of the iPad/Apple system. While I do not know the details of textbook publishing, I believe that the costs of textbooks from big publishers is very high, and that they will seek to keep them high in regards of whatever models they develop and utilize for ebook publishing. From what I have read, the Apple model with big publsihers is going away from a high cost for a textbook model (with the book being abled to be ruesed and transferred from student to student each year) to a model of a lower ebook cost, but with that book being tied to an iPad. Putting aside the cost of the iPad, this may be cost neutral to a school district, or cost more, or less than the old textbook method. What appeals to me most about the Apple ebook model are the apparent easy ability for authors to publish and get distribution via iTunes, and the increased functionality that the Apple ebooks will likely have over other ebooks (e.g. more interactivity and functionality). Jim, I tend to disagree with a number of points in this matter. To some degree, Apple does care about the workers at Foxconn; could and should the care more, yes. Key issues in this regard are that the Foxconn employees are not Apple employees and that working conditions and policies in China are not the same in the U.S., and that the employees are largely out of our sight and mind.

Apple cares about more than profits; they care about providing very well designed consumer devices and controlling the infrastructure to ensure a high degree of user satsifaction.

I support open standards, but recognize that through open standards, we did not get the iPod or the iPhone or perhaps most improtantly iTunes, which is well designed store that enables content creators and provides to provide merchandise and consumers to purchase it. Also while open standards means that the ebook can be viewed on more devices, true open standards (without adequate controls), means that the ebook and be shared and/or transferred, which could hurt the content creator.

I believe that nothing is preventing a publisher of textbooks and developers/manufacturers of tablet devices from also publishing content outside of the iPad/Apple system. While I do not know the details of textbook publishing, I believe that the costs of textbooks from big publishers is very high, and that they will seek to keep them high in regards of whatever models they develop and utilize for ebook publishing. From what I have read, the Apple model with big publsihers is going away from a high cost for a textbook model (with the book being abled to be ruesed and transferred from student to student each year) to a model of a lower ebook cost, but with that book being tied to an iPad. Putting aside the cost of the iPad, this may be cost neutral to a school district, or cost more, or less than the old textbook method.

What appeals to me most about the Apple ebook model are the apparent easy ability for authors to publish and get distribution via iTunes, and the increased functionality that the Apple ebooks will likely have over other ebooks (e.g. more interactivity and functionality).

]]> Comment on Overcoming a Weakness…Engaging with Our Community by Rose http://jimbutt.com/overcoming-a-weakness-engaging-with-our-community/#comment-13 Rose Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:50:04 +0000 http://jimbutt.wordpress.com/2010/01/24/overcoming-a-weakness-engaging-with-our-community#comment-13 I'm a resident of the LaMott area and I can tell you that there are a lot of different groups within the community. I think its hard on a lot of people because a lot of the residents are elderly and an increasing amount of residents are new simply because of the older residents dying out or the recent rash of foreclosures that have been happening in the immediate area.But I'm seeing increasing numbers of people who have been attending local meetings lately. So that's a good sign! I'm a resident of the LaMott area and I can tell you that there are a lot of different groups within the community. I think its hard on a lot of people because a lot of the residents are elderly and an increasing amount of residents are new simply because of the older residents dying out or the recent rash of foreclosures that have been happening in the immediate area.But I'm seeing increasing numbers of people who have been attending local meetings lately. So that's a good sign!

]]> Comment on Six of Seven District Schools Earn State Achievement Award by Rhonda http://jimbutt.com/six-of-seven-district-schools-earn-state-achievement-award/#comment-24 Rhonda Fri, 31 Dec 2010 15:48:15 +0000 http://jimbutt.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/six-of-seven-district-schools-earn-state-achievement-award#comment-24 Congratulations! Congratulations!

]]> Comment on Interesting, Happy Times by Jen16226 http://jimbutt.com/interesting-happy-times/#comment-23 Jen16226 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:10:37 +0000 http://jimbutt.wordpress.com/2010/10/03/interesting-happy-times#comment-23 There are a couple of things that truly affect things in my district and lack of transparency is high on the list.One director in particular has a habit of "twisting" facts. If he would like to be taken seriously, he needs to show data he is looking at and not just speak about what numbers he is looking at.In addition, a lack of providing a long-range district plan is non transparent.Perhaps if we had a board director like you, who clearly shows his hand, the stakeholders in my district would become more engaged and offer more. Instead there is too much speculation and hurt feelings, which is never productive.Thank you for your blog! There are a couple of things that truly affect things in my district and lack of transparency is high on the list.One director in particular has a habit of "twisting" facts. If he would like to be taken seriously, he needs to show data he is looking at and not just speak about what numbers he is looking at.In addition, a lack of providing a long-range district plan is non transparent.Perhaps if we had a board director like you, who clearly shows his hand, the stakeholders in my district would become more engaged and offer more. Instead there is too much speculation and hurt feelings, which is never productive.Thank you for your blog!

]]> Comment on Transparency – Part 2 by Jim Butt http://jimbutt.com/transparency-part-2/#comment-22 Jim Butt Sun, 26 Sep 2010 15:05:23 +0000 http://jimbutt.wordpress.com/2010/09/05/transparency-part-2#comment-22 Since I don't know any of the specifics, my recommendation is to speak to your solicitor. The Sunshine Law, to me, has long tentacles. Since I don't know any of the specifics, my recommendation is to speak to your solicitor. The Sunshine Law, to me, has long tentacles.

]]> Comment on Transparency – Part 2 by Charlie Crystle http://jimbutt.com/transparency-part-2/#comment-21 Charlie Crystle Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:57:32 +0000 http://jimbutt.wordpress.com/2010/09/05/transparency-part-2#comment-21 I'm a board member for the School District of Lancaster. Do you have an opinion on transparency of connected organizations? We have several nonprofits that use the district name and partnership to get public grants, etc, ostensibly to improve things for the schools. Almost all deliberation is private, decisions are private, contracts aren't put out to bid, friends are hired, etc. Thoughts? I'm a board member for the School District of Lancaster. Do you have an opinion on transparency of connected organizations? We have several nonprofits that use the district name and partnership to get public grants, etc, ostensibly to improve things for the schools. Almost all deliberation is private, decisions are private, contracts aren't put out to bid, friends are hired, etc. Thoughts?

]]> Comment on Here’s a Key Input…Parents! by Jim Butt http://jimbutt.com/heres-a-key-input-parents/#comment-19 Jim Butt Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:07:26 +0000 http://jimbutt.wordpress.com/2010/08/19/heres-a-key-input-parents#comment-19 So, given what I discuss above on motivation and what Steven R. Covey discusses in "The Speed of Trust", how can we demonstrate trust in parents and provide the supports and motivation needed. Certainly, I look to our PTOs and UPG to engage on many levels, but we all need to be engages. It's tough, I know, but if we don't engage our parents, we're missing a major input to a successful educational experience. Thanks for your thoughts! So, given what I discuss above on motivation and what Steven R. Covey discusses in "The Speed of Trust", how can we demonstrate trust in parents and provide the supports and motivation needed. Certainly, I look to our PTOs and UPG to engage on many levels, but we all need to be engages. It's tough, I know, but if we don't engage our parents, we're missing a major input to a successful educational experience. Thanks for your thoughts!

]]> Comment on ROWE, ROWE, ROWE Your Learning by Anonymous http://jimbutt.com/rowe-rowe-rowe-your-learning/#comment-20 Anonymous Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:23:09 +0000 http://jimbutt.wordpress.com/2010/08/19/rowe-rowe-rowe-your-learning#comment-20 I would be very interested in learning more about the idea of ROLE. We expect a certain type of motivation in school -- i.e. getting good grades and pleasing the teacher (and parents). When that motivation is not strong, we assume a child is "unmotivated". Finding different, intrinsic motivations would certainly reach more children than just those looking for good grades and to please teachers. I would be very interested in learning more about the idea of ROLE. We expect a certain type of motivation in school — i.e. getting good grades and pleasing the teacher (and parents). When that motivation is not strong, we assume a child is "unmotivated". Finding different, intrinsic motivations would certainly reach more children than just those looking for good grades and to please teachers.

]]> Comment on Here’s a Key Input…Parents! by Anonymous http://jimbutt.com/heres-a-key-input-parents/#comment-18 Anonymous Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:47:47 +0000 http://jimbutt.wordpress.com/2010/08/19/heres-a-key-input-parents#comment-18 I agree with your statements and your premise about the overriding importance of parenting in the education of children. However, schools can either support and maximize good parenting, or they can undermine and inhibit adequate performance in otherwise well-parented children. The school district has not yet released this years PSSA results, but if there is substantial discrepancy between the scores of students across different schools, where do we look to see what caused some to perform less well than others? Parents are a constant. Certainly we all of hope for good performance across our district. I agree with your statements and your premise about the overriding importance of parenting in the education of children. However, schools can either support and maximize good parenting, or they can undermine and inhibit adequate performance in otherwise well-parented children. The school district has not yet released this years PSSA results, but if there is substantial discrepancy between the scores of students across different schools, where do we look to see what caused some to perform less well than others? Parents are a constant. Certainly we all of hope for good performance across our district.

]]> Comment on Summer Fun for Board Members by Jen Willyard http://jimbutt.com/summer-fun-for-board-members/#comment-17 Jen Willyard Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:24:40 +0000 http://jimbutt.wordpress.com/2010/07/11/summer-fun-for-board-members#comment-17 Just wanted to let you know I enjoy reading your blog and this one in particular.The school board in our district had made a resolution for effective governance as well, but you could never tell! Myself and some other concerned parents are trying hard to hold them to this, but it is not too successful yet. We even put that on our website www.asd-news.com I suspect some of them will find the usefulness in being transparent and engaging in a thoughtful manner closer to next year when re-election time comes. Just wanted to let you know I enjoy reading your blog and this one in particular.The school board in our district had made a resolution for effective governance as well, but you could never tell! Myself and some other concerned parents are trying hard to hold them to this, but it is not too successful yet. We even put that on our website http://www.asd-news.com I suspect some of them will find the usefulness in being transparent and engaging in a thoughtful manner closer to next year when re-election time comes.

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