EdTechSR Ep 176 - Choose Your Digital Platform Investments Carefully

Welcome to episode 176 ("Choose Your Digital Platform Investments Carefully") of the EdTech Situation Room from May 7, 2020, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed updates from Apple including more predicted "opening" to third party platforms on iOS and MacOS, FaceID and masks, and prescient words from Tim Cook in the latest Apple earnings call. On the Microsoft front, Windows 10X progress as as a Chromebook competitor, Slack and Microsoft teams as collaboration tools were mentioned. On the Google side of platforms, the outstanding "Teach from Home" Google resource website, PewDiePie's exclusive live-streaming deal with YouTube, the spike in user-created "everyday with me" videos, and excellent screenshot improvements for ChromeOS as well as Chromeshot extensions were discussed. On COVID-19 related issues, the challenge of engaging social media followers and friends over disinformation videos / articles, a very insightful (and troubling) article from Harvard professor Fernando M. Reimers on the global impact of pandemic, and "An Open Letter to Independent School Leaders" by Ben Scafidi and Eric Wearne were discussed by Jason and Wes. Geeks of the Week included the upcoming June 9-11 On Air KS G-Summit, a COVID-19 scenario visualizer and simulator, a "choose your own adventure" digital story called "57 North," new "deep fake" videos using Chris Pratt images on Harrison Ford / Indiana Jones movie clips, the July 14-19, 2020 Summer Institute on Digital Literacy, and the Home Depot 62 in. Adjustable Height Work Bench Table as a home office desk. Our show was live streamed and archived simultaneously on YouTube Live as well as our Facebook Live page via StreamYard.com. Thanks to everyone who joined us live and shared comments in our live chat! Please follow us on Twitter @edtechSR for updates, and join us LIVE on Wednesday nights (normally) if you can at 10 pm Eastern / 9 pm Central / 8 pm Mountain / 7 pm Pacific or 3 am UTC. All shownotes are available on http://edtechSR.com/links.