eLearing - Jewish Style

As a Tech Specialist for CIJE (www.thecije.org), every second Wednesday I have the pleasure and honor to facilitate a live video eLearning classroom for Rabbi Boruch Suffrin, Head of School for the Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy, here in Los Angeles.  Rabbi Sufrin gives an AMAZING Shiur (A class based on classical Jewish religious texts) at the Beth Jacob Synagogue.  His class is always packed AND it is live-streamed throughout the world! (Click here for the date/time of Rabbi Sufrin's next Shiur)

This is a view of the Shiur from the remote eLearning manager (where I field on-line 

questions from the web) and a view from an iPad

This is the Asus Tablet PC with an external HD camera (under $450.00!!) - Rabbi 

Sufrin Controls his whole Shiur from here.

A screen shot of this week's Shiur. (Click this link for a list of Rabbi Sufrin's Shiurim)

Rabbi Sufrin prepares source documents that are handed out to the attending participants and are interactively displayed on the screen for the "at home" participants to review (they are available to download as well).  In the past, these source sheets have taken Rabbi Sufrin many long hours of work to prepare, pulling the references from classical Jewish texts, some of which are thousands of years old.  This week though, the source sheets were prepared using a website called Sefaria. (www.sefaria.org)

Sefaria is an ever growing source of information on Classical - and modern - Jewish texts.  By using a "Wiki-like" approach, they have gathered over 22,697 source sheets with 53 million words and almost 8 million of those words have been translated into multiple languages.

Founded in 2013, Sefaria is an unbelievable resource for the Jewish educator and presenter.  If you have the time and inclination, I would suggest that you get involved with this organization. Their platform works on tablets/computer/smart phones, etc.  If you don't have the technical expertise to loan, then make a donation to keep the project going.

What is Sefaria: Here is a short video

As we say good-bye to 2015 and prepare to welcome 2016, let's remember that not only do our students need to be life-long learners, but so do we.  As one of my favorite Sci-Fi spoof movies says: "Never give up! Never Surrender!!"

Have a great new year!!!

Warmest regards...

Yossie Frankel

Yossie Frankel

IT Director - Shalhevet High School

Tech Specialist - CIJE

Checkout my blog @ technorebbe.blogspot.com

Twitter @yossiefrankel
YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel

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Talk about a LONG class...

I have been teaching for over 30 years now and I remember the first time I had a double period class.  It was 90 minutes long and I was so worried that I would not be able to keep my students engaged.  I made it through that first class and, after about 6 months, I wondered how it was that I actually taught in a shorter period!

Well, you can imagine my reaction when I heard about the "Longest Shiur" (A Shiur is a Talmudic - Jewish Law - study session) that would be  OVER 18 HOURS LONG, organized, coordinated and led by a single person: Rabbi Shlomo Einhorn, the Dean and Rav of Yeshivat Yavnah in Los Angeles, CA!!

Then, to pique my interest even more, not only would Rabbi Einhorn give this Shiur, but it would be live streamed - FOR THE FULL 18+ HOURS  on You Tube!!

AMAZING!!  

I was definitely "in" to watch this.  Then I got a great email.  The Exec Producer, Lev Stark and the Producer, Aviv Tops wanted my help with some live streaming issues!!  Now, not only was I going be able to watch, but I could participate as well!!

So... The professional sound and camera crew are on site... We are live streaming... Direct to You Tube in full HD!!... And where are you??

You must check this out....

http://www.longestshiur.com

All funds raised will be used for scholarships for students to attend Jewish Day School, so while you are watching, make a pledge.

As always, I solicit and encourage your comments on the blog page.

Yossie

Yossie Frankel

IT Director - Shalhevet High School

Tech Specialist - CIJE

Checkout my blog @ technorebbe.blogspot.com

Twitter @yossiefrankel
YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel

The Force Awakens - on your home Internet!!

Ah, my young Padawan Techies...

We all know that the Internet can be a force for good - abundant information at one's fingertips, connecting with fellow learners throughout the world - but it also has a dark side - a warped space/time of endless hours playing games, and some sites that try to seduce us and waste our time with cute pictures of cats with lightsabers (https://youtu.be/m6erUBMtV2g) .  We call that the black hole, the dark side of the web.

So, as a parent, what can you do to manage the screen time, websites and general usage of the World Wide Web at your home?  Well, over the years I have seem many different home based solutions.  Some worked well, but the common thread was that the parents had to become technology specialists to use them!

Well, search no more!!  A force of light has awakened!!  

Disney (yes, the folks who now own Star Wars - hence all the bad puns...) has partnered with an AMAZING home Internet management device.  Not only does it work, but it is easy to use as well!!

I could extoll the virtues of this device, but the below linked video says it all!

(Click link to see video)

I ordered mine and I can't wait for its arrival!!  I will keep you all posted on how it goes... My son is just going to love it!! (sarcasm intended!!)

May the FARCE be with you all!!

Yossie

Yossie Frankel

IT Director - Shalhevet High School

Tech Specialist - CIJE

Checkout my blog @ technorebbe.blogspot.com

Twitter @yossiefrankel
YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel

Wearable Tech... or just warm socks?!!

I absolutely MUST share this amazing piece of wearable tech with you all!  (Shout out to Donna Mandosa from the InTELA user group for sharing this!!!)

So, here is the "Big Idea" (Shout out to my wife Batsheva - the PBL instructor - she has taught me well...)

After a hard day of marking student papers, have you ever settled down on your couch to watch a Netflix video with a nice glass of dry red wine? (I am accepting bottles of GOOD kosher wine if anyone is offering!!)  After about 15 minutes into the movie... what happens.  If you are like me - zzzzzzzzzzz - Fast asleep!!  When I wake up, I have no idea of where I was in the movie!  Very frustrating...

Well, the folks at Netflix have the solution!!  Netflix socks!  When you doze off, they automatically pause your video so you don't miss a minute.... For real!!  This is a cool DIY project.

(Click here for the link)

Check it out!  I would love to hear your feedback - my sock size is Large.... in case any of you are making these.

Regards...

Yossie Frankel

IT Director - Shalhevet High School

Tech Specialist - CIJE

Checkout my blog @ technorebbe.blogspot.com

Twitter @yossiefrankel
YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel