Author: Amy Keith

Hi, my name is Amy, and I’m addicted to summer television. (I think admitting you have a problem is the first step, am I right?) I will miss the Dunphys and Graysons, but for me, it’s the most wonderful time of the year in television – the summer season. Growing up, season finales ended in May, and the summer was filled with re-runs. Today, between cable networks and reality TV there is an abundance of “original” programming throughout the entire year. In addition to permeating the airwaves, many of these shows also infiltrate the social space as well – keeping audiences connected and engaged.

I'm hopeful that brands will respect Pinterest's user-inspired culture and DIY feel. In fact, they may have to in order to be successful on the platform, which seems to be the tool de jour for brands with heavy visual appeal. It will be really interesting to see how these companies use Pinterest -- and if they can turn pictures into profits.

Some of my earliest recollections of my elementary school’s technology in the early 80's include the “ding” from the film strip projector and playing the original Oregon Trail on an Apple II in the school library. Each generation has its own memories for how technology shaped their learning experiences. Smart boards and iPads will probably be my first grader’s earliest reference points. Recently, I received the October newsletter from my child’s school. As I took a quick read through what the various grades were working on, I noticed something very cool – a QR code. The fifth grade students spent the first month of the school year studying ecosystems and developing posters depicting their findings. The posters were hung on the halls of the quad, but the teacher also created a QR code for parents to scan so they could see all of the work without taking a step into the school. Obviously, QR codes are nothing new for retailers, but I thought this was a great use of technology to engage parents with their children's learning experiences. Instead of finding a rumpled poster shoved into the bottom of a backpack, a parent could instantly admire their child’s work.