Group items tagged

Article poses question of whether technology is worth the cost in the schools. Research seems to suggest not, but the article doesn't deal with peripheral issues, such as whether the digital divide will widen.

Info from R. Byrne's blog on this site for digital safety: "The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre hosts an excellent resource for helping students learn how to be responsible digital citizens. ThinkUKnow offers videos, games, and lessons for students ages five through sixteen. The site is divided into five sections; 5-7, 8-10, 11-16, a section for parents, and a section for teachers. The 5-7 section of ThinkUKnow feature a cartoon video series titled Hector's World. Hector's World is designed to educate students about safe use of the Internet and computers in general. Through the cartoons students learn about things like protecting their personal information and asking a trusted adult for help when necessary. Each episode of Hector's World is accompanied by a coloring book that you can download as a PDF."

Mark Warschauer's blog has replaced the old emailed Papyrus Newsletter. He now has a team of contributors. Focus is on digital learning and literacy, with an emphasis on the digital divide, new tools, ruminations about the nature of life online.

Warschauer makes 3 pts--who uses and owns English has been changed by the Internet; the digital divide is actually a continuum; technology requires new language skills--it's not just an optional tool but must change what is taught.

The Academic Word List is divided into sublists based on frequency and each list has its own set of digital flashcards.

Another teacher training site for technology. However, this is rapidly spoken and may be difficult for NNEST to follow easily. The front page has a nice explanation of how the site works and how each video is set up. The site is divided roughly into tools for newbies, developing users, and advanced users. Each video also has a link, and all the tools described are free.

About 50 ways to show how video can be used in the classroom for learning/teaching language skills, culture, assessment, etc. Also divided by European standards proficiency levels and by age/school class.

From the Mail & Guadian Online (S. Africa), 23 Jun 2006; dated 01 Jun 2006. By Wagdy Sawahel, Priya Shetty and Christina Scott

"he introduction of home computer technology is associated with modest but statistically significant and persistent negative impacts on student math and reading test scores. Further evidence suggests that providing universal access to home computers and high-speed internet access would broaden, rather than narrow, math and reading achievement gaps. " While this is a pay-per .pdf file, it looks to have some significant data about the effect of technology on reading and math. Worrisome!