Group items tagged

How Social Media changed the world and how we react. SIG: Use as the solution?

Advocates a bottom-up approach to getting devices, specifically ipads, into classrooms. Solutions include byod, donations, recycling/refurbishing, grant writing, and budget analysis. This article is a great resource for educators seeking innovative ways to get devices into their classrooms. Also includes links to donation and recycling sites, as well as testimonials from programs that worked. Sig 1 Context: funding, DD solutions

This web page provides a video tutorial for implementing augmented reality in math education to promote an engaging, relevant, and low cost solution to content. It also points to low test scores in geometry which might be improved upon through Google Sketchup. This is valuable as a means to address student needs for exploration in all areas specifically Geometry. SIG1Context: augmented reality, connection, cross curricular,

This is a teacher blog about the pro's and con's of iPads and other mobile devices for the classroom. I think this is a great article because it is from an educator in the trenches experience with the iPad. This is valuable to our SIG because it focuses on apps as a solution to any limitation of the iPad. SIG1Context: Rachel and I may want to look at this as introduction to apps in general.

This is an interesting article about innovative and future technology which will provide teachers with interactive study guides and pop quizzes while on field trips. The potential is for reduced behavior problems. A potential problem is the cost of 3G iPads which are necessary for technology. A solution may exist with the collaboration of Square Crumbs and JoliCloud. This is a good example of collaboration between companies which will benefit education. This will be something to watch for in the future. SIG 1Context: Collaboration, mobility, field trips, student engagement

This article begins with an anecdote illustrating some creative IT solutions to digital divide problems. It goes on to examine the changing definition of the digital divide, examining some statistics about computers in schools and minority use of the internet and technology. The second-to-last section is specifically about mobile devices in classrooms. Interesting examples of these concepts at work. Sig 1 Context: Divide, byod, mobile

Interview with Elliot Soloway of UofM. He predicts that every K-12 student will be using a handheld device in five years. He's a big advocate of cell phones as the way to go, and pretty down on tablets (expensive, fragile, locked). The biggest hurdle right now: access speed and reliability. This article connects byod and divide issues nicely Sig 1 context: byod, divide

solutions

ISTE blog by Ed Madison on the BYOD debate. Addresses the digital divide questions of equity, and some solutions, including school-offered leasing programs and recycle/refurbish programs. Also addresses the (inappropriate) content issue, taking the view that digital citizenship is one of the things schools should be teaching. States that teacher acceptance can be one of the biggest barriers. SIG 1 Context: BYOD, Digital Divide

This article first summarizes an argument by Gary Stager that byod is a bad idea because it makes teachers tailor instruction to the weakest device, highlights socioeconomic disparities in students, and "contributes to the growing narrative that education is not worthy of investment." The author goes on to acknowledge the problems Stager brings up, while describing the benefits of byod: driving schools to cloud computing rather than native apps, student ownershp of work and initiative to figure out solutions, etc. Thoughtful article that provides maybe raises more questions than it answers. Sig1 Context: byod, digital divide

This article uses the release of the latest iphone to highlight global inequalities and present some truly affordable gadgets from around the world. Profiled gadgets include a $35 tablet and a $25 desktop, as well as a solar powered netbook and cheap smartphones. The author's point that the information devices access is more important than the devices themselves is important to keep in mind when addressing the digital divide. Sig 1 Context: Digital divide, Funding

Wow, powerful video about today's students and how they are digital natives. It would be great to use to show the Digital Divide that there is between our learners and "where" most teachers are not.

SIG 1 Context:Digital Divide

solutions

This is a very interesting website that connects donors with teachers and students in need of equipment. Teachers post a project asking for donations, donors choose which projects to fund, and then students send feedback about what they accomplished with the devices. Could be an excellent resource for teachers looking for alternative funding for specific projects. Sig1 Context: Funding