dustormagic

Here's a nice collection of original articles

What would an iPad designed especially for school use look like? Here's a guess

"As a result, extended use of the computer as tutee can shift the focus of education in the classroom from end product to process, from acquiring facts to manipulating and understanding them."

More of what we know already -- that kids don't take the time to check sources. "...little of the work on online credibility assessment has considered how the information-seeking process figures into the final evaluation of content people encounter. Using unique data about how a diverse group of young adults looks for and evaluates Web content, our paper makes contributions to existing literature by highlighting factors beyond site features in how users assess credibility."

"What about Game Center? The planned Game Center will allow iPhone gamers to challenge friends and to locate and compete with other players of similar skill levels, and offer leader boards and achievement rankings. This has the potential to be a major deal for iPhone gamers and game developers. I've omitted it from my top-five list because, as of yet, there are few details about how it will function or when it will be released. In fact, answers to some of the questions posed about Game Center during the Q&A following Apple's announcement indicate that even Apple hasn't yet fully refined how it will handle some features, such as achievement rankings and rewards." Noted in an article by Ryan Faas

I'm very interested in micro-network socialization that might be stimulated by this iPhone OS upgrade. What if an entire classroom of kids could compete or colaborate on the same problem, simultainiously on their iPod Touches or iPads?

A list of Internet safety related sites and other teaching tools by Anne Bubnic.

Imagine if we had this kind of energy working on a preschooler's portfolio. And why not?

Here are two different approaches to the same activity. One is didactic, the other more child centered. See if you can tell which is which, and ask yourself ...

When it comes to designing children's interactive media, former US President Harry Truman might have been on to something when he said, "I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it." Unfortunately, too many of the products I review were designed by people who've forgotten this free advice.

explore an old farm tractor

The First Amendment applies to speech created by minors on interactive sites.

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata interviews the DSi engineering team.

The minds behind the DSi

MUC Defined: The highest level of skill or competence that you must have in order to experience success with a particular IM experience. It is the designer's responsibility to understand the various types of abilities/competence that a novice child brings to the experience the first time, in order to make things work and feel competent with the task. Struggling with something challenging is OK; but it shouldn't be the control mechanisms, the login screen or the main menu.

The Incremental Reinforcement Technique When to use it: A didactic task that could become repetitive and tedious. Why it works: Curiosity is a powerful motivator. "What will happen when I get to the end?"

Do I have $800 to spend on yet another Apple (s aapl) device that bridges the (relatively small) gap between ...

Nice looking creativity interface from Microsoft, via Scott Trayler.

We just got this game today, and our two-year old is loving it. The game and system is very kid-friendly - even a 2-year old can enjoy it.