Group items tagged

List of adaptive technologies, how they work, and who they benefit.

With adaptive and assistive technologies, more students have the ability to better communicate and learn than ever before. So how is technology really shaping education for students with special needs? Good infographic

Focus on e-reading, ocr units/software.

This article focuses on the role of personal learning environments in higher education. I particularly appreciated the description of the PLE in the article. Pointing out what it offers that Learning Management Systems do not, the PLE is explained as the future of education where the student takes control and responsibility from the reigns of the institution. It also suggests that PLEs have staying power in education due to the fact that they are not wrapped up with a specific technology, rather they have the ability to adapt and change as technology around us continues to do so. The author discusses how students should be given challenging situations rather than ridged assignments. The article finishes with an example where this idea was implemented in an online learning environment. Väljataga, T. (2010). Learner control and personal learning environment: a challenge for instructional design. Interactive Learning Environments, 18(3), 277-291.

A paper suggesting the need for technology to fully nurture and create an authentic learning process. It advocates for a an equal, four-part learning ecosystem that includes learning content, learning context, learning subjects, and learning technology. In addition to technology having its own dedicated category, the idea of connectivism can be found throughout the other three categories as well.

This journal article discusses how ideas taken from the connectivism learning model are being used in the educational reform process of Vietnam. This paper goes through how using the principles of connectivism can help reform the Vietnam educational system.

This site talks about the benefits of and strategies for using technology in a special education classroom.

A Position of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Question: What is the role of technology in the teaching and learning of mathematics? NCTM Position It is essential that teachers and students have regular access to technologies that support and advance mathematical sense making, reasoning, problem solving, and communication.

This article begins by addressing the changing technological innovations over time but the lack of widespread adoption of particular technologies. For example the acceptance of learning management system but apprehension towards virtual peer-to-peer interactions. Informal rather than formal learning is again highlighted as being a positive move of acceptance. The authors would like to see social media included in learning and life-long learning with a shift from virtual learning systems to personal learning environments

Connectivism is an integration that encompasses social and individual learning, and experience. Connectivism is knowledge and the process of learning, principle of learning, technology, nature of knowledge, and the flow of information.

From the P2P Foundation (what is more Connectivist than that?), this an essential description of Connectivist Learning Theory and how it ties to knowledge networks. It includes a history and glossary of key terms.

Connectivist learning theory, by George Siemens This is the process of knowledge as well as learning. Connectivism focuses on the inclusion of technology. We must focus on our interactions with one another with connectivism.

Offers links to Excel learning tutorials, subject-specific uses for spreadsheet software, and links to additional resources

Integrating technology in the classroom is becoming more and more prevalent in many schools across the world. Teachers need to think of creative ways to incorporate technology into the classroom. This guide provides help for teachers wanting to use the application, Microsoft Excel, for help in their classes.

Some great tutorials on Excel and ways to integrate it into multiple content areas.

Technology Plan put forth by the US Dept. of Ed.

This is the U.S. Department of Education's 2004 National Education Technology Plan. It is based on input from thousands of students, educators, administrators, technology experts and education organizations. It also builds on the previous reports issued in 1996 and 2000

While some are concerned that technology will do more harm than good, this site contains articles about using technology to solve complex problems. Without technology, these kinds of activities would be impossible for students to perform.

An interesting article about reformatting the traditional classroom to incorporate Web 2.0 technology and considerations.

Technology Integration
Research & Best Practices

A great article that describes a great need in education!

"Seeing the Possibilities with Video Phone Technology "

In this short blog post, Walker discusses the changing technology requires us to revisit classic learning theories. He continues to describe Connectivism with references from Siemans and Downes. He touches on the idea that learning is not just inside the learner, it now occurs among learners.

This website breaks down the learning theory of connectivism and how this learning theory came about. It describes how connectivism was created due to the Internet and the need for different strategies.

From this article I understand that connectivism is a way of learning through the internet, media and social networks. It discussed how learning can be formal and also informal, to which informal learning seems to be outweighing the formal learning now a days. Informal learning comes from communities of practice and personal networks which are very popular and common today.

An educator's blog that writes about how to use technology in the early childhood classroom - great ideas to use with younger children.