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This is a very interesting article written by John Merrow (Education Correspondent, PBS Newshour). He says that technology could be "breaking barriers" in education, but that it isn't being used to it's fullest potential with the increasing focus on high-stakes testing. Teachers are afraid to take risks with technology to help engage students because test scores might fall by the wayside.

A new study is being conducted to see whether or not use of 3D technology in the classroom enhances the learning experience. The results showed an increase in test scores, attentiveness, and student's ability to recall information. The study was conducted in the UK and involved 740 students age 10-13.

Some day I'll tell my grand-children about seeing my first 3-D movie with "special glasses." Great article.

This article examines how to use twitter in a college classroom, but it was very insightful for high school classes as well. The article lists five uses of twitter that benefit the classroom: Bringing clients to class, learning to be concise, creating character, teaching about social media, and creating a brand. The article said technology for the sake of technology, in this case twitter, isn't the goal; rather we should focus on how to select the right technology for the right occasion.

Keeping the "TED Talk" in mind, this article gives a quick informative look on how classroom technology has changed over time. The Horn Book, a paddle with the alphabet and Bible verses written on it for students to copy, was one of the first things listed. The list also includes pencils, the radio, and of course iPads. One thing I found interesting was the authors included their Twitter address for people to tweet things they think should be added to the list.

Great article, Arianna. I enjoyed the pictures. You can tweet back to the authors on Saturday after our Twitter session and add a few more to the list.

This article discusses the impact technology has on k-12 classrooms. The technology revolution has forced teachers to move from the front of the classroom to the center. It has forced teachers to differentiate their instruction , get to know their students, and create digital learning materials.

This article from MindShift is an excerpt from a new book by Will Richardson titled, "Why School: How Education Must Change When Learning and Information are Everywhere." Richardson is making an argument for not only the use of technology, but for the creation of classroom work that is authentic and meaningful in our changing world. He argues that our teaching practices must change in order to better prepare our learners when they leave the classroom.

Sally: I can't believe you posted this as I've been totally distracted the last hour on Will Richardson's blog and watching his videos. Someone mentioned him on Twitter. We're going to watch one in Week Two. Nice coincidence.

LOVE MindShift! :)

In this interview, Bill Gates discusses why he thinks "a low-cost PC" may be a more effective learning aid than a tablet. We're all aware of the obvious business biases here, but as a clearly defined leader in the world of technology, I think Gates presents a valid argument. What good is a tech device of any sort if the curriculum fails to effectively incorporate it as a learning aid?

Lots of talk out there about the technology tools without paying much attention to how it will be used. Good find!

This article presented reasons to use technology in the classroom. It also looked at obsticles that schools and teachers run into, as well as a discussion on student achievement . It provided operational goals as well as steps to achieve that goal.

Great article-nice summary

I have been looking for some good ideas on how to incorporate technology in the classroom to help stimulate discussion on the election. I love Mary Beth's idea of having the kids take an on-line poll where they choose which side of an issue they agree with, then learn which candidate supports that side. She also adds a couple extra sites as resources for teachers to use during this election cycle.

This article talked about how useful wireless calculators can be in a math classroom. The software allows the teacher to see what students are doing on their calculator and see if they are actually understanding the material. It also helps keep all students focused on the lesson because they know that the teacher can see if they are on task and can call on them at any time.

Wonderful find! Great example of technology and content merged

Technology Initiative Article

This article explores the use of mobile phones for education purposes. The author says that instead of banning the use of cell phones and smart phones in school, teachers should embrace this technology and teach students how to utilize mobile capabilities in constructive and educationally appropriate ways. This gives a fresh perspective on the outlook of cell phones in schools and would be a great article for a teacher who might be reluctant to let students use mobile devices in class.

Lots of opposing viewpoints on the use of cell phones in the classroom! Will you let your students use them?

This article brings up the very valid point of who will be paying for our classrooms with all the new technology available to us now. The article also addresses the subjects of what our classrooms will look like with this influx of new technology and if we will ever see them in our lifetimes. This really reminds me of one of the pitfalls we discussed in class: you know, the Veruca Salt problem--gotta have it all RIGHT NOW.

Richard Byrne is an AMAZING educator with great resources. He highlights an extension for Chrome that automatically highlights vocabulary words for standardized tests (high school/college) and then defines with the hover of a mouse. The video is pretty impressive. This would be a wonderful tool for my students in my English classroom.

The Khan Academy is a leading online education tool. Founder Salman Khan started the company after tutoring his niece who was struggling with middle school math. He has written a book called 'The One World Schoolhouse' about how the traditional classroom models no longer work and that using technology in the classroom can bridge the education gaps.

Great, Megan. Khan Academy is a great way to support flipped classrooms, too.

Educational technology journalist, Audrey Watters, explains that although a large percentage of people have cellular devices, only a small percentage of those are smart phones. She also speaks on the digital divide of only being able to access internet on your phone and not a home computer for a small percentage of Americans. She concludes that online learning places need to be expanded for mobile devices if we wish to include everyone in the digital age.