Flat Classroom Project

PUtting technology in the hands of children is becoming a civic cause.

One laptop per child is attempting to get small, portable computers in the hands of children in impoverished areas.

Microsoft Surface is going to become part of devices around us. This is an important technology for where things are going to be moving are important to understand as you predict the future of technology.

People inventing and predicting in their videos should read about microsoft surface.

Google sites is the best thing to hit the web since Google Apps. For a long time I'd been wanting a way to have a more private area, where others could still contribute without having to give them full administrative privileges to my domain - and Sites fits the bill and then some. I've used it to support many varied activities including private notes and conversations with clients, keeping track of my home schooled children's assignments and homework, letting them create their own web pages, collaborating with others on content for books and engineering designs, and even sharing pictures of our new dog with my family. It's easier and faster than a wiki, I can control who can see or contribute to a given site, and it's just downright fun to use!

I have only just became aware of this Google service. Apparently it is very easy to exchange data from one google application to another google application. Levels of control can be given. I saw this used extensively for curriculum co-ordination in a failing Bronx school in New York by an Australian who now is back in Australia and continuing the co-ordination. The world is surely getting flatter?

Digital sotrytelling tools from Alan Levine

Seems like an interesting idea to allow a debate, and then others can interact one way or the other. Will the debates use stories as mentioned in 'A Whole New Mind?'

Our first debate focuses on the economy. Economists from the Cato Institute and the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) have offered opening arguments on what should come next now that the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act is law. Take a look to see what they think -- but don't stop there. As with most articles in Knol, these are open to collaboration, so you can rate what you read, submit comments, write full responses (i.e. reviews), or even suggest edits to the author by making changes right in the knol itself.

Online videos are often to blame or being talked about in many forums.

It would be ineresting to see a STUDY on this. While I agree it is not good for kids to see -- we also need to see correlation before we jump into things. I still think that a rating system for youtube and online videos is needed to aid in filtering for age appropriateness.

I'm laughing at mail goggles, but do agree, that even though I don't drink, sometimes when I'm angry, I need some sort of goggles to keep me from flaming and sending a bad email!! This new feature from google labs is something you can enable on your gmail account - at certain times of day it will check your reflexes and if your'e a little slow, it won't let you send the email but will save it for later. I find this interesting and funny but the truth is that when we talk to a person who is inebriated, we know not to take what they say seriously -- there is no such thing on email -- you cannot see their state of mind. Isn't this why emoticons evolved?

Self control from google labs for gmail. This is interesting.

Look at what apple is doing to protect their own hold on the musical pursestrings of society with this.

Apple is quite protective of the uses of their devices and although they allow the development of "apps" -- they made waves recently when they denied the app that allows people to download and listen directly to podcasts w/out synching w/ the computer. Mobile itunes doesn't offer this feature. So, there is "open" and truly "open." Iphone apps store isn't really open, if this is true.

Ford announces a car key will allow parents to set limits on their teenage drivers. If you want to require them to buckle up before the car cranks - you can do it. If you want them not to listen to loud music or not drive over a certain speed, you can do that too! Technology has brought freedom - it can also restrict teens as well, as many will begin to realize. They should behave responsibily or more devices such as this will emerge to elicit control at the source.

Computing devices are in cars and many other devices. This is an example of a device that will be used to restrict teenage drivers, from ford.

Artists are moving to have their rights protected in new ways. With copyright infringement running rampant, somehow artists and others have to figure out how to navigate in this new world. I wish artists would consider some sort of educational license ot let students make videos and use their music in school media.

Artists are campaigning for a change in their rights.

Teachers filmed and put online -- this is an issue and part of what is happening now. Anything can be filmed any place any where any time.

Article about teachers being filmed and put on youtube -- I did a post a while back called "spies like us" that talks about this happening. Again, talk about behavior to kids before this happens at your school - www.digiteen.net is our effort.

You can look at how Google changed the world, however, you may also want to consider one other organization that has also changed things -- mozilla firefox -- consider this - what if you slightly change your topic to "How Google and Open Source Software changed the world" -- just thinking out loud here but you might want to consider it.

Matthew Bib tipped me off to this one -- this add on lets you open an IE tab in firefox. Not sure of the security of it and I want to check it out. My bank only lets me use IE. If it is safe as it look s(15 million downloads) - this is a GREAT tool.

Great place to teach digital citizenship for students in elementary ages. Schools can sign up for accounts. Excellent place to evaluate as part of how the www is changing the world and how information is moving between children.

I highly recommend that elementary and middle schools at least sign up for a school code for woogi world - this is a great tool suggested by Hoover City schools for teaching digital citizenship. My daughter (my intrepid tester of all kid virtual worlds) loves it and says she thinks it is great for kids.

Twitter is a new tool that those writing about connecting the world online should discuss.

Twitter is a rapidly emerging place for people to connect. They can use their cell phone or a web browser to post updates called "microblogs" to tell others what they are doing. Many teachers and others throughout the world are connecting to one another via twitter, creating "viral" professional development as some call it.

An incredible resource from the Smithsonian for educators

An online presence for the smithsonian.

Government organizations like the smithsonian are reaching out to educators and others with an online presence. This cool site has lesson plans and lots of great information for arts, science and technology, history and culture, and language arts.

Web 3 -- what is it? What will it look like?

Web 3.0 and how the web is evolving is a part of current discussion. Some say Web 3D is more likely with Second Life like environments merging with the Semantic web. This is a great site for those working on inventing and predicting what will happen.

Learn about Web 3.0 and what is coming.

In this case, arts, entertainment and leisure influences science and health -- viral videos and the new way that information spreads is fundamentally changing activism and promoting change. Talk about something to another person and just have a "jab session" -- make a video that goes viral and you can change the world.

Interestingly, inconvenient youth is built on the Ning platform. Fascinating use. This video from the blue man group on the environment has been widely viewed around the world. Such videos spark social change -- these are not TV commercials but viral videos that spread from blog to blog and email to email. How information travels has fundamentally changed.