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Tech advances likely in the next year

An interesting article with examples of schools that are "closing the loop"--successfully connecting students, teachers, and technologists to advance the use of technology within the classroom). Also contains a nice visual.

By now, we're used to letting Facebook and Twitter capture our social lives on the web -- building a "social layer" on top of the real world. In his talk, Seth Priebatsch looks at the next layer in progress: the "game layer," a pervasive net of behavior-steering game dynamics that will reshape education and commerce.

Yes, indeed. The ideal is to intrinsically integrate. That's a good idea. Why not? In fact, maybe the alternate reality games qualify as "real world" layer over games because in such games, whatever happens in games impact the reality in certain ways. We could also design games to work the other way around, e.g. a diet game, where only when you do exercise in a gym in the real world, can you advance levels in the game.

Haha yes!! I recall a rowing machine which actually had a game in front of users so that they could compete with 'other rowers'. It was great and definitely made the workout more fun. I stopped though after a friend slipped his disc on the machine...

The 2012 Digital Learning Report Card, funded by Jeb Bush's Digital Learning Now organization, was profiled in this week's EdSurge e-newsletter. The Digital Learning Report Card grades significant policy decisions (on a state-by-state basis) which "are advancing student-centric reforms, reducing barriers to blended learning, and encouraging the use of technology to offer a more personalized college- and career-ready education."

e-Readers are making staedy advances, becoming more and more like print books (only better?)

An interesting lecture this Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 6:15 p.m! Malkin Penthouse, 4th floor, Littauer Building, 79 John F. Kennedy Street, Eric Gordon explores whether Community PlanIt-a web-based social network developed by Gordon's Engagement Game Lab-help improve public schools in Boston. - Eric Gordon, Associate Professor, Department of Visual and Media Arts, Emerson College and Lead Designer, Community PlanIt - Commentary by Nigel Jacob, Co-Director, Office of New Urban Mechanics, City of Boston

This post is part of a three-week series examining educational innovation and technology, published in partnership with the Advanced Leadership Initiative at Harvard University.

First off, I really stopped playing the major video game titles after I beat Super Mario Bros. II. It took me like 4 months to best Bowser, but once I did and the world pretty much remained the same I lost interest. Still, I cannot say all the new games that have come out recently don't peak my interest. The problem, I have been out of the gaming loop for so long now that I am at a serious disadvantage whenever I play. The controllers have become so complkicated and sensative that I spend most of the initial induction just trying to figure out what the hell I am supposed to do, and what combonation of clicks and toggles prompts the desired effect. Nintendo's Wii however seemingly streamined the learning curve as my body was the primary controller. Sony is now prepping to launch an entirely new controller protocol that uses the functions of the handheld even less. It might even eliminate the need for a controler all together...all body, all movement are calibrated and support the players avatar.

One school using video game design to engage students.