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Rather interesting (and humorous) blog post on the "rockstar" motivation to create Apps. According to the author, "Back then peoples heroes were the likes of Jimmy Page, Robert Plant or Bob Dylan. Today it's Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, or Reid Hoffman. An entirely different breed." Maybe he's right?

This article is a bit snarky but it raises some worthwhile cautions around the buzz of tech in education, particularly Apple.

It is amazing to me that Apple and technology can take center stage in the education conversation without a word of professional development, best practices, learning outcomes... As I have stated before, I/we are an Apple family... but I am worried about the prospect that Apple's role in the textbook industry will eliminate other platforms and in-turn will limit access to many.

"Kodu lets kids create games on the PC and XBox via a simple visual programming language."

I am going to try to use Kodu. If a 4th grader can use it..... :)

This article discusses play in virtual worlds (focusing on World of Warcraft) with an emphasis both on the learning that takes place and the engagement. You'll have to log in with your Harvard ID to get the article, FYI. "Our observation showed that players are motivated by the game's scope, rules, and scenario to create and participate in virtual communities, and share their knowledge with others, while newcomers are encouraged to engage in collective actions, and develop their skill base. We also found that although current MMORPGs have not been designed as instructional tools, they provide an excellent fantasy environment for intrinsically motivating learning, where players can experience the elements of challenge, curiosity, and control [30]." "People engage in pervasive games that use the best of two worlds, the virtual and the physical, in order to offer to its players the sense of maximum enjoyment."

Massively Multiplayer online game were gamers create federations, alliances, etc. and the world is directly influenced by these large corporations and groups that are entirely player driven. Here, as in MAG, social interaction is not an ancillary element but critical to gameplay.

Distructive...? Disruptive, yes. Internet is still finding ways to upend business models and psycho-social norms.

Research paper exploring how to create an engaging game experience

A model for engagement in classrooms created by an initiative in Maine.

Webcast about digital media created by urban students.

ipad not fundamentally different from the ipod/iphone, though may create platform for advertisements in a way that was not possible with the iphone.

I have heard about these type of devices before, but I think this is the first time I have seen them available for use by the public. Not exactly sure why they chose lights as the reactant, but I suspect it has something to do with the unique alpha/beta waves created by the brain in response ot lighting. Question is, which comes first the thought or the light bulb?

Personalized learning through tech is described as "Creating a customized playlist for learning." A NYC middle school serves as experiment in engaging students one on one.

Good article about individualized, online tutoring using digital devices.

"Two teams of computer programmers from the University of Houston are being honored in a national competition. They created a couple of video games designed to entertain and educate."

A video game is being created in the UK "that will engage and immerse young people in learning about democracy and the role of Parliament in scrutinising the government, representing the public, and making laws."

Create an educational game or GUI for collaborative problem solving in schools, and (for extrinsic motivation) win $20,000.

An interesting talk about how chance favors the connected mind. How do we create such spaces in the classroom, school or perhaps out of formal learning environments?