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How a teacher started to use iPads as a supplement to instruction (thinking "these devices would help me to create a magical, collaborative learning environment that met all my students' individual needs"), but realized that to really revolutionize teaching and learning, she needed a "technology-based redefinition of [her] practice."

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.

This teacher also provides a nice, practical synthesis of some of the ideas presented by our recent reading.

Written with Alan Gershenfeld, Founder and President of E-Line Media The White House recently announced two major initiatives in learning and technology -- these "digital seed capital" efforts are "down-payments" to jumpstart innovation and break a two decade long cycle of snail-like reform.

While this article mostly discusses digital textbooks, there is a section devoted to "The Engagement Challenge" and how quality video games can make education more relevant to children.

Discusses the chances of conditions conducive to life elsewhere in the multiverse and the growing practice of virtual gold farming, and whether it is cheating or providing folks with limited resources a chance for income.

This paper makes a case for learning games grounded in principles of good fun and good learning, explores the commercial games market, gleaning lessons from this rapidly growing and diversifying place, analyzes the downfall of edutainment in the 1990s and establishes how the current movement differs. Then, this paper lays out the ecology of games with a purpose beyond play and establishes principles and best practices for moving the field forward in a positive direction.

Optimal limits for focus and engagement.