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For those who are interested in the discussion of ethics, politics, citizenship, this seems to be a potential platform for more public engagement! 

Bill Gates responds to NY ruling that teachers' performance assessments can be publicized. He calls for a rigorous and comprehensive teacher evaluation system that will provide educators with constructive feedback (not public humiliation) so they know what needs improvement.

This SOB used Facebook to explain his reasons for taking his son's and his own life. Make no mistake this guy has some serious issues. Still, it is noteworthy that Facebook and other social media outlets (youtube, flickr) have been used by the public and authorities to intervene and prosecute people that broadcast their criminal actions and intent. Think about it, George Orwell's vision of the future had the authorities constantly policing and monitoring citezens, but this has not been the case. Instead, we the people, ourselves are the ones monitoring each other via ubiquitous content creation and social media sharing.

"The Modern Parent's Guide to Kids and Video Games" is a recent publication from "Play It Safe" which highlights the benefits of playing video game, including educational benefits.

Etherpad is a hosted web service that allows really real-time document collaboration for groups of users. Etherpad is open source; you can host your own Etherpad by downloading the source code or try Etherpad for free on one of the Public Sites.

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

Once again, people are approaching social media as a cute distraction and not a powerful data minin tool. I purposefully keep my bday and other info wrong. A) I get to see who of my 'friends' knows me well enoughto notice and B) ...I like to keep the creepers guessing. Still, apparently your freewheeling posts might actually help you get a date...just make sure to meet in a public space and with mace!

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?

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."

Quest to Learn supports a uniquely vibrant learning community that brings together students, educators, game designers, curriculum specialists and parents. - See more at: http://q2l.org/about#sthash.zlTuuiwE.dpuf

Contest for stem cell scientists to to sell their research to an unscientific public with a short attention span.

Gamification is one of their high impact technologies

The Parent Engagement Tracker (PET) is a secured information system developed to easily track, measure and link parental involvement to student achievement. The software is available via the Internet and Microsoft Access Principals are able to measure parent attendance of various parent activities, school compact parent requirement hours, and the popularity of the different types of activities on a daily, monthly, quarterly or annual basis. This is really new. I have never seen something that tries to incentivize parenting.Do you think this would be a good initiative for a school.

How did you stumble on this? The copyright date is still listed as 2010 and three of the 5 links, including "About Us" are not working. In addition to the fact that I do not think it would be successful or a good idea and PET is a terrible name, the company simply does not seem to be up and working. Perhaps it is the wireframe for a college project :)

I'm sorry that I didn't see this earlier. I definitely think this may have been a real organization. The Connecticut parents union seemed to be doing something with it and here is a link to their brochure http://ctparentsunion.org/PETBrochureFinal.pdf, IN addition, the Hartford Public Schools piloted the program in 2010. They might have disappeared but there is definitely evidence that they were an actual organization.

The expansion of virtual education puts companies that provide e-learning services under the microscope As researchers, politicians, and the general public have begun to question the results of fully online virtual schooling, private providers-particularly for-profit companies-that supply curriculum, content, and sometimes instruction and school management for online education are facing the most scrutiny.

EIM (Excellence In Motivation) announces the addition of two new modules to its recognition and incentive suite of solutions. EIM's Learn 'N' Earn and Interactive Incentive Games will be unveiled to the public at the World at Work Total Rewards Conference in Orlando, FL, May 21-23, 2012.

This is a really new way to incentivize or gamify some mundane processes in corporations. I can see this having an impact. .

GAMES & CULTURE is a peer-reviewed journal published quarterly by Sage Publications. It includes theoretical and empirical research about games, culture and innovation using interactive media.

An excellent account of fostering engagement in students.