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I'm still not sure if I agree with David Foster Wallace, but his quote did made me wonder: Does the idea of being "smart" tap into some essential human need? Might we add "smartness" to Ryan & Deci's list of intrinsic needs?

Apps that will help you learn a new language.

Nice article, with a reference to Foldit!

This is great! Teaching kids at a very young age that computers are not just smart but are programmed to be smart can be very valuable. So many new tools and technologies these days are completely abstracting how they actually work, which makes me worry that kids just think computers are magical.

So true! Clearly, it's the people who create the technologies that are magical. =p

While mini articles such as this often leave out half the research - the concept of doodling being an enhancer rather than a distraction is interesting.  The main point is that doodling engages the brain just enough to keep students from spacing out.  

This article details how a charter school ("Rocketship education") is using computer games based on drill to improve test scores. Assessment procedures in place is obviously a very important driver for such initiatives.

By reading your linked article I came across this post about Carol Dweck's Brainology work and what it says about praise in schools: http://mindshift.kqed.org/2012/02/discovering-how-to-learn-smarter/#more-18821. Thanks, Pradeep!

Thanks for the link to the brainology article, Stephanie! So, instead of saying "You are so smart", can we point out to the students how they are getting 'smarter'? That way they will get the notion of growth.

Thinking of the peripheral implications of technology in school. Architecture and interior design need to be really smart.

Apple iPad

First thing I think is K-12 education. The schools, like where I work, that give each kid a laptop could make their money go so much further with these. Kids rarely do more than research online and word process. This could take care of that for $500

oooh....Would be pretty cool to have these! - just thinking of all the "on-the-go" activities you could have the kids doing!... and if you're really smart you could remotely track their learning/progress/engagement..... a tool that could really help teeachers take learning out of the classroom & into the world, and still manage the tedious recording & assesment requriements!

Use of mobile devices for accessing news