from the article: "...students don't think of programming as a whole separate world the way older adults tend to, but as a tool they can use to explore their interests." The article also identifies several trends in EdTech including ATT, GeorgiaTech and Udacity's partnership to provide an online masters in Computer Science.

As we students become graduates, Christensen's article is interesting both for perspective on career advice as well as it's broad references to extrinsic and intrinsic motivation in the workplace. As an HBS professor, he takes a very Business School approach to motivation.

This blog post describes the successes and failures of one school to integrate games into their latin language instruction. Teachers found the game compelling because it forced students to engage and prepare in a way that students do not in traditional classrooms.

"When you attempt to distribute mathematics through any of these media, it changes the definition of mathematics... at this moment in history, computers are not a natural working medium for mathematics."

story of a third grade class in Chicago using a computer-based memory game to improve their "fluid intelligence." article focuses on the work of Susanne Jaeggi and Martin Buschkuehl of the University of Maryland

Detailed examination of the axis that promote/discourage collaborative play (Synchronous vs. Asynchronous player interaction, Symmetrical vs. Asymmetrical relationship formation & Strong Tie vs. Loose Tie relationship evolution). The article provides examples of each axis in practice. Interesting application of SDT's "relatedness" in a gaming context.

A look at the commercial kids game space. The article indicates the development of kids games is moving to tablets because of the gesture format, low cost of titles and ability to play short games. Disadvantage with tablets highlighted is the lack co-play features (unlike consoles where it's easy for several people to play simultaneously). Games cited in article: Once Upon a Monster, Where's My Water, Niko, Habbo Hotel.

- background info on Summer 2012 launch of Scratch Jr. - to promote social interaction in learning the designers want to build a digital playground. "A good playground will have swing sets and slides for the kids, as well as benches and tables and chairs for the parents. The designers of Scratch Jr are figuring out how to embed the digital equivalent of those tables and chairs. "

Students earn virtual currency by completing math "missions" with third party content. This is a start-up incubated by Pearson. To unlock premium content, students would pay real money (this portion is modeled on Zynga's facebook games)

Bjork, the Hall of Science and middle school students from Queens have been participating in a month-long series of science/music explorations that are "part spectacle, part ipad app emporium, part new instrument laboratory and part curriculum." From The New Yorker Digital Edition : Feb 27, 2012

The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop studied almost 200 education apps for Apple's app store. Good insight into what's in the market right now and what the current trends are.

Off the heels of our class discussion on extrinsic motivation in paying students - The producers of this educational media have built in an "allowance pledge" for parents to pay their kids to play DimensionU's games.