HGSET545

This blog was named the best educational wiki of 2011 by Wikispaces. It's a little crowded, but full of interesting links.. For example, the link to http://www.neave.com/bounce/ is a screen full of colourful balls and if the students make noise , the balls bounce (it's meant to be a classroom management too, but could also radically backfire..)

This article emphasizes that the appeal of technology is not enough to motivate children to learn. Stresses that self-efficacy and the ability to set reasonable and attainable goals on their own is essential to fully engage students.

Perhaps this is also the answer to make sure technology doesn't turn into a distraction instead of a learning tool? I think many kids would benefit from learning strategies for using technology efficiently/avoiding distractions.

Thanks for this article! It captures some of the self-efficacy conversations that have been helpful in designing my project. I think as the role of the teacher evolves, we will rely on students having choices for modes of learning and and as the article states, "we [will] rely more on children's independent initiative and motivation."

I stumbled across this story and couldn't help but post...

"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 data base from the edWeb site (Games for learning) that Stephanie shared is a crowd sourced collection of learning games. Has the learning been intrinsically integrated into these games ?. How wise has the crowd been in collating this learning resource ?

On game design, gamification and self-determination theory

This is a great tool for doing mock-ups of engaging user interfaces. The free version is more than adequate. We use it in a course on graphical user interface design at my university.

Jerry, Thanks for sharing this resource. Coincidentally, my partner and I used this tool for generating a wireframe for a project in another course just two days back. I was not able to find a 'free' version on the website. There is a 7 day evaluation desktop version and a subscription based web version. I have a PC laptop. Is the free version available for Mac?

"In his book, What Video Games Have to Teach Us about Learning and Literacy, James Paul Gee derives a set of learning principles from his study of the complex, self-directed learning each game player undertakes as s/he encounters and masters a new game. He suggests that adherence to these principles could transform learning in schools, colleges and universities, both for teachers and faculty and, most importantly, for students."

This article applies what we've learned about self-efficacy, interest, and engagement to literacy: "What makes a child an engaged reader?"

Thanks for sharing this, Stephanie. Part of my job is to select books for a reading & writing academy in Seoul, and after reading this article I realized that affective elements of reading play a significant role in my book selections.

Hi Stephanie - The author is listed as working for Reading is Fundamental, which is an organization I now follow for my work on the T545 class project. Part of their agenda is to "prepare and motivate children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need them most." They focus on reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. I am hoping my website project addresses some of the issues raised in this article. Thanks.

Note the first listed winner in the (empowering) education category: involved with use of interactive games to enhance learning in math and science.

Why technology should not be the sole source for learning.

An interesting article about how to create a great educational game.  

Game on!

Definition of "digital games" probably too broad... but three video case studies of teachers using "games" referenced in article worth watching: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA3C69D48D4FFE87E

Agreed about the definition. However, "Almost all the teachers surveyed who said they used games reported that they used ones specifically designed for education, and the games most often corresponded with literacy and reading (50%) and math (35%).", which is encouraging. Kurt Squire is correct in that the data may include a good number of 'trivial games', but that is probably to be expected since the biggest barriers seems to be cost (50% respondents) and technology (46%).

not clear this will lose votes for her, given how many adults are into fantasy gaming. Shows how bizarre the political process has become

The avatar movie motivated audiences, but paradoxically led to depression in some audience members who wanted to live in the virtual world.

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!

Turning buses into mobile hotspots. What happens when you 'connect' erstwhile unconnected parts of the day? This article doesn't really ask that question, although it touches on it in its last sentences. Also, presumably most of the kids had data capable phones and could text etc; what is different about access via laptops?

What about the social elements they are missing out on? The difference about access via laptops is the speed and ability to be more efficient compared to a phone. The capabilities of a laptop provide more opportunities for students to be productive/non-productive. This doesn't require them to be connected, however, I wonder what would happen if teachers start to hold students accountable (unintentionally) for using their connected time more wisely?

"Location data from mobile phones has indicated that 93 per cent of human movement is predictable... the researchers, from Boston, USA and China, believe that it could be useful for mobile networks' data load management, city planning and anticipating the spread of viruses."

Violent video games touted as learning tool