HGSET545

This article discusses trends in technology use in higher ed institutions, including a growing role of blended learning and technology-integrated meetings.

e-Readers are making staedy advances, becoming more and more like print books (only better?)

A lengthy but informative New Yorker article for those interested in higher education and technology.

Use engaging videos on TED-Ed to create customized lessons. You can use, tweak, or completely redo any lesson featured on TED-Ed, or create lessons from scratch based on any video from YouTube.

Check out this edtech start-up: I spoke to the founder today, and their philosophy sounds like it's right out of T-545. It's all about promoting intrinsic motivation for positive classroom behaviors and increasing kids' engagement through technology and immediate feedback.

David Rose featured this in a 560 lecture and I spoke a little about how I use it at homeschool. I don't use the negative behavior options and D. Rose said Skinner did not think negative reinforcement was useful. I use it as a way of facilitating conversation around positive actions that promote a pleasant social environment.

This author makes arguments against buying iPads for children. At one point he states, "iPad isolation can lead to poor social skills at a time when kids are just learning how to interact with each other."

Interesting use of technology in the classroom. According to the article, "flipping" classes shifts the role of teachers "from the gatekeeper of knowledge to the role of the coach."

Scholastic Education, the leading provider of instructional technology for schools in the U.S., today announces FASTT Math® Next Generation, a significantly upgraded version of the country's premier math fact fluency program.

Undergrads use "free range learning," exploring the web for material about subjects of study and do not rely on the texts and assigned readings.

Why technology should not be the sole source for learning.

A different focus on technology within the ed system.

Seems like a lot of experimentation in this implementation. Unusual.

Computer-led math learning at Virginia Tech.

Interesting article and very ambitious to address an academic need, but I wonder if the instruction/test environment addresses UDL principles to appeal to a variety of learners or if the multiple choice tests target a narrow definition of math success. I added a blog post above that highlights some of technology's short comings as a platform.

Great point. My feeling is that a lot of higher ed institutions use technology as a way to cut costs, so not much attention is paid to accommodating diverse learners. If I may think back to my own undergrad experience, the prevalent assumption is that you're old enough to seek out additional support on your own when you're stuck or want to learn more. I definitely think though that more attention should be paid to applying UDL principles to educational software (yes, even for adults), so that learning can move beyond passing multiple-choice tests!

This article examines some of what we've been talking about in class, in terms of student motivation (or the lack thereof).