HGSET545

Suggests classrooms of the future will be "open, mobile, and flexible enough to reach individual students-while free online tools will challenge the authority of traditional institutions." Nothing new to T545ers, but a good summary of trends.

Venture capitalists are taking an unprecedented interest in the K-12 education marketplace, largely due to an increased interest in education technology.

Apple's pitch for its engaging platform has merit but I agree with this writer that it's buyer beware.

Resources for teachers, students, administrators to use/see educational benefits of web tools being used by the education community. Check out a long list of blogs including: Best class blog; Best student blog; Best ed tech blog; Most influential post; Best teacher blog; Best library / librarian blog; Best free web tool; Best use of media / podcast; Best educational use of a wiki AND MORE... And wikis: http://blog.wikispaces.com/2012/01/best-educational-wikis-of-2011.html

A brief interview with L. Rafael Reif, MIT's provost, and Anant Agarwal, director of MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory about MITx, a new/developing online certificate program. Interesting how much they can not anticipate how/what this will impact (re: education, jobs, higher ed market).

Various definitions of learning objects.

This article describes how Stanford University Medical Center is using a web-based medical game called "Septris" to train its physicians on sepsis.

Interesting game on getting kids interested in aviation and math.

Some very useful lessons to learn fro Mooresville. Looks like the broader ecosystem (such as cheper access to broadband internet) has been thought through rather than just dropping a laptop into the classroom.

Since college recruiters know that only a small percentage of students open email, Ohio State is planning to let prospective students get in touch directly with current students via IM, email or phone.

For those of you who follow Michael Wesch, associate professor of cultural anthropology at Kansas State University... he is rethinking his speeches, adding, "It doesn't matter what method you use if you do not first focus on one intangible factor: the bond between professor and student."

Facebook funds much-needed research in the field of digital citizenship.

We talk a lot about student engagement. Does being accountable and respected raise the engagement level (and hopefully performance) of the teacher?

Here are some interesting ideas on all fronts regarding motivation.

A school district in Maine is researching the use of ipads for early childhood literacy. The report is couched very positively,

Virtual Education Oasis... humm? Where do you think we will be in 2044? Author Ernest Cline, is interviewed about his novel Ready Player One, where "schools are built like palaces on the violence-free planet Ludus, and students take daytrips through both the Louvre and the human heart. These are but some of the benefits offered by the OASIS, a massive, multiplayer online game where most people in 2044 choose to spend their existence, away from the troubles of the real world. The OASIS combines the scope of a galaxy with the immersion of the Matrix; it is a near-perfect virtual reality."

I wonder if the instant feedback and scoring feature helps these kids go into a state of flow more easily while learning an instrument. The experience provides the beginner with all the requirements for flow: clear goals, right level of challenge, and instant feedback

The article pointed out that the concept that the Internet would drive a singular global culture is false. In order to engage people in different countries or cultures with social networks, brands and content producers will need ever more localised strategies.

Teaching that provides Motivation, engagement, and a way to combat budget cuts.