HGSET545

Scientists recorded readers' eye movements when they were reading to monitor when they were 'spacing' out. Perhaps this could be used as a diagnostic tool for teachers?

EducationUSA just released a virtual simulation on their Facebook page. They state that it is the "World's first game-based adventure for international students to learn about opportunities in the United States of America." A short YouTube video is linked below. I would love to get your thoughts on this application. Can creating an avatar effectively teach (and prepare) international students for the U.S. college experience? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fj01uSj4L4&feature=youtu.be

Digital tools are helping students with learning and sensory disabilities gain academic confidence and motivation.

"This new device actually has more memory and higher screen resolution than an Xbox 360 or Playstation 3," said Mike Capps, CEO of Epic Games. "So, these guys [Apple] are redefining mobile gaming again."

A fascinating talk on one aspect of motivation - willpower. Who knew that lower glucose levels decrease willpower, and that performing self-control on one task decreases subsequent control on the next task?

I came across some of Baumeister's articles while researching for my neuroscience project last semester and was fascinated. Thanks for posting this talk; I really look forward to watching it!

Discussion of productivity in university education, and Obama's comment on controlling tuition costs. Reference to Baumol's disease and the possible role of technology in modernizing the traditional approach.

Here's another perspective on engagement: how to make games more addictive (or compulsive?) by creating "smarter game loops" with fewer exit points. The example discussed is "Game Dev Story," a management simulation for a game development studio.

""Blended Learning Boot Camp: Extending Classes Online""

A webinar on Blended Learning at 4 pm on Wednesday, March 14

Salman Khan (graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Harvard Business School) talks about the flipped classroom and how tech changes the shape of future "classrooms" in an Education Week interview.

Two faculty members test out social media (Twitter and Google+) in the classroom. They evaluate the pros/cons of using these technologies, admittedly not knowing if/how it affects learning outcomes yet.

Educators interested in "flipping" their classroom (that is, providing traditional lecture material for review at home and problem-solving exercises in the classroom) now have two more options to provide core content with a minimum of effort.

Diedrich on grading.

Many adults have little idea of how children use technology in their everyday lives. Out of fear that it will be used to engage with non academic content, we want to keep schools the same good old way - very different from the rest of their lives.Addressing both school culture and issues of inequity would be important in enabling students to learn with tools they are most familiar with.

Here is the latest volley from NYC in its maneuvering with the teachers' union. No particular relevance to technology, except that I guess this loan repayment offer would attract young teachers with loans hanging over them.

Kony 2012 is an online campaign created by "invisible children" to call for a stop to the atrocities by the Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony. That so many children were engaged in this activity, wherein they used technology to create and spread a socially good message is worth reading about.....

Is the content intrinsically integrated ? How do they use rewards ? Do share your thoughts if you watch this webinar.

Managing engagement in the classroom;

Where should ATT place its bets? Is engagement the key to stemming dropouts? Can VI be used to design richly affective environments that promote social efficacy (a spoon full of sugar) while succeeding at skill development and knowledge transfer (the medicine)?

Close to home here at the Ed School...sounds like Moneyball for the education set.