HGSET545

Engagement is a buzz word but who descriptive is it?

The author talks about society's addiction to "stupid" mini-games (e.g. Angry Birds), which have minimal learning objectives but help us compartmentalize our lives.

The cover of the NYTimes magazine section: "The Hyperaddictive, Time-Sucking, Relationahip-Busting, Mind-Crushing, Power and Allure of Silly Digital Games." How about a flood of letters about serious games in response?

Article on college students using "serious" video games as part of their instruction.

"The Modern Parent's Guide to Kids and Video Games" is a recent publication from "Play It Safe" which highlights the benefits of playing video game, including educational benefits.

A review of what this writer thinks constitutes a good math app, and where many apps/educational games go wrong.

Mobile Learning conference available on Shakespeare's Birthday (not necessarily related).

Shares 28 case studies of innovative tech-based education initiatives supported by EETT.

VR goggles used to give RC model airplane enthusiasts a view from the cockpit.

The most difficult aspect to analyzing Big Data or even programming software to analyze Big Data is to resist the temptation to take our current understanding of data analysis and push it into a new platform. WHAT is the information we need and HOW can we present it in order help educators make decisions that truly impact student achievement? Holy Grail!

Describes how Singapore publishers are pushing into the e-book market for education, including the development of e-assessment apps.

Article and video on Singapore's new 'one-stop centre' for teachers to collaborate on projects using infocomm technology. Another way to diffuse innovations?

Motivation in education getting press in Nigeria.

Tax exemption, better loans, and interesting training options would certainly be motivating for me. However, are National Teacher Awards motivating for anyone?

TED Talks Chip Kidd doesn't judge books by their cover, he creates covers that embody the book -- and he does it with a wicked sense of humor. In one of the funniest talks from TED2012, he shows the art and deep thought of his cover designs. This video is entertaining and picks up the content at 8:30. Kidd is an expert at grabbing someone's attention in a glance. Intriguing applications.

This Kickstarter project aims to fund a standards-aligned history board game that engages students. The free companion web application will track students' progress, allowing for differentiated instruction while making the game "fun to play again and again: as players answer question cards, they earn badges and can unlock new careers and powers. The game becomes a story, a competition, and a World History simulation with limitless possibilities."

This article explores the educational game Minecraft and provides ideas for lessons and projects.  The interdisciplinary game has the potential to enhance math skills, social studies/history learning, and reading comprehension.  

Intel announced the launch of its durable 7-inch tablets, called "Intel studybooks."  The tablets will cost less than $200 each, half the price of the new iPads.  Will the affordability of this device beat out the all-popular iPad?

Some very interesting deliberation on the meaning of the Khan phenomenon. I found some resonance with Prof. Dede's comments on the radio.

Back to the main course- Poetry, which often seems like an esoteric borfest in school, is given relevance when learners see it as useful and meaningful. This illustrates an important principle for me about engagement. With or without technology, usefulness and meaning are the deal makers or breakers.

If you haven't come across lure of the labyrinth, do visit the site. An example of intrinsic integration of learning content with game mechanics.

Pradeep, I ran across this article that references two digital math competitions (Lure of Labrynth, Dimension U) and notes a distrubing US statistic: "In New York City, for instance, just 10 percent of the high schools with the highest black and Latino enrollments offer Algebra II, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Education." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/11/feature-numbers-game-ame_n_1418589.html