Group items tagged

A new free app called Hoot.me allows students to collaborate on Facebook to study and do homework without being distracted by status updates.

An example of student preconceived notions preventing them from learning scientific concepts.

Thanks, Diana. I can use this article in two of my other classes.

Great video - key quote "You can forget facts but you can't forget understandings." Yes - I would agree that Merseth and a number of other HGSE professors structure their courses for engagement in a similar manner. Requiring reading & active reflection (by via a written brief, case preparation, or online quiz) before the class / lecture is a great way to prep for deeper engagement and understanding. The genius in Mazur's approach is to use technology to assess before class and during class what his students understand and, more importantly, don't understand AND then tailor what he presents next to address misconceptions.

This sounds like an interesting competition for students to be involved in. I think this would serve as a great tool that teachers can design their lessons around in order to make the learning relevant

very interesting Kinga. To throw in another STEM-related competition, the National STEM Video Game Challenge is about to begin its second year. Open to middle school, high school, and college/graduate students, the contest challenges students to create innovative video games that promote STEM learning while being accessible to underserved populations: main website: http://www.stemchallenge.org

This article outlines four ways that Quick Response codes scanned with smart phones could be used in formal education settings. The ideas are intriguing, such as keeping track of a students work throughout their school career and opening up lines of communication to parents.

I love the idea of a educational career portfolio using this technology. Can you imagine sending your QR code along with a college application to get a true picture of the type of student you have been and can become? The idea of using the QR codes with parents sounds like a great alternative to all the papers that get sent home (and lost) throughout the year, I just wonder what percentage of parents are equipped to handle that type of technology use.

What is the impact of this trend on instructional materials development?

I love competative learning labs. I wish this project based co-opetition model were a standard in our schools. Innovation and team dynamics are mindsets and skills that need to be developed in our kids.

This blog offers ideas for using twitter in education from becoming local journalists  to playing twrivia or plinky.  It also recommends using the tool to follow topic experts and extend learning.  While I haven't really embraced twitter as one of my favorites, this article gives some interesting ideas.  

Interesting study for how students use facebook, and how that might affect academic performance. Those who used facebook to post statuses did worse academically then those who used it to share links/comment on others' links etc. Obviously, self-reporting of facebook use is limiting, as well as the myriad of other factors that influence academic performance. Still, something to look for when it gets published in the journal of Computers in Human Behavior. "How does Facebook activity affect a student's grades? Reynol Junco, a professor at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania, recently set out to determine exactly that. Mr. Junco assembled a sample of nearly 2,000 college students who self-reported details of their Facebook use: not just total time spent on the social networking site, but specific actions taken such as commenting, chatting, uploading photos or seeing what others are doing - "lurking," as Mr. Junco calls it."

"E-learning programmes often offer training schemes which could help educate employees on the necessary rules and regulations surrounding manual labour jobs, such as construction...Online learning programs which specialise in health and safety and employee training are being increasingly adopted by businesses and large organisations."