Group items tagged

insights from Project RED about effective technology implementation

This article is about the Khan Academy: how it came to be, how it is funded, its strengths and perceived weaknesses. Additionally, it paints a great picture of the Ed Tech ecosystem.

The Aakash 2 was unveiled by the Indian President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday 11 November, India's National Education Day. It is an upgraded version of the world's cheapest tablet computer.

Must see webinar. >>Dr. Glenn Kleiman, Executive Director of the Friday Institute of Educational Innovation in the College of Education at North Carolina State University moderated this discussion with Chris Dede and David Rose held on November 15, 2012. The intersection of mobile computing, social software, and augmented realities enhances and increases opportunities for personalized learning. How do we capitalize on the rich array of technologies to not only engage students, but to provide multiple pathways for expression by all students? David and Chris, both members of the working group that developed the National Education Technology Plan in 2010, discussed future directions for digital learning, including universal design for learning, augmented realities, and social and mobile technologies.

Description and video of Google's new 'Ingress' game, which is a pretty wild (and maybe a little frightening) glimpse into the potential directions of AR, ubiquitous computing, and gaming

A disappointing return from an investment in computing

Happy Birthday Ada Lovelace!

Seems that students from low-income populations not only need access to up-to-date computers, but also they need much better college counseling supports. It's a shame that those who aspire to college, are stressed out that they aren't receiving the assistance they need.

Voters in Idaho voted 2:1 to repeal a RTTT-inspired state law that would have brought 1:1 laptop programs to all high schools and required all students to take 2 online or blended courses in order to graduate from high school. The public felt that the law would have "diverted taxpayer dollars to technology corporations and marginalized teachers."

Idaho voted down several education measures including one to require participation in an online course before high school graduation and a shift to 1-to-1 computing in schools.

Scott Young, a recent university graduate, writer, programmer, traveler and avid reader of interesting things, decided to finish MIT's entire 4-year computer science program within 12 months with MIT OpenCourseWare.

Apparently their new strategy is to "airdrop" OLPC laptops into communities and let students teach themselves. Now, I'm all for students learning by creating and constructivist pedagogy... but this seems altogether irresponsible. Also, seems like we're promoting different standards for students in low income/low resource settings vs. students in resource rich settings through initiatives like this--and not in a good way. =/

EPIC-Ed is a U.S. Dept. of Education's online community of practice (OCOP) focused on the planning and implementation of ubiquitous computing environments. This is EPICEd's YouTube space. Videos include interviews with Karen Cator, Bob Wise, and teachers around the country, as well as on topics such as assessment and literacy.

Have we posted/discussed this? A system such as this (see following post) would work well in one of the distributive models of teaching and learning we worked with last week. I am considering integrating into my charter school and would be curious to know people's experience and thoughts...

Interesting article about teaching ESL that brings up the question "is learning another language based largely on interpersonal relationships?" Language is essentially about communicating with other people, whether in spoken or written form, so computers may actually not be that helpful in this process.

"By 2017, the first wave of students of P-Tech - Pathways in Technology Early College High School - is expected to emerge with associate's degrees in applied science in computer information systems or electromechanical engineering technology, following a course of studies developed in consultation with I.B.M."

An interesting article about how new platforms such as computers and Blackberries are being used to help people manage anxiety through programs that provide training and practice in Cognitive-bias modification (CBM).

There's been a surge in the number of Infographics published this year that focus on instructional technologies and how they are evolving and being used.

The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation just released their first in a series of case studies about what blended learning can "look like." The cases will break out the schools' instructional, operational, and financial models, which I find very helpful. This first case profiles a K-1 KIPP school in Los Angeles using computer-based stations to make a rotational small-group differentiated instruction model feasible with a smaller budget for instructional staff. As the authors state, "online programs enable [KIPP] Empower's model but do not integrate with teacher-led instruction" (11).