Good question - "What can I do with these devices that would be impossible to do without them?".

Some good insights from a variety of people

"In the post-textbook world, content mashups on social platforms like Edmodo will be more prevalent and will be accompanied by adaptive content sequences driven by smart engines. This feels like a jog sideways rather than a step forward."

"What accounts for the high attrition rates? Maybe some of it has to do with aptitude, or encouragement, or good role models and mentors. But Philip Babcock, an economist at the University of California, Davis, suggests that a lot of it has to do with homework. Professor Babcock has written extensively about college students' evolving study habits (or lack thereof) over the last 50 years. He found that in 1961, full-time students spent about 40 hours each week in class and studying. By 2003, they were investing about 27 hours a week". But then, we did not have Facebook, Twitter and Videogames in 1961 :-)

"Apple said electronic high school textbooks from its initial publishing partners, including Pearson, McGraw-Hill and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, would cost $15 or less. That is much cheaper than print textbooks, some of which can cost over $100". woo hoo!

I would be definitely interested :-)

First there was Digital Divide.... Now, Mobile Divide!!

"Yet one of the most significant things Sahlberg said passed practically unnoticed. "Oh," he mentioned at one point, "and there are no private schools in Finland." This notion may seem difficult for an American to digest, but it's true. Only a small number of independent schools exist in Finland, and even they are all publicly financed. None is allowed to charge tuition fees. There are no private universities, either. This means that practically every person in Finland attends public school, whether for pre-K or a Ph.D."

Interesting case, as we head into new territories.

#3 on the list - Death of the Traditional textbook

Here is the direct link to the article - http://mashable.com/2011/12/21/education-2011/

This 1990 video, where Steve Jobs talks about videogames and simulations in education, is an eloquent testimony to his visionary capabilities.

Maybe we don't know how smart animals and birds really are. Just like we didn't know for a long time how early babies can count.

Not much to do with technology, but an interesting article overall.

Words of wisdom from a leader in education.

I agree, great and rare combination. I like what he says about learning from others and setting yourself a benchmark based on a high performance. That is a good thing for anybody to learn and practice.

"The best professional-development research shows that teachers need sustained contact hours (between 30 and 100) of training before altering their practices. So, she did a back-of-the envelope calculation about how much time it would take to implement 50 hours of formative-assessment training over the course of a school year...... Teachers would need about six hours a month, for eight months, which amounts to one early-close afternoon a month plus two additional hours. (Good luck with that in this economy.)"

Digital only textbook. Students pay for permanent Internet access.

Right! But he is saying that they if the best way is to see something moving they do it that way and if quiz is the best way to do it, they use a quiz. And I suppose, audio can be used when it is appropriate. The question though is 'who decides what is the best way?' and on what basis. And it will be great if there is also a simulation component, so the user can do some 'what-if' scenarios.