While there are still many barriers to using video games in educational settings, MIT's latest research is showing some positive results related to gaming and learning.

It seems the privacy issue is never ending and becoming even more of a topic as changes that are supposed to better control privacy make settings even more complicated.  

As prices fall, technology has more potential to be used in the classroom.  

Google is going after Microsoft with their new open source operating system designed originally for netbook users - so no software has to be installed.  It is all browser based and stores docs on Google servers - great for computer crashes - security???

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.  

Could this be better than a wiki for collaboration?

So much potential to bring books alive to learners & enhance content.  However, we can't forget that developing the imagination by creating your own pictures from what you read is also important. 

"Pipes is a powerful composition tool to aggregate, manipulate, and mashup content from around the web."  I thought this might be appropriate since we just finished talking about Mashups on our wiki a week ago.  

A collection of games-based research. 

Nice simple examples of AR

Google wave looks like it is very flexible.  I can envision teachers using the wave to plan with other teachers without having to be in the same room - now able to study hall periods and other times to drop files and share lesson plans and ideas.

Speaking of crowdsourcing - how about outsourcing grading to the students themselves?  

Interesting that as we push for digital textbooks and online access to more resources on one hand, that man people still prefer reading non-digital text and we are looking at coming full-circle with a digital means to deliver the content, but with an affordable, quick, and easy way to convert the material back to its original format. 

An easy way to make time-lapse videos could be great in the classroom, especially for science. I can picture setting up a camera on the little seeds that kids plant for mother's day and then when they send home their flowers they can also watch a youtube video with mom showing the flower grow from start to finish - literally. Watch a culture grow.  Document behavior in the classroom and play back for parents quickly...the possibilities are endless.  

Great site with lots of innovative ideas.  I love the idea of 3-D instruction manuals.  Finally, a chance to put my furniture together right the first time.  

The article defines and describes the characteristics of authentic learning.

Since we dabbled with augmented reality today in class, I thought Educause's statement regarding the 7 things you should know would be an appropriate summary of where this technology may be going. I find their "7 Things" briefs great ways to get an overview of what is up and coming in technology. See PDF link at bottom of page to view the resource.

Another Educause collection regarding educational technologies.

Collection of research from Educause dealing with learning principles and practices. Nice background info to help understand where technology fits into the big picture.