The trend: They already help teach kids the alphabet, sentence construction and how to graph equations. Now, iPads are being studied as a tool for students with autism and physical disabilities. University of Toronto professor Rhonda McEwen is researching how students at Toronto's Beverley School - which teaches special needs kids from kindergarten to Grade 8 - learn with iPad apps and games that require touch.
In addition, the link from the smartboard section of the article, leads to a very interesting TED Talk about how to make smartboards.
Communication and collaboration between curriculum and technology leaders are necessary to impact teaching and learning. Educators are knowledgeable about research on effective instructional strategies while tech leaders are familiar with educational
technology trends and emerging applications and mobile devices. Together, these leaders can develop a common language that aligns
evidence-based instructional practices.
that are likely to enter mainstream use on campuses within three adoption
horizons spread over the next one to five years
The format of the main section closely reflects the focus of the Horizon Project
itself, centering on the applications of emerging
technologies to teaching, learning, and creative inquiry.
This article talks about how handheld technologies such as android and iPhones can make the museum experience more educational by providing tour guides. Very few museums currently have apps for this purpose but the trend is growing. The actual museum experience can be much more educational when it is supplemented with self guided tours that handheld technologies can provide.
Since we have talked about Lurking a few times during class, i thought this post in a help forum for Lefora.com (a forum host) was interesting. The subtle difference in perspective for this post is that assumes managers of the forum are appealing to audience rather than offering fodder for consideration and discussion. A trend I've noticed generally around the use of technology in education is how it requires teachers to be better persuaders and packagers of information. I think this is a good trend but I am wary of it going too far.
The Indiana Department of Education is thoughtfully considering exactly how to incorporate technology into the classroom, resisting buying new technologies based on trends or marketing pressure or the desire to keep up; they are trying to carefully select tools that will help children learn in the classroom and improve performance rather than have technology for technology's sake. I think that this is a very important difference and one that every school that is purchasing new technologies for the classroom should consider very carefully.
A survey of 25 ed tech directors conducted by Piper Jaffray that is making the rounds in the tech blogosphere. Seems to fall in line with what we're learning and today's trends: all surveyed IT directors are interested in the iPad, not Android, they like the flexibility tablets would offer over computers, it's going to take some time for schools to achieve one tablet per child. Cost is an obvious concern, but so is device management.
Comprehensive article outlining many trends and pressures in the educational landscape.
1. COLLEGE COSTS HAVE SKYROCKETED
2. CONVENIENCE ATTRACTS STUDENTS ONLINE
3. TEACHERS CONNECT WITH DIGITAL GENERATION
4. DIGITAL EDUCATION OFFERS BROAD REACH
5. FOR-PROFIT COLLEGES COMPETE FOR STUDENTS
6. BIG ONLINE COURSES GAIN NOTORIETY
7. COLLEGE BUDGETS KEEP SHRINKING
8. WHERE IS THIS HEADED?