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Interesting stance from the UK, where the government hopes to raise up the importance of computer science in education, where ICT (information and communication technology) lessons are not up to date with the needs and skills of the 21st century. Kids engaged in ICT classes learn how to use software, and not how software works or how it's created. From the article: "Written by gaming guru Ian Livingstone and visual effects veteran Alex Hope, Next Gen called for programming skills to replace learning about business software in ICT lessons." direct link to the UK Government's response to the 'Next Gen' report: http://www.dcms.gov.UK/publications/8646.aspx

From the UK, but in keeping with a theme we have often explored: the way the teacher uses the technology has much to do with its effectiveness.  

Along the lines of the discussions we've been having on the isites, mobile learning has major potential in the developing world. "Mobile phones are increasingly ubiquitous in poor countries, which now account for FOUR IN EVERY FIVE connections worldwide". This means that almost everyone owns or has access to a mobile phone. How can we leverage this reality? Well, we can't impose anything that requires a smart phone, since most of these mobile phones cannot access 3G or wifi networks. Perhaps we can start to send podcasts as voice notes? Audio wikis of information sent via sms? In-phone calculators for math homework completion? I think all we need is an educational system that supports this type of learning, and m-learning can possible change the face of education in the developing world. 

"There is a danger that MOOCs will reinforce rather than disrupt a two-tier education system in the US, and eventually in the UK, with campus-based learning as premium elite education and online learning as a basic offering."

Exciting to see how a massive online computer simulation game has enabled a young internet football manager to gain credibility in a real league. This has important implications for other educational simulations.

Did they jump or were they pushed?

Article in Mail Online

IDEO's take on the future of the book

Schools in Denmark are piloting a program which allows students to use computers with internet access on national writing exams.

facebook takes cyber bullying issues seriously. facebook solutions: 1) use privacy control settings 2) use those "remove" and "delete" buttons to drop bullies from your friend list.

on bogus tweets. many celebrities hire twitter ghostwriters to tweet for them. "public figures can't afford to be boring on Twitter."

article on Google Dashboard--google's new centralized privacy control site

trouble at WoW

Some interesting videos on this topic from Sir Ken Robinson, Conrad Wolfram, Salman Khan, Bill Gates and others.

The top two barriers to technology-enhanced learning (TEL) the survey concludes: lack of time and insufficient financial resources

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.

"The revolution in education is not something that's going to happen tomorrow. It's starting to happen quite a while ago, when in Nigeria and Kenya kids in schools would use their mobile phones to subscribe to information," says Alina Vandenberghe, head of mobile and gaming at Pearson.

Over the past few years, there has been an increasing emphasis on girls and information and communication technology in the development sector. Large government donors, NGOs and the private sector believe girls could play a big role in resolving poverty and making development gains through ICT.