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Is the online experience important enough to warrant this?

This strikes me as a case where technology is being implemented without enough thought as to how the technology actually furthers the learning goals. "Having an online learning experience" doesn't seem to me like a good enough reason to require students to take a course online, especially for students who do not have easy access to the internet. While I think it's important for students to get experience with an online learning platform, I hope that they are learning more than just how to use the technology -- what is more important is that they learn how to be part of a collaborative Community of Inquiry (I am borrowing the phrase Community of Inquiry from Garrison's "E-learning in the 21st Century"). This requires them to think and write critically and collaborate effectively with their peers.

Article about digital learning

An Educator Embraces The World And Finds Awesome Results.

""The whole evening is about educating parents about the technology that's out there," said Laura Boss, director of communications for Newport-Mesa Unified School District, who stressed that parents should not be afraid of the every-changing technology and that being informed is the first step. "This is the world [today's] kids live in." The presentation encouraged parents to embrace their kids' digital world, support balanced use, monitor their kids' digital media use, and discuss what sites they are allowed to visit and what they can and can't download. A few tips shared during the presentation: Give kids a code of conduct. Remind them not to post/IM/text anything they wouldn't say to that person's face; Discuss cyber-bullying with kids and ask if they know anyone who has been bullied; Talk about the importance of privacy and how to protect it; and discuss their online identity and possible risky behavior. "Raise good digital citizens!" a slide stated."

Technology is a double-edged sword. Young children cannot be exposed to the screen all day long, but there is no need to make a fuss about it. They can still learn a lot if they are properly guided.

A recent study looking at Facebook use and student grades found some evidence that students who share links and participate in "lurking" had higher grades while students who posted status updates had a higher likelihood of lower grades. 

Kate, Intesting post. Does this take into account of personality or social desirability bias? Sharing links and chatting may not be considered same type of activity.Since it relies on self reporting, there is also margin for error.

Interesting study for how students use facebook, and how that might affect academic performance. Those who used facebook to post statuses did worse academically then those who used it to share links/comment on others' links etc. Obviously, self-reporting of facebook use is limiting, as well as the myriad of other factors that influence academic performance. Still, something to look for when it gets published in the journal of Computers in Human Behavior. "How does Facebook activity affect a student's grades? Reynol Junco, a professor at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania, recently set out to determine exactly that. Mr. Junco assembled a sample of nearly 2,000 college students who self-reported details of their Facebook use: not just total time spent on the social networking site, but specific actions taken such as commenting, chatting, uploading photos or seeing what others are doing - "lurking," as Mr. Junco calls it."

South Korea initiative for digital textbooks - good news?

Excellent article on Video game model as a learning tool. Useful takeaways for motivation.

"Jochim and Siddell's books converge a traditional children's book format, a CD-ROM, a webcam and a computer to create "the same interactivity you could have on an iPad or (a Hewlett-Packard Co.) tablet, but with paper," said Jochim, president and founder of the Tempe-based Digital Tech Frontier."

It will be interesting to see the specific initiatives that come out of this new "Harvard wide" initiative.  I wonder if anyone at HGSE is involved with the planning and application of best practices

Math activities based on google maps.This looks like so much fun!

Very creative way to get youngsters engaged in math. As the author says, 'math is everywhere'.

This article profiles a school in Arizona that has adopted a blended learning model.

A look at what makes universities special and important. It's interesting that what they note are aspects that require smaller classes and more resources. I thought this is a good article to think about some of the key features of universities, and how they can be replicated in the virtual world.

Thestudy in this book compares mobile learning with the classroom learning, virtual learning, and performance support. Includes interviews from practiioners, thought leaders, and early adopters of mobile learning.

Does anybody have a copy of this book that I might be able to borrow?

Is this the start of a movement?

Interesting, real-time, questions about the topics we are covering in T561. Illuminates some of the key pieces (and challenges there within) of the scaling process... "Wissahickon School District (WSD) board members are divided on how to meet educational technology goals that bridge the "digital divide" and foster 21st Century Learning skills for students. A "1:1" plan presented to board members calls for giving every secondary student a computer to bridge the digital divide for students who do not have a computer, and enhance learning for all."