HGSET561

Do any of you know 'LINE'? as of last months, 80mn users globally (36mn users in Japan) and its pace of growth is exceeding that of any other types of social media in the country (Facebook, Twitter, etc). They target 1) users who have smartphones but not PC, 2) those who are interested in communication emotions effectively through ''emoticons'. If some people are concerned about how twitter/facebook/texting would have adverse impact on children language skill, let's talk about the implication of this thing if kids learn to communicate just by selecting emoticons (whose designs and variety are great by the way) and sending that to each other. I still have LINE on my PC but seeing this rapid growth in my home country concerns me a bit. 

This website is a resource for adult education teachers and tutors who are interested in integrating technology into their instruction. Each month it features a different theme. This month, the blog features daily tech tips that can be used to support reading.

As our digital devices become part of our everyday lives, and part of the everyday lives of students, what does this say about our "relationship" with technology? Our devices often get more attention than our human relationships. Here is an interesting article on Cyborg Anthropology

Conference at MIT "Across Boundaries: Innovation & The Future of Education." February 1-2, 2013, MIT Tang Center, Cambridge, MA (http://learnlaunchconference2013.eventbrite.com).

A digital alternative for field trips when schools cannot get the funding to do the real thing...

Through optimizing the power of digital footprint in the classroom, students transform from passive to active learners. When incorporating technology within core curriculum, students' prior knowledge and experiences (PKE) with content are leveraged. They can then build learning communities, or personal learning networks, within and outside the classroom.

This tool uses Google maps to link educators for the purposes of collaboration. A clever use of this affordance, and one that those of us in IB Connect (Dock's class) may want to consider.

The purpose of this exercise is to provide a vehicle for digital citizenship. Interesting followup to Monday's class.

Interestingly demonstrating a shift of professor's point of view on social media from time consuming to educational.

Nice to hear business ppl taking consequence of education to the society seriously. Unfortunate all solutuions he suggest is about the money...

Schools throughout the country are experiencing the same teacher-driven adoption of technology tools. Internet-savvy teachers are increasingly finding tools to use in the classroom on their own, and lower business-startup costs mean the tools are more readily available. In response, many education companies are changing how they market and sell their products. Nationwide sales teams and central-office visits are giving way to word-of-mouth and sophisticated business-intelligence software as preferred methods for pushing adoption. Companies offer free products to teachers with the goal of influencing districtwide purchases of more-robust versions-known as the "freemium" pricing model. But in most sectors of the existing K-12 system-with its various stakeholders, budgetary restrictions, and procurement regulations- the so-called "consumerization" of education faces many barriers, experts say, making it difficult to find the right balance between selling directly to teachers and addressing the needs of central-office administrators.

Results of a 2012 survey on salaries in the corporate training field.

Microsoft recognized three U.S. schools at its Global Forum Educator awards last week. I didn't find two of them terribly intriguing, but the third, LYNCing Distance Learning Math Classes to Blind and Visually Impaired Students, was a great example of how technology can be used to link educators with special skills and students with special needs how may not otherwise have access to a qualified instructor.