HGSET561

Via Instapundit: In Technology Review, Michael Fitzgerald reports on an innovate approach to make digital versions of expensive textbooks available to cost-conscious students.

Global Learning Game-based Learning Virtual worlds, digital simulations and models Mobile learning Real-time data-based decision making

Using mobile technology as a tool for financial support... could this be geared toward education? (Has it been?)

Fantastically simple interface! It doesn't appear as though any funding is going to education, but more to households. But if this takes off, it would be great if the leaders of this non-profit lead school building initiatives, or other types of education initiatives.

"It Stems from Algebra: Professor Chris Dede and Assistant Professor Jon Star" Chris & Jon Star investigate the effects of online learning in math instruction & STEM.

A little bit meta

Some key training initiatives in cyber security, big data, analytics, mobile, etc. IBM's recent report "found that only 1 in 10 organizations has the skills needed to effectively apply advanced technologies such as business analytics, mobile computing, cloud computing and social business."

expectation on the power of 'technology and education' to solve the current skills shortage in the job market. 

While technology is changing the face of college admissions, "not all students are reaping the benefits of this virtual access to resources and information. For disadvantaged students lacking awareness or the digital-connection capabilities, entry into college may become harder to obtain than ever before."

Another look at digital badges.

3D printers making innovative toys possible

Article on how the government and philanthropies can support innovation in education.

What's the big barrier (besides government reluctance to spend money on education) to this? Historically, I thought that education funding was left to states as "states rights", hence the fact that the Federal government has even put up any money should be a step forward. I would be interested in hearing what people think are the levers for getting the Federal government to invest more...should education research be treated like NSF or NIH "basic research" and get core government support?

I believe that the federal government used to spend more dollars for basic research in education, but that number has been reduced dramatically over the years. I agree 100% that we need to increase this type of investment, and the federal government is the natural source. These social innovation funds are a separate type of investment, distinct from basic research. These grants are "translational" in that they seek to help commercialize promising research, but are not intended to fund the basic research. For a healthy and dynamic ecosystem of innovation in education, we need both.

Augmented Reality sandbox museum display

No hard news here; but this reminded me of Sherry Turkle and her (misguided, I think) argument that parents are too caught up with their phones to pay attention to their kids. There's a lot more subtlety in this piece. And even though this is literary and not academic, I think there's valuable food for thought re: T561 because of big questions about "real" experience vs. digital or "virtual" experience.

Lessons learned from Cisco's experience indicate that business-education partnerships should: * Be set up so that all aspects of the project are transparent to outsiders, even if corporations profit from the R&D * Foster experimentation, because it is not always clear in advance which ideas and projects will work best * Establish in-depth training for every new technology, with businesspeople and educators learning from each other

Using Minecraft inside and outside the classroom to inspire and explore engineering ideas.

I had heard of Google Sky Map but the rest of these were new to me