HGSET561

Here is a list of finalists and winners in a number of different categories from product or service to presentation solutions. This is only the list, but searching on their name will give more information. Pearson's Online Learning Exchange (born from my Science Business Unit) was a finalist for new product or service. Enjoy!

This article discusses some tech careers and locations of these opportunities. "The results are clear. Mobile computing, cloud computing, social business, and business analytics have gone beyond niche status and are now part of any modern organization's core IT focus," said IBM's Jim Corgel, general manager of ISV and Developer Relations. "IT professionals who can develop the skills needed to work across these technologies will be ready to meet growing business demand in the coming years."

Despite the wealth of information available on the Internet, a recent study suggests that many students lack basic research skills. According to the latest Project Information Literacy Progress Report, 84 percent of students say that when it comes to course-based research, getting started is their biggest challenge.

An conversation with Tom Vander Ark, author of "Getting Smart: How DIgital Learning is Changing the World". " It confirms what we discussed in class - technology is an amplifier, "technology amplifies parenting: good parents manage it and make the most of it, but less well supported students sit in front of screens in unsupervised and unproductive activities for far too long. "

The public school district in St. Louis, Missouri was awarded an Innovative Technology Education Fund grant to buy iPads for all students with autism in six autism-specific classrooms. This seems to be an example of utilizing an emerging technology in an excellent way with proper teacher training, rather than using technology for technology's sake. The schools will be advised on how to implement the iPads by an autism science and advocacy organization and have two full days of professional development planned.

This is great news on the autism-rights front! I know a severely autistic 21-year-old who is highly communicative because of the technology he has used since he was young.

a new online resource by NBC and Blackboard.com : nbclearn.com is a online video library highlighting educational technologies.

Heavy hitters (one entirely outside education; one an industry vendor) making a big time play to steer the ship. Is this what it takes?

It will be interesting to see how they cull the information, experts and stories they produce . . .

The New York Times takes on Khan Academy

I am getting a bit tired of the 'either/or' scenarios painted by some. Thankfully, some teachers like Ms.Tavenner seem to realize that they can use technology in a useful way to teach effectively. "Ms. Tavenner says she believes that computers cannot replace teachers. But the computer, she recognizes, can do some things a teacher cannot. It can offer personal feedback to a whole room of students as they work. And it can give the teacher additional class time to do more creative and customized teaching."

Excellent rundown of the relevant trends in educational technology and some strategies that schools can take to adopt these trends

"The notion of literacy has radically changed in the face of technologies that allow for different forms of expressions and levels of interaction, which is why teachers must adapt"

Article from July 2011 that is an example of how to transistion to a BYOD school.

I like it that "the district has focused on making sure that technical staff understand the educational goals of the initiative and that educators understand the technical challenges to enabling it". I my previous experience in non-educational settings, whenever the user community and the technology community were aligned and focused on solving a 'business' problem it was likely to lead to a successful conclusion.

A growing number of classroom teachers are posting student work online. Recent advancements in online technology have made it easier and cheaper, yet many educators hesitate, not quite sure of how to begin.

Can the US compete with 600 million connections?

The Daily Show takes on iPads educational games and the 'freemium' pay model (free to get a game, costs $ to get desired add-ons and content). They specifically look at the game Tapfish.  Pretty funny - but I think hits the dangers of this model head on

Battu!!! You stole my thunder. I wanted to post this but I'm glad you did because I think it is one of the real hazards of education fronting for the products of private companies. We need to be ahead of the curve.

agreed - I think awareness of this growing model is crucial. But with the increasing occurrence of the pay-for-more mantra in mobile apps (especially those made by big publishers & developers-- even educational apps)--- will small-time efforts (solo developers, non-profits) be able to compete? Is this model reflecting the true nature of app development? It's already hard for small/independent efforts to match the polish and amount of content of stuff made by the 'pros' (big publishers & devs). Is it the constant revenue the big apps are getting from in-app purchases that allows their stuff to rise and stay steps ahead? I wonder if there'll be an obvious and real difference in the quality of free vs paid/pay-to-play apps down the road, enough that certain apps won't even be available in one category or the other.

--- I would use this article for: 1) Target Practice 2) Toilet Paper 3) Fuel 4) Wrap for Smelly Fish 5) A Dust Pan What AM I TALKING ABOUT --- I was a poor black kid --- I would use this article to explain to all my Harvard classmates what technology is not!!!!!!

This article reminds of what Professor Dede said in the class, that we are at the inflection point in the history of of educational technologies. The author confirms that with eleven marked changes.

This is a very exciting time but I noticed that the author cited evidence that I believe will only contribute to the achievement gap. He cites that poverty is increasing and every new educational effort requires money or families with time to spend with their children. The adults who focus on children in poverty are the teachers. Where are they in the list?

I agree overall about 2011 being an inflection point, but I also remember that IBM 360 and TV were supposed to revolutionalize education too.

Mark Reford, who heads the school, and Michael Zeigler, the school's technology director and a teacher, said a new course marries the worlds of art and technology for middle school students, promotes higher-order thinking and gives kids insight into the future of manufacturing. 3D printers are not new but If you 've never heard of them it is a fun technology to investigate.

Interesting predictions made about what was going to be big in 2011.

Some good insights from a variety of people

Good question - "What can I do with these devices that would be impossible to do without them?".