Group items tagged

Wow, such an interesting direction that online/distance learning is taking through MOOCS (Massive Open Online Course). There is a lot more I can say on this topic, and I will! ____________________ Among the tens of thousands of people signed up for the University of Toronto's online computer science course Learn to Program: The Fundamentals, there are a lot of unconventional students.Of late, MOOCs have dominated the conversation around online learning. They drastically change distance learning, breaking down the barriers of geography and fees, while connecting students across the globe with each other and with some of the world's top teaching talents.

The past few years have seen a steady influx of new investment, new companies and new opportunities in education technology. With this demand comes personalized learning, including mobile apps for learning. Good article!

A different slant on how technology is affecting learning

I'm still learning about SEO but I'm really interested in its effect on website content. Planning keywords into content, especially on news articles, can be dangerous to the art of writing.

Not sure if technology replaces an intimate, interactive learning environment. The problem is defining which classrooms benefit from it rather than a university-wide policy. (I meant to post this when I first read it but came back to it around after watching another digital education seminar).

To follow up on the topic of branding that was discussed during yesterday's mashup, here's a look at how certain big brands have taken advantage of branding using Facebook features.

I watched this on TVO today and found it explored some good concepts, particularly the difference between the collective and community. As well, I like his distinction between context vs content providers in higher education -- shaping discussion rather than trying to disseminate it.

We learn a lot about technology in Virtual Organization. Here is an article that speaks to Toronto's potential as a information-technology hotspot for developers. What I find most interesting is that the best medium to interact in this high-stakes, high-information-rich sort of milieu is face-to-face.

Very fitting for our PC8005 readings, as well as what we're learning in Professor Fung's class. Another example of how technology and new developments can leave a lot of people behind, unless they adapt to new forms of technology quickly! 

While writing my blog, I found this article which backed up an opinion I had about the use of technology. This is a blog written by an elementary school teacher in California. He writes about using technology in the classroom -- that it should be for learning and not for technology's sake. He brings up some interesting examples and scenarios.

It's amazing that we repeatedly face this debate. Educators at all levels are continually facing a technologically determinist position from the public, technology companies and policy makers. But the writer of this post illustrates really well, that it's how technology is used that's important. Thanks for the great post.

Helpful how-to website for everything digital, internet and technology.Ever wanted to know how to cite a tweet? It's all on this website with easy instructions.

Really interesting article about a new app that will lock cell phone texts/phone calls to prevent digital eavesdropping/monitoring. I think it will be interesting to see how this plays out and what the long term affects/reaction (both socially and legally) will be. "The legal barrier for eavesdropping has never been lower. We've learned to be comfortable with it because, for the most part, we've never had any means of escape, but Silent Circle could change that."

This is our future? Are the days of the Archie comicbook now obsolete? Wil our kids and grandkids, now use tablets to peruse the world of comicbooks?

This website is brilliant. Professional-looking websites are looking more and more alike these days. This one, however, looks like nothing I've ever seen and illustrates how skillful storytelling, good visual skills, and tech savvy come together to read like a window into two peoples lives. What this website is about is a pleasant surprise at the end!

A great article on Twitter and Creative Writing.

Came across this well-written blog that says we should change the way students are assessed in the educational system. For instance, changing the way test questions are shaped can allow a student to think critically, test the student's ability to access resources and experts available online and provide them with practical, real-world experience.

How to not fall for a fake press release makes for an interesting and valuable read. Do some research and check facts (and news feeds) to ensure the information being released is in fact accurate. Depending on your chosen field this could be an expensive or embarassing mistake.

This article could be helpful over the next couple of week while we are all working on our final papers. It discusses new research on ambient noise and its link to creativity and productivity.

A great article about a teacher in New York who uses social media and technology to help kids go from being consumers of digital products to being content creators.