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Study Shows Students Are Addicted to Social Media

The report Pockets of Potential: Using Mobile Technologies to Promote Children's Learning, by Cooney Center Industry Fellow Carly Shuler, makes the case that our nation's leaders should not overlook the role mobile technologies can play, if well deployed, in building human capital and in helping to stimulate valuable innovation. As Sesame Street has proven over four decades of remarkable work, exposure to research-tested educational media starting early in life can accelerate children's skills, while producing enduring economic benefi ts to society. Pockets of Potential argues that despite legitimate public concern about the "disruptive track record" of mobile devices in schools, there is reason to be excited about their potential. As an analysis of key industry trends, opportunities, and challenges, including small-scale studies of academic and industry projects, the paper recommends a series of urgent action steps for key sectors to consider. Of particular note are the promising innovations developed by an international group of mobile technology thought leaders - from Silicon Valley to Seoul to sub-Saharan Africa - whose pioneering work is featured in this report and its appendices. The report joins a series of studies the Cooney Center has undertaken since launching one year ago. We hope to stimulate a new debate that will lead industry, funders, scholars, and caregivers to consider how the devices children now rely upon as their social currency may one day help them learn essential skills needed for success. As Mrs. Cooney recently noted, "Now is the time to turn the new media that children have a natural attraction to into learning tools that will build their knowledge and broaden their perspectives." Unless we do, the gulf between what children do informally and in school will widen, diminishing the educational opportunities all of our children need and deserve.

"Today's tech-savvy students spend hours upon hours sharing information with friends through social networks like Facebook. We wanted to bring this form of interaction to education. Tapiohka is a free, hosted solution that provides easy access to class information with tools that facilitate sharing and collaboration. We look to differentiate ourselves by bringing the focus on students learning from each other and not just from their teachers and textbooks. We completed our first phase of development last month and Tapiohka is now available and completely free to users. Currently, a teacher can create a class and provide their students with secure access to class information, schedule and resources. Students can collaborate with their fellow classmates within a platform that enables the easy sharing of resources and the ability to create discussions and form study groups."

Great site. Some great mapping stuff too!

Brain Pop - Arts and Music, English, Health, Math, Science, Social Studies and Technology Activities

Every state song with lyrics.

A website for teachers that explores comprehension and content reading strategies