Thought Bubble: Tools and Ideas

July 5, 2007 · Posted in Studies, Tools, Web 2.0 · Comment 

Today’s post highlight’s a diverse set of articles on Web 2.0 technologies and their application to teaching and learning.

Digital Life vs Life Digital: Our Inevitable Digital Future
This article by Alex Iskold makes some very interesting points about “digital life” (as expressed by virtual worlds such as Second Life) and “life digital,” the idea that digital technologies such as Google Maps are overlaying our “real” lives with additional information and visualizations. This quote intrigued me:

“Information is being unleashed and re-shuffled. We are beginning to look at information from literally a 1000 foot view. And everything is becoming increasingly more connected. This is both very exciting and a bit unnerving. We are accelerating into our digital future from all directions – pushing digital towards life and pushing life towards digital.”

Pedagogical affordances of syndication, aggregation, and mash-up of content on the Web
Barbara Dieu and Vance Stevens provide a thorough review of Web 2.0 technologies (social networks, image sharing, blogs, mapping, podcasting, video, and other related technologies and processes) with the idea of applying these technologies to teaching and learning. The first sentence should catch the interest of any educator:

“As Internet and online learning become more and more incorporated into our courses, syllabi, and teaching materials, it becomes increasingly important that the impact the Web is having on changing perceptions of literacy carries over to the way we practice teaching and learning.”

The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning
An extensive, excellent collection of studies, book reviews, and lectures on “m-learning” (mobile learning). Past issues of the IRRODL are available from the menu, and the entire site is searchable.

WikiVersity
Even regular WikiPedia users may be unaware of WikiVersity. Here is WikiVersity’s own statement of purpose and goals:

“Wikiversity is a community for the creation and use of free learning materials and activities. Wikiversity is a multidimensional social organization dedicated to learning, teaching, research and service. Its primary goals are to:

  • Create and host free content, multimedia learning materials, resources, and curricula for all age groups in all languages
  • Develop collaborative learning projects and communities around these materials”

WikiVeristy is actively seeking educators to create materials for the site, and there is already a lot of useful content available for use.

Powered by ScribeFire.

Ed Tech and Student Achievement

June 25, 2007 · Posted in Studies · Comment 

Here are two recent articles that suggest that access to technology increases student achievement, one citing findings from the US and the other from the UK:

eSchool News: The nine states that have received $15 million in “Evaluating State Educational Technology Projects” grants from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) over the last three years are expected to submit their final reports from these studies to ED officials this fall–and an early look at their results suggests that technology is having a positive impact on student engagement and achievement. [View article]

BBC News: High levels of computer technology in schools can improve attainment to an extent, a four-year study has found. [View article]

Powered by ScribeFire.

Did You Know? Videos

June 23, 2007 · Posted in Studies, Teaching 2.0, Video · Comment 

The following video–Did You Know 2.0?— is required watching for ALL educators:

This is an official update to the original “Shift Happens” video from Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod. For more information, or to join the conversation, please visit http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com — Content by Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod, design and development by XPLANE.

There also is a longer, somewhat updated version available here.

Powered by ScribeFire.

Do eSchools Work?

June 20, 2007 · Posted in Studies, Teaching 2.0 · Comment 

I spend a lot of time promoting and defending ubiquitous technology models in my role as an instructor. In doing so, I’m careful to focus on the pedagogy of successful programs rather than on the technology itself. Recent school history is replete with examples of schools spending money on technology but ignoring professional development–a pitiful combination that usually results in huge expenditures, underutilized technology, frustrated teachers, a resentful public, and test scores more or less the same as they have always been.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Planned systems based on a clear, shared vision, teacher and community buy-in, strategic partnerships, and professional development can deliver stunning results in student achievement and professional commitment. There are many studies that confirm the efficacy of ubiquitous computing models from elementary through secondary schools all over the US. As educators, we are often called on to provide evidence that e-schools can work. Finding this evidence can be a time-consuming task, but thanks to an article in the June 2007 print issue of eSchool News, educators and advocates of technology in schools can get a leg up on the process.

In today’s entry I am going to summarize the issue’s links to studies and resources regarding the success of eSchools. The full story has additional reporting that is worth reading. Subscriptions to eSchool News are free to most educators. It’s probably the only print publication I regularly read from cover to cover.

The Evidence

“Although technology has largely had a positive impact on education so far, more dedication to research and implementation is needed for technology to realize its full potential as a teaching and learning tool.”

eSchool News Story | Read the Report

Small Arkansas program receives national recognition for technology excellence.

eSchool News Story

Shared Leadership Makes an IMPACT in North Carolina

eSchool News Story

Teacher Development is a Key to Tech Success

eSchool News Story | Read the Report

Online Field Trips Boost Reading Scores

eSchool News Story

Video on Demand Boosts Students’ Math Scores

eSchool News Story | Read the Report

Studies Validate Laptop Programs in US, Canada

eSchool News Story | Read the Reports: One Two

Missouri’s Ed Tech Program is Raising Student Achievement

eSchool News Story | Read the Report

Study: Technology Boosts Student Performance

eSchool News Story

Strong media Centers Boost Students’ Test Scores

eSchool News Story | Read the Report

ETS Study Shows Computers Can Help..or Hurt…Learning

eSchool News Story

Study Links Technology to Student Achievement: Comprehensive Research Documents Learning Gains

eSchool News Story | Read the Report

Powered by ScribeFire.

« Previous Page