Cells phones as an educational tool

Interesting New York Times article about a study of the use of cell phones in the classroom. From article "The study found that students with the phones performed 25 percent better on the end-of-the-year algebra exam than did students without the devices in similar classes." read more

Mobile Technology in the Classroom

It is interesting in my school library, where we have wireless, to watch students use their mobile devices from netbooks and PSPs to cell phones use the Internet to work on their assignments. This also takes the pressure on the demand for computers (I often do not have enough computers for the demand).

The article below, from Education Week, discusses the shift towards mobile technology such as cell phones in the classroom. The article is supported by a report released by a research center based at the Sesame Workshop.

"Children’s lives have been caught up in a tide of mobile digital technologies—games, cellphones, and smartphones—that if carefully managed could significantly boost their learning"

read more

Paradigm Shift - Web 2.0 into the classroom

This article discusses the how to connect young people with the technology they use in their personal lives  into the education setting to improve learning.  The article also shows how this is supported by  International Society for Technology in Education, or ISTE.

This article entitled "Tech Literacy Confusion" is from the educational journal Education Week and is written by the technology editor Andrew Trotter.

Quote for article:

"Teaching literacy—reading and writing—is a core mission for schools, but today's young people increasingly "read" 3-D computer simulations and "write" via social networks such as Facebook. A growing chorus of experts say schools should add these forms of communication to their literacy mission as "technology literacy."

read more

Technology empowers differentiated instruction

One thing I have noticed over the last 2 years is that the integration of technology into at risk classes - such as locally developed classes - really improves learning.

This article entitled "Technology empowers differentiated instruction" supports this. Quote from article "the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), experts provided several examples of classroom projects that can help all students learn while keeping them engaged."

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New Report on the Digital Youth Project

The following quote is from a  report  entitled "the Living and Learning

with New Media:Summary of Findings from the Digital Youth Project" commission by MacArthur Foundation - November 2008

"Social and recreational new media use as a site of learning. Contrary to adult perceptions, while hanging out online, youth are picking up basic social and technological skills they need to fully participate in contemporary society. Erecting barriers to participation deprives teens of access to these forms of learning. Participation in the digital age means more than being able to access “serious” online information and culture. Youth could benefit from educators being more open to forms of experimentation and social exploration that are generally not characteristic of educational institutions."

Read full report. Quite interesting.

Report with Good Stats

The following link gives excellent data and statistics. The report was done by the National School Boards Association (US) and is title:Creating & Connecting: Research and Guidelines on Online Social – and Educational – Networking.

For example:

"Nine- to 17-year-olds report spending almost as much time using social networking services

and Web sites as they spend watching television."

http://www.nsba.org/SecondaryMenu/TLN/CreatingandConnecting.aspx

Future Trends - Portability and Cloud Computing

Future trends - Portability and Cloud Computing

 

Recent articles on technology indicate the move in the future is towards increased portability, wireless and cheaper devices to get onto the Internet (mini laptops and PDAs). Also there is a trend towards Cloud Computing (such as Google Apps) where application programs such as word processors and spreadsheets and documents are located on Internet servers - not on a computers hard drive. These trends not only improve learning but are a less expensive alternative to traditional computer workstations, hard wiring, software licencing and computer servers

 

"Cheaper laptops are part of the accelerating trend to greater portability. The cell phone is growing keyboards (or should they be called "thumb boards"?) and laptops are getting lighter and smaller. Meanwhile over-the-air Internet access is morphing from Wi-Fi to WiMax, as well as traveling over the same pathways as cell phones. These are the other components of cloud computing -- the wireless connections that define the cloud"

Read Article

 

The following article is about program that uses mini laptops in a school:

"The laptop program has always been well received," South Meadows Principal Lisa Nickel said. "Once the novelty wears off for the kids, it is seen as a great learning tool. It does not replace great teaching, but rather enhances it."

Read Article