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Students report that schools' filters, firewalls, and blockage of social media sites are obstacles to their use of educational technology.
For starters, it is clear that some districts were more open-minded entering their BYOT programs than others. Many “policies” (not included below) were really more of a set of rules and consequences for breaking the rules than they were a supporting framework for teachers and students.
Via Nik Peachey
A new survey of colleges across Scotland shows that social media, and particularly YouTube, has firmly entered the learning environment as teaching and learning tools, with their use growing significantly year on year.
Via Nik Peachey
In fact, one of the many fascinations of the 21st century is the arrival of computer - mediated communication (CMC). Several research studies support that CMC, in its synchronous manifestation, facilitates the acquisition of oral competence.
Via Nik Peachey
The other big advantage of Scoop.it is that discussion is based around content, which can help to give the interaction more depth. It also helps user to escape much of the banality that appears on Twitter as it tends not to attract the celebrity or 'what I had for lunch' postings as it isn't principally about conversation, but as more of a focus on content sharing.
Via Nik Peachey
A project using iPads to enhance literacy at Casllwchwr Primary in Swansea showed that creative use of iPads in the curriculum make a real difference.
Via Jim Harmon
When using the SimAULA platform, the teacher in training controls an avatar that interacts with student avatars (controlled automatically by SimAULA) in a virtual classroom, where lessons are taught and a series of situations liable to arise in a face-to-face environment are played out. By way of a specific example, the first version of SimAULA features a simulated biology class in which the teacher avatar has to help student avatars fulfil various learning goals.
Via Nik Peachey, Jeffrey Earp, Jim Lerman, Kim Flintoff
FaceFilter3 is a versatile photo retouching and beautifying toolkit that allows you to cover blemishes, customize makeup, refine facial features, and apply DSLR effects.
Via sofilab
We builds tools for kids to code. We're working on a visual programming language for the iPad that uses modular drag-and-drop methods to let kids easily create their own computer programs and apps.
Via Nik Peachey, Limitless Learning Limited
The idea that massive open online courses (MOOCs) provide a less valid learning experience than face-to-face courses is a furphy. Here are some reasons why the critics are wrong.
Via Susan Bainbridge
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In a related Pew study on libraries and the Internet, one librarian told researchers, “I believe public libraries should move away from being ‘houses of knowledge’ and move more towards being ‘houses of access.’ This is what the public is asking for and we are here to serve them.” Beyond the use of technology, many librarians think in terms of access and information being closely linked, and believe that libraries still have a responsibility to both.
Via Nik Peachey
The important questions that I believe we should be asking at this point are: What education-specific research will be beneficial to the field? What do we need to know? And how should we go about investigating what we need to know about? Systematic empirical research can (a) generate a deeper understanding of this phenomenon, (b) provide evidence to support or refute the claims surrounding MOOCs, and (c) help universities and MOOC providers enhance course offerings.
Via Nik Peachey
HabitRPG is a time and task management tool which overlays motivational elements of computer games onto managing time and tasks.
The two major motivational elements are health points, which can be used up and coins which can be earned by doing daily tasks, following good habits and doing jobs from your 'Todos' list. These coins can then used to buy rewards.
Via Nik Peachey
If it is tech related, some people think it’s my realm and don’t appear to have the personal motivation to gain understanding. This the professional goal I have set for myself, to help bring people the table to gain from the learning that is out there on a daily basis.
Via Nik Peachey
Here’s a list of blogs that feed my teaching soul, hunger for knowledge, and need for deeper insights into teaching, learning and writing. There are so many wonderful blogs that it’s impossible to list them all here, so I’m listing the ones that have been most relevant to my own professional development. As such, they should be relevant to any teacher who wants to turn online teaching and/or publishing into a fully-fledged career.
Via Nik Peachey
Chromebooks aren’t like traditional laptops. While they’re much simpler, they still have various useful features you may not know about. These tricks will help you take advantage of your Chromebook’s true potential.
Via Helen Teague
Enjoy our HTML 5 interactive infographic that exaplains why infographics are so successful
Via Beth Dichter, Mark Gleeson
Used by over 70,000 teachers & 1 million students at home and school. Studyladder is an online english literacy & mathematics learning tool.
Via Librarian@HOPE, Malachy Scullion
I’m in the final week of a Coursera MOOC, Sports & Societythat for the most part has been lackluster and disappointing. I expected a university level course that would provide learning and perspectives into the social and cultural dimensions that affect sports participation and perceptions across different cultures. It missed the mark. Granted, the majority of Coursera courses are ‘lite’ versions of the real thing [full college course] – few mimic the workload or rigor of the face-to-face counterparts, which is fine [even preferred when taken for personal development] given the courses are not promoted as such. Though a lite version does not mean that meaningful and deep learning cannot occur. I’ve completed two other Coursera courses, Introduction to Sociology, and E-learning and Digital Cultures. Both courses provided rich learning with scholarly materials, challenging assignments and opportunities to gain knowledge beyond the course site. Though the Sports & Society course wasn’t completely inadequate, in fact some things were done well, but for all the effort and resources that went into the course, it missed the mark quite significantly in terms of providing conditions for meaningful learning to occur. I see an opportunity to share here with readers what contributed to a mediocre MOOC learning experience. To provide an illustrative framework for this review, I’ve created a MOOC quality scorecard review, that is [loosely] based on a quality scorecard approach and my course design experience.
Via Miloš Bajčetić
The quickest way to get things done! Symphonical is an easy and fun app made of whiteboards and sticky notes.
Via Baiba Svenca, Susan Oxnevad
Create apps everywhere — on all your devices! Keyboard optional. Share your programs with other people. Download the free app for Windows Phone, try the Web App in your browser!
Via Gust MEES
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There are a variety of tech tools and methods out there for teaching writing that can make the process easier and more fun for both teachers and students. While not every high-tech way of teaching writing will work for every class or every student, there’s enough variety that there’s bound to be something for everyone.