Educational Twist to Video Games

According to the BBC a British nonprofit that has been looking for ways to integrate technology with education has developed Racing Academy, a simulation that requires its players to develop a basic understanding of physics and engineering.

“Students must build and maintain their vehicles and analyze their performance as they compete on a virtual racetrack.” The added twist for game enthusiasts is the use of online tools such as discussion boards and chat rooms to collaboratively work together.

Nesta Future Labs in conjunction with Lateral Vision is working to see how this game can be used across curriculum subject areas and hoping to find out how new technologies can be used to create motivating and engaging learning environments. Educators should take notes on this project!

Powerpoint in Education

NY TIMES >>TECHNOLOGY>>CIRCUITS

PowerPoint Goes to the Fair: "Technology is changing that annual academic ritual, the science project, as more students abandon posterboard displays in favor of computer presentations."

Google e-Books Project

Google Scholar: It's like having a world class research library in the palm of your hand. An excellent resource for students using internet equipped phones in or out of the classroom. "Google Scholar enables you to search specifically for scholarly literature, including peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, abstracts and technical reports from all broad areas of research." Read more >>

mLearning Resources

mLearning: An excellent description of how mobile technology (phones) are being used to access rich media such as video produced in the classroom. Lots of potential here for groups working with iMovie, to then export a copy to a pupil's phone via Bluetooth to takehome and review.

In addition, students can use their internet equipped phones to download streaming movies that have been compressed and uploaded to a suitable website, maybe showing snippets during a residential trip, or tutorials about an upcoming lesson.

MathAmigo: Another example of mLearning in the classroom, combining math curriculum and mobile technologies to help students construct their own learning and understanding.

Weblogs and Discourse

Weblogs and Discourse: Weblogs as a transformational technology for higher education and academic research

Blogtalk Conference Paper, Vienna, May 23rd-24th 2003 Oliver Wrede

Abstract:

This paper discusses different questions of weblogs in context of higher education. It is focussing on three loosely coupled questions:

1. How can the weblog format improve discourse?

2. How it can weblogs support teaching at universities?

3. What are the insitutional benefits of weblogs in universities? It seems obvious that these questions relate to each other and therefore probably should be discussed in context. The document grew out of a wild collection of speculative thoughts and notes. It is also based on some daily experience with weblogs in an educational setting.


educational+weblogs

Blogs in the Liberal Arts Classroom

Weblogs in Education: Bringing the World to the Liberal Arts Classroom: "A new, easy-to-use web publishing tool known as a weblog allows users to publish content to the web from their browsers, providing users with an unprecedented ability to participate in the internet community."



education blogging social+software learning student+blogs educational+weblogs

ITEA

International Technology Education Association is the largest professional educational association, principle voice, and information clearinghouse devoted to enhancing technology education through technology, innovation, design, and engineering experiences at the K-12 school levels. Its membership encompasses individuals and institutions throughout the world in over 45 countries with the primary membership in North America.

ITEA’s mission is to advance technological capabilities for all people and to nurture and promote the professionalism of those engaged in these pursuits. ITEA seeks to meet the professional needs and interests of members as well as to improve public understanding of technology, innovation, design, and engineering education and its contributions.

ITEA represents more than 35,000 technology educators in the U.S. alone who are developers, administrators, and university personnel in the field representing all levels of education. ITEA corporate members are comprised of leading technology companies.

ITEA conducts various professional development programs and holds an Annual Conference in the United States- the largest technology education showcase of exhibits and educational sessions in the world. ITEA collaborates with its sister associations from around the world in international conferences hosted in selected countries.

ITEA publishes The Technology Teacher, Technology and Children, The Journal of Technology Education, TrendScout, Bright Ideas, and a variety of other publications that lead the profession by providing teaching directions, instructional ideas, and networking opportunities.

Scholars Who Blog

Scholars Who Blog: "The soapbox of the digital age draws a crowd of academicsBy DAVID GLENNIs this a revolution in academic discourse, or is it CB radio?In one form or another, that question inevitably arises in conversations with scholars who have taken up the habit of writing Web logs, or "blogs."

Some have started blogging in order to muse aloud about their research. Others want to polish their chops at opinion-writing for nonacademic audiences. Still others have more urgent and personal reasons.


ALSO SEE:

A Blog Takes Off

From Nascar to Ugly Robes: Some Academic Blogs to Note

Read the transcript of a live, online discussion with Eugene Volokh, a professor of law at the University of California at Los Angeles and the founder of the Volokh Conspiracy, an academic blog, on issues facing scholars who have blogs." (via)



education blogging social+software learning student+blogs educational+weblogs

Blogs in the Classroom

Can blogs help students?
Rohini Kapur June 12, 2003

"As the debate about blogs changing the face of journalism rages on, many media courses have already started including the topic in their curriculum."



education blogging social+software learning student+blogs educational+weblogs

The Holocaust: Educational Resource Kit

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is an international center for Holocaust remembrance and the defense of human rights. They have developed a curriculum resource kit, The Holocaust, 1933-1945 for educators.

In addition, the Simon Wiesenthal Center's online Ask a Survivor program allows students, teachers, researchers and others to email a survivor a question and receive an answer. This program is monitored by the Library and Archives and has had resounding success because of the tirelss efforts of a very dedicated volunteer survivor group. (Courtesy of the Simon Wiesenthal Center)

Concept Mapping as an Online Learning Tool

Concept-Mapping Software: How Effective is the Learning Tool in an Online Learning Environment?

Jennifer Isaacs, a graduate student at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada, investigates how SMART Ideas concept-mapping software can be employed in online learning environments. Dual Coding Theory, Schema Theory and Cognitive Load Theory are all explored in the course of this paper.

Blogging and RSS for Educators

Blogging and RSS — The "What's It?" and "How To" of Powerful New Web Tools for Educators
Will Richardson, Supervisor of Instructional Technology, Hunterdon Central Regional High School

"The internet has long been valued by teachers and librarians as a powerful research and communications tool, and in the last 10 years, it has brought about a sea change in the way students find, manage, and use information. But the promise of the Web as more than just a readable, searchable resource has been slow to be realized ... until now.

Two new Internet technologies, Weblogs and RSS (Real Simple Syndication), are redefining the way students and teachers use the Internet, turning them from mere readers into writers to the Web as well, and making it easier to filter and track the ever-growing number of resources coming online each day. In fast-growing numbers, educators across the country and throughout the world are finding just how powerful this new interactive Internet can be."



education blogging social+software learning student+blogs

Research & Evaluation of Interactive, Electronic Whiteboards

The REVIEW Project: "A 2-year research project, which looked at how interactive whiteboards are being used in classrooms across the UK. From August 2002- July 2004, the project observed more than 200 classroom lessons, from Foundation years to Post 16.

At the end of the 1st year, we collated all the material and analysed it. We also collected together many video clips and photographs. These were compiled into a teacher-training CD ROM, called "The Good Guide to Interactive Whiteboards." This CD is no longer available for general distribution.

The advice contained in the CD ROM has been converted into Helpsheets, which are available in the Help and Advice section of this website. The Project has also developed a series of guides for each subject area, which are available in the Case studies section of this website."


Technorati Tags: education+technology education whiteboards

SMARTer Kids Foundation

The SMARTer Kids Foundation: A private organization that provides opportunities for students and teachers to learn new skills and grow in self-confidence by placing technology, Grants and programs at their service.

The Foundation helps equip classrooms with technology products and generates practical research on the impact and effectiveness of technology in the classroom. The challenges and opportunities that teachers and students face in accessing and using technology drive us to ensure our efforts make a difference in education.