Let’s discuss the following quote in regards to teaching, learning, technology and the future.
The future is already here – it is just unevenly distributed. — William Gibson (Attributed)
Category: Teacher Education
Free Concept/Semantic Mapping Software
The following free software programs are good alternatives for concept/ semantic mapping technologies like Inspiration and OpenMind. These are helpful in the development of concept/ semantic maps, flow charts, diagrams, timelines, and more.
Review of Frontline’s “Growing up Online”
I watched the program last night. (PBS has made the full version of the program available online, along with extended clips, discussion boards, and a chat room.) Given all the chatter before the airing I found the program to be more balanced than I was expecting, but it was not without bias. Here are some of my random thoughts related to the program.
- It cautioned that kids may be smarter and safer about online socializing than we think. Are they learning this from themselves, school, parents, media, or …?
- The program dedicated more time to the use of technology for socializing rather than for educational purposes. I’d like to see a follow-up program deal with that topic.
- I’m not sure that everything in the program is generalizable to the larger population. While the episode never overtly made any such claim it’s important that viewers not make that assumption.
- There are excellent teachers that do not make any use of technology in the classrooms. The use of technology does not necessarily make one educational experience better than another.
- The issue of parents’/ schools’ safety concerns and children’s privacy is one that deserves a great deal more consideration.
FRONTLINE: growing up online | PBS via kwout
Here’s what others are saying:
- Comments to my (Clif’s) initial post
- Infinitude: Part I, Part II
- Jennifer Maddrell
- Weblogg-ed: Post 1, Post 2
- Geeky Mom
- Nick Pernisco
- The Official Growing up Online Discussion Board
“Growing up Online” on PBS’ Frontline
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XyipM9STyY
UPDATE: The program has aired and you can read my review.
Teens Talk about Educational Technology
One of the highlights of the 2007 AECT International Convention was the fireside chat with Marc Prensky and 5 high school students. Prensky pretty much said the same thing he’s been saying for years (I’ve heard and seen that speech and presentation 3 different times now) but the students brought a fresh perspective to the technology integration conversation. It was great to hear students describe what they consider to be ideal instruction, assignments, assessment, and the desired classroom environment. I sat there thinking that we need to hear from students more often. You can read a transcript of this event here.
Steve Hargadon has recently posted an article (here and here) summarizing his interview with a 14 year old student “who has recently become actively involved in the online dialog about educational technology.” Steve’s summation and the audio of the interview are both intriguing.
I encourage you to spend some time listening to what the students have to say and then share your thought in the comments below.
REPOST: Beyond Access Inclusion Conference
The Restructuring for School Inclusive Environments (RISE) Project will be hosting the Beyond Access Inclusion Conference on November 27, 2007 at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, TN. “The 11th Annual BEYOND ACCESS Inclusion Conference is designed to provide educators, administrators, parents, and related service providers current information on the best and most promising practices in inclusive education. More…
AECT’s Teacher Education Division’s Online Convention Activities and Resources
Introducing the Teacher Education Division’s most recent venture into the world of Web 2.0 technologies. TED Live! 2007 is a member generated e-newsletter of anything and everything related to TED during the 2007 AECT Convention. TED Live! 2007 has robust RSS capabilities and will mashup blog posts, images, podcasts, vidcasts, social bookmarks, file attachments (slide shows, handouts, papers, etc.), tags/keywords, and more into an easy to use e-newsletter. This information will be archived and will be available on The Playground. Consider the possible benefits of being able to provide your students access to particularly relavent information and materials, for those with research interests related to the social aspect of a professional organization, professional development communities, online learning and callaboration, social networking, and much more.
Virtual Attendance and Participation
We realize that everyone can not make it to Anaheim this year, but you can stay connecTED with us and enjoy the presentations and content via TED Live! 2007. If we don’t see you at the convention then we hope to see you online!
Contribute Content
TED Live! 2007 can only be as rich and useful as we make it and we need your help to make this a valuable resources for us all. Please read TED’s Legal Disclaimers.
Teaching and Learning in the 2.0 Era
Many of this blog’s readers and many of my students have asked me to provide an overview of the buzz-term 2.0. As you’ll see in just a moment, it is reported to have all started with the use of the phrase Web 2.0 back in 2004 and was soon followed by phrases such as Learning 2.0, Presentations 2.0, School 2.0, Identity 2.0, and Office 2.0 just to give a few examples. All of these are ideas that represent a change/ evolution/ revolution in thinking and practice. Clearly each of these terms has really cool and innovative technologies associated with them, but we must not get distracted by the toys. I think it’s far more important that educators and instructional designers consider the philosophical, theoretical, pedagogical, and pragmatic implications of these ideas as I think each could potentially influence education in the future. I intend on posting more about this later, but for now let’s start at the very beginning. Here are introductions to the terms Web 2.0 and Learning 2.0.
Let’s Set the Scene
- If you have access to Integrating Computer Technology into the Classroom, I encourage you to read Chapter 1, Rethinking Computers and Instruction. Otherwise, proceed to the next item.
- Consider the information presented in the Shift Happens presentation.
Web 2.0
- An Introduction to Web 2.0 – This post includes 2 videos that will provide you with a quick introduction to the concept of Web 2.0.
- Web 2.0’s Potential Impact on Teaching Learning – Includes the viral video Web 2.0…The Machine Is Us/ing Us.
- Web 2.0 entry from Wikipedia – Look over this information and become somewhat familiar with the big ideas. I’m not expecting you to become an expert on this. Spending 5 minutes here should be just fine.
Learning 2.0
- Learning 2.0 entry from Wikipedia – This is a very quick read and provides a basic introduction to the idea of Learning 2.0.
- Example of teaching and learning 2.0 – 13 Yr. Old CEO of Innovative Educational Gaming Company
For Your Consideration
The 11th Annual Beyond Access Inclusion Conference in Memphis, TN
The Restructuring for School Inclusive Environments (RISE) Project will be hosting the Beyond Access Inclusion Conference on November 27, 2007 at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, TN. “The 11th Annual BEYOND ACCESS Inclusion Conference is designed to provide educators, administrators, parents, and related service providers current information on the best and most promising practices in inclusive education. This year’s conference theme, “Inclusion: Mission Possible,” reestablishes the commitment of educators and schools to become innovative in meeting the educational needs of diverse learners through inclusive practices such as response to intervention, differentiated instructional approaches, co-teaching methodology, and positive behavior support activities. Participants will learn from other practitioners and experts in the field of education better ways of including not only students with disabilities, but all students, through effective educational practices” (from conference site). The conference has grown into a regional conference with approximately 500 people attending last year from Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, North Carolina, and California.
Presentation Proposals
Please consider submitting a presentation proposal related to students with special needs in general education classrooms. It is an especially good opportunity for graduate students to present in a very supportive atmosphere. Proposals are due by September 15, 2007.
Conference Registration
Registration information is available here.
Do Schools Kill Creativity?
Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining (and profoundly moving) case for creating an education system that nurtures creativity, rather than undermining it. With ample anecdotes and witty asides, Robinson points out the many ways our schools fail to recognize — much less cultivate — the talents of many brilliant people. “We are educating people out of their creativity,” Robinson says. — from TED Talks
Do you agree or disagree with Sir Robinson’s assertions?