Are we technically foolish?

In a brief article by Fredrick M. Hess, a resident scholar and the director of education policy studies at AEI, asks whether technology has made our schools more efficient...or not.

This article should really "hit a nerd" with my readers! C'mon...I know you're out there!

Fred uses words like boondoggle and asks, "Why do inviolable laws about the productive benefits of technology seem to stop at the schoolhouse door?"

Ouch.

Have at it!

Jim :-)

Gaming and learning?

Hi All,

I liked this article because it clearly stated something that I have always believed. Gaming is fun but educationally useless. Don't get me wrong, i go way back to the days of Pong. My current obsession is MX vs ATV for the PSP. I just never bought into the hype that somehow it was helping me...or anyone improve in some way. It was, and is, entertaining.

Chris Dede, a guy who I really respect because he has been around ed tech for a long time, has developed a learning game with many of the functions of a cool role playing game. While this is not a new concept, (I recall playing learning simulations with my 7thgraders using the laserdisc Science Sleuths) I am sure that Chris and his team have created an engaging product.

Learn more about his work at Harvard.

Jim :-)

"There's somethin' happenin' here....

...what it is, ain't exactly clear" Or, maybe it is somewhat clear.

It appears that some members of congress are not willing to accept the total demise of the EETT funding. CT's own Sen. Lieberman put it best when he said that the administration decision to eliminate EETT was, "at best, premature--and at worst, simply wrong." You go Joe!

See the whole description of this situation at eSchool News.

Let's not "throw the towel in" on this yet! Contact your local representatives to let them know what you think of the total elimination ot the EETT.

"......what's that sound, everybody look what's goin' down."

Jim :-)

Get up....Stand up... for the EETT

Geoffrey Fletcher, of the THE Journal, has really done a nice job of expressing what many of us are feeling about the recent deep EETT cuts.

See his comments here!

It is time for us to make some noise on this one people!

Jim :-)

Meet the new boss......

Well, the Bush administration took my Do/Don't list posting (1/2) seriously and decided to appoint a new head of Educational technology. Thanks Guys, I think. Ed.gov reports that Timothy J. Magner was appointed as director of the Office of Educational Technology (OET).

Here is a recent eSchool News interview. ESchool news reports, "Much as it has in medicine, Magner said, technology is getting to a point now in schools where its presence is so ubiquitous that educators can begin thinking seriously about how to integrate it into every facet of the school day, whether it's to provide a much-needed boost in the classroom, improve the quality and efficiency of front-office functions, or track and monitor individual student progress in order to differentiate instruction." Haven't we been saying this since the Apple ACOT study? ...ad how do the MASSIVE budget cuts help in this plan?

I'm sorry, I digress.


Jim :-)

2006 EduBlog Awards

Ok...so we didn't win. With the level of activity on this site I can't blame them!

Anyhoo.... I added the four winners selected by eSchool News to the link menu on the right. They are very good and you should visit them all to see how you can use them. The people who produce these do a TON of work to keep them fresh and relevant.

Congratulations to the 2006 winners!

btw... my list (located above the winners in the right menu) would represent MY selected winners.

All the best!

Jim :-)