Should we all "get over" myspace.com?

Hi All,

In an article for districtadministration.com titled, "Guess Why They Call It MySpace? It's time for adults to grow up" Gary Stager makes the case that all of us need to basically "chill-out".

He states, "Dependency and fear retard the learning process. It is difficult, if not impossible, for students to develop moral values and solve ethical dilemmas when school never allows them to make a decision or mistake."

He also takes a stab at the ed tech community when he states, "The educational technology community has a similar level of paranoia manifest in discussions over whether students should have their own floppy, be allowed to save on the hard drive, surf the Web, send an e-mail or use a USB key. It is impossible to discern the lines between genuine safety concerns and tyranny."

I've had the pleasure of learning from Gary in person. His creative and important work has demonstrated his concern for kids. I think that he makes some very good points. They are at least worth mulling over, after you take a deep breath.

If you don't agree with me I'll simply take you out of my "top 8". So there.

Jim :-)

Is tech injuring children?

In an article on C/NET.com, by Stephanie Olson, she explores this question.

My gut tells me that most kids probably won't suffer RSI injuries due to gaming or computer use. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't be more concerned about ergonomics in classroom/lab computer use or in game design. I know for a fact that my computer lab was not ergonomically designed and that the line of sight to the monitor and the posture of the kids while working was not ideal. (To say the least!)

I have come across articles concerning black-berry related injuries and since 1998 we have have been apparently concerned about "Nintendo Thumb". (I kid you not.)

Stephanie points to some real data that suggests that prolonged use of bad computer habits could ultimately result in RSI injuries. This is definitely something for ed tech enthusiasts to be aware of and concerned about.

Jim :-)

Let's get freaky with Ed Tech

HI All,

Ok, that was a bizarre title but I just finished the book Freakonomics. You are going to want to want this book. I haven't been this intrigued since I read Tipping Points! Do I agree with everything I read in the book? No. But it is the the approach that dictates that you question conventional wisdom that I love!

We may all assume things about educational technology that are wrong, simply because it has been said a lot and it is a comfortable conclusion. We need to figure out what these things are and start thinking differently.

We also need to start thinking about unconventional connections to the topic of ed tech and student achievement. For example, we always relate free and reduced lunch to test scores or the way in which tech is used with kids in schools. What if started asking stranger questions? What if asked about the relationship of appropriate ed tech use in a school to things like the amount of team planning that exists or the way it is used? Or the connection to the existence of an achievement gap or the number of suspensions? Or the connection to the quality of the bulletin boards or the amount of on task behavior in class?

You see what I'm getting at? If you don't, you will after reading Freakonomics. I say we all start getting freaky and find the unconventional wisdom that will improve our use of ed tech with kids.

Jim :-)

PFT - podcastforteachers.com

Hi All,

I just discovered an award winning podcast for ed tech enthusiasts called, podcastforteachers.com.

As I wrote to Mark Gura of Fordham University.....

"I really enjoyed PFT #37. I am going to be sure to direct people to your podcast from my blog....edtechnot.blogspot.com .

As a past NYC teacher (Dist 11- I student taught in Dist 10), Yonkers native, and a Manhattan College graduate I take pride in the fact that our neighborood is getting people think about ed tech in meanngful ways."

Keep innovating in the Bronx! You got a problem with that?

Jim :-)

Getting There by Alan Warhaftig

Read Alan's Ed Week piece. If you haven't registered at Ed Week yet...do it now. :-)

Here he questions the vaildity of Marc Prensky's "21st Century Tools". He also gives it to, "vendors who shamelessly hype potential not evident in actual products—urging schools, meanwhile, to buy what’s available today, so American students won’t fall behind."

Isn't it disturbing that we are still asking the same questions about the integration of educational technology that we were asking in the late 80's? Isn't it disappointing that a typical classroom (I'm talking about a REAL public school classroom where a vendor wouldn't survive 5 minutes, not the rare space mocked up for glossy ads.) has not been impacted by all of the technological advances of the last 20 years, physically or pedagogically?

Man...Alan, you really "hit a nerd" with this one.

Jim :-)

Is e-mail old school?

According to my 13 year old son..."exactamundo!"

eSchool News does a great job of exploring this trend.

Kids IM every day but apparently only e-mail to transfer files or communicate with adults. That cracks me up! I have to say that this exactly mirrors my experience.

gtg

Jim :-)

A couple of Blogs to consider

Hi All

Both of these recommended blogs are created by Mike Muir. Mike is a professor of educational technology at the University of Maine at Farmington. He works with several learning with laptop initiatives and with schools on how to motivate underachievers. He is a great guy and an awesome presenter to boot. You'll like these.

The first one is ... Everyone Learns: Pedagogy, Technology and Motivation. Here you will find lengthy and meaningful postings.

The next is...1to1stories.org-Sharing the collective wisdom of 1-to-1 learning with technology initiatives across the country and around the world.

I know that I have posted articles that provide differing views on "laptops for schools", but THAT'S THE POINT of this blog, to get all of the ideas out there for your perusal.

Great Job Mike!

Jim :-)

Sign a petition in support of the EETT

Here is the petition.

It couldn't hurt.

This request came from an email sent out by Keith Krueger,CEO, Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and Don Knezek , CEO, International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

JIm :-)

"tune in , turn off" chat transcript

Hi All,

Here is a link to a live chat transcript that was sponsored by Ed Week that, according to moderator Kevin Bushweller, was, "about how educators are dealing with the constant influx of new technologies, such as iPods, that students are bringing to school. Should schools embrace the presence of those technologies and harness their powers for learning? Or are there good arguments for schools to restrict the presence and use of such gadgetry?"

I think you'll enjoy this exchange. I was impressed with Alan W's ability to keep refocusing the conversation on what matters most.

What do you think?

btw...the link above may require a registration on ed week, but if you are interested in this topic you really should register, if only to get access to the annual "Technology Counts" editions.

Jim :-)

Is "ed tech stalled by fear?"

In the eSchool News conversation, Thornburg: Ed tech stalled by 'fear', David Thornburg states, "The main thing that's holding technology back is ... a fear--a well-placed fear, I might add--that if technology becomes ubiquitous, it will totally transform the practice of education. There are a lot of people who don't want the practice of education transformed, because they're very comfortable with it."

What do you think about this? Is David right?

Are we all essentially buggy-whip makers.... while the world is already buying automobiles?

Are we doing enough things "differently" with technology?

BTW-- If you ever get the chance to hear David in person, do so. He is fascinating to listen to. My first encounter with him was in '93 at a WNET summer workshop in NYC. It was a real mind-opener to hear him in person.

Jim :-)

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 :-)

ed tech as a thinking tool...nice

HI All,

Long time no post.

Intel has a set of tools that I thought you might want to be aware of. They are designed to help develop higher order thinking skills in kids! Go figure! All kidding aside, they are definitely on the right track when they focus on these types of "thinking" products. You have to give credit where credit is due.

Here is the link--> Here

All the best!

Jim :-)

Getting in Deep

The Deep Web.

Do you know what it is?

If not, check out the following article. It is a really interesting piece by Jamie McKenzie.


Deep Web

Happy Valentines Day. <3
Jim :-)

more myspace hype

This article points out the dangers of being too revealing in the myspace web world and offers some "food for thought" for all to consider.

My 8th grade son tells me that many kids are starting to go "undercover" due to the fact that their parents are becoming more savvy about the site.... and are checking in on their postings. I am sure that many kids may be showing their parents one web space presence and actually conducting another with their friends.

I KNOW their are strong feeling on this. I, for one, am completely in the middle on this one as the ACTUAL parent of one of the earliest adopter tweens on the block.
The article

Rant on! I can take it.

Jim :-)

A Bush do/don't list

Things to consider for the near future:

DO--> Appoint a person to head the Office of Educational Technology(OET)

DON'T--> Cut 3.2 Billion dollars from the federal ed budget again



Jim :-)