Excellent, Grumbel! Well said. Often, I have discussions with older educators who lament their students' lack of reading, writing, and study as it has been traditionally thought of: writing a proper letter to a penpal, having meaningful debates face-to-face with friends, quiet studying at a desk with a lamp on, etc. Through technology (and many other elements, quick frankly), the next generation do these kinds of things, but differently. When we explain how students interact with their world that is different, I always get the same response, "I feel so bad for students today...".
In a way, 'Yes', but my response has become "There is no good or bad to it - it's just the way it is." Handhelds, gaming, Internet - they have changed how we learn and interact with our world. And, the "good" and "evil" factions are slowing how education needs to embrace technology - there is little difference of replacing a teacher spinning a globe vs a teacher using Google Earth on a Smartboard and spinning it. If we understand how gaming (which most of the students are doing) impacts learning or socializing, then we can either study individual aspects of those impacts or link them to studies that have already been done (affects of allowance being spent on video games, etc).
There are the differences in "white boards" and "smart boards" (which are white in color boards) that most educators do not grasp. SmartBoard, which like Xerox and Post-It, has become genericided, so we use terms like 'interactive whiteboards', 'whiteboards' and 'smart boards' interchangeably - thus leading to more confusion when these words are thrown around. A large touchpad with a projected image of a computer's desktop a nice toy, but, when we talk about whether they improve teaching and learning, we should consider how they are used.
Interactive whiteboards are stationary (not many teachers will not move it or allow it to be moved) and expensive. In a typical classroom, they are a tool (or crutch) for teacher-centered education. The teacher stands in front of the room, talks to students, and shows a PowerPoint or a web site. But, instead of moving back and forth to the computer to advance a slide to click a link, they tap the board. They can invite students to come up to the board to touch it, too. The teacher has the control, and educators view this teacher as using technology to teach. We have returned to 1801 when slate blackboards (new tech at the time) revolutionized education.
Single-touch iwb's are consider the boons of educational technology - every school I visit, every edtech grant I read, every conference I go to, educators wants to put one in every classroom @ $3000-8000 a pop. The understanding is that by simply putting this in the room they increase student learning and improve test scores. At that price, as a stakeholder providing the funds to purchase that board (tax dollars), I should expect that board to used every minute of everyday.
In 5 years, I have seen 2 teachers use SmartBoards effectively (1 Kindergarten, 1 high school) and 1 teacher who I thought should have one based on his use of a projector on a (non-interactive) white board. They used technology to support engaging, student-centered, and creative approaches in math and science. Good teachers use good technology effectively; unfortunately, they are rarely consulted as to what good technology is needed in the school.
An afterschool program is being developed for urban high school students needing to recover credits for classes they failed so they can graduate on-time. One suggestion for the name was "Credit Recovery Instructional Program".
I was hoping there was a typo in the article and this was about Styx fonts! How long do I have to wait until I can make the ultimate fansite if I'm stuck using Garamond and Verdana?
Man, this is just like the time someone said Styx was playing at a local bar, except they said Stix, which is a lame cover band!
Every school I visit has the same problem - the Dept of Ed's firewall blocks MySpace but all the kids Google: proxy and find a way to bypass it. The complab teacher requests a block of the proxy, but another just pops-up.
So, I tell them - why not have a conversation about what MySpace is and what they use it for? Fun things to do, bad things to avoid etc. But I believe there is a such a paranoia of parents and administration (and we're talking New York City DOE administration and parents, not exactly the right-wing stronghold we usually attribute) watching too much CNN (or My9 News), that any healthy discussion could result in a teacher being reprimanded.
It is easy to solve complex problems by throwing more aid at it, but long-lasting effects are an illusion and gather short-lived relief. Build capacity in a society to properly access and evaluate information, and they have the ability to improve themselves and their society more than just giving them water and food.
What worried me is the auto-reply of "We will have textbooks on the laptop" (which literally makes them a paper-weight) that is echoed from Thailand to every school district in the U.S. when it comes to justifying money for laptops. The reply should be "Every child will be able to learn at their own pace and present information in their own way. Our teachers will not be the keepers of knowledge and information, but facilitators to guide their students to gain knowledge and wisdom."
Me using a laptop to type my hand-written report into MS Word/OO Writer or copy/paste paragraphs from the Internet into PowerPoint/Impress is not improving education all that much.
If you have any credible source of someone actually blaming global warming or politicians for the disaster, then link it. No nutjobs either - I did say credible. Until you do, you're just putting up a sarcastic strawman.
The $3.2 million package includes a skull and crossbones emblazoned on the main sail, a crow's nest with animatronic gulls, and the main computer speech recognition and playback system with "Pirate Speak"(tm). Now, captains of all ages can say "Argh, hoist the main sail" with a confirmation voice prompt of "Aye, captain! We'ra hoistin'!"
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Excellent, Grumbel! Well said. Often, I have discussions with older educators who lament their students' lack of reading, writing, and study as it has been traditionally thought of: writing a proper letter to a penpal, having meaningful debates face-to-face with friends, quiet studying at a desk with a lamp on, etc. Through technology (and many other elements, quick frankly), the next generation do these kinds of things, but differently. When we explain how students interact with their world that is different, I always get the same response, "I feel so bad for students today...". In a way, 'Yes', but my response has become "There is no good or bad to it - it's just the way it is." Handhelds, gaming, Internet - they have changed how we learn and interact with our world. And, the "good" and "evil" factions are slowing how education needs to embrace technology - there is little difference of replacing a teacher spinning a globe vs a teacher using Google Earth on a Smartboard and spinning it. If we understand how gaming (which most of the students are doing) impacts learning or socializing, then we can either study individual aspects of those impacts or link them to studies that have already been done (affects of allowance being spent on video games, etc).
How do we know this is not an extreme measure to make sure people will not ignore the STOP sign?
$30 for 4 episodes!? That's more like tentacle-gouging
There are the differences in "white boards" and "smart boards" (which are white in color boards) that most educators do not grasp. SmartBoard, which like Xerox and Post-It, has become genericided, so we use terms like 'interactive whiteboards', 'whiteboards' and 'smart boards' interchangeably - thus leading to more confusion when these words are thrown around. A large touchpad with a projected image of a computer's desktop a nice toy, but, when we talk about whether they improve teaching and learning, we should consider how they are used.
Interactive whiteboards are stationary (not many teachers will not move it or allow it to be moved) and expensive. In a typical classroom, they are a tool (or crutch) for teacher-centered education. The teacher stands in front of the room, talks to students, and shows a PowerPoint or a web site. But, instead of moving back and forth to the computer to advance a slide to click a link, they tap the board. They can invite students to come up to the board to touch it, too. The teacher has the control, and educators view this teacher as using technology to teach. We have returned to 1801 when slate blackboards (new tech at the time) revolutionized education.
Single-touch iwb's are consider the boons of educational technology - every school I visit, every edtech grant I read, every conference I go to, educators wants to put one in every classroom @ $3000-8000 a pop. The understanding is that by simply putting this in the room they increase student learning and improve test scores. At that price, as a stakeholder providing the funds to purchase that board (tax dollars), I should expect that board to used every minute of everyday.
In 5 years, I have seen 2 teachers use SmartBoards effectively (1 Kindergarten, 1 high school) and 1 teacher who I thought should have one based on his use of a projector on a (non-interactive) white board. They used technology to support engaging, student-centered, and creative approaches in math and science. Good teachers use good technology effectively; unfortunately, they are rarely consulted as to what good technology is needed in the school.
Of course, that would have made Jacques de Molay even more surprised and fearful if the Spanish Inquisition showed up on his doorstep.
Is he in anyway related to Count de Monet?
Ever see how drivers react on a 2 or 3 lane road who enter a newly paved area where the lines haven't been painted yet?
Now imagine that - but flying
An afterschool program is being developed for urban high school students needing to recover credits for classes they failed so they can graduate on-time. One suggestion for the name was "Credit Recovery Instructional Program".
Sorry, I should have linked to this page on the AMS site, which links to many more examples:
http://www.ams.org/STIX/private/stixprv-index.html
Drill down to the Project page: http://www.stixfonts.org/project.html And the American Mathematical Society STIX project page has some examples: http://www.ams.org/STIX/private/stixprv-E2.html
I was hoping there was a typo in the article and this was about Styx fonts! How long do I have to wait until I can make the ultimate fansite if I'm stuck using Garamond and Verdana?
Man, this is just like the time someone said Styx was playing at a local bar, except they said Stix, which is a lame cover band!
Dude, come sail away, 'cause I'm outta here.
Many Boethins may lose their lives to bring us this information!
Every school I visit has the same problem - the Dept of Ed's firewall blocks MySpace but all the kids Google: proxy and find a way to bypass it. The complab teacher requests a block of the proxy, but another just pops-up.
l eID=196604312
So, I tell them - why not have a conversation about what MySpace is and what they use it for? Fun things to do, bad things to avoid etc. But I believe there is a such a paranoia of parents and administration (and we're talking New York City DOE administration and parents, not exactly the right-wing stronghold we usually attribute) watching too much CNN (or My9 News), that any healthy discussion could result in a teacher being reprimanded.
Good article in Technology and Learning magazine - "Technology Literacy and the MySpace Generation": http://www.techlearning.com/showArticle.php?artic
I agree! It is about time that we further differentiate ourselves into sub-sub-groups of a ./ superiority lifechoice.
Please, won't someone think of the childrenfree!could someone explain what the significance of this is?
Perhaps we could reflect on it.
Absolutely... to a degree.
Thanks! Next time I'm on the "Price is Right", this useful cheat sheet might win me a Plinko chip.
If they use Sony batteries, we'll find out.
You see, son, when two codes love each other very much....
just 'no Serenity NOW'
Maybe he should start using the phrase, "Hoochie Momma"
It is easy to solve complex problems by throwing more aid at it, but long-lasting effects are an illusion and gather short-lived relief. Build capacity in a society to properly access and evaluate information, and they have the ability to improve themselves and their society more than just giving them water and food.
What worried me is the auto-reply of "We will have textbooks on the laptop" (which literally makes them a paper-weight) that is echoed from Thailand to every school district in the U.S. when it comes to justifying money for laptops. The reply should be "Every child will be able to learn at their own pace and present information in their own way. Our teachers will not be the keepers of knowledge and information, but facilitators to guide their students to gain knowledge and wisdom."
Me using a laptop to type my hand-written report into MS Word/OO Writer or copy/paste paragraphs from the Internet into PowerPoint/Impress is not improving education all that much.
Compassion for the needs of others and a desire to do right will however often win out.
What is this? An ABC After-School special?!
Sheraton Hotels files a copyright suit against the Japanese scientists, citing they have a patent to write the letter "S" in their swimming pools.
If you have any credible source of someone actually blaming global warming or politicians for the disaster, then link it. No nutjobs either - I did say credible. Until you do, you're just putting up a sarcastic strawman.
You're new to slashdot, aren't you?
The $3.2 million package includes a skull and crossbones emblazoned on the main sail, a crow's nest with animatronic gulls, and the main computer speech recognition and playback system with "Pirate Speak"(tm). Now, captains of all ages can say "Argh, hoist the main sail" with a confirmation voice prompt of "Aye, captain! We'ra hoistin'!"
"They took my thumbs, Charlie!"
"I may not be around when you become a man, but I leave my desktop Virtual Jenna to guide your way."