RSS in Plain English

Wikis in Plain English

Social Networking in Plain English

"Youth meets Web 2.0"

A list of Web 2.0 resources for youth educators compiled by What Kids Can Do.

URL: http://www.whatkidscando.org/featurestories/2007/10_youth_meets_web/index.html
Referred by: What Kids Can Do Newsletter

"Critical Evaluation in the Collaborative Era- What role should a wiki play in authentic research?"

"Overall, I am most concerned about the creation of content that is "research worthy" by authors I know nothing about in online collaborative environments. Wikipedia is the most noted of these online collaborative tools, but there are many others. I don't have the answer for the best way to treat these tools in educational settings. Should we allow students to use these tools as "sources consulted" but not "sources cited"? How do we teach critical evaluation of information when we have no way to determine authority?"

URL: http://techlearning.com/showArticle.php?articleID=196604742
Referred by: techLEARNING News

"Study: Middle school laptop program leads to writing improvements"

By David Sharp, Associated Press Writer | October 23, 2007

"PORTLAND, Maine --Maine's program to give every middle school student a laptop computer is leading to better writing. 4real!

Despite creating a language all their own using e-mail and text messages, students are still learning standard English and their writing scores have improved on a standardized test since laptop computers were distributed, according to a new study."

"Editor's Note: Tech Makes a Difference"

"For years we've talked about how to measure the impact of technology in classrooms. There's a lot of anecdotal evidence that it makes a difference, and that's great. Where we fall short is in data that proves the point. Until now.

David Warlick's blog Measures for Success talks about the evidence from one school district with a laptop program that knows how to measure the results."

URL: http://www.techlearning.com/blog/2007/10/measures_for_success.php
Referred by: techLEARNING News

Think Differently, Technology Goes to School

Volume 88, No.4, May-June 2002

"Nearly 95 percent of entering Duke freshmen have computers and, of that figure, about one-third have laptops, according to Mike Pickett, special assistant to the provost for academic technology and Duke's associate chief information officer. And while some schools are developing "laptop curricula," Duke decided last fall against requihttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifring undergraduate laptops, after studying the issue for nearly a year with a faculty and student steering committee...."

URL: http://www.dukemagazine.duke.edu/dukemag/issues/050602/thinking-laptop.html
Referred by: Duke Magazine

"School laptop policy creating digital divide"

By Ken Fisher | Published: January 03, 2006

"The Fullerton, CA public school system is aggressive in its push to educate children in the ways of silicon. The school district is aiming to give laptops to select elementary and middle school kids, and they are developing a curriculum centered around students having access to their laptops. So why are some parents putting up a fuss? The plan requires parents to pony up almost US$1,500 for the privilege, and if you can't afford it, you don't get to participate in the program. Participating parents would pay about $500 each year for three years, and their children would receive an Apple iBook G4 laptop and entrance into the special program...."

URL: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060103-5884.html

Podcasting in Engineering Education: A Preliminary Study of Content, Student Attitudes, and Impact

"Edward Berger describes a pilot project implemented in an undergraduate engineering mechanics course, entitled Strength of Materials to investigate whether and how students would perceive a benefit from podcasting as a pedagogical tool. Three types of podcasting content were produced: (a) video problem solutions, (b) roundtable discussions, and (c) exam reviews. Student attitudes were assessed through two surveys, one administered before the podcasts were made available and one at the end of the semester. Students strongly favored the podcasting content, especially the video problem solutions, and supported expansion of the use of podcasting as an educational tool. In addition, the data suggested that weaker students perceived more benefit from podcasts than stronger students, an outcome that may not be surprising but is nonetheless significant. While this study was limited in its scope, the results indicate that students strongly supported podcasting and encouraged its use for course instruction. In turn, Berger argues that the success of this pilot project has broader implications about best practices for podcasting in engineering education and suggests the need for further studies to unlock the full potential of podcasting as a pedagogical tool."

URL: http://innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=426&action=article
Referred by: Innovate

"Social Bookmarking in Plain English"

"Cathy Davidson: Digital Learning Is Not I.T."

"IT (Instructional Technology) is indispensable to most educational institutions. Its development and enhancement are crucial to the institution. But does improving IT improve “digital learning”?....In digital media and learning, the outcomes are less clear, the teachers have less of a determining role, and technology isn’t something delivered to others but is intrinsic to the larger learning project."

URL: http://spotlight.macfound.org/main/entry/cathy_davidson_digital_learning_not_i_t

In Some Schools, iPods Are Required Listening

"...Even as students have been told to leave their iPods at home, the school here in Hudson County has been handing out the portable digital players to help bilingual students with limited English ability sharpen their vocabulary and grammar by singing along to popular songs."

URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/education/09ipod.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=technology