Category: Uncategorized
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Living proof: those dreams of our fathers
–dreams of racial equality and justice for all–are somewhat realized with the aid of web 2.0 tools. In two days, the USA begins the term of our first president of color–our first president in some time who seems to have that other quality–character (If you don’t believe me, read his first autobiography, and tell me…
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Who would have thunk it? an Alan Watts mash-up
done by the creators of South Park. The simplicity of his ancient ideas and the primitive efficiency of the video would, i’m thinking, communicate zen buddhism to a new generation.
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Information Processor in Chief?
In less than a week, the USA will begin life under our first “wired” president–one who, unlike his predecessors, has actively communicated in the virtual world of the internet. For those who want their leaders “connected” with the people they serve, that could only be good, right? I have posted elsewhere how Obama’s victory was…
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Imagine engaging students in a scenario-based learning activity
If you’re lucky like me and teach in an enlightened English department, it is easy to imagine. At regular intervals our curriculum engages students in hands-on, multiple player, role-playing scenarios that introduce and develop overarching themes. With Web 2.0 tools we can begin imagining more. We can take those same successful learning activities and put…
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Let's re-think what we're teaching, digital immigrant teacher!
Like Stuart Mader, I enjoyed the way Thomas H. Benton“On Stupidity, part 2”describes the changing role of English teachers with their digital native students. We need to be flexible about the form of work we accept: That doesn’t mean we should stop teaching the traditional essay and research paper, but it does mean we need…
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Alright, who ain't collaboratin' here?
Administrators of all stripes could become more aware of their workforce if they were to encourage (or enforce?) micro-blogging among workers. At companies who twitter, etc., the collaborative gears are greased, and managers gain un-precedented insight into how their players are playing the game, as is expressed here: …microblogs offer great potential… they could reveal…
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"E-learning" blends well with the traditional kind
according to this notice in Science Daily. A University of Illinois researcher has found that, among other benefits, e-learning increases student responsibility for learning. “Since there’s an emphasis on more learner-centric activities than traditional lecture-based classroom learning, the teacher is more of a facilitator in an online classroom,” [researcher Caroline Haythornthwaite] said. “Not only does…
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"Student-centric" learning technologies
are here with web 2.0, but not yet widely used in US schools.That’s according to Christensen, Horn, and Johnson (2008), whose Disrupting Class: How disruptive innovation will change the way the world learns is my first “must read” book of the new year. The authors point to places where, right now, the benefits of the…
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"Whenever you're ready to learn something new…
…education (via web 2.0 apps) will be there, freely accesible to all learners. And via ipod-based lectures, discussions, workshops, and other programming students customize their learning. With all sorts of metrics, educators can assure themselves that a 2.0 student’s curricular content is sound and meaningful. Apple’s iTunes U is organizing it delivers a customized education…
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Education, like politics, is always "local, " isn't it?
That is, apart from national and global arguments on the best pedagogy, education has always comes down to a transaction arising between participating human beings. Public schools were designed to efficiently house that learning. One teacher was expected to simultaneously transmit skills and knowledge to groups of 20-60 young people. I’ve heard that nuns could…
The Wikiness 