graphic design and social capital

Here is an interesting piece about the history of graphic design. It includes a sociological examination of graphic design and the use of images. It also categorized learners and practitioners of graphic design into interesting groups.

http://www.cvc.edu/faculty/articles-opinions/posts/taking-graphic-design-to-an-online-format-avoiding-conflict-and-building-social-capital

Community Colleges praised

Community colleges provide educational access and opportunities to a wide range of members of society. Here is an overly sunny article touting their success.

http://nationaljournal.com/about/njweekly/stories/2007/sotu/sotu01.htm

Paper or Plastic?

Last week we participated in National Employee Learning Week here at the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. We asked several of our employees if they would like to conduct a one hour seminar on a topic they felt comfortable presenting. We had several participants, 11 to be exact, covering topics from Swing Dancing (fun and hands on) to How to Procure whatever you need to procure (not so fun and hands on). One of the best was presented by one of our resident enviornmental scientists. His was on Paper or Plastic? He talked about energy expenditure producing each and then showed us graphs and this video to bring his point home. I thought you should all see it. Let me warn you it is a little disturbing.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/oceans/la-oceans-flash-day4,0,7741594.flash

Can Kindle ignite interest in reading?

Just days after a report from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) warned of a continuing decline in reading among today's students, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced a new electronic book-reading device, the Kindle, that some experts are touting as the future of reading. But whether the device can help spark new interest in reading among a generation of students weaned on video games remains to be seen.
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/?i=51001;_hbguid=a3720952-7dd7-4582-b77b-c4c08f667ee2

Common Metaphors and Their Impact on Distance Education: What They Tell Us and What They Hide

This article explores some of the common metaphors used to illuminate the Web and its application to distance education. Using the work of Lakoff and Johnson (1980) as a foundation for understanding and categorizing metaphors, the advantages and disadvantages for our future of such metaphors as the "Web,""Information Highway,""virtual,""surfing,""information as education," and "distance education" are evaluated.
http://www.tcrecord.org/Content.asp?ContentID=12089

Digital Video in Education

Staying on the topic of digital video, here's a site that offers tools for teachers, learners, and researchers.

http://archive.ncsa.uiuc.edu/Cyberia/DVE/FusionDVE/html/dve_front_door.html

"...as a researcher you will find that video can preserve more aspects of interaction including talking, gesture, eye gaze, manipulatives, computer displays. Moreover, video allows repeated observation of the same event, and supports microanalysis and multidisciplinary analysis. Video supports an analysis of the motion and the mathematics of motion. Video supports the construction of significant stories that tell and explain. Video can get researchers out of controlled laboratory settings and into the naturalistic field work. Finally, video provides analytical benefits: it can support grounded theory, whereby the emergence of new categories from source materials is carefully disciplined. Video can avoid the "what I say" versus "what I do" problem that can occur in self-reports. Video supports a critical incident methodology, but also allows examination of the lead-up and downstream consequences of the critical event."

Video Sites and Science

Video sites make science more accessible. Inspired by YouTube's success, several new science video web sites have sprung up online.
From the artical:
“A telegenic narrator in a lab coat swirls a flask as electronic music plays in the background. Created by four science and film students at the University of California, San Diego, the video shows a typical recrystallization experiment straight out of Chemistry 101.The six-minute epic, complete with bloopers, got 1,205 views on Google Inc.’s YouTube, but the number increased fourfold when the video was posted to SciVee, one of a number of online video-sharing startups designed to let scientists broadcast themselves toiling in the laboratory or delivering lectures.”

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/?i=50918;_hbguid=45ca8bf7-0cd2-4589-92b0-b00cfa5f51a1

Kindle Falls Short of "Real" Books

There's an article in yesterday's Washington Post on issues with Kindle.

The Kindle's screen, for example, doesn't include a backlight and displays only a few shades of gray. Between the dark-gray text and the light-gray background, its contrast falls short of a newspaper's and is inferior to that of a book.
Worse, the Kindle's sluggish screen needs about 1 1/2 seconds to draw a new page, during which time the next page distractingly appears as a photo-negative image of itself before settling into place.
That delay seems short next to most waits on a computer but feels like infinity compared with turning a paper page. The Kindle screen's lag ensures there can be no such thing as flipping through a book on this device.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/05/AR2007120502611.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter

Interactive programing tool that kids (and adults)can use

Stagecast Creator™ is an award winning point-and-click programming tool. They advertise that “In the classroom, Creator gives you and your students the power to create lively interactive simulations for math, reading, science and more. Creator can be used for any subject, for any grade level, by both boys and girls, and by students with a wide variety of learning styles. Children learn by building things.”


At about $50.00 for the program, this looks very tempting. Quinn says that one needs a team of people to develop learning environment with games. This program may make less people required.
Look at he videos on the website-very impressive.

http://www.stagecast.com/school.html

SCRATCH - animation and games programming

Kids are creating interactive programs on the computer.
Scratch aims to teach programming skills through a simple and fun to use interface. This is done by 'dragging n dropping' building blocks to animate and control media such as graphics and sounds.

See the video and other information at:
http://www.meridianmoodle.com/course/view.php?id=35

Free Rice

This is very cool! "What if just knowing what a word meant could help feed hungry people around the world? Well at FreeRice.com it does..." - The Washington Post

They've found a simple and creative way to make learning fun and beneficial in multiple ways. Check it out if you have some time...Warning, it's addictive. http://www.freerice.com/index.php

Next ed-tech frontier: Classes via cell phone

In what could be a sign of things to come for colleges and universities worldwide, an online university in Japan has debuted a course that students can take through their cell phones. In what could be a sign of things to come for colleges and universities worldwide, an online university in Japan has debuted a course that students can take through their cell phones.
eSchool News
[eschool.news@eschoolnews.com]

Educating the Public while Launching a Product

When something truly revolutionary comes to market, you need to educate your consumer before the start buying en masse. How do you think Amazon does with its product video, photos, and description of their new kindle?

http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Device/dp/B000FI73MA

Imagine you are unfamiliar with the concept. How does this site blend learning and engagement?

Think about their selection of music, special effects, narration...

Here is a six minute version of the video.

More on Holograms

I'm very intrigued about the use of holograms for entertainment, communications, training and other educational pursuits. This one is very nicely done. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQT0vcw7xZM&feature=related

Aesthetics of Video Games

As I mentioned, I have been getting 3 to 7 emails a day from New Media Consortium (NMC).
This is one that I thought our ED 834 group might find interesting.

"Trigger Happy, originally published in 2000 with the subtitle 'The Inner Life of Videogames', is a book about the aesthetics of videogames: what they share with other artforms, and the ways in which they are unique.... As a follow-up to my post on Amazon’s crippled and hideous Kindle, and the discussion at Mark Pilgrim’s place, I thought I’d try an experiment, and give away for free an “ebook” version of my first book, Trigger Happy, with no “digital rights management” whatsoever. It’ll work on anything that can read a PDF."
http://stevenpoole.net/trigger-happy/

Woes with Learning Management Systems

I thought this was timely. We have purchased a Learning Managment System at the Airport Authority. We are having a time getting this thing up and running. I will be very curious to see just how well it will do what it says it will do. This article shed some light on problems other groups are having.

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/training1007/index.php?startpage=66

Ever heard of Cheoptics?

Here's a cool technology Cheoptic Holograms http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k5nt541SE0&feature=related Tons of possibilities for educational content, Yea!

The Future of Computers

I've been looking at the future of computers and liked this video about Milti-Touch Interaction http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_mBjOmq1kY and this Hologram vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXLxcCTwr2E&feature=related Can't wait...I want it now!

CVC Moodle Seminar

The professional development component of California Vitual Campus has a Moodle seminar that looks pretty interesting. The details are as follows:

http://www.cccone.org/
CAMPUS TECHNOLOGY WEBINARBuilding Better Moodle Rooms: Online Strategies and Best PracticesSponsored by MoodleroomsDate: December 4, 2007 Time: 11 am Pacific (2 pm Eastern)To register: http://www.1105info.com/uwfjggd_hyksdsy.html*******************************************************************************************Get tips and tricks for using Moodle in this free webinar sponsored by Moodlerooms. In this hour-long panel discussion moderated by Campus Technology Editor-in-Chief Katherine Grayson, experts will share best practices for instructional design in Moodle and key habits for rich online facilitation. Discussion highlights include:* Applying learning design to course activity sequences* Using digital repositories to store and share learning objects* The top 3 instructional best practices for maintaining an engaging environmentSpeakers * Bob McDonald, Manager of Sales and Client Relations, Moodlerooms* Peter Lamothe, Principal Consultant, Harvest Road* Stuart Sim, CTO and Chief Architect, Moodlerooms Moderator* Katherine Grayson, Editor-in-Chief, Campus Technology This webinar will feature an extended Q&A session. Take advantage of this opportunity to ask questions, share ideas and get feedback from our experts.To register:http://www.1105info.com/nnozbbo_hyksdsy.html

State Department using blog

Here's an interesting article in the Washington Post.
State Dept. Tries Blog Diplomacy
By Walter PincusMonday, November 19, 2007; Page A15
T he State Department, departing from traditional public diplomacy techniques, has what it calls a three-person, "digital outreach team" posting entries in Arabic on "influential" Arabic blogs to challenge misrepresentations of the United States and promote moderate views among Islamic youths in the hopes of steering them from terrorism.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/18/AR2007111801114.html?wpisrc=newsletter

The line betwen learning and entertainment

"Who is the judge of whether something a person is accessing via the Internet is being used solely for ENTERTAINMENT rather than for learning?"
This article discusses issues related to how the internet is being used. The Children’s Internet Protection Act” is discussed and questioned relative to how children respond to various internet sites.
The article can be found at:
http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/08/15/the-line-betwen-learning-and-entertainment/

Engaged Learning

Here is a website that discusses areas of engaged learning which includes visions for engaged learning and teacher and student roles for engaged learning. Its contents are
excerpted and summarized from an article entitled "Designing Learning and Technology for Educational Reform". I don't think that enough teachers are really looking at this concept of engaged learning. When students say that teachers are boring or that they (students) are not learning anything, it might be because this area of engaged learning is not being considered.

http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/content/cntareas/math/ma2lindi.htm

Quest for the $100 UPC

Right in our neighborhood - Lemon Grove School District leading the way.

"Like bargain-hunters at a sale, ed-tech leaders came together to compare ultra-portable devices and talk about affordable one-to-one computing options during the webcast, titled "Ultra Light Portable Devices in K-12: The Quest for a $100 Device." Presenters discussed various options for ultra-portable computers (UPCs), and one district--California's Lemon Grove School District--described a successful UPC project. "

http://www.eschoolnews.com//news/showstoryts.cfm?ArticleID=7474

Something to think about - Out to DeBunk the Bunk”: Antiracist Teaching in the 1940s and Today

This is an excerpt from an article in TC Record - It is not related to any of our current topics - but it is really good food for thought for all of us in Education.

Today, teachers face the daunting task of reviving antiracist education for the twenty-first century. Like Alice Nirenberg, the teacher quoted at the beginning of this essay, teachers must seize hold of scientific knowledge on race and culture and make it their own. It is teachers, after all, who possess the specialized knowledge and training to translate complicated materials on race for young students. Ms. Nirenberg, for example, set anthropological facts on human race to the most popular song of 1943, a western swing song called “Pistol Packin’ Mama.” On a cold morning in December, her students lined up on stage and sang out:
Any one can notice
The color of a race
It’s easily detected
By looking at a face.
No matter if you happen to
Be white or brown or yellow,
Chemically your skin’s the same
As any other fellow—
So…
Lay that Pistol down, Babe
Lay that pistol down
Pistol packin’ mama
Lay that pistol down.
Whether or not this song conveyed the depth of anthropological knowledge on racial equality, the important thing is that it represented an ingenious approach to teaching racial equality in the classroom. As Ms. Nirenberg discovered, it is impossible to recognize the biological equality of human beings without considering the social inequality of so-called racial minorities in America. It is the process of inquiry and discovery that we need to revitalize if we are ever going to encourage a new generation of Americans to “DeBunk the Bunk.”

Out to DeBunk the Bunk”: Antiracist Teaching in the 1940s and Today
http://www.tcrecord.org/Content.asp?ContentID=14552

Creating a 21st Century Educational System

A new position paper highlights three educational technology advocacy groups' shared vision of a U.S. that prepares its students for success in the 21st century "digital world" through broad and intensive use of technology.
November 5, 2007—Three leading educational technology advocacy groups have banded together to release a position paper that makes an urgent case for why--and how--school leaders should integrate technology into instruction.
"How will we create the schools America needs to remain competitive? For more than a generation, the nation has engaged in a monumental effort to improve student achievement. We've made progress, but we're not even close to where we need to be," according to the paper, titled "Maximizing the Impact: Why Technology Must Play a Pivotal Role in 21st Century Education."
"It's time to focus on what students need to learn--and on how to create a 21st-century education system that delivers results. In a digital world, no organization can achieve results without incorporating technology into every aspect of its everyday practices. It's time for schools to maximize the impact of technology as well." Released Nov. 5, the paper is a joint project of the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21).

The power of contribution.

Okay, so I don't mean this to turn into a political debate, but...

Check out http://www.ronpaul2008.com/

Notice the "real time" donation information provided on the main page.

Even if you don't know much about the candidate, isn't there something about this interface that makes you want to participate?

Though Paul's recent fundraising successes have been attributed to his ideas (particularly on immediate withdrawal from Iraq), the New York Times cited the interactive donation interface on his main page as a major factor in peoples' decision to give. Here's the quote:

Stirring the interest in contributing to the Paul campaign is an innovation on his Web site, a real-time display of the dollars and the names of donors as they roll in. By contrast, most campaigns conceal their fund-raising and time the release of financial information for political effect.

"What is new is how Paul's openness about his daily fund-raising data helped foster this surge," said Andrew Rasiej, a co-founder of TechPresident, a nonpartisan Web site that tracks the candidates' use of technology. "It fed a powerful user-driven feedback loop."

I also think his iphone interface is quite innovative:

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/iphone/


The reason I post this is to ask a question...

How does the novelty of the learning interface effect our interaction with it and our motivation to persist in using it?

Quinn writes about education and engagement. You have to admit that both of these tools, the interactive fundraising site and the iphone interface and that extra bit of engagement that makes you want to interact with the information.

-Brian

TED.com Ideas Worth Sharing

Hi All. Dr. Elisa Sabotini from USD turned me on to this great resource http://www.ted.com/ Check out Hans Rosling's New Insights on Poverty and Life Around the World (fits in with our talks on globalization) http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/140

Future Tends Affecting Education

Here's an interesting and informative little report on Future Tends Affecting Education, written by Dixie Griffin Good, a Denver-based education consultant with a background in future studies, for the Education Commission of the States. From the Executive Summary, "Education is not an island; it is affected not only by what is happening in the field but also by what is happening in the rest of society — population changes, technological advances, economic ups and downs, political shifts and social transformations. This paper examines ongoing and emerging trends and explores how these trends may affect education in the United States over the next 20-30 years." http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/13/27/1327.htm

Teachnology

Here's a site that lists many web-based resources for teachers, The Online Teacher Resource. You'll have to put up with some annoying advertising, but there are many freebees to make it worth your time. http://www.teach-nology.com/ I was looking for science resources, check it out if you have some time http://www.teach-nology.com/subjects/science/

Technology Will Keep Us Going!

I posted this on the del.icio.us link.

This is just a not-so-gentle nudge about the importance of us continuing to develop our skills and vision -- and go out and impact the world in a positive way :) (Yes, I'm still in the real world, but I need some enthusiasm and motivation to finish this process right now!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VnHdqpE4RM&NR=1

Cheers!
Craigor

Can you read this?

Only great minds can read this



fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too




Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can. i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at CmabrigdeUinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, theolny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae.
The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it

Computer Simulations

Published Online: October 30, 2007 Published in Print: October 31, 2007 Computer Simulations Hone Leadership Skills By Lynn Olson Lowell, Mass. An $11 million executive-training course for principals, modeled after best practices used in the corporate, medical, engineering, and military worlds, is starting to gain traction among states. Developed by the National Institute for School Leadership, or NISL, a for-profit company based in Washington, the program is now used widely in Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania, as well as in individual school districts in five other states. Computerized simulations designed to help prepare principals who are instructional leaders lie at the heart of the 14-unit curriculum. “War games, exercises, simulations are at the core of any culminating experience,” explained Robert C. Hughes, the president of NISL, “because it requires the application of knowledge to a new scenario.”

Possible Resources for Instructional Materials

http://www.topicseducation.com/print-new-media/print-new-media.cfm?gclid=CLT0q_TPuY8CFRGCGgodKF2wcw http://www.solution-tree.com/Public/Media.aspx?parent=topic0&node=topic0All&ListProducts=true&Topic=Assessment&ProductType=allproducts

Media Use In Educational Design

3 Interesting Articles in this edition of TC Record. http://www.tcrecord.org/ Media Comparison Studies: Problems and Possibilities by Bryan R. Warnick & Nicholas C. Burbules — 2007Background/Context: Media comparison studies aim to compare the relative effectiveness of different media at promoting educational outcomes. While these types of studies remain popular, they have been under attack for more than two decades. Critics of media comparison studies claim that continued studies are unhelpful because a great number of research projects have already shown that media produce “no significant difference” in learning outcomes. They also claim that the studies that do find a difference among media are flawed because of a conflation of “media” with “method.” These claims suggest the need for conceptual clarification. Information Literacy in the Laptop Classroom by Mark Warschauer — 2007Background/Context: Technological and economic changes have put a high premium on developing students’ information literacy and research skills. Previous attempts to deploy educational technology toward these ends have proved disappointing because K–12 teachers have difficulty integrating shared computers into instruction. In response, numerous schools and districts have piloted one-to-one programs, in which each student has access to a laptop computer connected wirelessly to the Internet throughout the school day. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study: This paper analyzes the information literacy and research practice in a purposely stratified selection of 10 one-to-one laptop K–12 schools in California and Maine. Software Infrastructure for Teachers: A Missing Link in Integrating Technology with Instructionby Yao-Ting Sung & Alan Lesgold — 2007Background: Based on analyses of the difficulties encountered during the process of integrating technology into instruction and the efforts made by researchers to overcome barriers to such integration, we propose that the efforts made to date (e.g., increasing the availability of computer equipment and enhancing computer literacy, support, and training) are not sufficiently comprehensive to achieve the goals of improving teaching efficiency and developing innovative teaching methods. Objectives: The objective of this research commentary is to highlight the importance of the software infrastructure for teachers (SIT) to promoting the integration of information technology into instruction.

Google Book Search --Reigeluth (1999)

http://books.google.com/books?id=AbJc4Kg6XQoC&pg=PA425&dq=The+elaboration+theory:+guidance+to+scope+and+sequence+decisions&ei=SfAnR5KzBaOGpwL49f3rDA&sig=8ii7IwbNzjnf5egDp6eKPbQPiAQ

Reigeluth, C. (1999). The elaboration theory: Guidance for scope and sequence decisions. In C.M. Reigeluth (ed.), Instructional-design theories and models: A new paradigm of instructional theory, volume ii. (pp. 425-459). Hillsdale, N. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Clark N. Quinn

Really liked the Engaged Learning book by Clark N. Quinn...Here's the weblink that compliments the book http://www.engaginglearning.com/index.html. I also liked the Learnlets http://blog.learnlets.com/wp/index.php In addition to game design, Quinn works as a consultant for business organizations through Quinnovation http://www.quinnovation.com/index.html

My latest FREE tools discovery: UStream.tv, Veodia, Blabber, SlideShare, SmileBox, and SLiPod

Ustream.tv http://www.ustream.tv A platform that provides live interactive video for everyone. Anyone with a camera and an Internet connection can use Ustream to broadcast to a global audience. Seriously, no need for an IT background with this one. This could be used similarly as vodcasting (just easier I think) and so the educational applications are similar to podcasting (video version): portable, accessible, mobile, download-able educational materials.

Veodia (http://www.veodia.com) The live TV studio in your browser. Currently, Veodia distributes limited free accounts to test the beta version. Great interest in this tool in the SL community for conferencing live, or posting lectures (archiving, etc). I just got mine yesterday. So I'll get back to you all on how this is really useful and accessible as a teaching/training tool. Some SecondLifers are already at work modding the application so that it is your avatar's head and not your RL likeness that shows up on the vid. (Many SL members are adamant about keeping their SL and RL lives completely separate.)

SLiPod (IM Unmitigated Gal in SL for your copy) an application that behaves like an iPod in Second Life. I finally got my copy on Friday....too late to demonstrate it to my ESL and foreign language educators' audience at the AECT conference...but I am getting really excited about this for language and culture instruction purposes. I am planning a project with the SLiPod creator so that we can disseminate this tool in the educational community with an emphasis on global awareness. Next project: to mash SLiPod and Veodia for powerful inworld conferencing and archiving (this has already been done, but I am interested --again-- in this application for global exchange)

The Blabber (SL in-world instant translator): choose your outgoing language (Japanese) and your incoming language (English). The computer-based translation has sometimes some funny/awkward or downright wrong translation...but that's material for more conversation :)

Smilebox (http://www.smilebox.com) Create animated scrapbooks, photobooks, slideshows, postcards, and ecards for any occasion, and email them to anyone. You can also add music to your creations. The Club Smilebox has a free one-month trial. I have not subscribed to the Club because my Kodak Gallery account (free also) does just as well (but Kodak Gallery does not offer animation options to my albums).

SlideShare (http://www.slideshare.net) Share powerpoint presentations online, slideshows, etc. "The world's largest community for sharing presentations on the web." I finally got around to activate my account yesterday. This is a much easier way to share ones presentation after a conference, a training, etc. People can go back to the ppt on their own time. The ppt is downloaded on slideshare's servers and become part of the "YouTube"-like community of ppts.
You can view my first ppt at http://www.slideshare.net/sreljic. You can also find a lot of the folks that you've been Twittering for a while in there (for me, that's Alan Levine aka Cogdog, Sarah Robbins aka Intelligirl, etc.).

Online Glitches Frustrate Test-Takers in Va. Schools

Michael Alison Chandler, Amit R Paley - Washington Post Staff Writers. The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: May 17, 2007. pg. B.1

Online testing became a problem . It was felt that since there was so much chaos, disruption and anxiety, that online testing was not a good thing," One person said, "You have to coordinate a lot of moving pieces, you have to acquire a lot of expensive equipment, and you have to dodge the many opportunities for glitches to emerge in the system."

University of Louisiana at Monroe Chooses Moodlerooms for its Learning Management System

The University of Louisiana at Monroe has chosen Moodlerooms for its Learning Management System. They formerly used Blackboard and are now in the process of converting to Moodle. They comment that "Moodle is very powerful. It gives us total freedom to design and deliver our courses".
This article can be found at: http://proquest.umi.com.libproxy.sdsu.edu/pqdweb?index=0&did=1370374301&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1193447001&clientId=17862

Link does not work

Hi,
Just wanted to let you know that I tried the top link and it does not work. I was wondering if it would given it's a member site. The second one does. It's actually the better more informative article(s).
Stay safe, See you next week.

Second Life Arrives in the Corporate Training Room

Over the last few months a lot of attention has been given games and simulations in the training world by the two leading training world journals; T & D and training, the first published by ASTD and the second by Nielsen Business Media publications. I have included two links below. The first is about Second Life. I thought you might enjoy it Sabine.

The second has lots of information about Second Life, Protoshpere, who boasts more professional looking avatars than Second Life, and Forterra whose vice president of marketing claims, "It takes what used to be e-learning and creates one-on-one modules that let people practice what they learn in a context-specific environment." There is another company called Virtual Heroes who has been designing games for the military. Another article in this issue highlights companies that have used games to train, e.g., Cingular/AT&T, the ASAP Bio Pharm Council, Blockbuster Inc, and Learning Tree.

All in all they are interesting articles. Maybe you will be able to find the time to scan through.

http://www.astd.org/NR/rdonlyres/51215E61-9C71-49FC-A0D4-BC1818B329A8/12903/76070844.pdf

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/training1007/

The institution of education examined in several countries

Increased access to and achievement in education helps individuals as well as their countries. A recent report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) states that more widespread university education means prosperous economies. In our increasingly global society, it is important for us to learn more about other countries and their major institutions. One key institution is that of education. OECD has a very interesting publication called "Education at a Glance 2007" that examines the educational systems and outcomes of several countries. It focuses on some key areas, including:

Participation and achievement in education
Public and private spending on education
The state of lifelong learning
Conditions for pupils

It also examines how the socioeconomic status of students relates to their educational experiences and educational outcomes.

The report is available at: http://www.oecd.org/document/30/0,3343,en_2649_201185_39251550_1_1_1_1,00.html

The Schools Interoperability Framework Association (SIFA®) and Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL®) Announce Formal Relationship to Develop Schools Fo

Partnership activity will focus on the development and implementation of a new version of SCORM specifications and quidelines for school software applications by enabling its use with the successful Schools Interoperability Framework Implementation Specification.
http://www.adlnet.gov/News/articles/index.aspx?ID=437

Moodlerooms - support for Moodle

Schools can download Moodle for free and have their expert or non-expert IT departments maintain it. But many instructors choose to have Moodlerooms optimize and support the software, so they can concentrate on teaching. Moodleroom's mission is to provide the services and support universities, colleges, schools, businesses and associations need to take full advantage of Moodle.
Their site can be found at: http://moodlerooms.com/?moodlead=moodlerooms.training

One-Minute SCORM Overview for Anyone

Here is a "Reader's Digest" Overview of SCORM to add to the presentation on last week. It can be found at: http://www.scorm.com/resources/oneminuteoverview/OneMinuteOverview.htm

Here is the beginning:
"What do you know about SCORM?"
This is frequently where we start with people who call us. Many of these people know only that their boss has asked them to "find out about SCORM and how it affects us," or that a prospective customer insists it is necessary for their success.

For some, SCORM is simply an obstacle on the path to a sale. For others, SCORM is a tool that enables effective, efficient online training. At its core, SCORM allows content authors to distribute their content to a variety of Learning Management Systems (LMS) with the smallest headache possible.

NPD study: Finds some kids spending more time gaming

Study Finds Some Kids Spending More Time Gaming

GameSpot reports that a new study from the NPD Group found that 1/3 of kids are spending more time playing games than they did a year ago. Does that mean the other 2/3rds are spending about the same amount of time gaming as last year or less time?

Of the nearly 3,500 children between the ages of 2 and 17 that the NPD surveyed, one-third responded that they are spending more time playing games than they did a year ago. As of press time, an NPD representative had not returned GameSpot's request for comment on how the habits of the remaining two-thirds had changed.

The report also found that PCs are the primary gaming platform for kids, with children starting to game on the system at age 6, and continuing through the age of 17, the longest stretch of time of any gaming system measured. According to the NPD, the "gaming lifecycle" begins with kid-focused systems.

As boys get older, they migrate to plug-and-play TV games, then previous-generation consoles and handhelds. At age 10, they move to cell-phone gaming and the current crop of systems from Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft. On the other hand, girls tend to leave gaming behind as they get older.

NPD Group analyst Anita Frazier said in a statement that the switch from casual to core gamer happens between the ages of 6 and 8, which suggests that this span of time is "a critical age at which to capture the future gamers of the world."

Kids in the 12-17 year range spend about ten hours each week playing video games according to the study. A press release about the study can be found here on the NPD Group's website.

...Flash news from GamersGame.com blog (via Twitter)

University 2.0

The last few editions of training mag and T&D, the two leading training industry publications, have been devoted to virtual training rooms, games and simulations. Here is the link to one such article http://www.trainingmag.com/msg/content_display/publications/e3i69540729a42288c478f128167752e4ca

Expect more from me as I take a closer look at the articles. It is all so very interesting and so very scary for trainers.

Second Life account --where to start--Try NMC Campus

http://www.secondlife.com is the most obvious choice: Register, login, download the client, ready to go and meet your nOOb avatar. Second Life usually suggests that new members teleport directly to the Orientation Island in order to get an handle on the platform' affordances. People have gotten frustrated and lost.

There's better: NMC Orientation.
Go to the NMC Campus wiki (http://sl.nmc.org/wiki/Main_Page). Click on "Join the NMC Campus".
The link get you to the NMC Campus Observer blog (http://sl.nmc.org) where you can create your SL account and join the NMC community at the same time.

All free. This really is very useful as the NMC Campus will not recognize your avatar if you want to teleport on the NMC island for conferences, workshops or even exploring.

Both sites have lots and loads of info on how to get started in SL, how to personalize your avatar, suggestions for class or group meetings on NMC campus, how to use the NMC campus, teachers workshops, video and other resources, etc.

Back to the beginning: you want some sort of non-stressful orientation experience: NMC Campus has its orientation island (read about it at http://sl.nmc.org/wiki/Orientation_Island, then teleport there)

Do realize that the SL platform is primarily set up for exploratory learning. So you might find some help here and there (look into Groups, attend events and IM people, etc..., people are very helpful inworld), but you will develop familiarity with the world only by doing (yes, the learning by doing theory thing). So one can show you how to fly, how to search for freebies, how to do basic scripting, etc...However, you will develop a "SL-sense" only as you explore and try.

No matter what, don't panic (unless you've got a room full of people watching you crash...ok, even then.) Things will happen, your avatar will start swimming under ground, you'll teleport someplace and your avatar shows up with her hair on her butt, you'll try a new face and can't get the word "demo" off your face for a week....oh, well, keep a journal and publish it under "The funniest moments in my avatar's life." Technically speaking: log off. Go get yourself a cup of coffee. Log back in.

Happy SLing,

http://www.eschoolnews.com/ Contents Copyright 2007 eSchool News. All rights reserved. Solution aims to transform math assessment Already revolutionizing early-literacy assessment via handheld technology, Wireless Generation seeks to boost elementary math By Laura Devaney, Associate Editor, eSchool News October 17, 2007 In school systems across the country, teachers are using handheld computers and a software solution from Wireless Generation, called mCLASS, to administer the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) to elementary-age students. The technique has helped boost students' reading scores dramatically. Now, the positive impact this approach has had on reading soon could be replicated in math. Wireless Generation, along with the Teachers College at Columbia University and the University of Missouri-Columbia, recently received a four-year, $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences to develop a math-related version of mCLASS. As with the company's reading solution, mCLASS Math would allow teachers to administer one-on-one assessments with K-3 students, while recording results and observations on a handheld computer. Teachers use the Palm-based software to guide themselves through the assessment process and record students' responses. Once an assessment is completed, teachers sync their handheld with their desktop or laptop computer to transfer the data to a secure web site, where they can examine the results almost instantly to inform their instruction. The math version of mCLASS seeks to enable teachers not only to screen for math proficiency and monitor students' progress, but also to learn about their students' thought processes. The system works by giving students a math problem and instructing them to solve the problem any way they want. During the assessment, students are asked how they came up with their answer. Although Wireless Generation is not the first company to develop a handheld-based solution for math assessment, the company might be the first to target the K-3 level. To understand how children learn math, it's worth examining their thinking processes as early as kindergarten, explained Herbert Ginsburg, a professor at Columbia University Teachers College and co-developer of mCLASS Math. "We find that little kids, starting in kindergarten and going through third grade, have very interesting ways of thinking about math, and teachers need to learn about that," Ginsburg said. Young learners, Ginsburg said, might have certain systemic ways of using strategies that can result in mistakes. "What teachers need to learn is that if a child gets a wrong answer, there may be a reason why, or a strategy behind it," he said. Ginsburg's beliefs led him to connect with Wireless Generation. Starting out with a grant from the National Science Foundation, Ginsburg and Larry Berger, Wireless Generation's co-founder and CEO, began working on ways to use handheld computers to help teachers interview students about their knowledge of math concepts. Berger said Wireless Generation's customers were asking if the company offered an early math assessment similar to its widely successful early reading assessment. In districts throughout the nation, such as Chicago Public Schools and Florida's Orange County Public Schools (OCPS), mCLASS Reading is having a profound effect on reading achievement. At OCPS, the solution has enabled teachers to get assessment data back in a third of the time, allowing them to adjust their instruction accordingly and target students' weaknesses far faster than they could by using paper-based assessments. For mCLASS Math to have the same effect on math achievement, its assessment tool must effectively pinpoint students' strengths and weaknesses. The four-year, $1.5 million federal grant is intended to help Wireless Generation develop these assessments and gauge their efficacy. The primary goal of this research is to look at the adequacy of the assessments from a scientific standpoint and determine whether they are reliable, as well as if their scores are predictive of how students will perform later. "Just like in reading, ... there are many things that you can identify in kindergarten and first grade," Berger said. "We see that as the highest leverage point in the whole education system, because it's expensive and difficult to remediate problems that have been allowed to get worse and worse by fourth grade--by then, cognitively, our brains are less flexible, and emotionally, kids have sometimes figured out that they are not good at math. At ages four and five, it's rare that [students] have emotional barriers to success. That's why we've focused on that [age]." Ginsburg said his research has revealed that children seem to fall into four groups when it comes to math problems. The first group of students will get the answer right and will understand the process behind the math problem. A second group arrives at the correct answer, but students in this group can't always determine how they arrived at the right answer. Students in the third group have a good understanding of the process, but get the answer wrong owing to sloppy mistakes. And students in the fourth group, Ginsburg said, get the answer wrong and don't seem to understand the process or might need extra help. "I see this as helping the teachers to understand the kids better--it's not just to get a score," Ginsburg said. "Don't think of your students only as people who get the answer right or wrong; they have concepts and strategies, and that's what we have to focus on. Once a teacher finds out a student has one concept but not another, then we try to link all this up with instructional suggestions for teachers." Leslie Koske, a math consultant at the Region 14 Education Service Center in west Texas, is working with five districts that are piloting mCLASS Math. Those districts already were using Palm computers to administer the Texas Primary Reading Inventory assessment, so teachers were familiar with the hardware and only needed to learn the additional software. "We know that an earlier intervention, in kindergarten or second grade, is far more helpful than in high school," Koske said. "With this tool, we can evaluate weaknesses early enough to have a lasting impact on student learning." Koske said officials plan to evaluate the math test scores of students on third-grade state assessments. When second-graders who have used mCLASS Math reach third grade, they will have their test scores compared with the previous year's third graders who did not use mCLASS Math, to determine the product's effectiveness. "We do believe it's going to impact student performance," she said, adding that mCLASS Math has been well received in the pilot schools. Above all, students seem to enjoy the assessments, Ginsburg said. "It's hard for some people to understand that this isn't a math test; this is a teacher talking with a student about how he or she solves a problem," he said. "Kids love that attention and like talking with an adult who takes them seriously." He added: "I think we really are doing something interesting and unique." Links: Wireless Generation Teachers College, Columbia University University of Missouri-Columbia http://www.eschoolnews.com/ info@eschoolnews.com 7920 Norfolk Ave., Suite 900 Bethesda, MD 20814 (800) 394-0115 - Fax (301) 913-0119 Privacy Policy Manage your FREE eSchool News eMail subscriptions here Contents Copyright 2007 eSchool News. All rights reserved.

New Media Consortium

Two sites we will be visiting for the presentation on NMC are listed below:

http://www.pachyderm.org/

http://virtualworlds.nmc.org/

Thanks,
Jane

Advise from David Merrill

While researching my expert briefing topic on Component Display Theory I came across this article written by David Merrill the creator of Component Display Theory. I thought you all might enjoy this paper in particular, the title is Write Your Dissertation First and Other Essays on a Graduate Education. Here is his intro on his website, "For over 40 years I have been engaged in graduate education. These essays contain my advice for how to have a more successful graduate experience. Hope you find them useful." (Dave Merrill) Here is the link http://cito.byuh.edu/merrill/text/papers/GraduateEducation.pdf

The Instructional Use of Learning Objects

I'm still purusing resourses on learning objects and found this very informative online book, "The Instructional Use of Learning Objects." You can read the full text of the book here for free. In addition, you can participate in discussions of book chapters with the authors and other readers, submit corrections, and discuss other issues related to learning objects, instruction, and learning. http://www.reusability.org/read/

Second Life educator tools

ok, brag time's on:
I am so excited with these little gadgets that I went to bed way too.....early the next day (that's when I wonder if Second Life is indeed working at taking over my first life). Anyway.

1-I've got a "beach ball" looking prim that I suspended in mid-air in my SL office. The ball is an instrument for survey/test/quiz use that emails the answers directly to the address I programmed it with. Results: I get the answers to my survey/quiz/test immediately sent to my personal email.

2-I set a "suggestion box" on my office's table that accepts notecards. The box, in fact, can be used as a dropoff location for assignments. Students write their assignments on a notecard that they create in their inventory, save and drag onto the box. Done. I show up and collect the notecard at my next office visit (open prim, drag notecards into my inventory, done).

3-class chair: a seat (black square) that allows the avatar to raise or wave his/her/its hand when attention is sought, during a conferencing type of event.

and other stuff. You can go and try them at CPCC Campus (116,245,33) -my SL office-, the survey is not complete as I just played a little with it.
Enjoy

Twitter titbits

OK, you already know about Twitter (paragraphs 1 and 2 below). But do you know who's using it besides your friends? (paragraph 3 below)

"Twitter mashes up elements of social networking, journaling, and text-messaging to create a platform for people to stay in touch via quick updates of up to 140 characters.

Registered users receive their friends' messages instantly via mobile phone, web, or an RSS-reader-style desktop app [see Twitter apps under options. Mine's Twitbin]. And it turns out you can cram all sorts of info into such a small space.

The BBC twitters its headlines.
Online discounter Woot.com twitters its latest sale item.
Barack Obama and John Edwards twitter campaign messages."
Retrieved WIRED Geekipedia (oct 2007)

Have you notice the new action-words being used now? MUVEing, twittering, etc....Last time I checked, the Heritage American Language Dictionary does not recognize these ....yet ;)

Google Mars

Visit Mars through the familiar Google map app at http://www.google.com/mars/
Learn about the Regions, Spacecrafts, and Stories related to Mars.

Also
A Google video of a 3D fly-by of Mars biggest canyon with a narration from a ASU professor where the NASA Mars work was done (http://themis.asu.edu/valles_video)--click on the first video link on the right side of the page--

GOOGLEVERSE

Google's mission to free it all

"Not content with conquering the Internet, Google continues to expand.
Google Apps (doc, ppt, mail, notebook...) are threatening Microsoft's desktop primacy.
Google Book Search is inhaling the world's great libraries.
Google's YouTube is short-circuiting Hollywood, bringing video from the masses to the masses.
Google Maps' Street View is peering to your windows.
Not to mention Google Health, Google Earth, and Google Mars.
Does all this make you want to crawl under your bed and call the authorities? Tough luck. With its acquisition of Internet switchboard operator GrandCentral, Google is about to take over your telephone too."
Retrieved from WIRED Geekipedia, p25 (Oct 2007. a supplement to WIRED)

Some companies are already switching their traditional apps to Google's free applications and server space, not bothering to install the on-the-shelves softwares, or worrying with memory or disk space. Considering that Skype had over 9 million people logged in and "phoning" when I was "conferencing" for free last Wednesday morning with people from Finland, Ethiopia, China, Spain, and South Africa, I wonder about the impact of a Google phone service onto the traditional service (ground line and wireless) or if it will be a similar hype or scare as when the first computer-to-computer phone communication was offered. Will it have a similar impact on the traditional communication business/economy as email threatened the post office? (real and unreal) or will it merely be a competitor to Skype and the like?

Virtual Integrity: Do Online Students Cheat? The Remote Proctor

Software Secure is an educational testing software company that more than 300 academic institutions rely on to ensure academic integrity. Troy University has been testing out the company's Remote Proctor for use in proctoring exams, investing more than $40,000 in the venture. Priced around $150, the Remote Proctor verifies the test-taker's fingerprints, ensuring that they match the prints provided at registration. A 360-degree camera records the entire test-taking experience, ensuring that the student taking the exam is the same one providing the fingerprints. Some universities add on an additional protection, requiring students to hold up a picture ID, which is recorded by the camera.

I wonder what this experience feels like.

Gaming literacies: a game design study in action

In our New Literacies class, we did not discuss gaming literacy. This article overviews the pedagogy and development process of Gamestar Mechanic, an RPG (Role Playing Game) style online game designed to teach players the fundamentals of game design. This article states that designing digital games—(being a game designer) gives a platform on which to build technical, technological, artistic, cognitive, social, and linguistic skills suitable for our current and future world.
Read the article at:

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Gaming+literacies:+a+game+design+study+in+action.-a0167294848

Learning Objects

A good resource for Learning Objects from the Center for International Education. Incudes tools and an object repository. http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CIE/AOP/learningobjects.html

Got Game?

http://www.stagecast.com/index.html
Stagecast: make your own video games, share them with friends, make and explore simulations, learn thinking skills. (Demos, Games, Simulations, Educators, etc.) ex: explore Tom Sawyer (G7-9), Explore Coin Flip (G5-12), Explore Diffusion (G 6-9), Explore Flower Garden (G3-8), etc.)
Stagecast educators: http://www.stagecast.com.school.html (demos, lesson plans, Quicktime testimonies, Tutorials, Standards...)

http://nwn.bioware.com/builders
Neverwinter nights for builders: the Aurora Neverwinter Toolset allows users to create their own content in the form of modules and environments for use in their own games.

http://lejos.sourceforge.net
LeJOS (Sourceforge Java Lego) -Java for LEGO Mindstorms- yes, you can program a Lego robot with Java! (LeJOS download free)

http://www.zoesis.com/corporate/n-index.html
Zoesis Studios "the future of interactive advertising and entertainment". Zoesis believes a new medium is emerging, based on a deep mixing of artificial intelligence, robotics, character animation, and drama, which is yielding a potent form of art, entertainment, and education."

http://py-universe.sourceforge.net/
Python Universe Builder: a set of Python modules for writing text-based adventure games or interactive fiction.

The International Journal of Computer Game Research, Game Studies (htp://gamestudies.org/0601)
Sims, BattleBots, Cellular Automata, God and Go, a conversation with Will Wright by Celia Pearce (http://gamestudies.org/0102/pearce)
Game analysis: Developing a methodological toolkit for the qualitative study of games, by Mia Consalvo & Nathan Dutton (http://gamestudies.org/0601/articles/consalvo_dutton)
Learning to Play or Playing to Learn -A critical account of the models of communication informing educational research on computer gameplay, by Hans Christian Arnseth (http://gamestudies.org/0601/articles.arnseth)

instructional design and cross-cultural implications

http://www.usdla.org/html/journal/MAR02_Issue/article03.html
"Web-based learning design: planning for diversity," by P. McGee

http://www.baychi.org/tutorial/20000922/
"Cross-cultural user interface design" by Aaron Mracus

http://www.eurodl.org/materials/contrib/2004/Graff_Davies_McNorton.html
"Cognitive Style and cross cultural differences in internet use and computer attitudes", by M. Graff, J. Davies, and M. McNorton

http://hci.stanford.edu/publications/2004/CrossCultBelievability0304/CrossCultBelievability0304.pdf
"Toward Cross-Cultural Believability in Character Design", by H. Maldonado & B. Hayes-Roth

(K-12 game examples: Tigrito: High-Affect Virtual Toy (http://www.stanford.edu/~kiky/TigritoHighAffect.pdf), The Funki Buniz Playground (1999) (facilitating: multi-cultural affective collaborative play))

I have been reading about distance learning and online instruction in the context of global education. One question keeps coming back: As education's audience/participants is/are getting more global (geographical location, culture, etc), how can instructional designers integrate cross-cultural traits into their online courses? or How can cultural awareness/sensitivity/ be a part of the learning system design? Is there a universal learning system design that would take care of all (most?) cultural misunderstanding possible during a distance instruction event?

I've got some resources, but I'm still looking for a "model." Suggestions? Comments?

thinkature tutorial

Thinkature has a tutorial workspace, but if you like tutorials, take a look at this video:

http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=b116388b50d48c6955f2

thinkature in action

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LDNL4qqrQAY

Jim Julius links to info on Gen Y

Since this is the age group we are targeting, I thought you would find these sites from Jim Julius helpful as we design our teaching tool

Great sites about Gen Y

I had the good fortune to teach Gen Y to 4th and 5th graders last year. It may not provide an instant revolution in technology use in your school, but what a powerful model for meaningful organizational change: empowering students to partner with teachers. As expert learners with technology, students (even elementary-age students) help teachers acquire technology skills and assist in the development of a technology-infused lesson. Teachers (expert learners with pedagogy) help students develop their leadership skills.

http://www.bigchalk.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/WOPortal.woa/wa/BCPageDA/pg~GenYes
This is a very nice starting point ... includes a video, an animated demo which includes information about how the Gen Y website works, staff development information and various testimonials

http://www.genyes.org/genwwwy/
the "official" introduction and overview ... there are many links and pages to look at from here

http://www.iste.org/geny/
includes a brief overview of Gen Y's government acclamations and an article and video from the Edutopia site

http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edtechprograms/generationy.html
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edtechprograms/generationy.pdf
government Educational Technology Expert Panel's report on Generation Y as an exemplary program

http://www.ericit.org/newsletter/Volume22-2/harper.shtml
http://www.iste.org/L&L/27/2/features/harper/index.html
overview articles by Dennis Harper

http://www.wired.com/news/school/0,1383,37234,00.html
http://www.convergemag.com/magazine/story.phtml?id=3030000000006767
good overview articles

http://www.usd435.k12.ks.us/Ed_Center/grant/geny/mcclain.pdf
student article on Gen Y

http://www.4teachers.org/testimony/mercer/index.shtml
a "teacher testimony" about Gen Y

http://www.4teachers.org/kidspeak/genY/index.shtml
high school students' perspectives on Gen Y

http://stmikes.olywa.net/gen-www-y.html
a school site with more anecdotal information about Gen Y from teachers and students involved (5th-7th graders)

http://www.topeka.k12.ks.us/robinson/msgeny/
middle school page with links to projects produced by Gen Y participants


Back to Top
Back to Educational Links
Back to Home Page of James W. Julius

Learning Systems Design

I was looking for information on Learning Systems Design to augment what we're doing in class, in preparation for the creation of learning objects/lessons/topics...and found this page that I wanted to share http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/sat3.html

ConceptShare and Thinkature

Products that enable collaboration are becoming more powerful and easy to use. Two companies entering into this market with compelling, but markedly different, products are ConceptShare and Thinkature Here's a nice overview http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/11/08/conceptshare-and-thinkature-two-approaches-to-visual-collaboration/

Savant Syndrome

As a continuation of the Autism topic, here are two more videos highlighting autistic people with extraordinary talents.

Savant syndrome, Beautiful minds
After a brain injury in early childhood, Alonzo Clemins develops special abilities in sculpting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkDMaJ-wZmQ&mode=related&search=

Savant Syndrome - Daniel Tammet
After seizures at the age of four, Daniel Tammet develops special abilities in mathematics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bVVQ0FZeys

Autism Facts

Cindy's post motivated me to search for more information on Autism. The extraordinary talents that many autistic people have are fascinating. Learning design with this diverse population, especially aided by technology, is an area where good tools are needed. I searched for a comprehensive facts page to begin with and found this one to be nicely organized. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm

Benefits of Online Testing

Researchers report that tests conducted over the Internet yield similar results to standard paper-and-pencil tests in a traditional classroom, leading to the conclusion that online tests can be as valid and reliable as any other kind of exam. This article describes some of the benefits
of online testing and identifies special consideration for Web-based
testing.

http://www.ssd.org/Education/jae/articles/jae200365043105.pdf.

Brain Age- Adult Game

I heard on the radio, an advertisement for Brain Age –A brain stimulation game for adults put out by Nintendo.

“Exercise is the key to good health, both for body and mind - and now there's finally a way to make mental exercise simple, fun, even competitive. Inspired by the work of prominent Japanese neuroscientist Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, the Brain Age games feature activities designed to help stimulate your brain and give it the workout it needs like solving simple math problems, counting currency, drawing pictures on the Nintendo DS touch screen, and unscrambling letters.”

http://www.brainage.com/launch/what.jsp

Stephen Wiltshire: The Human Camera

You may have seen this but if not, it's worth a look. It's kind of a throw back to Carla's brain class and all of the complexities that we still don't understand. It's a very interesting look into the incredible ability of one young man with autism. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8YXZTlwTAU

Toys are supposed to be fun -- not dangerous

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/shopping/chi-consumers_thujul19,1,5042220.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
Two senators propose a bill on the ban of all imported toys unless the importers can show proof that the toys passes safety tests performed by independent labs. I am absolutely stunned that this is still a major issue today. This class and all the recent recalls of tainted items from China have made me much more aware of the need to know the materials used in products and their country of origin. This message really hit home when I saw photos of some toys tainted with lead. They were High School Musical items! I would never have thought to worry about lead content in High School Musical jewelry or other items . . . before now. It is truly that expensive to keep our children safe? Items purchased in this country should live up to the supposed standards of this country. --And frankly, no mother in any country should have to watch her child suffer from the debilitating effects of lead poisoning for any reason -- but certainly not from playing with a toy!

We can check for recalled items at the following site: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html

Boycotting China? Good Luck

A telling and entertainingly written article by Sara Bongiorni (author of "A Year Without 'Made in China': One Family's True Life Adventure in the Global Economy") summarizes the experience of a family who went without Chinese products for one year. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-bongiorni25sep25,0,187598.story?coll=la-home-commentary

What Would You Say?

As you all know, since '03 much of my life has been spent dealing with end of life issues. It now continues with my father-in-law. Yesterday I heard about "this speech." "This speech about what you would say if you knew you were dying." As it turned out it was a speech given by Dr. Randy Pausch a professor at Carnegie Mellon. He has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (what my father died from in '03) and has just a few months left. He finished up his career with a final lecture given on Sept. 18th. Dr. Pausch is the creator of Building Virtual Worlds at Carnegie Mellon and is the co-founder of Entertainment Technology Center. I would encourage each of you to listen to his speech. It is quite remarkable. It also encourages (at least it did for me) to consider what I would say.

C.Lewis

Google Docs in Plain English -Video

See the video:
Google Docs in Plain English

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRqUE6IHTEA

Learning Designs Website

Information and Communication Technologies and Their Role in Flexible Learning

It is wonderful that there are many tools and websites designed to access rich resources that support development of quality learning experiences for students.

This learning designs website is one such tool. It is similar to our textbook in that it breaks down design in bite size pieces.

http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/

V. Bruce

Child Labor Current Situation In Poor Countries

If you go to the link there are other active links for expended information.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_labor#Current_situation_in_poor_countries
Current situation in poor countries
Poor families often rely on the labors of their children for survival, and sometimes it is their only source of income. This type of work is often hidden away because it is not in the industrial sector. Child labor is employed in subsistence agriculture and in the urban informal sector; child domestic work is also important. In order to benefit children, child labor prohibition has to address the dual challenge of providing them with both short-term income and long-term prospects. Some youth rights groups, however, feel that prohibiting work below a certain age violates human rights, reducing children's options and leaving them subject to the whims of those with money. The reasons a child would consent or want to work may vary greatly. A child may consent to work if, for example, the earnings are attractive or if the child hates school, but such consent may not be informed consent. The workplace may still be an undesirable situation for a child in the long run.

In an influential paper on "The Economics of Child Labor" in the American Economic Review (1998), Kaushik Basu and Pham Huang Van argue that the primary cause of child labor is parental poverty. That being so, they caution against the use of a legislative ban against child labor, and argue that that should be used only when there is reason to believe that a ban on child labor will cause adult wages to rise and so compensate adequately the households of the poor children.

Child Labor Laws Around the World

http://www.stopchildlabor.org/ This looks like a good source of information for our class assignment - However there is a $20 fee to join and get to the info. You can open it up and see all the different links available. It looks very comprehensive. I will search around to see if there is something like this for free.

"For Sale: Belgium, a Kingdom in three parts ... free premium: the king and his court (costs not included)."

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/someone-tries-to-sell-belgium-on-ebay/n20070918105009990030?cid=842

So who wants to buy Belgium? oh wait, e-Bay just withdraw the country. Darn! Apparently one could have had the European country for 10million Euro (about $14 millions) and the royal family for free (the small prints mention a $300 billion of national debt, by the way).

"The odd ad was posted by one disgruntled Belgian in protest at his country's political crisis which reached a 100-day landmark Tuesday with no end in sight to the squabbling between Flemish and Walloon politicians. "

I find the news timely (we just mentioned this in class yesterday and last week). Also, it would be interesting to see if this "stunt" has made Belgium more visible to the rest of U.S. Americans (yes, I know...I could not resist the Miss Teen Tenessee-ism, here), hence making e-Bay a learning system for a few days (?). Or as another question: who were the individuals who bid on the country? Did they know about Belgium before? Did they research about the country before bidding? Did e-Bay and Mr. Six provide links to informational resources? e-Bay does not identify the bidder who offered Euro 10million....which is when e-Bay decided that the joke had run its course and withdraw the country from the items for sale.

S.

p.s: I wonder if Mr. Six got the idea from "Magic Kingdom for Sale" by Terry Brooks. For those with a bit of extra reading time on their hands [sic!], this is a quick pleasant read in the fantasy sci-fi genre.

data modeling with Nike + iPod

http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/story.php?itemID=10588

I read an interesting short article on teaching statistics to children using the Nike + iPod sports kit. Children wear the special Nikes hooked up to their iPod and record workout information, such as calories burned. They can use the data that they collect to make predictions on how many calories will be burned during future workouts -- varying weight, length of workout, intensity, etc.

Although this sounds like a fun way to gather data, it also seems like an extraordinarily expensive way to gather such data. It is also clearly a ploy to boost Nike and iPod sales by selling them to schools and cultivating students' interest in them. I do not love this idea. Children are already bombarded with advertising. They don't need it in their classrooms as well.

Also, Nike does not have a stellar record in terms of social consciousness. They are one of a group of popular shoe and clothing companies who have unfair work conditions for those who manufacture their products. Nike officials even admitted to using child labor to make their products (although, they said it was a mistake).

silly, but applicable to class

I found this amusing little video about global awareness on YouTube. Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4XaUHVDmvo

chocolate and child labor

While examining resources related to how our personal buying decisions impact the health and welfare of others, I found something quite unexpected. I knew I would find info relating to problems with buying from the Gap, Nike, and Abercrombie, but I never expected that chocolate could bring so much pain to people. There are several resources that talk about how child labor (sometimes child slave labor) is used in the cocoa industry. Children are bought or kidnapped and forced to work in the chocolate industry. Some are lured with the promise of money, only to be enslaved and mistreated on cocoa plantations. I had no idea that children are suffering to produce chocolate.

So, unless you want to perpetually have to ask yourself if your chocolate contains the blood, sweat and tears of child slave labor . . .

buy fair trade chocolate.

The following link contains "Slave-Free Chocolate Table": http://vision.ucsd.edu/~kbranson/stopchocolateslavery/goodchocolateproducts.html

The danger of summarized news pieces

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070917/wl_nm/religion_rights_dc

In short, the U.N. High Commissioner jumped on a report by a Senegal native about bigotry in European countries toward Islam (calling it Islamophobia). The article provides bits and pieces of the report, unfortunately completely undermining whatever initial validity it had. To the complaint of European bigotry toward Islam due to Islamist extremism....why mentioning just Europe? To the mention of the anti-immigrant stand of a right-wing swiss party...what makes a right-wing political party in Switzeland different from another right-wing party in any other country? Not to mention that Switzeland is reputed to have always been a country extremely difficult to immigrate, no matter your religious or political affiliations.
And many other issues in this truncated piece of reporting.

I think that this is a very good example of how "News" is not doing its ethical job of informing...and the danger of misled conclusions by non-informed readers on global/international issues.

Lead Poisoning

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/news/?id=article.2007-08-15.0950055012&msc=S50588

Lead is more dangerous to children than adults because it can harm the developing brain, causing reduced IQ, learning disabilities and behavioral problems, among other things. Experts said it could take some time before any problem is apparent because of the gradual nature of lead poisoning.
Dr. Michael Shannon, a Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School pediatrician and toxicologist, said the risk to children playing with these toys is low. "Frankly, I think the biggest story is the clear failure of federal agencies to protect us," Shannon said. "I'd call it a public health disaster. It's frustrating. You would think that after so many recalls ... that federal agencies who have this as part of their charge would have done something effective. I have not seen that happen."
Dr. Jacqueline Moline, a lead poisoning expert at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, said signs of lead poisoning may include irritability, low appetite and lethargy. "Parents should make sure that they discuss with their pediatrician whether their child should be tested for lead and re-evaluate what kind of toys they have in their homes. The problem is that we don't know the provenance of their toys," Moline said.

Second Life Best Practices in Education

International conference - May 25, 2007. http://slbestpractices2007.wikispaces.com/SLCN.tv+Archives
Interesting reading as a follow-up to our recent discussions. You can view excerpts from the keynote addresses, which were not produced without technical difficulties. However, these educators (including corporate folks) are moving forward with development on many fronts. Presenters talk to the benefits and challenges of Second Life and its potential as a learning environment. If you have time to listen to one or two speakers, I'd recommend Ken Hudson from Loyalist College and Sarah Robbins (co-author of the forthcoming "Second Life for Dummies" book - "Engagement in Second Life Learning") who both speak about aspects of community and student engagement.

Apple Learning Interchange 2007

successful combination of global awareness and educational technology

Rethink: Global Awareness
http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/collection.php?collectionID=98

Creating an iStory Tour: Traveling to Learn, Learning to Travel
http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/story.php?itemID=9239

Directory of Global Awareness Resources
http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/story.php?itemID=843&version=566&pageID=2334
(The Global Schoolhouse, iLearn, Taking It Global, Rock Our World, One World Youth Project, and many many more exciting resources)

Giving and Economic Development One Person at a Time

I wanted to share with you something I saw on Oprah this last week. Oprah did a show on giving. Her featured guest was former president Bill Clinton who was talking about his new book titled Giving. In it he features individuals who have created extraordinary ways to give. An example features a young couple who have created an organization called Kiva. This organization links lenders with individuals in developing countries looking to start a small business. Many of those requesting loans are women who are solely responsible for their families. Here is how this very simple idea works. A lender logs on and looks through a list of requests. These requests features a description of the business idea and a picture of the entrepreneur. A lender can lend as little as $25. When the money is repaid an account is created for the lender who then can help another. 97% of all loans have been repaid. There really is no downside to this idea. I logged on and found only two requests. Alongside the requests was a note from the founders stating that since their appearance on Oprah and the release of President Clinton's book they have been deluged with lenders. They will post more soon but in the meantime there are two individuals looking for support. I think this is a beautiful way to learn about people and countries and entrepreneurship in a very personal and real way. The website is http://www.kiva.org/

E-Learning: Teaching Music

This is a very interesting video. The instructor teaches the e-course: Experiencing Music 2200. He explains many of the “e-tools” he uses to teach the course to high school students. The information reminds me of some of the steps in our E-Learning text. I learned about PICZO which is a site where students create their own websites: http://www.piczo.com
See the video about the music class at:
http://paulhami.vodpod.com/video/185770-e-teaching-and-equity

What is a blog?

This is my first experience with posting blogs. I wondered how I could make them as interesting as possible and not so much like the del.icio.us entries. I found a website that offered a few ideas. Here are the key points: 1. Consider your audience, 2. Pictures speak a thousand words, 3. Make constructive and beneficial blogs, 4. Avoid making multifaceted and complicated blogs, and 5. Make it interactive. For more info, visit the site at:
http://www.computersdontbyte.com/blogs/interestingblogs.html



I tired key point number two: This is a photo I took while on a "nature walk" at a botanical garden.

Vera Bruce

Using a Story to Make a Point

My brother-in-law's daughter, Theresa, works at an information desk in Gatwick, a major airport serving London. An English lady approached her.Lady: Has my auntie Sue got in yet?Theresa: Your auntie?Lady: Yeah. She'll be wearin' a red dress.Theresa: What flight was she on?Lady: Oo, I dunno. She's cummin' 'ome from a 'oliday on a island somewhere.Theresa: Can you tell me what island it was?Lady: Oo, I dunno. But I think it started wiv a 'S'.Theresa: Samoa? Solomon Islands?Lady: Nah.Pause...(Gatwick serves the Spanish package holiday business for southern England)...Theresa: Spain?Lady: Yeah! That was it! Spain!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~On the question of British attitudes to Europe, The British media always uses the term 'Europe' to mean the European continental mainland. It is always implicit that it is a separate entity from Britain. The expression 'the continent' is used synonymously. Europeans, apart from British ones, do not know what you mean if you say "the continent". Euro-bashing is a favourite staple of Robert Maxwell's newspaper stable, which dominates the British press. Britain is schizoid about Europe. Half the population are 'Europhiles' and half are 'Europhobes'. The other half are more rational about it. http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=65291&page=6

Did You Know -from DeVere

Scott McLeod is one of the authors of the "Did You Know" video on UTube that DeVere sent out . I remember his email expressed concere on the validity of the facts. I've attached this contact information for Scott McLeod. He is the author of the article I posted on the blog last week Scott McLeod is director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE) at Iowa State University. He can be reached at www.scottmcleod.net or mcleod@iastate.edu. I've also attached the link again. I don't know if Bernie got it earlier. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U

Maps Lead to Borders -- and Borders Lead to "Issues"

One of my co-workers forwarded this link and as I watched and listened, I couldn't help but think of the assignment to make maps important, especially to the young, as well as our discussion on culture, etc.

I hope you'll watch it all the way through, even though it is almost 14 minutes. Whether or not you like what he is saying, he's a master teacher with his use of charts and object lessons -- and still so matter-of-fact. He lets the data tell the story. Jade Winn would be so proud. If only I had been so clever in capturing the attention of the Jr. High age Sunday School class I used to teach :)

I find this issue gets people's blood pressure up in every direction and on every level. I think everyone, including our elected "representatives" needs to have this kind of information in front of them whenever they make decisions that have a permanent impact on our own culture.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4094926727128068265&q=number

I'm also including here the text of the person who forwarded to me.
-------------------------------------
Below is a link to an excellent video about immigration. WAIT! Before you hit the delete key you should know this is NOT just another email either for or against immigration. On the contrary, the link to the video below shows a presentation that simply brings to light how immigration has changed and will change America. It really defines the situation quite clearly. It brings out some key points that must be considered in light of any immigration policy that is developed, such as looking at the issues in the countries from which the immigrants come.

Again, it is not meant to engender hostile feelings toward immigrants, for we all know that our country is what it is today because of the immigrants that have come here over the years.

Below the link is an essay written by the man making the presentation on the video. You can tell from his essay that he is simply trying to bring to light key facts to consider before any immigration policy is created and passed.

A very enlightening video presented from a very objective perspective.

Best Regards,
Craig