Guest Author – Jen Friske: While reading Sam Sherratt’s blog on International Mindedness I came across something he said that really struck close to home for me. Sam states, “…I am confronted by the dilemma of how much should be shared with elementary students. But then I ask myself whether our job as educators is to actually educate children or to delude them into thinking the world is a wonderful, [ Read More ]
Guest Author, Don Thomas – Twenty first century learning and our kids’ use of technology has appeared to monopolize interest in recent times. But last night at a School Council meeting we discussed the idea of whether the ability to swim is a twenty first century skill. For my money there is no question; it was a twentieth century skill, first of course, but just as vital today as a [ Read More ]
Guest Author, Dan New – In my recent post, “My Teacher is on the Television” there are implications of students interacting with a screen rather than an educator. It is this very conception that I have attempted to address in my classroom this semester. The question all distance educators (not just video conference educators) must ask is, “Are these students a part of my class, or are they simply observers?” [ Read More ]
Guest Author – Andrew Doyle With the abundance of choices in technology to integrate and utilize in the classroom it is hard to reflect and determine if we are using these technologies effectively for student learning. When I refer to technology in this post, it is all inclusive of things we use in our classrooms (websites, SmartBoard, Cameras, software, internet, etc.). The goal of integrated technology is to not only [ Read More ]
Guest Author: Nancy Lake
My kids came running up the stairs from the basement, shirtless…faces burning. What in the world? “We’re in the world championship for volleyball, Mom! We need a quick drink and then we’re on!”
I’ve never been a gamer. I don’t understand it. Even when Pac-Man and Donkey-Kong were King, I didn’t play. So when my kids wanted their first gaming system, a Game Boy, I wasn’t thrilled. Reluctantly, I granted their wish. Next was a Game Cube (only because it was compatible with Game Boy). Then came the Nintendo-DS, and a hand-me-down PlayStation 2. Wait a minute…this was getting out of hand…
Guest Blogger – Derek Keenan – If you don’t spend a great deal of time reading educational technology blogs, (not sure who does, other than me) the term mobile learning might strike you with images of doing algebra on a train, or reciting shakespeare while riding a bike. However, mobile learning is far from a mystery for educational researchers who have been working with small, portable devices in education for some time…
