Comments for Educational Technology and Change Journal

Comment on Migration to Digital Textbooks by 2017 – The ‘Playbook’ by Nathaniel Harris III

Nathaniel Harris III — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:43:19 +0000

In world filled with so much technological advancements, I feel confident in replacing the idea of wasting our precious natural resources on books that are constantly beiiing updated and overpriced and rather invest in e-books which are more efficeint. As a future educator I can forsee a plethera of multi-instructional oppurtunities for teachers in daily classroom settings. Automatic updates, cleaner facilities where as with books they tend to overcrowd and tke a space. But of course I would have to agree with Robert Reese with the concern of cost and being able to provide every student with one. What if the student can’t afford this, will there be a funding for this through financial aid of some sort? We must pose these questions in attempt to make such a drastic change in the fabric of education.

Comment on A Laptop for Every Student — It Doesn’t Have to Cost So Much by DeLicia Douglas-Smith

DeLicia Douglas-Smith — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:33:06 +0000

I could not agree with you more! Laptops for every student SOUNDS theoretically exciting and innovative. Until you begin to ask all the ugly questions. When so many teachers can barely log into their computers to help children when they need assistance with, say, Pearson websites, how can one help with a said “laptop issue”? My own laptop has its own issues almost weekly, and my husband and I simply guess about what to do. When I think of how I may handle such issues with 30 students within a room for 3 0r 4 periods…. it becomes a daymare! (get it?)

I also have to be completely frank. I cannot fathom how we would make it happen. I am in Clinical Practice, so I must be 100% honest in saying that I am not yet a full fledge teacher. I have, however, been in a classroom now for the past 2 years ( a new school every semester). And they have each been low-income. I am proud of my calling and glad to go to work each day, but the reality is that these kids do not all get books, do not all have supplies, and some only eat at school. Are these kids who do not have paper really going to get computers? They do not now have enough for one class to go to a computer lab and some schools do not have labs. It is a sad reality.

I feel the idea of students bringing them from home and paying for their own upgrades would only enhance the technology gap. It is something we should consider as educators. Not bringing the wealthy down, but how to help the low income to catch up.

Comment on A Laptop for Every Student — It Doesn’t Have to Cost So Much by JimS

JimS — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:00:57 +0000

Harry: Why do government programs always seem to end up with these insanities? Hi, Harry. Good question. My guess is apathy. People haven't learned to care. In Hawaii, for example, I haven't heard a peep. Mary Vorsino is an excellent journalist who covers education topics. She's able to remain objective while spotlighting potential problems. Unfortunately, readers aren't picking up on her cues. Harry: With respect to the BYOD approach, you can try that in K-12, but the most needy areas would have to have lots of loaners and would not save that much. I'm assuming that this will be the case. Still, substantial savings can be achieved by the bootstrap teacher training approach. Harry: What specific software will make the investment worthwhile? For a BYOD approach, the software cannot be platform-dependent. Will tablets be allowed? If so, the universe of learning software narrows considerably. Most if not all of the learning apps will be in the cloud so the primary software will be a robust browser. These are free for PC and Mac operating systems, and they'll provide access to the web and all that's there, including social networking services. Those who can't afford MS Office have free alternatives such as Sun's Open Office. Tablets such as iPad and others running the Android OS are quite robust in running web apps. I’m not so sure that it will work from an educational standpoint. It’s not that it cannot work. It’s just that the management and coordination is very difficult. Good point, Harry. However, if we think of laptops or tablets as media rather than content, much of the confusion disappears. Just as the brand of a sheet of paper or pencil doesn't matter as long as a student can use them to write an essay, the brand and OS of computers may not matter as long as students can use them to access the web and cloud apps. In other words, how they arrive at a URL doesn't matter as long as they get there.

Comment on A Laptop for Every Student — It Doesn’t Have to Cost So Much by harrykeller

harrykeller — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:04:44 +0000

Eight thousand dollars a year to train a teacher — each year! Cripes, the teacher would rather take a salary increase and pay for own training — at a much lower cost. Why do government programs always seem to end up with these insanities?

With respect to the BYOD approach, you can try that in K-12, but the most needy areas would have to have lots of loaners and would not save that much. College is really very different in this respect.

Yet, all of this discussion begs the true question. What will be put on those computers? What specific software will make the investment worthwhile? For a BYOD approach, the software cannot be platform-dependent. Will tablets be allowed? If so, the universe of learning software narrows considerably.

I’m all for this idea from my business point of view. However, I’m not so sure that it will work from an educational standpoint. It’s not that it cannot work. It’s just that the management and coordination is very difficult.

Comment on A Laptop for Every Student — It Doesn’t Have to Cost So Much by A Laptop for Every Student — It Doesn’t Have to Cost So Much « juandon. Innovación y conocimiento

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:28:46 +0000

[...] and a laptop for every student, I was overjoyed. When the smartboards grew increasingly sop…Via etcjournal.com Valora esto: Me gusta:Me gustaSé el primero en decir que te gusta esta post. [...]

Comment on A Laptop for Every Student — It Doesn’t Have to Cost So Much by A Laptop for Every Student — It Doesn’t Have to Cost So Much | E-Learning-Inclusivo (Mashup) | Scoop.it

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:28:32 +0000

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Comment on Migration to Digital Textbooks by 2017 – The ‘Playbook’ by Laura Lincoln

Laura Lincoln — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:29:09 +0000

I believe that there are many different ways to learn. Everyone has a different way of understanding things. As human beings we have free will and the ability to reason. I can say that there are some advantages to the environment that e-books do provide, and een though everyone may not use this method of learning, it will improve the environmentto a certain extent. here is a link that describes the many different types of learning:http://www.learningrx.com/types-of-learning-styles-faq.htm

Comment on Language Learning in the 21st Century: Part II – Technology Makes English the Global Language by Lynn

Lynn — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:46:11 +0000

Ulrike,

Research also shows that language learning has cognitive benefits as well. You not only learn the language, you develop other cognitive skills along with it. My students and I watched a video tonight called Speaking in Tongues which is about several blingual programs in San Francisco. It made your point about the importance of learning other languages to develop global citizenship, but it also stated that the students on average at the schools perform as well and better than students in traditional monolingual schools. I loved your story about the Bulgarian waiter.

Comment on Language Learning in the 21st Century: Part II – Technology Makes English the Global Language by Ulrike Rettig

Ulrike Rettig — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:02:30 +0000

Michael, an excellent assessment of the role of English the important language of communication. I’ve got two small anecdotes to support this: My family and I were having lunch in the Dutch town of Alkmaar. The young man who was our server automatically spoke to us in English. I answered him in Dutch (which I speak) and he said: “Sorry, I don’t speak Dutch, I’m Bulgarian.” On another note, I have a Swiss friend who tells me that meetings between Germans and Swiss German are held in English – because it is a foreign and neutral language for both. While I totally agree about English as a world language, I still think it is crucial for English speakers to learn other languages. (I do this in disagreement with Larry Summers …) Becoming fluent in at least another language makes you think and more likely to behave as a world citizen – which we all are.

Comment on Should Students Have a Personal Brand? by bonniebraceysutton

bonniebraceysutton — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:47:45 +0000

I loved your statement. Interestingly enough most of what we put online several years ago has dissolved into an erratic history. I am pleased to announce that SITE.org has gotten a major grant from Facebook and we will pursue best case studies in Digital Citizenship. This is not my best area of expertise, but I have been given permission to work at the upcoming conference at Harvard, Lady Gaga’s Born this Way Foundation is having a symposium and I will get top level involvement and assistance in looking at resources.
My first online with kids was Kidsnetwork and NGS programs in which we did science and technology and the communication was rather subdued, but the kids reacted to the groups as much as they did the science we were doing . It was transformational that science became the first online experience that most of them had.

Bonnie
Kidsnetwork was not really on the Internet, we were connected to scientists to whom we fed data and the Internet letters from the classes came to the teacher. It was new, exciting and at the time a way to personalize science education.