UNESCO, World Anti-Piracy Observatory and YouTube

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Claude Almansi

Accessibility 4 All by Claude Almansi

Content:

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End of Free Ning Networks: Live Online Discussion: Apr. 20th

Posted on April 18, 2010 by Claude Almansi

Claude AlmansiBy Claude Almansi
Editor, Accessibility Issues

Ning social networks have been very popular, particularly among educators for whom they meant a free – without ads for K-12 classes – learning environment, with blogs, forums, photo and video galleries, personal pages for members and the possibility to create sub-groups.

But on April 15th, Ning’s new CEO, Jason Rosenthal, announced that they were going to end Ning’s free offer: see Ning Update: Phasing Out Free Services by John McDonald, Ning Creators‘ forum. This is a severe blow,  as there is no simple way to back up a Ning network. Continue reading →

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Ebook Readers vs. Ipad for Education?

Posted on April 9, 2010 by JimS

Tom PreskettBy Tom Preskett

I’m doing a project on ebook readers at the moment, and it’s led me to follow closely the advent of the iPad. My interest is the potential impact on education. At the moment, the contest is in the commercial/entertainment market. Once things settle down, education will be looked at.

From what I’ve been learning, you can’t just give students and educators an ebook reader as is right now and expect it to transfer to education successfully. Looking at it just from a book replication point of view, I feel it has to, at least, perform certain tasks well and efficiently. Continue reading →

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Social Media Doesn’t Threaten Literacy!

Posted on April 8, 2010 by JimS

Tom PreskettBy Tom Preskett

You can read a lot about the threat of new media to literacy and the printed word. Harold Jarche’s blog post, “Literacies,” is an example. Often there is a link made between the ability to engage in deep and meaningful learning, on the one hand, and reading large bodies of text, on the other. Or rather, there’s a link between an inability to learn and the fast-pace of media in the Web 2.0 world. Well, I just don’t buy this. In fact, it’s rubbish. Continue reading →

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E-rara.ch: Ancient Books, Public Domain and Moral Barriers

Posted on April 6, 2010 by Claude Almansi

Accessibility 4 All by Claude AlmansiContents

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The Challenge for Our Schools: Thomas Friedman and Education

Posted on April 4, 2010 by JimS

Retort by Harry Keller with a distilling retort on the left

Today, in his New York Times Op-Ed (Webcite alternative), Thomas L. Friedman made this comment:

Good-paying jobs don’t come from bailouts. They come from start-ups. And where do start-ups come from? They come from smart, creative, inspired risk-takers. How do we get more of those? There are only two ways: grow more by improving our schools or import more by recruiting talented immigrants.

This respected economist and commentator has closely linked our education system to our future success as a nation. He also argued for more immigration, more H-1B visas with longer durations. Continue reading →

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Social Networking and the Secondary Student

Posted on April 4, 2010 by JimS

Meeting the Needs by John AdsitMost discussions on this site dealing with the use of social networking in education are devoted to post secondary education. This column will look at the unique challenges of using any form of social networking in secondary education. The differences are significant, partially because of the ages of the students and more importantly because of the role of boards of education. Social networking in the secondary level has to solve some problems if it is to be used successfully. Continue reading →

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Thomas H. Huxley on Teaching Science

Posted on April 4, 2010 by JimS

Retort by Harry Keller with a distilling retort on the left
Frederick W. Westaway wrote on many subjects, especially about teaching science. He wrote the definitive volume, Scientific Method, Its Philosophy and Its Practice, for example. In 1929, he spoke clearly to us today about science education in his book, Science Teaching. He quotes Thomas H. Huxley, also known as “Darwin’s bulldog,” at length about science education. This Huxley quote from Westaway’s book dates to 1869! Continue reading →

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iPad – Breakthrough or Misstep?

Posted on April 3, 2010 by JimS

Totally Online, by Jim Shimabukuro
The iPad debuts today, and, as an educator, I can’t help but wonder if this will be the breakthrough portable communication device that will hasten the release of students and teachers from the grip of classroom walls. Continue reading →

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Headphones, Computers, and the Web

Posted on April 1, 2010 by JimS

Jim ShimabukuroBy Jim Shimabukuro
Editor

Note: The primary reason for selecting this subject for the second article in ETC’s “Extracurricular” series (see John Adsit’s “The Great Technology Controversy Follows Me into the Caves“) isn’t so much to share information about what I consider an enjoyable hobby but to underscore the fact that the entire pastime is built on computers and the web. All of the equipment was researched and purchased on the web – out of necessity because, for the vast majority of enthusiasts, it’s not available in stores within driving distance. I think I can fairly say that this hobby wouldn’t be possible without the internet and that it owes its survival and growth to a community that’s defined virtually rather than geographically. -js Continue reading →

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