DPS ILT Session 11-15-07 November 15, 2007
Posted by Matthew Woolums in Conference Sessions.15 comments
This has been an interesting session discussing many of the implications of ILT work in DPS and how it relates to achievement.
What is one thing you heard from the morning session that you will take back to your school?
http://iltworkshop.pbwiki.com/
Necessary Ingredients Part 3 - Wireless November 14, 2007
Posted by Matthew Woolums in 21st-Century, Opinion.add a comment
The next necessary ingredient to a successful integration of technology follows closely on the heals of the previous two. It is my opinion that students not only need an Internet connected device, the device needs to be mobile. It needs to follow them around, and be available whether they are in the classroom, the library, the hallway, or any where else learning might (should!) take place. Tying a computer to a cable limits its effectiveness. On his blog, The Fischbowl, Karl Fisch makes a case for wireless access, even for devices that are the personal property of teachers and students. Here is a brief excerpt that I particularly appreciate:
None of this can happen if technology and access is an “add-on.” Students need ubiquitous access to these 21st century technology tools.
For the rest of Karl’s post:http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2007/11/why-wireless.html
Necessary Ingredients Part 2 - Neutral Internet November 5, 2007
Posted by Matthew Woolums in Net Neutrality, Opinion.add a comment
The second necessary ingredient in a successful and meaningful integration of technology is also access. In this case, network access. Computers by themselves have great potential. Computers that allow people to connect with each other have even greater potential. The fact that you’re reading this post right now is a small example of how networked technology can connect people.
Follow some of the work by George Siemens for more information about the power of connections. See this recent post on elearnspace entitled “The Value of Connections”: http://www.elearnspace.org/blog/archives/003132.html
He also has a wiki to help explore the concept of connectivism:
http://www.connectivism.ca/
This brings up a second area that I write about from time to time: Net Neutrality. For those who don’t know what it is, it is basically the idea that the companies who supply the infrastructure should be required to maintain an open and unrestricted use of the network. In other words, they built the highway (largely with our tax dollars) and should be able to now charge tolls for different kinds of cars or speeds or directions. Here’s a link to a Bill Moyer’s PBS special “Moyers on Americs, The Net At Risk” on what Net Neutrality is:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/moyersonamerica/net/index.html
I’ve also put up additional links and resources about what you can do about Net Neutrality on another page for a presentation I did last Spring:
http://villagegreen.edublogs.org/presentations/tie-2007-p2/
If you need additional reasons for why Net Neutrality is important, consider the following recent examples of companies who are demonstrating they will make decisions for us unless their behavior is legislated.
- Gotham Gazette “Censored by Verizon” http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/tech/20071029/19/2331
- Consumer Affairs “Verizon Overrides Internet Searches With Its Own Results” http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/tech/20071029/19/2331
- Geek.com “Comcast blocks Bit Torrent traffic” http://www.geek.com/comcast-blocks-bit-torrent-traffic/
- Consumer Affairs “Comcast Cuts Off Heavy Internet Users” http://consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/08/comcast_ban.html?imw=Y
AASL 21st-Century Standards November 3, 2007
Posted by Matthew Woolums in 21st-Century.add a comment
Just in case you missed it, the American Association of School Librarians published a new set of “Standards for the 21st-Century Learner.” The standards are prefaced with a series of common beliefs such as “Equitable access is a key component for education.”
The standards themselves:
Learners use skills, resources, & tools to:
- Inquire, think critically, and gain knowledge.
- Draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply knowledge to new situations, and create new knowledge.
- Share knowledge and participate ethically and productively as members of our democratic society.
- Pursue personal and aesthetic growth.
For more information, or to order printed versions:
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/learningstandards/standards.cfm
To download the PDF version:
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/learningstandards/AASL_Learning_Standards_2007.pdf
Blog Example #14 - To Communicate With and About Other Bloggers November 2, 2007
Posted by Matthew Woolums in Edublogs.add a comment
Blogs that talk about blogs are a little like podcasts on how to create podcasts. They serve a useful purpose for those who are interested in getting started. One way for a blog to connect with other blogs is to include links to them. In Edublogs, this is done by including a blogroll. Russel Montgomery, in his blog: Wise Provocation, includes a nice lengthy collection of educational blogs in his blogroll. Take a look and explore some interesting blogs!
http://braindump.edublogs.org/
Necessary Ingredients Part 1 - Access November 2, 2007
Posted by Matthew Woolums in 21st-Century, Opinion.add a comment
I was asked the other day why I spend so much time posting about cheap laptops. I guess it has a lot to do with the ingredients necessary for technology to have an impact on technology. One of those ingredients is access.Access has many components, which is why this post includes ‘part 1′ in the title. I’ll revisit this topic later.
At a basic level, access means getting technology into the hands of those who can do something with it. In the case of education, it means putting technology into the hands of our students. Taking students to a computer lab once a week for 45 minutes isn’t enough. Students need, and deserve, the opportunity to have technology with them at any time they need it during the school day.
One way to do that is to provide every student with a laptop. One-to-one initiative require a lot of money or institutional effort. Most districts, including large urban districts in Colorado, are not blessed with an over-abundance of either. The only way to get technology into the hands of every student is to make it much more affordable. This is why I spend so much time talking about cheap alternatives.
