http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW_3uXXoWIk Sixty years ago next week, the hopes of Cold War America soared into the night sky as a rocket lofted skyward above Cape Canaveral, a soon-to-be-famous barrier island off the Florida coast. The date was Jan. 31, 1958. NASA had yet to be formed, and the honor of this first flight belonged to the … Continue reading NASA News: Explorer 1: The Beginning of American Space Science
Category: Leadership
Digital Learning is About Flipping the Teacher
Image Credit Much has been written about Jon Bergmann's movement around flipping the classroom. Digital learning is more about flipping the teacher. As illustrated above, traditional education is centered around the expert delivering information to a large group. In this setting, the teacher speaks to large groups up to 80-90% of the time and less … Continue reading Digital Learning is About Flipping the Teacher
Technology Integration: Stuck in an Infinite Loop
Recently, the advertisement above appeared in a national educational technology magazine. I sent out a tweet, asking "Why would I want do this in my classroom?" One response was, "You're looking to create ICE in the classroom! Independence, Challenge, Engagement! Differentiated classroom with open objectives." I replied that I could do that with a book. This … Continue reading Technology Integration: Stuck in an Infinite Loop
Online Learning Reading List
Bush, J. & Wise, B. (2010). Digital learning now. Tallahassee, FL: Foundation for Excellence in Education. Cavanaugh, C. (2009). Getting students more learning time online: Distance education in support of expanded learning time in K-12 schools. Washington, DC: Center for American Progress. Creative Commons (n.d.). Creative Commons. Mountainview: CA: author. Retrieved from http://www.creativecommons.org. Dawley, L., … Continue reading Online Learning Reading List
Tech Forum Note — 05/03/13
At last Friday's Techforum Chicago, I listed intently during presentations about innovations in schools. One of the themes of the conversations was about creating content. Without exception many presenters and participants talked about creating digital content. In some cases it was stated in an arrogant fashion: "Nobody can do it better than me!" In digital … Continue reading Tech Forum Note — 05/03/13
A Different View of Digital Citizenship
Image Credit Many digital citizenship programs focus on digital citizenship with students with a list of "don'ts." The ideas below look at positive and proactive steps to consider citizenship issues with students. In recent years, many blue ribbon committees have called for changes in schools to prepare children for their futures. Globalization, competition, and new … Continue reading A Different View of Digital Citizenship
Notes From Techcon 2012
Techcon 2012 Techcon occurred October 26, 2012 at the Naperville Campus of Northern Illinois University. Over 160 local school administrators, technology leaders, and classroom teachers convened for the one-day session. Google's Jaime Casap (Twitter: @jcasap) was the keynote speaker. His presentation focused on the crisis of low expectations and that even though the jobs that … Continue reading Notes From Techcon 2012
Virtual School’s Symposium 2012 Summary
The student panel at the Virtual Schools Symposium 2012 Over 2,000 conferees assembled in New Orleans, Louisiana for iNACOL's edition of its Virtual Schools Symposium held October 21-24, 2012. Across the program, presentations looked at research in the field, instructional models, administrative successes, and policy proposals. This year's conference focused on the trends in the field that … Continue reading Virtual School’s Symposium 2012 Summary
Where’s the Education Leadership on Technology in Schools?
Image Credit In 1988, Congress' Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) reported the "most promising current uses and demonstrations" (pp.12-13) for computers: Drill and practice to master basic skills. Development of writing skills. Problem solving Understanding abstract mathematics and science concepts. Simulation in science, mathematics and social studies. Manipulation of data. Acquisition of computer skills for general purposes, … Continue reading Where’s the Education Leadership on Technology in Schools?
Successful Online Courses
Image Credit The SLATE Conference is October 11-12, 2012 at the Northern Illinois University campus in Naperville, Illinois. The conference brings together conferees who are interested in non-traditional forms of learning, especially in electronically supplementing traditional courses or implementing online courses. My presentation is about factors for successful online courses. They include: issues of curriculum, … Continue reading Successful Online Courses