Industry Pitching Cellphones as a Teaching Tool:
"On Tuesday, Digital Millennial will release findings from its study of four North Carolina schools in low-income neighborhoods, where ninth- and 10th-grade math students were given high-end cellphones running Microsoft’s Windows Mobile software and special programs meant to help them with their algebra studies.
The students used the phones for a variety of tasks, including recording themselves solving problems and posting the videos to a private social networking site, where classmates could watch. The study found that students with the phones performed 25 percent better on the end-of-the-year algebra exam than did students without the devices in similar classes."
This article is mainly about the (potential) benefits of smartphones. However, self-evaluation through VIDEO has long been proven effective. This component could certainly be executed with many different phones - and would not require Windows Mobile.
Tuesday
Classroom 2.0
Classroom 2.0: "Welcome to Classroom20.com, the social network for those interested in Web 2.0 and collaborative technologies in education.
We especially hope that those who are 'beginners' will find this a supportive community and a comfortable place to start being part of the digital dialog.
If you are new here, please consider introducing yourself by going to the introductory forum message. You should also feel free to explore! Here are some starting tips and a 'Tour of Web 2.0' webcast video, or you can ask help of a 'host' below."
--- Seems to me that this site (and Ning) are popping up everywhere the last little while. Next big thing? ---
We especially hope that those who are 'beginners' will find this a supportive community and a comfortable place to start being part of the digital dialog.
If you are new here, please consider introducing yourself by going to the introductory forum message. You should also feel free to explore! Here are some starting tips and a 'Tour of Web 2.0' webcast video, or you can ask help of a 'host' below."
--- Seems to me that this site (and Ning) are popping up everywhere the last little while. Next big thing? ---
Langwitches � Best Web 2.0 Applications for Elementary School
Langwitches � Best Web 2.0 Applications for Elementary School: "Thanks to an amazing list of “The Best Web 2.o Application for Education-2007” from Larry Ferlazzo’s Website, I decided to create my own list of the applications that have been the most useful or promising in the Elementary School scene."
Social Networking in the Classroom?
For most Teachers/Schools, Social Networking sites like Facebook, Myspace, YouTube and Imeem are not allowed. But that may change soon. Recent research has been showing both the benefits of online connections and which fears have been misdirected. (Turns out bullying may be a much bigger problem than solicitation of minors.)
No matter whether I'm teaching computer programming or digital editing, I try to find a way to work in a conversation or two about how the youth/students are using social networking - and strategies for using it responsibly. Personally, I think it should be a standard part of every school's curriculum. Here's a great guide from the FTC that can be easily adapted for the classroom: Social Networking Sites: A Parent’s Guide
Exploring these issues can also make an excellent video or multimedia project.
No matter whether I'm teaching computer programming or digital editing, I try to find a way to work in a conversation or two about how the youth/students are using social networking - and strategies for using it responsibly. Personally, I think it should be a standard part of every school's curriculum. Here's a great guide from the FTC that can be easily adapted for the classroom: Social Networking Sites: A Parent’s Guide
Exploring these issues can also make an excellent video or multimedia project.
Thursday
Keeping up with the trends...
10 Ways Social Media Will Change in 2009 - ReadWriteWeb: "'Social media' was the term du jour in 2008. Consumers, companies, and marketers were all talking about it. We have social media gurus, social media startups, social media books, and social media firms. It is now common practice among corporations to hire social media strategists, assign community managers, and launch social media campaigns, all designed to tap into the power of social media.
But social media today is a pure mess: it has become a collection of countless features, tools, and applications fighting for a piece of the pie."
But social media today is a pure mess: it has become a collection of countless features, tools, and applications fighting for a piece of the pie."
Using Digital to Make the "Old" Technology - Books
What Kids Can Do is a wonderful non-profit in Road Island that is helping kids to publish amazing books. Look. See. Be Inspired.
It's Not Just About the Software
Adobe has an excellent suite of resources for iTeachers. Not only is there a wonderful gallery of work, but white papers, curriculum, and direct links to an employee volunteer program and software donation and training for educators and non-profits. Phew! Definitely worth checnking out.
Adobe - Adobe Youth Voices Gallery - Resources: "Adobe and its founding Adobe Youth Voices partners — Educational Video Center, Listen Up!, What Kids Can Do, Arts Engine, and iEARN — offer a variety of free and low-cost resources to help you integrate youth media into your classroom or out-of-classroom programs."
Adobe - Adobe Youth Voices Gallery - Resources: "Adobe and its founding Adobe Youth Voices partners — Educational Video Center, Listen Up!, What Kids Can Do, Arts Engine, and iEARN — offer a variety of free and low-cost resources to help you integrate youth media into your classroom or out-of-classroom programs."
Technology and Music
From the Desk of David Pogue - So Many iPhone Apps, So Little Time - NYTimes.com: "Once you install and open this program, your iPhone's screen displays four colored circles of different sizes. These are the 'holes' that you cover with your fingers, as you would the holes on a flute. Then you blow into the microphone hole at the bottom of the iPhone, and presto: the haunting, expressive, beautiful sound of a wind instrument comes from the iPhone speaker."
A surprising example of iPhone as musical instrument.
A surprising example of iPhone as musical instrument.
Friday
GFEM LAUNCHES ONLINE MEDIA DATABASE
Grantmakers in Film + Electronic Media (GFEM.org) is very pleased to announce the launch of the GFEM Media Database at http://media.gfem.org.
The GFEM Media Database is a new online portal that allows media funders to learn about quality media projects. It's intent is to create a destination site for grantmakers who want to support public-interest media.
Funders and producers are invited to visit the site, review the guidelines, and take a look at projects that have already been uploaded. Independent producers are encouraged to post any projects they feel would be suitable for review. There is no fee for using this service.
GUIDELINES
Content: Projects designed for film or electronic media platforms: television, radio, theaters, web sites, mobile content, installations and more.
Media policy: Projects that focus on addressing media policy issues. Projects within this category may focus on issues such as advocacy, education, government policy and access.
Infrastructure: Projects related to deploying or reinforcing the infrastructure required to bring media to audiences. Projects in this area have to do with innovation, development, training, capacity building and support of small or large-scale information delivery and telecommunications systems. This can include community-based media arts centers, PEG access centers, public or community radio and television stations, mobile, satellite, or other systems.
HOW IT WORKS
Grantseekers load projects into the site through a series of web-based forms. GFEM staff review projects, and, if approved for inclusion, projects become entries in the online database. Grantmakers will be able to search the database to look for projects to support.
ELIGIBILITY
In order to be eligible for inclusion, you must already have at least one foundation or government funder attached to your project. Our intent is to create a destination site for grantmakers who want to support public-interest media.
In order to make the site a destination for funders, we need to ensure that it is populated with quality projects. Our capacity to review and evaluate a lengthy project proposal is limited. If a project already has at least one foundation or government funder, it is more likely that the project has gone through a proposal review and vetting process in the philanthropic sector. This is an added level of evaluation and appraisal that we feel will be of value to other potential funders.
The GFEM Media Database is not designed to replace a full project proposal. The goal is to spur connections between grantseekers and grantmakers – to support a more robust public-interest media sector.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)