Daniel Livingstone wrote a post today regarding an article on game design being taught in Scottish schools. He provides some interesting responses to the curriculum guidelines. Worth a read.
“I spotted this intriguing piece earlier in the week -” ‘Games’ to be taught in Scottish Schools”
The article doesn’t reveal much in the way of details but claims:
Scottish schoolchildren are to be taught the basics of video game design as part of the country’s new national curriculum - dubbed the ‘Curriculum of Excellence’.
According to the Press Association, the move is to designed to ‘create the next generation of young programmers’.
Schools minister Maureen Watt unveiled the scheme … and added that the new lessons will teach children how to use computer software to create animations and feature films.”
See the full article here.
April 18, 2008
FutureLab’s blog, Flux, has recently posted an article asking for ideas from people in the learning technology field about tools for engaging students and encouraging different ways of thinking:
“We’re in the process of doing some background research on tools that are being, or could be, used to support pupil involvement in the BSF/PCP design processes. We’re interested in the levels of engagement that different tools and approaches can facilitate.
Do any of you out there have any examples of tools, resources or techniques you’d mind sharing with us? For example, there are the beginnings of people using second life to allow children to design their learning spaces; thinking of other learning spaces – theme-ing and brainstorming workshop activities; Futurelab’s Power League, new school league tool and so forth.”
Author: Tim Rudd, Flux Blog, 18th April 2008
BSF - Building Schools for the Future project
For more information on this see the full article here.
April 18, 2008
The Great Schools Partnership have developed the iWalkthrough™ tool for use in schools to observe teaching and acquire data for feedback:
“The tool allows administrators or other instructional leaders to make a five to ten minute classroom visit yet dial in on the instruction they witness. During the training process, observers are encouraged to observe in the room then record after they leave so as not to be a distraction to the students or the teacher.
To be effective, the Walk through concept must be done frequently, with observers visiting the classrooms multiple times. Because the device is convenient to carry and the process so time effective, administrators and teacher leaders can do a number of such visits to several different classrooms in the time it would have taken to do one such formal observation previously.
But it is later, after the data has been collected from a multitude of such visits and collapsed by the software that the device shines. The iWalkthrough can generate customized reports that easily sort, compare, and visually display a wealth of data.”
Author: Tom Hanson, OpenEducation Blog, 16th April 2008
Full article available here.
April 17, 2008
“The term pedagogy has been in use since the early 16th century to describe ‘the art and science of teaching’ (amongst other definitions) particularly focusing upon the teacher’s role in a young person’s learning. More recently of course, it has formed part of the ongoing cry ‘it’s not the technology, it’s the pedagogy…’ which is raised at every conference, at every turn.
Andragogy, on the other hand, only became well used in 1913 after Malcolm Knowles developed a theory of it to describe adult learning - specifically focusing upon how children and adults learn differently (and as such require different forms of teaching).
One of the key differences is the description of the learner.”
Author: Dan Sutch, Flux Blog, 16th April 2008
Full article available here.
April 17, 2008
“90,000 new pages of work connected with Darwin have gone online for the first time. Guardian science correspondent James Randerson gives you a tour through the Darwin treasure trove.
It is a treasure trove of photographs, manuscripts, field notes and sketches that up to now has mostly been the preserve of Darwin scholars. But now the Darwin Online project in Cambridge is making 90,000 new pages of material available to anyone on the web.
Darwin junkies will be in their element with gems that range from scientifically significant notes on his theory of evolution to touching correspondence written by his wife.”
Author: James Randerson, Guardian, 16th April 2008
Full article available here.
April 17, 2008
“Ed tech developer eInstruction this week launched its new Content Meets Technology contest, which challenges educators and students to share their “vision of the role of technology in education.” Winners of the competition will receive an interactive classroom makeover.
Those wishing to enter must submit their thoughts on the role of technology in education using no more than 250 characters–that’s characters, not words. Entries will be posted on a Google Map mashup on eInstruction’s Web site.”
Author: Dave Nagel, T.H.E. Journal, April 2008
Full article available here.
April 16, 2008
Live blogging from Mark Oehlert at the gathering yesterday:
“So the general conference is starting today. I did a WAY early “Breakfast Byte” session this morning on managing emerging technologies - good turnout and amazingly consistent focus on FEAR as the leading problem in implementing new technologies for learning.”
Author: Mark Oehlert, e-Clippings Blog, 15th April 2008
Full article available here.
April 16, 2008
Daniel Livingstone discusses Prensky’s Digital Natives and refers to recent figures of game playing. He also refers to an eSchool News article on Project Tomorrow’s Speak Up Survey, which is ‘the largest annual survey addressing the attitudes and opinions of K-12 students, teachers, parents, and school administrators toward the use of technology in education’. Worth a look.
“I’m starting to think that more of Prensky’s ideas about digital natives are becoming reality, albeit not for the generation he originally identified. While often technologically naive, game playing (and social virtual worlds) are perhaps now so commonplace amongst younger age groups (say six to 16) in the UK that the term ‘gamer’ is likely to become somewhat obsolete - or restricted to those who play the ‘hardcore’ games while other induldge in more casual gameplay.”
Author: Daniel Livingstone, Learning Games Blog, 14th April 2008
See full article here.
April 14, 2008
Glenn Wiebe and Dave Warlick have both recently posted on Digital Vaults, a new website by the US National Archive that brings elements of social networking to primary history and social science resources.
Digital Vaults is an interesting concept and one I think works well with it’s logical tag organisational structure. The digitisation of sources and Web2.0 twist makes the wealth of knowledge highly accessible and even allows the user to create their own collections.
Read Glenn Wiebe’s post and Dave Warlick’s post for more information.
April 13, 2008
