TechPudding
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From Scroll to Book to Internet: Educational Technology Changes Everything
New technologies can change everything–what and how we learn, know, understand, communicate, socialize, and think. Many people have enjoyed the video called Help Desk, posted by Zauron3ooo, that hilariously depicts an interaction between two monks as they try to figure out how to use the new technology of the book, as opposed to the old way … Continue reading
Featured Posts
It’s been a long time since I last posted. In between, I (finally) discovered the power of microblogging on Twitter. I freely admit that I am late to the Twitter party and a beginner in many ways. It took me about three weeks to discover the elements of microblogging that appeal to me. Like any new innovation, you need … Continue reading
Over the past few months I have been re-designing online courses that help to support teachers as they integrate technology into blended and online learning environments. I am going to try to make more time to share my insights with you, beginning with this post about using discussion boards in learning. Many educators use online … Continue reading
Thanks so much for stopping by to check out TechPudding lately! If you just happened to be bored enough to keep track of my blogging, you’ll know that I wrote almost every day from February to April and then virtually disappeared from the blogosphere until now. This is because the end of the year brought … Continue reading
Lately I have been thinking about what the term Web 2.0 really means. According to Wikipedia, Web 2.0 “allows users to interact and collaborate with each other in a social media dialogue as creators (prosumers) of user-generated content in a virtual community, in contrast to websites where users (consumers) are limited to the passive viewing … Continue reading
I have been searching high and low for an efficient, easy-to-understand list of criteria for evaluating hardware, software, tools, and everything in between. Most online articles that I found focus on selling things, or are incredibly vague or incomplete so I decided to do some brainstorming based on what I have found in my own … Continue reading
The term cloud computing seems confusing and open-ended. Many IT industry leaders as well as educational specialists that I work with claim that cloud computing is “the next big thing” so I decided to find out what it is, and through this, I came up with some questions to consider in realm of education. According … Continue reading
The web is full of inspirational, mind-blowing ideas. This post is a follow-up to my last entry that examined the studio approach, used for years in post-secondary multimedia, design, and architecture schools to make learning truly authentic, deeply collaborative, and highly rigorous. Today I watched the following video presented by The Pearson Foundation and the Mobile Learning Institute, highlighting the … Continue reading
“You say that these students want to use technology, but I am giving an online test this week and they all say they’d rather do a regular test in class.” This is a statement that a teacher at my school said to me last week. In thinking about this statement, I realized that my colleague had implied … Continue reading
Today I researched a number of articles about a skill called computational thinking or CT. The term computational thinking was coined in 2006 by Jeannette Wing, a compter science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Wing argued in her article Computational Thinking, that CT is a fundamental skill for everyone living in the 21st century. Since then, there has been … Continue reading
I enjoy the insightful and educational work of RSA Animate, the YouTube channel of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. This organization is dedicated to sharing the kinds of innovative and inspiring ideas that are also offered through TED Talks, along with genius visual interpretations. Today I watched an RSA Animate titled, Where … Continue reading
I am currently working with a group of teachers to overhaul a course offering in the high school where I work. The course has existed for many years under the name, Information Technology. Collaborating to update it has been an incredible learning experience so far. It amazes me, how outdated the course has become in … Continue reading
There are times when I feel as though the ever-growing, ever-changing list of Web 2.0 tools becomes overwhelming. At a recent conference, 90% of my conversations with technology specialists started with the sentence, “Have you used this tool yet?”. Instead of starting with the tool, let’s start with the learning. We all know that tools will … Continue reading
Today I listened to a podcast interview of John Seely Brown talking about his work, A New Culture of Learning, recoded on February 22, 2011, available from The Future of Education.com. Brown spoke of what schooling is and needs to become in a changing world. Here are a few of the key points that Brown spoke about, and my … Continue reading
This morning I enjoyed a thoughtful podcast from my favourite CBC radio show, Ideas titled, Closing the Book. It examined the perspectives of scholars, authors, book publishers, and many others who have a stake in how the e-reader is changing the way in which we interact with texts. The podcast peaked my interest so I moved on … Continue reading
Since my last post examined how to troubleshoot technology issues independently, I thought I would dedicate this one to websites that provide formal tutorials and just-in-time training for a variety of technology tools. Formal training references and tutorials are useful for both teachers and students to learn how to use technology. Whenever I try a new … Continue reading
In my job as an embedded tech integration specialist, teachers continuously ask me where to find help learning or troubleshooting the hardware and software that they integrate into their classrooms. In my experience, ‘just in time’ or embedded PD in the form of a real person (like me) is very effective, especially if the support person … Continue reading
Traditional high school classrooms are places where teachers lecture for 75-85% of each class. Teachers introduce ‘the basics’, give examples, and have students take notes while they speak. If students are lucky enough to have a teacher who uses some kind of media, they may get to view one or two videos, simulations, or diagrams … Continue reading
Tonight I had the honour of engaging in an exciting and insightful PD discussion organized by Jason Maitland, Head of Education Technology at Rundle Academy. Our group of five educators discussed many topics regarding change leadership in technology and education. It was one of the best professional discussions I have had since grad school–it was incredibly energizing! Among … Continue reading
