TechPudding
Archive for February 2011
New High School Course to Examine Technology
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 It amazes me, how outdated the course has become in … Continue reading
Tech for Calm: Great Apps for Relaxation
At the end of a rushed, packed work week, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by my never-ending to-do list. When this happens, I like to do one of two things: read a great novel or create some artwork. So this weekend I chose the latter and went in search of some relaxing and artistic apps for my … Continue reading
It’s Not About the Tools–It’s About How You Use Them
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
Edges, Constraints, Play, and Gaming: John Seely Brown’s New Culture of Learning
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
e-Books Redefine Literacy
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
Online Tech Tutorials: Not Just for Teachers
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
How to Troubleshoot Technology — Effectively!
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
Publish First; Write Second
Today I stumbled upon an excellent collection of PD resources called EDtalks – Educators Talk About Learning. These talks are published by CORE Education, a not-for-profit group based in New Zealand and the UK focused on PD, leadership, innovation, and technology in education. One of the videos on EDtalks is a 6-minute presentation by David … Continue reading
“Hole in the Wall”: A Student-Driven Experiment
A while ago, one of my colleagues shared this inspiring and creative TED Talk with me by educational scientist Dr. Sugata Mitra, called The Child-Driven Education. Dr. Mitra is known for his “Hole in the Wall” experiments where he placed computers in public areas in poor slums, gathering places, and rural towns in India, South Africa, … Continue reading
Increase Communication Without Raising Your Hands
When it comes to classroom interactions, not all students are comfortable raising their hands. As a teacher, I often wish that I could read students’ minds and learn what questions and comments they have while I speak, while they present, or while a presenter interacts with them. I want all students to share their immediate thoughts with me … Continue reading
