Category: disruptive-technology
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Laptops as sustaining tech in Virginia
The December 1, 2005 article “The Digital Divide: Some teachers use the laptops every day; others call them ‘expensive paperweights’ from Alexandria, Virginia reveals that most reported uses of the laptops by teachers and students involve “sustaining” rather than “disruptive” technology use. The article author heralds students being able to research online, and cites critics…
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Skype Headsets, Pamela, WeeMees & Videoconferencing
Skype is continuing to become more mainstream: adding more features and users and getting more attention in the news. In November, Skype announced it would begin selling headsets compatible with its VOIP network at Radio Shack this holiday season. I am not getting rid of our home landline yet, but if we can have landline…
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Wikipedia Seigenthaler controversy
Katharine Seelye’s article in the New York Times this past Monday titled “Wikipedia: Open-source, and open to abuse,” portrays a typical media view of web 2.0 technologies like Wikipedia: They are lamentable and problematic. Seelye fails to note that instead of trying to track down and “get” the person who posted information allegedly inaccurate about…
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Digital Curriculum and The Last Mile
I have finished writing a new article for the TechEdge (the journal of the Texas Computer Education Association) this evening. It should be slated for print publication in the Spring 2006 issue just before the February TCEA conference. The article is entitled “Digital Curriculum and The Last Mile: Providing Curricular Flexibility and Limitless Bandwidth,” and…
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NASA Videoconference
Our college hosted a wonderful videoconference experience today for 45 local 6th grade students who attend Dunbar Science Academy in Lubbock ISD. We connected with Tom Benson of NASA Education’s Digital Learning Network in Cleveland, Ohio, for the History of Humans in Space Videoconference. This usually lasts 45 minutes, but ours lasted an hour because…
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Contentious school blog in Dallas area
The Sunday, December 4th Forth Worth/Dallas Star Telegram ran an article entitled, “Schools in quandary over bloggers,” which addresses issues that Miguel Guhlin has posted about along with others recently. I think following comment in the article by Mark Smith, executive director of secondary administration in Keller ISD, is on target. We really can’t discipline…
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EdTech Impact, COSN & Disruptive Technologies
COSN’s “Response to the Alliance for Childhood Study” and The Alliance for Childhood’s “Replies to COSN: ‘Straw Man’ Fallacy Obscures the Real Issues” contain some pointed accusations and enlightening statements that are extremely relevant for 21st century education. These publications are over a year old, but there relevancy is still high. Indicting the faith of…
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The flat world is real
I had a remarkable experience yesterday, which in the context of the flat world in which we live, may not seem so extraordinary to some. But for me it was, and I am still trying to process it. Last night, before watching a tragic, compelling, and complex movie with my wife (Ararat), I posted a…
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Transparency in Higher Education
I think professors and instructors at all higher education institutions should be posting their syllabi, course outlines, and other materials (not restricted by copyright educational fair use guidelines) to the web. One reason for this is our educational marketplace. When someone says, “I teach this class online” or “I am taking this class online,” that…
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MySpace and iSafety
Will Richardson is right on in his analysis that educators and schools have a responsibility to help prepare students for Internet access in a non-filtered world. I am not saying schools should not filter content at schools (of course they are required by US law to do so) but I do agree with the following:…