Digital Kids

Watch the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsSqCRsaV78
How would you engage digital kids in the classroom?

The Crowdsourcing Project

Watch this YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubxAMrnKmkM

Can students link together like neurons in their quest to learn "by any means necessary" forming connections with each other to create learning pathways and networks in new, unique ways? Do you believe in the power of crowdsourcing? Explain your answer.

Digital Natives in Tomorrow's Classrooms

After reading the article featured in the University of Pennsylvania's Gazette http://www.upenn.edu/gazette/1107/feature3.html please consider the following questions and post your answers as comments:

Are you one of the digital natives described in the article? If you are, which technology tools do you regularly use? Do you think your professors can relate to you and teach you meaningful content? Would it be helpful if your professors developed content for the digital tools that most "natives use regularly? How will you develop meaningful learning experiences for your students?

Look at Dimdim

Look at Dimdim: http://www.dimdim.com/

Dimdim provides web meeting software. Here is a chance to make the world a smaller place - by creating a simple, free service that lets everyone everywhere communicate using rich media in real time. And not only would Dimdim be easy to use, it would also be free so web meetings could be democratized and made available to everyone. Enabling people around the world to show pictures, PPTs, PDFs, screens, even video as part of their conversations with no desktop client (like Skype or Outlook) is technically very complicated and often at the mercy of the internet connection speed or the power of the CPU. Today anyone can signup and hold their own web meetings using Dimdim Free. So simple anyone can use it. Unlike other web conference products, Dimdim does not require users to install software on their computers to attend web meetings. Users can start or join meetings with just a few clicks. Dimdim is available for free so everyone - not just big companies with big budgets - can use it. And Dimdim is available as open source software so you can extend and improve it freely. Dimdim already integrates with other software and can be extended easily. And Dimdim is extremely flexible, available in hosted and onsite configurations and easily customizable.

How would you use Dimdim in your classroom, outside your classroom, during and after school hours or for other educational purposes?

Kindle: Amazon's Wireless Reading Device

The Kindle is a portable reading device with the ability to wirelessly download books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers. Amazon introduced the Kindle just last year. It is designed to provide an exceptional reading experience. Thanks to electronic paper, a revolutionary new display technology, reading Kindle’s screen is as sharp and natural as reading ink on paper—and nothing like the strain and glare of a computer screen. Kindle is also easy on the fingertips. It never becomes hot and is designed for ambidextrous use so both "lefties" and "righties" can read comfortably at any angle for long periods of time. Kindle is completely mobile and simple to use for everyone, it is wireless. No PC and no syncing needed. Using the same 3G network as advanced cell phones, it delivers your content using Amazon’s own wireless delivery system, called Whispernet. Unlike WiFi, you’ll never need to locate a hotspot. There are no confusing service plans, yearly contracts, or monthly wireless bills—no hassles so you can just read. With Whispernet, you can be anywhere, think of a book, and get it in one minute. Similarly, your content automatically comes to you, wherever you are. Newspaper subscriptions are delivered wirelessly each morning. Most magazines arrive before they hit newsstands. Haven’t read the book for tomorrow night’s book club? Get it in a minute. Finished your book in the airport? Download the sequel while you board the plane. Whether you’re in the mood for something serious or hilarious, lighthearted or studious, Kindle delivers your spontaneous reading choices on demand. Kindle lets you download and read the beginning of books for free. This way, you can try it out—if you like it, simply buy and download with 1-Click, right from your Kindle, and continue reading. Want to try a newspaper as well? All newspaper subscriptions start with a risk-free two-week trial. Kindle’s paperback size and expandable memory let you travel light with your library. With the freedom to download what you want, when you want, you’ll never again find yourself stuck without a great read. Read about the Kindle on the Amazon website http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Device/dp/B000FI73MA, watch the videos and look at what’s available and the pricing. Do you think this technology might be useful in the classroom or other educational setting? How would you use it both personally and professionally?

SMART Table

Meet the world’s first multitouch, multiuser table for primary education. The SMART Table interactive learning center lets students get hands-on with collaborative activities – and the more hands the merrier.
The SMART Table is a versatile learning center where groups of students can create, explore and discover together on the durable screen. The interface is so intuitive that even the youngest child can play games and plunge into learning activities in no time.

Use this link to explore the SMART Table: http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/Products/SMART+Table/default.htm?WT.mc_id=Table_spotlight

Watch the video to get some ideas about how the SMART Table could be used in the classroom. How long do you think it will take for this technology to be integrated into classrooms? How would you use this with your students?

Special Needs Guide to Tech Products

Go to the Technology & Learning website to read about the latest software and hardware that can aid educators in both classroom instruction and assessment for any sort of learning challenge http://www.techlearning.com/showArticle.php?articleID=196605474 . This article will be helpful when integrating adaptive and assistive technology tools into planning for instruction in inclusive classrooms. What tools do you think you would use and how would you integrate them into your lesson plans and unit plans?