Heidi Bakk-Hansen's blog
Guy Prints Out Single Net Course, Decides Whole Thing is For the Birds
By Heidi Bakk-Hansen, OWL Institute (Blog Commentary)
4/7/06
I just found the following column, and couldn't reprint without a bit of commentary. Although it makes some sense to me--this whole throwing up the hands thing when it comes to new technology--that doesn't mean that someone should be putting out this kind of thinking without some acknowledgement, at least, of the narrowness of this sort of opinion, having been based on a single experience.
Here's the link to the article:
"The Internet Industry No Longer Exists": Negroponte
By Tang Yong, People's Daily
3/21/06
At the World Summit on the Information Society held in Tunis in November 2005, Nicholas Negroponte unveiled a $100 laptop computer designed for students in the developing world. The project is part of a broader program by One Laptop Per Child, a non-profit program started by Negroponte and other Media Lab faculty, to extend Internet access in developing countries. The computers lack many features found on a typical personal computer, such as a hard disk and software. Negroponte has left the MIT Media Lab in February 2006 to devote his time to the One Laptop Per Child project.
Blogs Taking a Seat In, Out of Classrooms
By David Sharos, Chicago Tribune
3/13/06
It wasn't that long ago that classroom instruction centered on teachers, desks, a chalkboard, and maybe a few crayons and markers.
Today, students work at wireless computer terminals, construct PowerPoint presentations, film and edit videos, and receive assignments through Blackboard course management software.
But if you want to interact with classmates in the early morning hours about a current topic, or get connected with an author thousands of miles away from your school, you log on and blog.
ARMM Students Learning More Via Text
By Nash B. Maulana, Inquirer Mindanao
3/14/06
For children in the war-torn areas of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), text messaging goes beyond just sending jokes and love notes.
It allows their teachers to bring better English, science and mathematics into their classrooms just by using a phone.
This thanks to the Text2teach technology brought in by the Education and Livelihood Skills Alliance (Elsa) of corporate social arms and humanitarian organizations.
Homework Helper For Use by Kids
By Annys Shin, Washington Post
3/13/06
Discovery Communications Inc. is launching a Web-based homework aid, the Silver Spring cable programmer's latest effort to diversify into the education business.
Cosmeo, a $9.95-a-month service that will be announced today, is aimed at students in kindergarten through 12th grade. With a Web site that resembles the screen of a handheld game device and features video clips and interactive games, it's the home version of an online video encyclopedia that Discovery already sells to schools.
Technology Rewrites Rules for Reading
By Christine Tatum, Denver Post
3/12/06
At least Brigitte Thompson is honest.
The 16-year-old junior at Denver School of the Arts is no fan of Brit lit. "Waaayyy too descriptive," she says.
Brigitte is weathering Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights," these days - and leaning on the Web for help. She reads summaries of the classic novel online, courtesy of SparkNotes, a division of book retail giant Barnes & Noble and archrival of time-honored CliffsNotes. For about $5, SparkNotes lets students download its distilled versions of literature, math and science onto their iPods so that they can read or listen to lessons on the run.
Online Courses at Western Kentucky Taking Off
By Associated Press, Kentucky.com
3/12/06
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Jennifer Wilcutt teaches during the day and pursues her master's degree in education whenever she can log on to the Internet.
Wilcutt, a Logan County resident, is part of Western Kentucky University's growing number of students who are pursuing degrees online.
"I can travel with my laptop and wireless modem, and log on from anywhere," Wilcutt said.
Overseas Learning at Home; BNL Students Participate in Live Video
By Carly Nation, Bedford Times-Mail (Indiana)
3/11/06
London instructor Mike Griffith discussed the holocaust with some Bedford North Lawrence High School students Friday, and he didn't even have to make a flight to the U.S.
Before holding up a book about Auschwitz, Griffith showed students some pictures of his hometown. He also sat in front of a skyline of London, so students could visualize from where he was speaking.
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