EdTech
Take the Bio-Bus to the Future to Learn About Recycled Fuels
Chemistry teacher Tray Sleeper at Merrimack High School in Merrimack, NH published "Bio-Bus to the Future," a SchoolTube video demonstrating how to create fuel from recycled fry grease in a parody that plays off of the hit 1980's film "Back to the Future."
After School: 5 Apps Your Students Are Using When You’re Not Looking
So, Dick (now he prefers to be called Rich) and Jane are upstairs in their bedrooms, supposedly doing their homework. But you suspect they are doing what they usually do, chatting in Facebook, browsing friends’ Tumblr posts, or looking for funny cat videos on Youtube. Think again.
Overheard In Arizona at the Ed Innovation Summit
This week Getting Smart attended the ASU SkySong Education Innovation Summit 12 in Scottsdale, AZ. Amidst keynotes, sessions, hallway discussions and water cooler chatter, we overheard quite a few ideas from top education leaders, entrepreneurs, funders, and industry professionals.
Hastings: Human History Defined by Technology
Hastings believes we will soon "rely on technology to teach the corpus of knowledge" (stuff with right and wrong answers). For younger students this will often include games. It will always include constant feedback. New learning technology "will free up teachers to teach humanity" including the ability to create and collaborate. “Our task is to inspire,” said Hastings.
Turn Your Life Challenges Into a Game With SuperBetter
Life is full of challenges - some daunting and others simply a step in the right direction. A team of gamers have band together to find a way to apply game design mechanics to life, empowering individuals to make improvements in their day-to-day obstacles and promoting a more positive and productive outlook on life. This is the new gamification of the classroom: life lessons.
Using the Principles of Innovation to Develop Technology
Awareness and understanding of current technology’s capabilities is the foundation of innovating that technology into the future. The bits and bytes are mere details; the important thing is an awareness of any given technology’s possibilities.
SmartTech Roundup: Tablets, Contests & Edtech Investments
Tab News & Views Intel launched, Studybook, a cheap tablet aimed at Chinese and Brazilian markets. Sounds like a great move since Chinese schools are replacing course books with tablets. Ematic’s eGlide Prism is a loaded 3D Android tab available for…
Q&A: Jeff Mao Shares the Inside Scoop on Maine’s 1:1 Program
Jeff Mao, the Learning Technology Policy Director of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) at the Maine Department of Education, joins us today to chat about the ways that Maine forged the path of 1:1 learning with the first and only statewide 1:1 laptop program. He tells us more about the challenges the state faced, the ways the program has benefits students and educators, and how the program is evolving to adapt to the needs of the future.
Staff Picks: ASU, Essay Scoring, EdTech Startups, & College Completion
Karen Picks “College Completion Q&A Sam Smith” Karen says, “I have always enjoyed Dr. Smith’s leadership in education. He is a true leader.” Sarah Picks ASU SkySong Ed Innovation Summit Sarah says, “We’re all excited to head to AZ next week for the Ed Innovation Summit!” Caroline Picks…
Automated Essay Scoring Demonstrated Effective in Big Trial
A direct comparison between human graders and software designed to score student essays achieved virtually identical levels of accuracy, with the software in some cases proving to be more reliable, a groundbreaking study has found. The study, which was underwritten by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and managed by Open Education Solutions will be released here on Monday, April 16th, at the annual conference of the National Council on Measurement in Education.