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YouMedia: A new vision for learning

On 09/27/2010, in 21st century, education reform, engagement / engaging students, innovation, teaching & learning, vision/possibilities, by Daniel Christian
YouMedia: A new vision for learning — from dmlcentral.net by Akili Lee
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YouMedia: A New Vision for Learning Blog Image

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In July 2009, YouMedia launched as an ambitious attempt to re-imagine the library as a more relevant learning resource for today’s teens. Understanding that the landscape has changed how teens learn, socialize and self-identify, how do we remix the public library experience so it can truly engage teens in a way that supports its core mission? A partnership between the Chicago Public Library and the Digital Youth Network, YouMedia took on this task through the creation of a unique 21st century physical learning space and an innovative online space to connect learners 24/7. The 5,500-square-foot space is open seven days a week to any Chicago teen, where they have access to more than 100 laptops and desktop machines, professional grade cameras and software, and a full music studio all at no cost.

From the “About Us” page at YouMedia:

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YOUmedia is an innovative, 21st century teen learning space housed at the Chicago Public Library’s downtown Harold Washington Library Center. YOUmedia was created to connect young adults, books, media, mentors, and institutions throughout the city of Chicago in one dynamic space designed to inspire collaboration and creativity.

High school age teens engaging with YOUmedia can access thousands of books, over 100 laptop and desktop computers, and a variety of media creation tools and software, all of which allow them to stretch their imaginations and their digital media skills. By working both in teams and individually, teens have an opportunity to engage in projects that promote critical thinking, creativity, and skill-building.

More here…

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Education from cradle to college curbs poverty, produces Gates scholars

On 09/27/2010, in education reform, K-12 related, sociology, student-related, by Daniel Christian

Education from cradle to college curbs poverty, produces Gates scholars — from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution by D. Aileen Dodd

But Johnson came out of it, in large part because of the “cradle to college pipeline” at Charles Drew Charter School — an academic haven where student test scores have zoomed 200 percent in 10 years and circumstance is no predictor of failure.

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Is the wait for ‘Superman’ over?

On 09/27/2010, in dangers of the status quo, education reform, game-changing environment, K-12 related, by Daniel Christian

Is the wait for ‘Superman’ over? — from HuffingtonPost.com by Jasmine Boussem

This moving and instructive documentary follows the lives of five children in their demanding search for a better education. Though each story is unique, every kid shares an anxious desire to be accepted by a high-performing charter school, in order to avoid the trap of low-performing schools known as “drop out factories.” The odds they face are daunting. The number of applications to charter schools often far outweigh available openings, so in an ironic attempt to be fair, these schools resort to a lottery system to decide who gets in and who doesn’t, leaving those that lose out to an education more likely to fail them than not.

The bitter reality of the lottery scene makes it one of the most powerful in the movie. While the numbers are drawn, the kids and their parents look on, their faces a complex blend of hope, fear and trepidation. However young the children, it is clear that they are fully aware that their future could hinge on whether or not they win the lottery.

The idea that the quality of a child’s education should depend on geography or luck is difficult to swallow. Clearly, something’s rotten in the state of public education. While the film does not pretend to have all the answers, it does suggest some of the factors that are responsible for stifling much needed innovation and reform, as well as offering some possible solutions.

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The Learning Registry

On 09/14/2010, in education, K-12 related, learning ecosystem, library / librarians, online media, open courseware and systems, by Daniel Christian
Who We Are
The Learning Registry project is an informal collaboration among several [U.S.] federal agencies that share the same goal: making federal learning resources and primary source materials easier to find, access and integrate into educational environments.

Key members of the collaboration are:

In addition we have been working with:

While we focus on the availability of federal resources, our approach and goals are shared with others worldwide.  We are talking with and working to leveraging the activities of many others, including:

Thus we hope our results can enable a broad ecosystem of discoverable and accessible learning content and help to build an international community with a shared vision.

Addendum from 9/20/10:

It was only a few weeks ago that we posted about Steve Midgley speaking at the Government 2.0 Summit in Washington, DC.  In this five minute video, Steve explains at a conceptual level what the Learning Registry will enable: discovery of learning resources through a common set of APIs. You can download his slides here: The Learning Registry – How to Find and Use More Resources for Learning Presentation


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9-8-10 Presentation by Karen Cator (U.S. Dept. of Education)

On 09/13/2010, in assessment, digital learning, education, education reform, education technology, K-12 related, mobile learning, social learning / networks, by Daniel Christian

Learning Powered by Technology -- Karen Cator, U.S. Dept. of Education

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Technology integration for elementary schools

On 09/09/2010, in 21st century, A/V -- audio/visual, digital learning, education technology, engagement / engaging students, K-12 related, smart classrooms, teachers, by Daniel Christian

Technology integration for elementary schools — from Edutopia.org by Grace Rubenstein
High-tech teaching tips for little tykes.

The digital-technology revolution was slow to infiltrate the ranks of America’s public high schools and slower still to trickle down to the ranks of our elementary institutions. But the good news is that high-tech teaching is finally providing a potent shot in the arm to the elementary learning process. Exhibit A is Forest Lake Elementary School, in Columbia, South Carolina. Its classrooms hum with energy as the young students tap out blog posts, operate interactive whiteboards, and take part in other tech-enabled lessons.

Here are tips from Paulette Williams, technology-integration specialist and veteran teacher, on how to make the most of digital tools in elementary schools.

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Tips for new teachers — from Free Technology for Teachers

On 09/08/2010, in K-12 related, teachers, teaching & learning, by Daniel Christian

131 tips for new teachers

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21st Century Skills: Rethinking How Students Learn

On 09/08/2010, in 21st century, education technology, K-12 related, pedagogy, by Daniel Christian

VoiceThread:

Rethinking How Students Learn - a Voicethread from June 2010

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21st Century Skills Rethinking How Students Learn

The book’s table of contents

Foreword: 21st Century Skills: Why They Matter, What They Are, and How We Get There (Ken Kay)
Introduction (James Bellanca and Ron Brandt)
Chapter 1: Five Minds for the Future (Howard Gardner)
Chapter 2: New Policies for 21st Century Demands (Linda Darling-Hammond, Interviewed by James Bellanca)
Chapter 3: Comparing Frameworks for 21st Century Skills (Chris Dede)
Chapter 4: The Role of Professional Learning Communities in Advancing 21st Century Skills (Richard DuFour and Rebecca DuFour)
Chapter 5: The Singapore Vision: Teach Less, Learn More (Robin Fogarty and Brian M. Pete)
Chapter 6: Designing New Learning Environments to Support 21st Century Skills (Bob Pearlman)
Chapter 7: An Implementation Framework to Support 21st Century Skills (Jay McTighe and Elliott Seif)
Chapter 8: Problem-Based Learning: The Foundation for 21st Century Skills (John Barell)
Chapter 9: Cooperative Learning and Conflict Resolution: Essential 21st Century Skills (David W. Johnson and Roger T. Johnson)
Chapter 10: Preparing Students for Mastery of 21st Century Skills (Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey)
Chapter 11: Innovation Through Technology (Cheryl Lemke)
Chapter 12: Technology Rich, Information Poor (Alan November)
Chapter 13: Navigating Social Networks as Learning Tools (Will Richardson)
Chapter 14: A Framework for Assessing 21st Century Skills (Douglas Reeves)
Afterword: Leadership, Change, and Beyond the 21st Century Skills Agenda (Andy Hargreaves)

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Back to school: Podcasts & apps for learning – Plus, what’s in your backpack?

On 09/08/2010, in education technology, engagement / engaging students, K-12 related, multimedia, podcasting, teaching & learning, by Daniel Christian

Back to school: Podcasts & apps for learning – Plus, what’s in your backpack? — from spotlight.macfound.org

There’s no more pretending about ever-lasting summer, but there are plenty of inspiring tools and technologies that make returning to the classroom easier for teachers and students alike.

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Photo by Wesley Fryer

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Writing at Mashable, Alexander Holtz, a multimedia journalist who teaches digital media at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, shares a sampling of “some of the exceptional podcasts that both teach and entertain.”

Example/excerpt:

The Math Dude

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West Michigan schools catch up to ‘digital kids’ with new technology

On 09/07/2010, in dangers of the status quo, education, education technology, K-12 related, Michigan, smart classrooms, by Daniel Christian

West Michigan schools catch up to ‘digital kids’ with new technology— from mlive.com by Kym Reinstadler |  The Grand Rapids Press

Related articles:

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    Analysis notes virtual ed. priorities in RTT winners

    On 09/07/2010, in K-12 related, online learning, by Daniel Christian

    Analysis notes virtual ed. priorities in RTT winners — from edweek.org by Ian Quillen

    While public education experts have for weeks debated which priorities weighed most heavily in the second round of the federal Race to the Top grant competition applications, a review by an online education organization shows most of the 10 winning states submitted strong online learning proposals.

    Susan D. Patrick, president of the Vienna, Va.-based International Association for K-12 Online Learning, or iNACOL, said a wiki document released by the organization highlighting the virtual learning components in all 19 finalists’ applications shows the winning states were ready to use RTT funds to offer more online opportunities and make needed state policy revisions.

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    Reimagining education and learning in America

    On 08/31/2010, in education reform, K-12 related, vision/possibilities, web-based collaboration, by Daniel Christian

    Reimagining education and learning in America — from spotlight.macfound.org
    The MacArthur Foundation’s director of education says we don’t have to wait to create a new vision of learning for America’s schools. The time is now.

    “The case for rethinking and reimagining learning in America for 21st century schoolchildren is as compelling as it gets,” writes Connie Yowell, MacArthur Foundation’s director of education, at The Huffington Post.

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    Yowell identifies four ways kids learn that sets them apart from pre-digital era students:

    1. They can pursue interest-driven learning at a tantalizing pace and to fascinating degrees;
    2. They readily collaborate and learn from their peers, across geography and cultures;
    3. They are participating and producing in learning, skill-building, and knowledge-sharing, as opposed to just being receptacles for information;
    4. They can communicate directly with knowledge-giving institutions and individuals all over the world.
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    Report: PreK-12 Mobile learning hindered but growing

    On 08/30/2010, in education technology, K-12 related, mobile learning, by Daniel Christian

    Report: PreK-12 Mobile learning hindered but growing — from The Journal by David Nagel
    Overall growth in handheld learning technologies is forecast at 18.3 percent annually through 2014.

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    Susan Patrick: Why online learning is a smart solution

    On 08/30/2010, in education technology, K-12 related, leadership, online learning, strategy, by Daniel Christian

    Susan Patrick: Why online learning is a smart solution

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    Ten tips for personalized learning via technology (K-12)

    On 08/30/2010, in education technology, personalized/customized learning, by Daniel Christian

    Ten tips for personalized learning via technology — from Edutopia.org by Grace Rubenstein
    To challenge and support each child at his or her own level, the educators of Forest Lake Elementary deploy a powerful array of digital-technology tools. Discover what your school can learn.

    From DSC:
    Their first tip got my attention and I agree wholeheartedly; the following graphic relays my viewpoint/hope here:

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