I went into my local library over the weekend and I was disappointed that they had got it wrong. They had the self service check out where you could scan your book and swipe your card, but they still had it wrong. They had a nice performance area with several levels of seats, but there [...]
I have long valued and used a constructivist approach to teaching and learning. Tasks of short or long duration where the emphasis is on constructing the knowledge, process, product or understanding is core. Students develop ownership of the concepts, ideas, product or knowledge. Learning is practical, hands on, multi-sensory, collaborative experience. There must be engagement [...]
This is an interesting Infographic looking at Games and education. I found the post here - http://www.knewton.com/gamification-education/ I think we are going to see the use of games in a learning context increase. If we consider the importance of feedback in learning,the level of engagement that games provide the users, the opportunities for genuine learning that [...]
Thursday, I was down in sunny Nelson for a one day leadership conference with the link learning cluster, working with Charles and Allanah and the principals and lead teachers of the 20+ primary schools that make up this ICTPD cluster. The keynote was Key competencies in the 21st Century. In work that we (21st Century [...]
I have been enjoying this summer break and having a little technology downtime. However the kids have been playing quite extensively on the iPads as the weather has not always been conducive to swimming and playing around outside. We have a wide selection of games on the iPad for the “kids” enjoyment and a couple [...]
Its been a while since I had the time to do a on the wire update, but I have taken a moment and I want to share a couple of interesting articles and resources with you. Seven things you should know about….. This is a brilliant series of resources produced by educause that examine an [...]
One of the things that I found interesting at the Horizon project meeting this week was the concept of “Challenging the Examination“. The concept or process was described to me in the context of a tertiary setting, where a person enters the university with significant experience and is able to sit or challenge the examination [...]
I was asked yesterday what I considered to be the four components of effective digital learning. (Why four? The person who asked me wanted four, there may be more but this is the parameters I was given.) The question intrigued me. The focus was a little bit to do with tools to use for learning, [...]
Periodically, people challenge me about the use of Edgar Dales learning cone. They cite that a number of papers have been produced showing that the figures Dale used are inaccurate and I have to agree with them. In fact when I present a session and I use this one of the first things I say [...]
This isn’t really a surprise, but a recent BBC article has reported on a study of teenagers that indicates their IQ can change – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15369851 The study indicates that IQ is still developing in the teenage years. The most telling part for me was this quote by a participant in the studywho imitially needed remedial [...]
