EdTechTalk

EdTechWeekly #183
February 13, 2011

Hosts: Dave, Jen, John, and Jeff

This week's topics of conversation:

Dave's Link:

• https://pub.needlebase.com/actions/visualizer/V2Visualizer.do?domain=twi...

Jen's Links:

•  College / Life Preparation ... are HS students ready for what is next?
•  Some argue no ... http://www.achieve.org/files/AchieveClosingtheExpectationsGap2011.pdf ... and ... http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/nyregion/08regents.html?_r=3&pagewante... ...
•  Some refocus the discussion on "prepared for what?" ... http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news_events/features/2011/Pathways_to_Prosper... ...
•  ... and raise the concept of "multiple pathways" that some argue dampen expectations and limit options: http://dropoutnation.net/2011/02/02/harvard-graduate-school-education-po... ... and http://dropoutnation.net/2011/02/09/folks-damining-poor-minority-kids-ex...

Jeff's Links:

• http://webheadsinaction.org/
• http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/02/seven-free-platforms-for-teachi...

John's Link:

• Horizon Report ... http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/HR2011.pdf

Chat Log Below

Geek of the Week Links

Skype is trying something new, and we wanted to find out what it’s all about. Do you use Skype in your classroom—or have considered it? Then you might enjoy this episode of Teachers Teaching Teachers.

We were intrigued when we saw “Skype in the classroom: A free directory that connects teachers and helps them use Skype to enrich students’ educational experience.”

When we saw that George Mayo was involved, we asked him to come explain what the project is trying to do.  As he explained:

I was one of many teachers Skype talked with. They are basically trying to set up a network for teachers who are using, or want to use Skype in their classrooms. The site is still in Beta I believe. It’s a great idea. I can also talk about how we just recently used Skype for our documentary project in my middle school classroom. We were able to Skype in and record about 15 different experts in different topics for our 18 different documentaries we are currently making. It would be interesting to hear what other teachers are doing with Skype. 

We were also joined on this podcast by Brianna Reynaud. As the Senior PR Manager for Skype in the Americas, Ms. Reynaud works “with media, bloggers and other organizations to spread the word about Skype across the region.” To get a sense of Brianna, check out a few of her recent twitter posts:

• The “Granny Cloud” uses Skype to educate children in India thenextweb.com/apps/2011/01/1… via @thenextweb

• It was love at first Skype http://t.co/VS39KBM (via The Scottish Sun)

• Michigan soldier watches daughter’s birth over Internet using Skype http://t.co/81SYPV6 via @freep

And check this out: Elie Wiesel, David Axelrod, and special guests talk politics via Skype at the Conference of Nobel Laureates at 92Y.

Enjoy this conversation with old and new friends of Skype!

Click Read more to see a copy of the chat that was happening during the webcast.

In this show, Maria, Lisa and Sheila discussed homework. What is it? An extension of school, work done at home? And what is its purpose? Is it required by the school and/or expected by parents? Should every grade level have homework?

Your homework for March 13th's show - Write down 5 events in your life that lead you into the field of education.

Note - We will take a winter break for Feb. 27 and March 6, 2011.

Chat log below.

In this week’s show, Maria, Sheila, and Lisa spoke with Trung Le from CannonDesigns about how we can change the language of schools and the design to better help our students.  Taking ideas from The Third Teacher , we all were quite inspired.

Chat Log