One of the most remarkable things about the report of the Aspen Task Force on Learning & the Internet, I believe, is how in sync it is with students' own view of what needs to happen in US education. Clearly, if a constitutional convention on students' rights were held today, the various parties – students, educators, parents, policymakers – would have a good deal of common ground right out of … [Read more...] about A task force report & a student bill of rights
Toward student-centered learning: Delete fear, add agency
"School," said University of Maryland student and game designer Erik Martin in a TEDx talk last fall, "operates counter to the interests of children. In school, we're not really taught to overcome a challenge; we're taught to fear the prospect of failure…. How on earth can you innovate in a system that fears failure so much?... Our education method … doesn't create resilient, inspired … [Read more...] about Toward student-centered learning: Delete fear, add agency
For solving social problems: The social media jujitsu remix
The other day I blogged about the collective conscious that social media users could become – are becoming, actually. Then I wrote about how users themselves – and not just ethical venture capitalists – could demand that startups bake safety and other pro-social basics into their apps and other services and that anti-social policies in established services get fixed. Then I watched this … [Read more...] about For solving social problems: The social media jujitsu remix
Hmm. Secret to open anonymous ‘Secret Dens’
It's unusual to see a tech reporter anticipating Net safety problems with a new social app feature. So I was impressed with a post by TechCrunch.com's Sarah Perez about Secret's forthcoming addition of "Secret Dens" for anonymous sharing in specific locations (like schools, companies and other organizations). Launched early this year, Secret is an app for sharing thoughts, "secrets," etc. … [Read more...] about Hmm. Secret to open anonymous ‘Secret Dens’
Cybersecurity in social studies class
Cybersecurity is in the news more and more. It's a growing concern for law enforcement, and US companies are "increasing both the size and budget of their security teams," CNBC reports. "By the end of 2014, JPMorgan's annual cybersecurity budget will rise to $250 million from $200 million in 2012 … and the largest U.S. bank will have about 1,000 people focused on cybersecurity, compared with 600 … [Read more...] about Cybersecurity in social studies class