As parents, we're now beginning to accept this, I think: "We live in a world that is re-creating itself one life and one digital connection at a time … a landscape for which there are no maps," as Krista Tippett said it in her introduction to a timely radio conversation with Seth Godin on American Public Media (not that we know quite what to do with that awareness yet (see this sidebar). … [Read more...] about EduCon 2.5 & helping kids learn in ‘a landscape with no maps’
learning
Using social media to grow student engagement
Though student engagement seems like a tough thing to measure, Gallup recently did, calling it the education version of "the fiscal cliff" so much in the news at the turn of the year. In a survey of 500,000 students in grades 5 through 12, Gallup Education found that, while nearly 80% of elementary students its surveyed "are engaged with school," that engagement falls to 40% of high school … [Read more...] about Using social media to grow student engagement
Young readers and e-readers: Study
Despite their love for digital technology, 80% of kids and teens who use ebooks "still read primarily print books for fun," a new Scholastic survey of readers aged 6-17 has found. But we are seeing a shift in the way kids read: "58% of 9-to-17-year-olds say they will always want to read books printed on paper, even though there are ebooks available," but that's down from 66% in 2010. Digital books … [Read more...] about Young readers and e-readers: Study
Mining Minecraft, Part 3: Safety & citizenship in games (do try this at home!)
Guest post by Marianne Malmstrom I’m thrilled by the competency and resourcefulness of my young students. But I also feel an urgency to inform parents and teachers that our children need us to be present and involved online. Just as in “real world" spaces, they require supervision and guidance in virtual spaces. They don’t know to ask for permission to make accounts, connect with friends, … [Read more...] about Mining Minecraft, Part 3: Safety & citizenship in games (do try this at home!)
Mining Minecraft, Part 2: Brilliance when students drive the learning
Guest post by Marianne Malmstrom At the Elisabeth Morrow School, we have been on a journey to help our students develop the essential skills of creativity, collaboration, communication, critical thinking and citizenship. We turned to virtual worlds and MOGs because these are the same skills many young gamers practice through immersive play. Initially, we used these spaces largely for curriculum … [Read more...] about Mining Minecraft, Part 2: Brilliance when students drive the learning