Edtech for Edleaders: What Computers Do

Edtech for Edleaders: What Computers Do We are all amazed at the power of computers. They can do so much that humans cannot… they extend our cognitive abilities… they can be leveraged for so many purposes. Or at least that is the narrative that surrounds computers and digital devices, but computers really can do only Read More

Edtech for Edleaders: LMS Options

When school and technology leaders decide their students and teachers have “outgrown” the simple online classrooms provided for free by various providers, they have two decisions to make, and each is a choice between two choices. The first choice is “Which platform shall we install?” Of course, there are far more than two learning management Read More

Multitasking

Rereading The Teenage Brain and I found this image which struck me as I had minutes earlier finished a conversation in which students debated the degree to which they can multi-task. I am gal to hear some students beginning to realize that they cannot perform as well when they are distracted by phone, friends, or Read More

Edtech for Edleaders: Learning Management Systems Defined

Today’s classroom is (or should be) a supplemented by web-based resources. Information and interaction (including feedback from teachers) can be facilitated through web sites and services. These are available form many sources, including vendors (who charge fees or use advertising to support freemium versions) and open source sources. Collectively, many apply the label “web 2.0” Read More

Edtech for Edleaders: Wireless Networks (wifi)

The term “wireless” can be applied to two types of IT networks that are commonly accessed by students and teachers. Individuals who carry smartphones and some tablet computers into school buildings connect those devices to the network of cellular phone towers. Those connections depend on the owner having an active account with a provider and Read More

Papert’s Three Phases of Educational Technology

In 1994, Seymour Papert, the mathematician from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who was a pioneer in using computer programming to teach mathematics to young children, suggested that the history of computers in schools could be deconstructed into three phases. First, there was a brief time when innovative educators had computers in their classrooms and Read More

Edtech for Edleaders: Choose Two

68: #edtech for Educational Leaders: Choose Two IT professionals confirm leaders, including educational leaders, want systems that are: Inexpensive; Designed and installed quickly; Of high quality. When faced with those three design needs, the IT professional usually responds with “choose two.” While this is often done in an attempt to introduce humor into the conversation, Read More

Edtech for Edleaders: IP Addresses

73: Edtech for Education Leaders: IP Addresses I continue to have conversations with school leaders who lack basic understanding of the technology they (accurately) claim is such a vital part of their schools. While I am encouraged that we have professionals who backgrounds in education running schools rather than professionals with backgrounds in IT running Read More

Diversifying the Fleet of School Computing Devices

74: Diversifying the Fleet of School Computing Devices School and technology leaders have interesting choices when purchasing devices for students and teachers that they did not have even a few years ago. Whereas they once purchased desktop or laptop computers, they can now choose from:  Internet-only notebooks (i.e. Chromebooks)—These are inexpensive devices that are easy Read More

Hypothes.is

I have become numb to the messages, tweets, blog posts, and other social media summarizing “the top x tools to do y with technology.” The x is a number that is way too large… if you are pro-porting to be an expert by going public with your recommendation, then tell me *the best* tool in Read More