In transit and surrounded by a myriad of nationalities
Pilgrims to Mecca
Russians to Moscow
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Skating in the Desert – Thoughts from ICT Qatar / EContent
With just a few hours before I head out for my 15 hour journey westward, a few thoughts come to mind about my work here in Doha, Qatar
I’ve been part of an international think-tank helping ICT Qatar develop a strategy and report on how best to introduce, distribute and integrate digital content into K-12 education in Qatar, as well as other Gulf nations.
As is always the case, there’s a tension between how an such a project integrates with other efforts to improve teaching and learning in this rapidly industrializing and internationalizing society. The growth curve and paradigm here is extreme – I can see it and hear it even from the 7th floor of my hotel as I watch the endless construction of The Pearl – a man-made archipelago / residential development.
So the question becomes how an ICT (or ed tech) strategy both pushes, and is pushed by, wider changes in a national education system. We’ve learned a great deal about the contexts of my collaborators from Australia, Finland, Scotland and the UK. One consistent takeaway is the need to recognize and embrace the social value of teaching profession within an particular national context.
The challenge here, then, will be whether the route followed is one which locates an ICT/ed tech strategy within an educational reform movement, or whether it’s grafted onto the existing schools and systems.
Another way to consider this is to ponder the parable of the ice rink in the Villagio Mall, located near downtown Doha. A wonderful sight to see – indoor skating in the desert, but is it real or a mirage?
Posted in Notes from Conferences
Arrival in Doha
Google knows I’m here
Ancient and modern
Later, on our first day, a visit to the Museum of Islamic Arts followed by a visit to The Pearl, made me wonder how we juxtapose such radical divergent notions of ancient and modern/futuristic.
On the one hand we witness glorious 10th century tiles and artifacts, and then are whisked down The Corniche to visit the showroom for the yet-to-be-constructed Pearl.
How do we make sense of both?
Posted in Notes from Conferences
Heading East
I’m heading due east tomorrow, and then almost due south, flying first to London and then onto Doha, Qatar, where I will be participating in an international think-tank focusing on digital content for K-12 education.
Thrilled to be going, a bit harried, and wanting to make sure I don’t anything or any ideas behind!
Posted in New Roads
BLC July 17th, 2008
passport document scans – Fujitsu
stress killing learning… being in a space where your knowledge treads out onto thin ice
benchmark the audience – quick pic of toast preferences
how would you like to know coupled with what would you like to know… differentiation of information delivery systems
difference bingo
re-appropriation of platforms and delivery systems. Facebook homework
sensory matrix very cool
learning event generator
legal questions — first time mentioned
active interactions with the dominant media of our time
challenge/constraint/tools
media industry… what about public media??
making digital concrete – mixmashsetform
Posted in Notes from Conferences
Tagged Audacity, difference bingo, Differentiated Information, John Davitt
BLC, July 16th, 2008
November Learning Conference
Live, from the cozy confines of the Newton Marrriot, it’s quite an echo from NECC (17,000 wandering masses). So far so good.
So, we start with Promethean, demo of their handheld text input devices (via OllieBray.com – Active Expression) – cool way to see bar graph results of most popular results.
It’s a quick way to do Crowd-sourcing; springboard to conversations.
Followed by some Interesting comments about Commons use of UStreaming conference proceedings – ie bandwidth
Ewan McIntosh – Scotland
Its Not all Native Wit – from Creativity to Ingenuity
Main idea of debunking of digital nativism, a digital anti-nativist movement!? But point being there is no dividing line between who can use new technologies, and who is perceived to be able to…
EM inviting the group to follow along via Twitter: twitter.com blc08
Analogy of the “river of news” – navigating the river of information;
Take-aways:
- Tanya Byron – safe use and the power of transformative schools rather than transformative techology
- Clay Shirky – socially interesting technology tools, but need for familiarity; but how is the measure of familiarity altered by the need to swim in the info river, ie what is unfamiliar/familiar?
- Students Against Closures – Scotland’s reactions to school closures – slogan crowd sourcing; “barely motivated activism”
- micro-audiences within macro communities, ie the 20 something trusted members within 185 million – looking at the anatomies of social networks – Saturation learning proces
Showcase of divergent efforts in a convergent world: Johnny Lee – 5.5m views – head tracking
Quality and teachers – most predictive of quality education – McKenzie recent report;
Need to access February 2007 News Map – FIND THIS as well as the academic tracking video!!!!!!Atlas Learning / media
- flashmobs shared awareness. secret/group/publishing/performance/participation/watching spaces
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Mark Nieker – NAF Collaborations and Professional Development
Digital Arts Alliance – 8,000 kids a year
National Academy Foundation – high school academy programs, started by Sandy Weil – NAF focusing on a mentorship and internship models, small school initiatives, offering student career themed learning
Nieker discussed The LongTail and how it relates to PF’s work with NAF, that is providing ongoing pulse to initial PD, as the impact plays out in NAF academies over a period of time.
reference – Curtis Anderson – blockbuster with no tail…
Once the web connection was restored, MN focused on the collaborative model of PD with Pearson Foundation with NAF
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Practical Pegagogy: Web 2.0
Lauren Panton, Chatham University
pre-service teachers; technology integration, (and the room is PACKED)
Lauren provided a great overview of how to create professional development that is sustainable, practical, engaging, and viral
She provided a really practical overview of tools and pd tensions:
Tensions within district models
push<>pull
formal<>informal
personal <> group learning spaces
Some of Lauren’s favorite tools:
- Wordle – for badges among other things
- slideshare ( also slidecasting)
- diigo ( versus delicious) – groups, highlighting, and sharing ; slide function
- classroom 2.0
