stephen reck - technology&education

iPad Apps for Science Students

Tablets are certainly the current hot item in educational technology. Teachers are willing to forgo some functionality in exchange for portability and a smaller price tag. The leader in this emerging category is clearly the iPad. Apple has hit it out of the park with this device, selling it before consumers even realized they wanted such a tool.

One of the reasons for iPad's success is its extensive collection of applications. Here's a list of the 40 Most Awesome iPad Applications for Science Students. And remember, this is just the beginning of tablet computing.

Online Learning Here to Stay

Education Week echoes much of what we already know: online and blended learning options are here to stay. In fact, we will see a growth in popularity. This is because virtual models provide a variety of advantages including: flexible scheduling, on demand assessments, immediate feedback, and cost savings. As public schools continue to face declining financial aid, administrators and teachers need to develop creative pathways to advance student achievement. Read it all here.

Blended Learning's Surge

I recently came across a report from the Innosight Institute outlining the immense growth in popularity for blended learning models in K-12 environments. In 2000, 45,000 students participated in an online course. By 2009, that number has increased to over 3 million and it is projected that by 2019, half of all high school courses will be offered online. In my opinion, technology advancements and increasing costs are driving the online learning boom. Take a look at the report here.

Sharing to Improve Instruction

The National Staff Development Council posted an interesting piece on its blog on the importance of collaboration among educators. It uses the fashion industry as an example of how imitation, whether welcomed or not, drives innovation. "They understand that this openness to copy provides the fuel for rapid innovation and improvement," writes Rene Islas, "the fact that they are free to copy allows them to take a great base product and embellish it in a way that meets the needs and demands of a consumer."

Video Games as Learning Tools

Edutopia does it again as it provides this awesome clip. James Paul Gee talks about how the memorization of facts alone is no longer a sufficient education for students. Today's student must solve complex problems. Where can schools look for a model of instruction? Video Games.