Engaging pupils with technology

ICT is taught a lot in schools, but there is not enough ICT used to teach ---- Steve Beswick, director, education, Microsoft  

Microsoft is inspiring teachers, through the use of a forum, to find out new and interesting ways in which technology can be used within lessons.

“We are delivering against a vision – any time, anywhere learning for all," said Beswick. "This will be achieved through the use of technology. It is about enabling all children to have access to technology, not just the ones that can afford it. Children may not know they have a talent, until they have the chance to work with technology. This in turn will lead to more computer scientists in the future.”

“Through using the Xbox, children have linked technology into their literacy lessons. The Xbox is a gaming experience, where they use the Xbox controller to write a story which is programmed,” he added.

To connect school leaders around the world, we have created a global community on the Partners in Learning Network where school leaders with common interests can share their experiences and connect with one another. We encourage members of the global community to organize local school communities, visits to other Partners in Learning Schools, hold local workshops, and share best practices.

Information technology trends 2013: figuring out how to manage the personal media tablets, notebook computers and smartphones that people are sneaking into the workplace/school, brace yourself. The trend will accelerate in 2013.

The most commonly supported devices are smartphones, followed by tablets, the data shows. But we definitely are starting to see more widespread adoption of BYOD," said Dave Casey, CEO of Westron Communications Inc., a network integrator in Frisco, Texas. "It's been slower than expected, but it's coming."

The BYOD trend is having a related effect at the infrastructure level, often in the form of corporate wireless network investments. "Companies are struggling to keep up with the fact that so many devices are competing for a connection," Casey said.

Are these student-created math/slavery questions offensive?

New York City educators have learned the hard way that there are some things that just don’t mix -- like using slavery to teach math.

The principal of P.S. 59, a well-thought-of elementary school that draws slavery rom Midtown and the area around the United Nations, told the Daily News that she was “appalled” by the assignment and has ordered sensitivity training for all of the staff.

“One slave got whipped five times a day. How many times did he get whipped in a month (31 days)? Another slave got whipped nine times a day. How many times did he get whipped in a month? How many times did the two slaves get whipped together in one month?”

Two teachers at Public School No. 59, 250 E. 57th St., are facing disciplinary action after students were sent home with questions asking them to subtract dead slaves and multiply the number of times a day a slave is whipped.

Two Manhattan teachers are in hot water over an offensive homework lesson that used killing and whipping slaves to teach subtraction and multiplication.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/slave-math-questions-ps-59-fourth-graders-article-1.1270487#ixzz2LhlA4d18

What Digital and Social Media Teach Us About Innovation and the Future of Education

What Digital Social Media Teach Us About Innovation Future of Education from Dr Augustine Fou

Augustine Fou

School Districts Set Guidelines On Teachers' Social Networking

GUIDELINES FOR EMPLOYEE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS

Recent stories of teachers calling their students "future criminals," "germ bags," or saying they "hate their guts" over Facebook have grabbed media headlines. With a rising trend of teacher firings and suspensions due to inappropriate online behavior, school districts are now beginning to establish guidelines on what teachers can and can't do on social networking sites.