What is needed for an online university to become a world leader? (part 1)

Approximate Reading Time: 6 minutesI was asked this question yesterday. I may be paraphrasing, but this was the essence of it. It was a good question. I was among a group of peers, but I was also in a position where I didn’t want … Continue reading

What Teachers Want [episode 1]

Approximate Reading Time: < 1 minuteI’ve been struggling with my youngest son’s school of late. Again. Still. I’ve been struggling with schools, on and off since my oldest first started school – seventeen years ago in 1990. My kids are bright, creative, and independent. Schools … Continue reading

Chalk up another one for FaceBook

Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutesThanks to the mini-feed from FaceBook, I saw this Blog from Mark Guzdial. It is a MUST READ for anyone concerned about the enrollment malaise the computer science departments continue to face. http://www.amazon.com/gp/blog/post/PLNKUURHQRKBJYSU Here’s an excerpt: “Colin Potts, a professor … Continue reading

More heretic stuff.

Approximate Reading Time: < 1 minuteThis time from Stephen Pinker: http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/469317,CST-CONT-danger15.article In defense of dangerous ideas In every age, taboo questions raise our blood pressure and threaten moral panic. But we cannot be afraid to answer them. Be the first to like. Like Unlike … Continue reading

I am an Ed Tech heretic.

Approximate Reading Time: < 1 minuteThank you Freeman Dyson. http://www.edge.org/documents/archive/edge219.html#dysonf “In the modern world, science and society often interact in a perverse way. We live in a technological society, and technology causes political problems. The politicians and the public expect science to provide answers to … Continue reading

Take That, R.E.Clark….

Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutesAmong the points highlighted in Clark’s recent article trashing serious games are that “…the research shows no instructional advantages of games over the other instructional approaches (such as lectures)…” and that “only poorly designed studies find learning benefits from games“. … Continue reading

R.E.Clark is at it again….

Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutesClark, R. E. (2007). Learning from Serious Games? Arguments, Evidence, and Research Suggestions. EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, May-June 2007, 56-59. Richard E. Clark says, “My goal in this column is to offer a brief view of the current state of the evidence … Continue reading

Software Ethology, a new approach to design and analysis

Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutesI have recently been working on a new methodology for the analysis of commercial video games in order to uncover mechanisms used to support learning. I am calling this new approach Instructional Ethology. It combines structural analysis based on black … Continue reading