A Web of Connections: Why the Read/Write Web Changes Everything (Live Blog)

Will Richardson of Weblogg-ed is coming on to discuss A Web of Connections: Why the Read/Write Web Changes Everything. I have read his blog for at least 2 years and purchased his book for the technology department last year. It is the fundamental book for how to use the new tools. While he gets ready, I see he is using something called Touchgraph “TouchGraph’s powerful visualization solutions reveal relationships between people, organizations, and ideas”. His wiki is at Will’s Wiki which is where his handouts and information is located.

The audience is listening although most are like me in that we have our laptops open to write as we listen. How will teachers react to this behavior or environment in their classroom?

“You do not need physical space to connect any longer”. Myspace is blocked so he could not show how the political landscape is changing. The first primary will be held in Myspace the first week of January. If a school blocks Myspace what is the detriment to students?

Our role as educators is to assist our students in creating their own learning spaces. This will require us to be proficient in the educational use of these tools.

Fanfiction.net is a site where users can write different endings to stories. People write these because they connect with someone else who shares their passions. They may not connect like this in a classroom. Meg Cabot’s Myspace account has comments from adolescent girls who read her books and can connect with her.

Use your cell phone to get answers. Send a question to 46645 (GOOGL) and you will get a text message answer back. Check out the Search Commands list for tips to be an effective searcher.

MIT has their courses online for free at the OpenCourseware. Take a course for free.

Marco Torres was a teacher in LA who taught mostly hispanic students. Here is an example of how students could create content. It is a PSA and is only about 30 seconds. Check it out!

I just started a new wiki at wikispaces which is free for educators. 528tech wiki

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Laptop Institute – Ian Jukes (Live Blog)

I am in Memphis TN attending The Laptop Institute. Ian Jukes gave the opening keynote on the future technology and implications for education.

I am testing ecto for blogging right now to see how it works. So far I must say I am very impressed as it allows me to connect and publish to my blog without logging in to the blog. I am using the free trial at this point. I believe it costs $17.95.

Ian talked about the 4 things that are driving education as it relates to technology.

  • Moore’s Law – processor speed doubles every 6 months while costs decrease
  • Photonics – a glut of bandwidth will make the Internet available everywhere
  • The Internet – the “series of tubes” will be the creation and container of all information
  • InfoWhelm – how the information available will be overwhelming

For more information, see Jeff Whipple’s blog post.

Link and Books
Center for Media Literacy

“The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology” (Ray Kurzweil) Must read

“Information Anxiety 2” (Richard Saul Wurman, David Sume, Loring Leifer)

“The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference” (Malcolm Gladwell)

“Teaching for Tomorrow: Teaching Content and Problem-Solving Skills” (Ted McCain) Must read according to Ian who coauthored it.

“Playing the Future: What We Can Learn from Digital Kids” (Douglas Rushkoff) Good read

“Mind Wide Open: Your Brain and the Neuroscience of Everyday Life” (Steven Johnson)
“Everything Bad Is Good for You: How Today’s Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter” (Steven Johnson)
“Secrets of the Teenage Brain: Research-Based Strategies for Reaching & Teaching Today’s Adolescents” (Sheryl G. Feinstein)
“The New Brain: How the Modern Age Is Rewiring Your Mind” (Richard Restak) Must read
“What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy” (James Paul Gee)

“Joystick Nation: How Videogames Ate Our Quarters, Won Our Hearts, and Rewired Our Minds” (J. C. Herz)

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