Looking for an AWESOME Instructional Technology Masters Program?

UNI Instructional Technology Masters Program from Leigh Zeitz

If you are looking for a 21st Century Instructional Technology Masters program, Look no further!!!

Review the slideshow above and see how our program provides opportunities to engage in 21st Century Learning, Instructional Design and Research.

For further information, visit our website at http://uni.edu/itech  
Learn about our 2-year Online Masters Program that begins in June, 2014 

Horton Hears a Tweet? ABSOLUTELY!!!

What a WONDERFUL title: Horton Hears a Tweet!!!  This is the title of an EduCause article by Joanna Dunlap and Patrick Lowenthal is a comprehensive and insightful article about how Twitter can fulfill the "Challenge of Student Engagement".   What I really like about this article is that they compare the process of using Twitter for communication with the process of using an LMS.  They talk about how clunky using the LMS for communication can be. It follows the process of:

 Log In>Access Shell>Locate Forum>Post Message>Wait for Response 

When compared to Twitter's "natural free-flowing, just-in-time" connection, this is a system for documenting communication rather than fostering it.

Dunlap and Lowenthal discuss the interactivity of using Twitter with both students and professionals. They talk about the positive results and benefits for using Twitter for back-channeling and on-going relevant discussions.  They even share events where students answered their own questions using Twitter as an entre to their PLN.  They posted questions about projects and received responses in 10 minutes.   The only thing that is missing is a discussion of the negatives of using Twitter - - - - I must admit that I can't think of any either, but I thought that they might have some ideas. =-)

This article is MUST-READ material for educators and students alike.  They even include a robust list of Additional Readings and Resources.

What do you think? Have you found Twitter to be as advantageous as they say?

Z

Related articles

• The art of tweeting--Jasmine's Tech Dos & Don'ts
• Tweet Tweet!
• How To Manage Twitter: Do It Your Way
• How I learned to stop worrying and tweet, Part 2
• The First Tweets from my Classroom.

Infants going Mobile

Are YOUR kids using technology?

Of course they are. My 2-year old grandson is continually grabbing my iPhone from me and then using it to identify animals, play songs, shake rattles, play drums, take photos and even make the occasional phone call.

While some educators argue that infants are too young to use these tools, the fact of the matter is that our kids are learning through using technology. A recent study by Common Sense Media found that 8% of children under 2 years old use mobile devices at least weekly. The numbers jump from there.  One of the reasons for this huge use is that in the past 2 years,  smartphone ownership has increased from 41% to 62%.  Tablet use has jumped from 8% to 40% in the past 2 years as well. Time spent on non-mobile computers has dropped sharply.

Read the rest of the facts on usage at the Buzzfeed article about this phenomenon, The Babies are Going Mobile.  Thanks for telling me about this posting, Zach Benton-Slocum.

Acknowledgement of these stats is not saying that technology should replace using crayons or playing on the playground or climbing trees. It is just that these mobile devices can expand their learning experiences.

What are your experiences in your students/children using mobile devices?

Z