Educational Technology

An overview of mobile learning games that argues for the educational advantages of handheld games over their big-screen counterparts. New technology has brought with it new tools for learning, and research has shown that the educational potential of video games resonates with scholars, teachers, and students alike. In Augmented Learning, Eric Klopfer describes the largely untapped potential of mobile learning games--games played on such handheld devices as cell phones, Game Boys, and Sony PSPs--to make a substantial impact on learning. Examining mobile games from both educational and gaming perspectives, Klopfer argues that the strengths of the mobile platform--its portability, context sensitivity, connectivity, and ubiquity--make it ideal for learning games in elementary, secondary, university, and lifelong education. Klopfer begins by exploring the past and present of education, educational technology, "edutainment," and mobile games, and then offers a series of case studies of mobile educational games that have been developed and implemented in recent years. These games--either participatory (which require interaction with other players) or augmented reality (which augment the real world with virtual information)--can be produced at lower cost than PC or full-size console games. They use social dynamics and real-world context to enhance game play, they can be integrated into the natural flow of instruction more easily than their big-screen counterparts, and they can create compelling educational and engaging environments for learners. They are especially well-suited for helping learners at every level develop twenty-first century skills--including the ability to tackle complex problems and acquire information in "just-in-time" fashion. All of this, Klopfer argues, puts mobile learning games in a unique and powerful position within educational technology.

Design for Learning in Virtual Worlds, the first book focused specifically on how to design virtual worlds for educational purposes, explores: * the history and evolution of virtual worlds * the theories behind the use of virtual worlds for learning * the design of curricula in virtual worlds * design guidelines for elements experienced in virtual worlds that support learning * design guidelines for learning quests and activities in virtual worlds. The authors also examine the theories and associated design principles used to create embedded assessments in virtual worlds. Finally, a framework and methodology is provided to assist professionals in evaluating "off-the-shelf" virtual worlds for use in educational and training settings. Design for Learning in Virtual Worlds will be invaluable both as a professional resource and as a textbook for courses within Educational Technology, Learning Sciences, and Library Media programs that focus on gaming or online learning environments.

Distrusting Educational Technology critically explores the optimistic consensus that has arisen around the use of digital technology in education. Drawing on a variety of theoretical and empirical perspectives, this book shows how apparently neutral forms of educational technology have actually served to align educational provision and practices with neo-liberal values, thereby eroding the nature of education as a public good and moving it instead toward the individualistic tendencies of twenty-first century capitalism. Following a wide-ranging interrogation of the ideological dimensions of educational technology, this book examines in detail specific types of digital technology in use in education today, including virtual education, 'open' courses, digital games, and social media. It then concludes with specific recommendations for fairer forms of educational technology. An ideal read for anyone interested in the fast-changing nature of contemporary education, Distrusting Educational Technology comprises an ambitious and much-needed critique.

This book looks at some of the underlying theories of educational technology (means), and ways in which this technology is guided in practice (ends). The authors are intent on producing ends that prepare students to undertake new analyses and evaluations that can result in new possibilities for democratic action. Emphasis is on their understanding of and position within educational technology - as opposed to using or applying educational technology. The work is not written from the point of view that their embeddedness within educational technology has a utilitarian end in mind, but rather that their situatedness within educational technology (a practice in itself) leaves open possibilities for new ways of understanding democratic education. This book is organised into six interrelated themes that work towards the cultivation of educational technology as a human practice which guides pedagogic encounters on the basis of taking risks in relation to which the unexpected, unimaginable is always possible.

In the call for manuscripts for this special issue of IJILT on equity in digital teaching and learning, we wrote that we were looking for "critical scholarship that pushes back on platitudes and widely-accepted myths about educational technology to address the complexities of reducing educational inequities." The five articles presented in this special issue contribute, as we had hoped, to exploring foundational challenges and emerging possibilities of equity for all learners, particularly as these challenges and possibilities intersect with technologies. Each piece contributes to the essential effort toward understanding and enacting equity in a range of contexts, including K-12 classrooms, open education, social media, coding, and educational technology as a field of study.

The mall is so old schoolOCothese days kids are hanging out on YouTube, and depending on whom you ask, they're either forging the digital frontier or frittering away their childhoods in anti-intellectual solipsism. Kids on YouTube cuts through the hype, going behind the scenes to understand kids' everyday engagement with new media. Debunking the stereotype of the self-taught computer whiz, new media scholar and filmmaker Patricia G. Lange describes the collaborative social networks kids use to negotiate identity and develop digital literacy on the 'Tube. Her long-term ethnographic studies also cover peer-based and family-driven video-making dynamics, girl geeks, civic engagement, and representational ethics. This book makes key contributions to new media studies, communication, science and technology studies, digital anthropology, and informal education."

With their explosive sales and widespread availability, the past few years have definitively proven that e-books are here to stay. In this sequel to her best-selling book of the same title, expert Polanka dives even deeper into the world of digital distribution. Contributors from across the breadth of the e-book world offer their perspectives on what s happening now and what to expect in the coming months and years. Included in this invaluable resource are * Guidelines for performing traditional library processes such as cataloging, weeding, archiving, and managing e-book accessibility for patrons with special needs * Explorations of topics such as the e-book digital divide and open-access publishing * Case studies from an array of academic, public, and school libraries, offering firsthand accounts of what works, what doesn t, and why * Discussions of the emerging model of the electronic-only library and the rich possibilities of enhanced e-booksAll librarians will want to familiarize themselves with the wealth of advice in this volume on best practices for use and management of e-books.

The future of American STEM education is here...in every state, there are thousands students that would benefit from science education, if only they had the resources, support systems and psychological ownership. There are brilliant young minds that could be called on to solve a myriad of world problems, earning money and respect in the process. But these students don't see science as a viable option for a life. Or they do but there are no textbooks in the classroom, or the teacher is the fifth one this semester...and he is on the verge of leaving too._x000D_ _x000D_ If STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers are the future driving force of the American economy; and if only an anointed few American students choose STEM as a career path, where will that leave us as a nation as we strive to compete on the global stage? Will America maintain its position as leader of the free world? Can a country that shuns the word "elite" ever maintain its elite status? Everything we value depends on this; our national security, reputation, and quality of life all depend on our ability to meet the needs of future generations of American workers as they compete for jobs. Jobs that will require problem solving skills, innovation, creativity, scientific literacy, and mathematical knowledge. Jobs that will require Americans who are tops in their fields with expertise, intellectual curiosity, ambition and vision. This book seeks to address these problems, as well as providing an historical backdrop for the discussion of STEM in American schools, race and gender issues, the effects of the standards movement on STEM, and what good teaching looks like in urban public schools. The future is here. Will we rise to the occasion?

Teaching for Understanding with Technology shows how teachers can maximize the potential of new technologies to advance student learning and achievement.  It uses the popular Teaching for Understanding framework  that guides learners to think, analyze, solve problems, and make meaning of what they've learned. The book offers advice on tapping into a rich array of new technologies such as web information, online curricular information, and professional networks to research teaching topics, set learning goals, create innovative lesson plans, assess student understanding, and develop communities of learners.  

Why are the fundamentals of education apparently so little changed in our era of digital technology? Is their obstinate persistence evidence of resilience or obsolescence? Such questions can best be answered not by imagining an uncertain high-tech future, but by examining a well-documented past--a history of instruction and media that extends from Gilgamesh to Google. Norm Friesen looks to the combination and reconfiguration of oral, textual, and more recent media forms to understand the longevity of so many educational arrangements and practices. Friesen examines the interrelationship of reading, writing, and pedagogy in the case of the lecture and the textbook--from their premodern to their postmodern incarnations. Over hundreds of years, these two forms have integrated textual, oral, and (more recently) digital media and connected them with changing pedagogical and cultural priorities. The Textbook and the Lecture opens new possibilities for understanding not only mediated pedagogical practices and their reform but also gradual changes in our conceptions of the knowing subject and of knowledge itself. Drawing on wide-ranging scholarship in fields as diverse as media ecology and German-language media studies, Foucauldian historiography, and even archaeological research, The Textbook and the Lecture is a fascinating investigation of educational media.

Artist and educator Tim Needles brings a fresh approach to STEAM topics, focusing on creativity, innovation and collaboration. There are numerous books on STEAM, but most are either arts and crafts project books designed for children or high-level books that can be weighty and inaccessible for new teachers. This accessible and engaging book offers creative ideas for blending arts and STEM learning (STEAM). It covers the fundamentals of STEAM, with project ideas and best practices, while providing insight from educators in the field. Technologies covered include: coding, robotics, 3D printing, virtual and augmented reality, photography, video, animation and digital drawing. In addition, the book addresses several different approaches to bringing STEAM learning to the next level, such as collaboration, global learning, project-based learning, makerspaces and social-emotional learning. The book: Features a breadth of technology and project possibilities, with project ideas organized by technology type. Explores long-standing concepts that are relevant regardless of specific advances in technology, providing the pedagogy behind the projects rather than technology for technology’s sake. Offers a highly visual approach, incorporating photographs and hand-drawn sketchnotes. Illustrates concepts through author examples as well as a series of interviews featuring STEAM professionals and expert teachers. Presents topics in a clear, concise manner that's useful for repeated reading and as a practical resource. With its friendly style and visual design, the book is a practical guide for new and emerging educators, and for educators looking for fun and creative ways to invigorate their STEAM curriculum. Audience: K-12 educators.

Technology is ubiquitous, and its potential to transform learning is immense. The first edition of Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works answered some vital questions about 21st century teaching and learning: What are the best ways to incorporate technology into the curriculum? What kinds of technology will best support particular learning tasks and objectives? How does a teacher ensure that technology use will enhance instruction rather than distract from it? This revised and updated second edition of that best-selling book provides fresh answers to these critical questions, taking into account the enormous technological advances that have occurred since the first edition was published, including the proliferation of social networks, mobile devices, and web-based multimedia tools. It also builds on the up-to-date research and instructional planning framework featured in the new edition of Classroom Instruction That Works, outlining the most appropriate technology applications and resources for all nine categories of effective instructional strategies: Setting objectives and providing feedback. Reinforcing effort and providing recognition. Cooperative learning. Cues, questions, and advance organizers. Nonlinguistic representations. Summarizing and note taking. Assigning homework and providing practice. Identifying similarities and differences. Generating and testing hypotheses. Each strategy-focused chapter features examples-across grade levels and subject areas, and drawn from real-life lesson plans and projects-of teachers integrating relevant technology in the classroom in ways that are engaging and inspiring to students. The authors also recommend dozens of word processing applications, spreadsheet generators, educational games, data collection tools, and online resources that can help make lessons more fun, more challenging, and-most of all-more effective.