ASSIGNMENT 8: News Card Week 8

Samsung enriches learning with Smart School technology

http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Samsung-enriches-learning-with-Smart-School-technology/-/1248928/1642548/-/eunyp0z/-/index.html

The Samsung smart school solution is an initiative started out in order to enhance personalized learning in the classroom through the use of digital technology. Gone are the days where children and teachers carry textbooks to school and participate in blackboard and chalk instruction like before. Learning is now through Samsung tablets with applications designed for each subject area. Children have access to activities, exercises and instructional materials to familiarize themselves. This project has been piloted in Nairobi with a group of 15 students who have access to state of the art classroom technology. Teachers can also store their lesson content on a platform known as Safaricom Cloud. Students and teachers from any part of the country then access this material online through the Safaricom Blackboard at a fee 

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ASSIGNMENT 7: News Card Week 7

5 Ways Technology Will Impact Higher Ed in 2013

http://www.forbes.com/sites/groupthink/2012/12/11/5-ways-technology-will-impact-higher-ed-in-2013/

The article briefly touches on the trends of technology in higher education in 2012 and the impacts from five different areas that could change the way we higher education is offered. The MOOC is a trend that has actually helped top tier universities to branch out and reach a wider audience, whereas pioneers like Phoenix University started closing some of its operations. The “flipping classroom” is going to become more innovative and classes would become much more hands on with a variety of ideas of how this type of classroom can work. Another aspect that is heavily speculated is the term “hybrid program”. This program is separated in to two different areas, one which they can access learning at their own pace but the other where they attend classes in person. The experience of learning will be challenged with innovative ideas and approaches that make them more suitable to all learners, therefore the race to discover new instructional models. Although, it is believed that with more access to a bigger group of students the cost of higher education may reduce to make it more accessible to more professional and students.

ASSIGNMENT 6: News Card Week 6

Reflections From Two Years of Khan Academy in the Classroom

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shantanu-sinha/khan-academy_b_1918342.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular,education-technology

Khan Academy started from humble beginnings of providing tutorial videos for students in specific areas of learning. Today they have partnered with several schools in order to enhance and enrich student learning experience. They base their reflections on aspects they believe are critical to the learning process. The model works because it is flexible enough to understand that every student is different and so is every classroom. The article also discusses the flipped classroom and how it brings about a more creative, engaged and interacting atmosphere of learning. It was believed that personalized learning tools would only be able to motivate the high achieving students, but that could not be further from the truth. Students were able to bring up their confidence and their understanding at their own pace and most importantly not fall behind on their curricula requirements. Finally, perhaps the most important reassurance is that teachers are now more valuable than they ever were. They finally get to spend time doing what they love best and become mentors to their students, an important element for student success.

ASSIGNMENT 5: News Card Week 5

News Card 5

South Korea Works to Stem Digital Addiction

http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2012/11/28/566709stecskoreadigitalddiction_ap.html

This article discusses how South Korea, a leader in digital technology, is able to foresee growing problems from rising internet and digital technology usage in the country. In a country where 98 percent of homes have access to broadband internet and smartphones, there are concerns which have to be addressed before it is too late. South Korea does provide support to online gaming addiction but an average elementary school child uses their smartphone for nearly 8 hours a day. The society is shifting towards a digital lifestyle but red flags are up everywhere. Teachers are concerned that if a child is not taught how to use technology positively the impact is dangerous. The children are unable to control their impulses because they have everything with them at the touch of their fingertips. South Korea's pride on being a technological leader will have to face and deal with this overwhelming response to how technology has affected their children.