Avatars for Education

Avatars for education are a 'bleeding edge' technology that is gaining attention. Avatars are no longer just for gaming. There are researchers at Vanderbilt University, Stanford University , and the University of Washington who are working to produce intelligent agents that are capable of teaching and/or learning. I stumbled upon this field when choosing a topic for an Innovations in Education course at the doctorate level. Though research is limited, pedagogical avatars and intelligent agents are sure to become more mainstream in the near future as humans look to computers as a source of artificial intelligence.

The Mis-Integration of Technology in Education

Educators are facing an upcoming dilemma and may not realize it as of yet. They must decide whether there will be continued focus and reliance on state tests, standardized tests, and other instruments meant to rank students in comparative groups and sub-groups. We don't really need technology to accomplish this task since this is the model of the past. Students don't need a computer or web 2.00 tools to prepare for this educational model since there is no point of collaborating, cooperating, or creating artifacts. Students will merely need to recall information and synthesize mental constructs to make a choice and bubble in the correct answer.

Many schools and districts are choosing to serve two masters. They want students to prepare for tomorrow by using technology in the classroom to collaborate and create, solve real-world problems, and use digital media to inform and inspire others. Schools then agonize over student performance on standardized tests, regardless of how well prepared they are for the 21st Century. Educators want students to become adept at learning while using blogs, wikis, mashups, and other digital mediums. Educators want students to create, produce, publish, and reflect. Educators want students to become lifelong learners and face the challenges of the brave new (digital) world with responsibility and integrity. Students engage in classroom activities that promote the development of these skills, enjoy learning, and reflect metacognitively. They are then handed a pencil and paper exam to test what they learned about a particular subject following the activity and the air is sucked out of the room and the learning/academic progress is minimized by this archaic, culminating educational assessment practice.

It's time to take a closer look at 21st Century assessment options. Maybe it is time to rethink whether the 21st Century needs to be measured by a 20th Century ruler. How will the focus on data help students and teachers become better users of technology in the clssroom? It proably won't. It will just keep one foot in yesterday and the other in tomorrow without realizing the benefits of technology in education today.

Say 'No' to Health Care Reform?

The Administration believes that comprehensive health reform should:

•Reduce long-term growth of health care costs for businesses and government
•Protect families from bankruptcy or debt because of health care costs
•Guarantee choice of doctors and health plans
•Invest in prevention and wellness
•Improve patient safety and quality of care
•Assure affordable, quality health coverage for all Americans
•Maintain coverage when you change or lose your job
•End barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions
(Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/health_care/)

Let' imagine for a moment that health care reform does not pass. Let's imagine that the politicians and the country remain divided on this issue. Let's imagine that some men, women, and children have health care coverage and some do not. Next, let's imagine an outbreak of Swine Flu, Bird Flu, or any other potentially pandemic strain of influenza.

For many people, this may be quite acceptable since it will more than likely affect the poor, the disenfranchised, and the forgotten people of the country. Let's imagine that they are affected (and infected first) by the epidemic and they get sick and begin to die en masse. Since disease is no respector of affluency, let's imagine that the influenza begins to find its way into the homes and bodies of those who have insurance. The insurance dollar is there to treat the covered member but the influenza has had enough time to mutate into a super-germ since it affected millions of other people first. The insurance covers treatment and medication but it is too late. Research & development of medications for these super-germs is not occuring fast enough. The affluent, insured member dies.

Think about it. Can we really afford to say 'no' to health care reform?

A good use of technology!

Since all of the singers are actually the same person, ths is representative of the power of technology and creativity. The singer's friend mixed the audio and video. What do you think?

Societal TXT Addiction?

Txt Test & Our Youth

After this research, do you think that technology is creating addictive personalities among our nation's youth? Is it a problem? What should we do to promote F2F interactions among youth?

Texting Habits Among Adults
Are adults to blame for the texting behavior of teens? What limitations and guidelines on texting should adults follow in everyday life?

Right Wing Politics and Technology

It is seldom that I post about how politics affects technology. I like to believe that the two are separate entities. I was, however, impressed with how President Obama included Technology as an issue in his Blueprint for Change when he was campaigning for president. Obama fought to keep his iPod, uses web 2.0 tools to keep the office as transparent as possible, and has an overall healthy outlook on technology's risks and benefits. President Obama has assembled a cabinet that is possibly one of the smartest in recent years.

Why, then, is the Republican Right Wing angry rather than hopeful? I will tell you why--CHANGE! I recently listened to a Rush Limbaugh broadcast that chided President Obama for looking for an alternative energy supply in chicken poop ( yes, that's right!). Scientisits believe that the amount of hydrogen that can be harnessed may help ease this country's dependence on oil. As farfetched as it may sound, it has a sound scientific base. That's the problem for right-wingers who have had their money invested in the foreign oil market for years. Their predictable 'cash cow' may be dying. Bush vetoed every type of research proposed that would lead to alternative fuel sources until he invested in the research himself before touting himself as the president who is seeking alternative measures for fuel to ease the burden on America. So, let me get this straight-- Bush is from an oil family with deep investments in the oil market, both here and abroad, and he is also investing in alternative fuel research so that he can also benefit from any gains in that market in the event that a new energy source is discovered that is financially lucrative. I get it now. It's a no lose situation for him. Why don't other Republicans follow the lead of their hero (Bush) and invest in the new market rather than try to squeeze the last drop of blood from the dying market? Is change that scary for the rich? Or are Limbaugh, Hannity, Combes, and other right wingers watching the playing field being leveled for others to gain a portion of the American pie (that has been so out of reach for so many) and getting scared?

Fear has its place, but get out of the way, Right Wingers! You had your reign for the last eight years and enjoyed limited prosperity. There's a new sheriff in town-- President Barack Obama. Allow the new thinkers with the new blood to have a chance! There's new money to be made! With Obama's vision, intelligence, and educated staff, Science and Technology have a chance to be used for good (and not evil) once again.

References:

Blueprint for Change: Technology. Available at http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/index_campaign.php .

Bush on Technology. Available at http://www.issues2000.org/2004/George_W__Bush_Technology.htm .

Alternative Fuel and Bush. Available at http://thepanelist.com/Hot_Topics/Alternative_Energy/_20070810510/ .

Bush and Stem Cell Research. Available at http://www.issues.org/23.1/hill.html .

Obama and Science. Available at http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/01/obamascience-1/ .

Obama on Science. Available at http://sefora.org/2008/02/16/obama-on-science/ .

Pres. Obama and Technology Progress. Available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/Technology/ .

NECC 2009

Since there was no time to blog from the conference (just too busy taking in information and Washington, D.C.), I had to wait until I returned home and could find time to write. This was my first time attending the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC 2009) and I am already looking forward to next year's conference! I walked away with Wetpaint wiki certification and now have a better idea how to use and improve my one-dimensional wikis on other sites. I also learned how to create online courses using Moodle. Though the workshop did not tell me about the free Moodle hosting sites that are available, I found quite a few by googling 'free Moodle hosting'. I also learned that wikis can be used for note-taking. Though the Moodle workshop had difficulties with its network connections ( the same IP address was being generated by all machines due to an imaging error), I managed to take a few notes using a wiki to guide me through my first online course setup. I must remember to add more notes to the wiki for a more comprehensive set of notes. I tweeted from the conference and also did a live streaming feed just to test it out. I am now 'following' Chris Dede ( Harvard River City Project) as a result of his response to my Ning from the conference. I also met a few people from other countries who I am following on Twitter. I now understand the value of social networks.

I have become such a techno-junkie since attending the NECC! I wake up early to add to my wiki. I am creating a website for a presentation that I will give to CPA teachers in a few weeks and am working on that! I wake up to post to my online class at Walden U ! I search the Net for cool information, websites, and artwork to make my wikis, blogs, and websites more 'sexy' and interesting for viewers. I am consumed with technology!!! I am spending more time with my technology than I am with friends and family! Though I haven't started tweeting from church, I have actually considered the benefits! ( Didn't I blog about this preoccupation with technology before?!!!)

Now I must find time for friends, family, and other responsibilities. Technology is an EVIL temptress!!!

My NECC Ning: http://necc2008.ning.com/profile/Derek