Too Young to Tweet?

After reading about kidswirlcom, a social networking site for kids, I am wondering if there is truly a way to know how this early use of social networking affects brain development. I am looking for REAL research. The age limit on other SN sites (facebook, myspace) were initially put in place due to safety/protection reasons. If that weren't an issue, is this idea of "infantilizing the brain" valid? I use social networking sites regularly. I guess the "fit" I threw last night over my children not eating the wonderful dinner I made is connected to my use of FB & twitter. Truthfully though, as an mom and educator, I'm interested in good research in this area.
http://tinyurl.com/ygjnazt

Girls Love Legos, Too

Legos, love them. Why is it that when I am in the "Lego" aisle, all I see are Legos marketed to boys? (Indiana Jones, Bionicles, Star Wars, etc.) I am a mom of 3 girls that would like to see LEGO reach out to this market. If not for the families that want more options than pirates and astronauts, why not do it for the image of the LEGO company. Girls need opportunities to play with mathematical and engineering concepts in a non-academic arena. Many girls need more opportunities to develop left-brain activities. I'm the one spending the money and I say "if you build it, I'll buy it."

An Old Friend is New Again

I love WebQuests. I've had a love for them from as early as the late 1990's, when I was first exposed to them. They were an engaging, high-level thinking, web-based activity that I used with my students. I have to admit, they were time consuming to make, but the good ones were well worth the investment. How can anything from the 90's be relevant to technology integration today? Well, because the focus isn't on the technology. I also used Hyperstudio back then. That is dated. But Hyperstudio (another love) was a technology tool, easily replaced with the next best multimedia tech tool. WebQuests, however, is a lesson structure that allows students to think critically, solve problems, collaborate and use internet resources wisely. Sounds like 21st century skills to me. Whatever the new term is. WebQuests are still relevant.

Who's to Blame?

Which comes first, the technology or the pedagogy? Good question. So often I see the tech tool coming before best practice. Many of the new teachers are tech-savvy, but lack the pedagogy and so we end up with these digital natives that don't know how to integrate the technology into their curriculum. Preservice education needs to address this. Desperately.

Video on how technology can transform learning....

Find more videos like this on Podstock

Caruso Webio

Graphic from wordle.net

I love this visual word picture of the content that is on Ms. Hansen's blog. It is exactly what's been happening in her classroom. A web 2.0 classroom.

A Whole New Mind

I am completely engaged in the book A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the World by Daniel Pink. Pink describes a shift in the knowledge-based economy to a more creative, empathic and non-linear conceptual age. It is an easy read and quite a breath of fresh air. Coming from the education world, it's about time we learn to acknowledge the creative side of learning/thinking. We need to embrace more "right-brain" skills in our schools and classrooms. (creating, producing, inventing, designing, composing, etc) Check it out.

Google Gadgets

At google, you can find many gadgets to add to your blog.

Using Smartboards in the Classroom

Engaging learners using the Smartboard way.

Great sites using the Smartboard.

Interactive Smartboard Resources.

Resources for Math and Science for Interactive Whiteboards

Number Lines at www.mathsonline.

Skip counting number lines. E-Manipulatives

Engineering Interactive

Peep and the Big World, great resources for Pre-K

ABCya! Interactive learning activities for elementary

National Geographic Creature Features.