Dot Learnt

I’m back again for our Global EdTech Monthly Roundup! This month we take a look at global edtech news, the latest online free products that are enhancing education in emerging markets and the most recent ventures taking place across the globe. As always, comments, feedback and suggestions are always welcome!

News

The Arab Digital Expression Foundation Program (ADEF) is an organization that serves to provide a platform for digital and new media expression amongst Arab youth. Started in 2007, the ADEF offers several initiatives to engage both young professionals and young students in communication technologies in an effort to enhance “self exploration and creative expression.” The tools and resources offered by ADEF promote workforce readiness and innovation, and further help in redefining Arab youth identity with the web. The organization offers curriculum development, local workshops, Wiki development, and a two-week summer camp that will take place this year in Ismailiya, Egypt, July 10 – 25.

In an effort to give technically savvy students in India the opportunity to express their entrepreneurism, Intel is sponsoring the Intel India Embedded Challenge 2011. Last October, those interested were requested to submit a proposed technological design meant to provide a solution for a social cause. Throughout the course of the competition, contestants work to refine their prototype for the final contest, with the help of their Intel mentor. The grand prize includes funding for the implementation of the project, and a cash prize. Winners will be announced this August during a face-to-face presentation. Such a competition truly helps students reach their full potential.

Keep reading for more news on products and ventures …

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Undoubtedly, the presence of computers has reinvented schooling, but unfortunately, for many students living in emerging markets, the convenience of having access to a computer remains a dream. The One Laptop per Child Mission is a Miami-based non-profit organization that seeks to “provide each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power connected laptop,” called an XO. The idea began over six years ago in 2005 when the United Nations Development program announced they would help in delivering cost effective technologies to the worlds’ kids. (more…)

The following link includes a discussion with Yusuf Estes, a famous Imam and Muslim convert regarding whether Facebook is haram (forbidden) or halal (allowed) in Islam. In Islam, there are waajib, or compulsory actions and haram actions. The realm of technology falls in the middle. Estes makes the distinction between Islam as a religion and Islam as a social custom, and the lines between the two are often blurred.

In my last blog, I explored how technology can be used creatively in Yemeni ESL classrooms. Technology in Yemen must also be used in light of cultural sensitivity. Yemen is one of the most socially conservative countries in the Arab world and these customs play out in the classroom. As a female ESL teacher at AMIDEAST in Yemen, a particular male student never looked me in the eye or handed assignments to me. He preferred to place his homework on my desk as he was leaving class. Through his writing, I learned that he was uncomfortable with studying in a class with girls. Many of my students believed that classes should be same-sex and women should not go to college or work, especially after having children.

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Thinking about my time with Mr. Holder immediately brought back a flood of memories from secondary school—being a prosecution lawyer in Mrs. Yalen’s 8^th grade mock trial, playing the viola part of Carmina Burana under Ms. Holmes’ baton, traveling with my 11^th grade chemistry teacher Mrs. Cummings to NASA Stennis Space Center to present my Mars project to a panel of scientists. The more I think back on school, I can’t remember the hundreds of textbooks I read, or the tests and papers that I must have completed to get my degree. Instead, my unforgettable school experiences are all about my interactions with people and projects. I suspect if asked, you would say the same.

Fast forward to the “21^st Century”, where more and more education is going digital and  self-paced online modules replace teachers and digital testing as the norm. How can edtech companies and online schools create education products and experiences that are simply unforgettable?

To tackle this question, I thought it would be helpful to compile a list of websites that have caught my eye and explain why I like them and why they are so memorable. Perhaps along the way some lessons in making digital education unforgettable will emerge…

Intel Museum of Me

Imagine an online MoMA devoted entirely to you—a digital virtual archive of your best friends, memories, quotes and videos. As you walk from room to room, you can’t help but be engaged because the whole exhibit is about everything and everyone you love. Interested? Definitely! Rule #1—Make digital education personalized.

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Watch the full episode. See more THIRTEEN Kids.

At some point in our academic careers, we’ve all experienced hopeless frustration. “When am I ever going to use this?” or “this is a waste of time” become all too familiar phrases when certain topics come up that defy conventional thinking. Fractions? “What do you mean that you can’t add them if the denominator isn’t the same?” Algebra? “What in the world are letters doing in my math problem?” We’ve all been there! But, at some point we realized the importance of our studies, despite the intense moments of frustration.

In an attempt to make curricula more engaging and relevant to the here and now, Get the Math is a multimedia project catered towards middle and high school students that seeks to show how math, especially algebra, is crucial to a number of industries. Sponsored by The Moody Foundation, they create short interactive video clips, engaging students with ‘real-life’ math problems from the fashion, gaming and music industry. Modeled after typical reality TV shows, the mini episodes introduce students to a young professional and then go on to explain mathematical application.

Both teachers and students are encouraged to use this platform to engage students in math. Furthermore, students can explore additional mathematical concepts through interactive challenges.

What I find most important about this site is the universal application. All types of schools and organizations can use these videos to enrich students. By giving the students the chance to see the real-world application of a subject, students have more faith and confidence in their learning. For those outside the United States, check out their introduction video on their site, and for a more comprehensive library of short clips.

Keep Calm and Learn On,

Nora

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From board games to video games, the evolution of play has reinvented the way in which children entertain themselves. At the nexus of entertainment and academia, game based learning has emerged, transforming the educational landscape.

The 2011 Horizon Report is a briefing that explores the latest technologies likely to significantly impact global education. In this report, researchers provide an analysis of game-based learning. Since 2003, both the interest and the diversity of the games have flourished. These educational games fall under three categories: non-digital, digital non-collaborative, and digital collaborative, all of which act as a form of supplemental learning. Advocates of game-based learning “point to its role in supporting collaboration, problem-solving, and communication” all “21st century competencies needed” by students to become globally competitive individuals.

Game-based learning is one of the best two-for-one deals out there. Students are entertained and simultaneously learn. It is mostly institutions of higher learning that have taken the plunge into game-based learning, but nowadays, K-12 schools are increasingly interested in taking a dive into the gaming world. A school in Chicago recently took the jump. (more…)

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Sara Barclay, the Director of Outreach from the NGO Al-Hakawati.net. Sara’s family runs the non-profit organization that looks to provide free high quality accessible digital Arabic media exclusively about the Arab-Islamic world. Al-Hakawati has humbly found its niche amongst Arabic readers and continues to grow as an organization. The full interview followed by highlights can be found below!

Briefly describe Al-Hakawati:

Al-Hakawati is a web-based digital repository of Arab heritage and culture, written in standard Arabic in order for it to be readable and accessible by all people in the Arab world regardless of educational backgrounds.

What do you think has been the impact of the site on the social, economic, and political landscape in the Middle East and what impact do you wish the site to have in the future?

It’s hard to measure impact, but I suppose one way we have seen the progress is through the volume of readers and the comments we receive. The site now gets about 60,000-70,000 hits per day and some days it gets up to 150,000 hits. We also get a lot of letters from readers who want to contribute, or thank us for our content. In the future we would like to offer people in the Arab world a venue in which they can discover, engage, and feel pride in their culture.

What would be the ideal way for schools to interact with the site?

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These days, blogs have become a necessary outlet for both creative and intellectual expression. With so many topics being explored, I hope to use this space to point out well written, thought provoking pieces that delve into education and technology in emerging markets.

Continue reading for stories about the role of technology in environmental issues, ESL programming, and public policy.

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It’s no secret that online learning is hot. Every day new players throw their hat into the ring and have a go at establishing eLearning offerings. Over the past year we’ve noticed a trend of traditional publications like The Economist and the New York Times creating online schools that offer courses that exploit their massive content archives and in-house brainpower.

For example, the Economist Education has recently decided to introduce, Innovating for growth in emerging markets, a course that caters to business leaders around the world who seek to “execute innovation and grow initiatives in frontier economies.” It is a self-paced curriculum meant to teach students how to foster innovative processes abroad.

This is so interesting because it blurs the once rigid lines of school with everyday life. Magazines and newspapers are some of the most common sources of entertainment and information in today’s world. Now, these same publications can also be powerful tools for personal learning and professional development. A brand like the Economist boasts a certain level of seriousness and gravitas that will lend credibility to the courses. In a way, by offering courses, they sell a bit of their brand that you can put on your resume. (more…)