Living out of a suitcase this summer, I’ve been out and about traveling across the Middle East. Nonetheless, some things stay the same. My daily news-fix continues to allow me, to share with you, the latest updates and blog posts unearthing around the globe!

Ladies First

During Google’s first annual international science fair, teens from over 91 different countries were engaged on matters such as engineering, space exploration and medical technology.  With all leading finalists being female and hailing from the United States of America, the top projects included Lauren Hodge’s examination on decreasing carcinogenic compounds in grilled chicken and Naomi Shah’s focus on the effect of environmental pollutants on the lungs. The grand prize went to Shree Bose who researched how to improve the effectiveness of cisplatin treatment, the most common drug used to treat ovarian cancer.

TechWomen, an organization that links up women from Muslim-majority countries with female mentors from U.S. tech companies, has recently graduated its first class of women. In an effort to strengthen collaboration between the United States and the Middle East, women from Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories and Algeria analyzed entrepreneurism in leading US tech firms and will use the skills learned in their own projects back home.

Teching it for the Team

The “SMS for Better Schooling in Sindh” is an initiative adopted by the World Bank to improve the links between government, schools and local communities in Pakistan. As of now, 400 schools are participating in the pilot project, which involves using text messages to keep schools up to date on matters such as textbook delivery dates and the quality of the drinking water in the schools. Recently, USAID amongst other donors, have focused on erecting Mobiles for Education Development (m4Ed4Dev), in hopes of exploring the solutions at the junction of mobile tech and education development.

Keep reading for more on e-learning and global tech initiatives (more…)

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Schools such as The Lumiar School in Sao Paulo, Brazil encourage creativity with their use of a mosaic curriculum, while Fundación Escuela Nueva in Colombia allows students to design their own curriculums as teachers serve to only moderate discussion. Both these schools adopt the mentality that Robinson so strongly advocates. Self-exploration and environments suited for creative expansion characterize these schools as ideal learning habitats. To find out more about these schools check out our previous posts here and here.

Instead of encouraging our students to always be right, we should push them to explore different avenues and not fear the possibility of making a mistake. Innovation is a byproduct of deviation and transpires after delving into unknown terrain. The schools we build need to encourage risk taking, not stigmatize exploration. In this riveting TED talk, Robinson, shares with us how to inspire the youth and create schools that catalyze creativity. To find out more about what Robinson listens, watches, and reads, check out his site here.

Keep Calm and Learn On,

Nora

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In the midst of summer traveling, a brief interview with Dr. Nabeel Ahmad, a Bon Education board member, learning technologist and developer at IBM and a Mobile Phone Learning Instruction at Colombia University Teacher’s College, gave me insight on the extent of how social media and mobile technology can be used to enhance learning processes. The full interview followed by highlights can be found below!

Could you briefly describe to our listeners the courses you teach at Colombia Teacher’s College?

I teach a few different courses. Mobile Phone Learning has been around for about 2.5 years, where we look at how you can use mobile phones for educational purposes. This past spring, we introduced a course called Social Media & Learning. It introduces students how they can use social media such as Twitter or LinkedIn for educational purposes. This summer we are looking at a spinoff from the Mobile Phone Learning class called Cognition and Handheld Devices. This course plans to look at general handheld devices such as tablets or portable gaming devices and how you can use them for educational purposes.

What is the ideal way that mobile phones can be used in the classroom?

I think the ideal way is for mobile phones to be used outside of the classroom. In the classroom, though, it is an excellent tool for engaging students. If you think about it, these kids are on their phones all day outside of the classroom; if you try to limit their use inside the class, it becomes difficult, but if you embrace mobile technology and use the phones as a way to engage students, you easily maintain the students’ attention. For example, a live polling could be used for students to answer questions via their mobile phones. This would prove beneficial for working around students’ shyness or cultural barriers.

I have seen many teachers use mobile technology inside the classroom and transformed students’ education. It is important to keep in mind though that mobile technology should only be used if both the educator and the curriculum are capable of supporting the technology. (more…)

Growing up amidst Mario, Luigi and the gang, I am no amateur when it comes to video games, but lately I can’t seem to keep with up with the rush of consoles. Every once in a while though, something pops up that catches my eye. Whether it is a video game based off of a favorite book (Harry Potter) or just an inspiringly interactive gaming console such as the Wii, I dabble occasionally in the gaming world. This time though, it was neither the allure of a whimsical alter-reality nor the appeal of a four-dimensional console. Rather, it was story that inspired the game that captivated me. (more…)

Technology might be the key to allowing individuals with autism to better express themselves and connect with others. Children with autism might find using the keyboard easier than writing. As Casey typed, “I take over a thousand pictures of a person’s face when I look at them. That’s why we have a hard time looking at people.” When expressing oneself, a computer screen might be less challenging to look at than a person’s face. Many of the effects of technology on autism are still a mystery. We might not know exactly why or how technology helps, but that does not negate its benefits.

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Furthermore, I understand both the need and the frustration of trying to seek homework help on an assignment at 2 AM the night before an assignment is due. It is not that the average college kid is irresponsible, but rather we are faced with atypical schedules that often force us to work into the wee hours of the morning. That’s why when I came across Piazza the other day in an article in the New York Times, I quickly realized the value of such a tool. (more…)

Although many of these children were completely illiterate and others had low-test scores in schools, the kids were able to “read” the applications and explain their function. We live in a society where we constantly explore alternative methods to teach the youth, but at times, it is important to step back and ask, what can children teach themselves? In another talk, Mitra explores how to combat problems associated with poorly qualified teachers.  Take the time to sit and watch the above video, and share with us your thoughts on how we can use this information to bring the latest edtech to the corners of the world.

Keep Calm and Learn On,

Nora

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