Dot Learnt

Globalization has consumed our world. In an increasingly interconnected community, the daily happenings of the dwellers of Delhi to the inhabitants of Dubai seamlessly transcend borders. For those unable to explore the world on a physical level, these 5 apps can transport you from here to there in an instant, self-guided discovery.

7 Billion: How Will Your World Change

• An ode to the growing world population, National Geographic Magazine unveiled this visually stimulating app that takes users on a journey through a stunning array of photographs, thought-provoking charts and videos painting a picture of the challenges and problems associated with population growth. 

Hear Planet

• The world’s largest audio guide, with over half a million-voice files, this app is an “Audio Guide to the World.” HearPlanet provides a “virtual reality audio layer” that gives users feedback and facts about points of interest, turning your town or vacation spot into a self-guided museum tour.  (more…)

Just-in-time management and tech training of the sort you can receive at General Assembly will increasingly replace traditional just-in-case business degrees. Why get an MBA when you can start a company and get just-in-time support? Why take a crummy programming course from your local community college when you can get one free from Stanford or MIT? – Tom Vander Ark (former Executive Director of Education, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)

Agreed! So, agreed! I was recently asked by someone, “Do you think community organizations and the private sector should be involved in teacher training initiatives given that so many universities in the Middle East are expanding their offerings for pre and in-service teachers?” My response was, “Absolutely!” Why? Because…

• Not all learning should end in a degree! - There are so many educators out there that want professional development that will help them in their classes now, but that frankly don’t want to spend the time and money getting a 1st or 2nd master’s degree.
• People outside of academia can bring a lot of value to education - As I wrote in Unconscious Education, “How can it be justified that the teachers that are meant to prepare students for the world of work, so often have little work experience outside of schools?” Or, as Tom Vander Ark puts it, “New eyes with no loyalties other than to kids and community gives an observer a chance to ask tough questions about the strange collection of historical practices that make up the typical school day. While not valued in education, a breadth of leadership experiences and exposure to solution sets from other sectors is helpful.” (more…)

Peer 2 Peer University is back again this month with some added bonuses. Early February, P2PU School of Ed eagerly announced their latest offerings – a new round of free, open-licensed professional learning groups meant specifically for educators.

Classes will begin on March 5^th and will explore a range of topics including:

• Student Grant Writing – Students will learn the grant-writing process
• Empower Your Personal Learning – For students and educators, this course unearths the different manners by which you can take control of your personal learning
• Writing and Inquiry in the Digital Age – Students will have the opportunity to join the National Writing Project
• Effective Use of Multimedia and Graphics – Learn to foster deeper learning through multimedia and graphics
• Global Classroom Collaboration Elementary and Secondary – Teachers from all around the world will talk over and design collaborations in order to bridge international classrooms
• Connected Learning with Youth Voices – A study group that encourages and helps teachers become accustomed to Youth Voices, a school-based social network (more…)