Posted 9:59 PM by George Siemens
Changing the Model
Quote: "Our Ed Tech committee meets again today to further discuss a new classroom model for technology. We've spent the past month talking with and surveying staff members about how they use technology now, what they think they might need in the future, and what they see as the most effective use of the technology we currently have."
Comment: Will Richardson asks some excellent questions (while detailing experiences of asking users what they need from tech)...for example: "The sense I got was most teachers don't know how to answer that question, because most don't know what they COULD do. They don't know what's out there. How are they supposed to tell us how technology might improve their teaching if they don't understand or know the potentials of the technology?"

Posted 8:16 AM by George Siemens
Social Media
This article (while focusing specifically on AOL) makes a very significant statement "AOL's previous focus was on content as a vehicle for aggregating a mass audience to sell advertising. They appear, if Omar's comments hold true, to be endorsing the concept that content (news and information) is a fundamental driver of online community, and thus, meaningful experiences and long-term loyalty."

This is a very substantial shift in the value and role of content online...wonder if this is a larger trend that will impact the value of learning content...currently learning content is perceived as a fundamental driver of learning (and is hidden and locked behind passwords)...what if content is only a tool to enhance the overall student experience, not the sole focus of the entire education process?...long live the learner!