Comments for Edunautics

Comment on eTextBook Review: MBS Direct Digital by Aaron Eden

Aaron Eden — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:06:35 +0000

@ Huy, thanks for sharing your experience. I didn’t know that about the one computer at a time thing. That’s a pain. Some definite issues here….

Comment on eTextBook Review: MBS Direct Digital by Hue Lam

Hue Lam — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:50:47 +0000

We were given two different books to test, one English and one History.

Pro:
1. Allows note taking, and syncs to your online account
2. Has digital content (must be connected to the internet to access their youtube videos)
3. Computer version you download the actual textbook to your computer

Con.
1. Expires after a year
2. If you are using it on a mobile device, you must have internet connection to work.
3. You can only print out “x” amount of pages (MBS direct did not tell us how many)
4. You can only download it to one computer
5. If you are using the web-base version, you can only open it one at a time. (if you were logged in on your home computer, and forgot to log out, you would not be able to log in at school).
6. How they number the pages in each book is different. The English book had told you a percentage, the History book told you the actual page and chapter)

Comment on EdTech Policy – Drinking the Kool-aid? by eTextBook Review: MBS Direct Digital | Edunautics

eTextBook Review: MBS Direct Digital | Edunautics — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:24:27 +0000

[...] This is a followup to my recent posts relating to digital textbooks, Apple iBooks for eTextBooks- getting there? and EdTech Policy – Drinking the Kool-aid? [...]

Comment on Apple iBooks for eTextBooks- getting there? by eTextBook Review: MBS Direct Digital | Edunautics

eTextBook Review: MBS Direct Digital | Edunautics — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:21:42 +0000

[...] This is a followup to my recent post on digital textbooks, Apple iBooks for eTextBooks- getting there? [...]

Comment on EdTech Policy – Drinking the Kool-aid? by Peter

Peter — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:53:01 +0000

I concur with one reservation: Don’t forget the need build in programs (non-computer) to mitigate the epidemic of Nature Deficit Disorder which is a main contributor to most all our psychological, social, economic and environmental problems and threatens to only get worse with each new iPad and app in school and out.

Comment on EdTech Policy – Drinking the Kool-aid? by Laura

Laura — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:31:43 +0000

The digital divide will actually increase IMO so long as students are handed gadgets that, while they may be working hard on graphics, still provide a passive textbook experience. I see kids looking for motion, interaction and video but real reading? Too distracting. Print is still beautiful and immediate.

What is amazing is the access to great teachers and thinkers or simply other communities. But there is a time to get away from the screen. Teachers may be surprised that less is more. Apple has always wanted to corner publishing. Let’s see what happens…those deals do not get made in schools.

Comment on Apple iBooks for eTextBooks- getting there? by EdTech Policy – Drinking the Kool-aid? | Edunautics

EdTech Policy – Drinking the Kool-aid? | Edunautics — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:47:45 +0000

[...] Every student should have an iPad with textbooks in iBook form! Oh, really….? (See more on iPads and eTexts in this blog in: Apple iBooks for eTextBooks- getting there? [...]

Comment on 21st Century Skills for Teachers by Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 21:45:33 +0000

Teachers should be able to see the potential that students don’t see in themselves and then empower, guide, encourage to bring it out in them.

Comment on 21st Century Skills for Teachers by Aaron

Aaron — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:09:32 +0000

Great points Colin and Rachel!

Relationship is such a large part of the picture, and what are some concrete behaviors of teachers who are great at building those relationships?

Teachers as guides and letting student inquiry define the path: I think extreme versions of this require really small class sizes. I love the approach and want to see more of how to let individual inquiry drive a whole class in a manageable way.

More, people! Share more!

Comment on 21st Century Skills for Teachers by Colin Matheson

Colin Matheson — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 20:18:40 +0000

Teachers need to be able to use information (from research, students, assessments, peers, etc.) to help guide students in the construction of new knowledge. Teachers must be able to balance structure and flexibility to provide students with the best learning environment.

-I decided to focus on teachers being information professionals and environment managers (instead of being subject matter experts i.e. the source of knowledge to be learned). As we get better at creating assessments and learning modules, the teacher can really act as a guide. Also because collaboration and problem based learning really gives kids a huge opportunity for growth teachers need to be able to provide just the right amount of structure (depending on prior experience of the students and maturity) to allow for productive open ended projects.