| Soliya |
04.20.08 |
| Soliya is a non-profit that uses new technologies to facilitate dialog between students of different countries. Their Connect Program offers volunteer facilitators the opportunity to talk to others via Webcam. Its goal is to bridge the technology gap between university students from the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and the United States. |
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| Kid vs. Grown Up Computers |
04.03.08 |
| The OLPC is a fantastic pioneer technology -- the first to so openly make a mission of bridging the digital divide. I own one, and like the author of this Wall Street Journal article, I've found that despite its UI innovations and its array of multimedia applications, it doesn't consistently support streaming video or Flash games -- things that most American kids have come to expect. Still, it's such a worthy project and has inspired other companies to perfect their technology. I'm sure it won't be long before there's an affordable laptop that can deliver multimedia along with basic Web browser for kids in the developing world.
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| In2Books Motivates Critical Thinking |
04.02.08 |
| This program enables adults to e-mentor elementary students as pen pals -- a kind of book group in correspondence. Such a simple idea and it's getting results. |
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| Cable in the Classroom: Future of Education |
03.14.08 |
| From a colleague at PBS: "This Future of Education Map (from the current issue of Cable in the Classroom’s Threshold magazine) of Future Forces Affecting Education is fascinating and has as much to say about society and technology in general as it does about education."
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| Eyes on Zimbabwe |
03.09.08 |
A non-profit that's creating documentary footage to spread the word about human rights violations in Zimbabwe. The filmmaking is a series of interviews and still images -- really simple but powerful.
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| 99 Pound Laptop |
03.08.08 |
| Certainly, there's nothing innovative about a laptop that weighs 99 pounds ... but we're talking British pounds here. This affordable laptop computer is aimed at the education market, primarily poor students but not students in developing countries. It doesn't claim to have the durability or alternative power sources (e.g. hand crank generator) like the XO. It does claim to offer a Linux-based operating system and a total of 16-17 gigs of storage space. One gig is in the computer itself, the remaining are supplied by a USB stick disguised as a stealthy accessory -- on of those cause-oriented wristbands (e.g. Lance Armstrong's "Be Strong" yellow bracelets).
99 Pound Laptop: Reuters |
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| Autism and Assistive Technology |
02.22.08 |
| This is an AMAZING story about a young autistic woman who has found her voice through technology. Never able to speak, she communicates using a computer and synthesized voice. Inspiring!
Autism Breakthrough: Girl's Writings Explain her Behavior |
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| Helvetica |
02.15.08 |
| Wonderful documentary about this universal, rational font. Available on Netflix. |
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| Kids and TV |
02.15.08 |
| A good article about kids' TV consumption that references a lot of Deb Linebarger's work. It makes specific mention of the potential value of watching Arthur, Clifford, and Dragontales for language/vocab acquisition... though, no mention of Web games. There's probably not much new in this article, but thought it was neat that Newsweek wrote on the subject. It appeared in print as well as on the Web.
Kids and TV |
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| OLPC |
02.14.08 |
| Yes, I'm the lucky owner of an OLPC! This ultra light, powerful lap top is already helping bridge the digital divide. It's been popular in Latin America and will hopefully gain momentum in other developing nations. An article about the impact OLPC in Peru
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| Top Ten Best Games of 2007 |
02.14.08 |
| Top 10 Best Games of 2007
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| Kid Consultants |
02.14.08 |
| This is a great video from Edutopia that I thought all you editorial/educator types would appreciate. It features some really tech-savvy kids teaching adults editorial Web conventions and assessing how technology can be used in the classroom. These kids would make great Web consultants. Perhaps, an untapped resource... :) Kid Consultants
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