Learning Aloud

The government has released a summary of “research-based” web design and usability guidelines. This is worth a look to see what the document recommends and also for the extensive bibliography that is cited to support these recommendations.

Sebastien Paquet has authored a great summary of blog applications. Actually, this paper describes the transition as blogs have evolved from more primitive beginnings to a more sophisticated collection of uses described as Personal Knowledge Publishing. For those with a serious interest in blogs and blog applications, this is a great source.

One use Paquet describes as personal knowledge management is a good description of how I think about what I try to do with this blog. Personal knowledge management = “A weblog that you edit also serves as a chronological record of your thoughts, references and other notes that could otherwise be lost or disorganized.

CNET is running a series of features on Technology in Schools. The topics range from the impact of technology (this link) to corporate influence on school purchases.

The article on technology impact provides a current assessment of what is known about the influence of technology on student performance. Contrary to what is probably popular opinion, the % of school budgets spent on technology has declined the past few years. ‘

Polywogg is a new blog tool for the Mac. It is presently free. You can host your blog with .Mac or with a WEBDAV server. The Polywogg system supports an wide variety of media types.

The November edition of eSchool News reports that four technology-specific programs (including PT3) are at risk in the 2004 Federal budget (note you may have to register to examine this article online). The House has been particularly problematic in supporting specific educational technology programs. Community Technology Centers, Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers to Use Technology, Ready to Teach, and Star Schools are presently in danger.

Cindy received a Department of Education Teaching American History grant last year. Part of the mission of this grant was to create a database supported web sites offering ideas for history lessons that could be searched by topic, standard, or grade level. This web site has just gone public – Grand Forks Teaching American History Site.

The most recent issue of Learning and Learning with Technology (Nov, 2003, 31(3)) offers several articles on a similar topic. This issue is available online and ISTE members can download the articles as PDFs.

The new Mac operating system – Panther – appears to have a problem with some specific external fire wire drives. MacFixIt reports that the data on firewire drives with a specific chip set (see article) are corrupted.

I would guess some poor users tried to do the right thing – back up essential data – loaded Panther and then tried to move the data back.