Academia 2.0

This YouTube Video talks about how university professors can connect with 21st century students by embracing the use of technology. Kansas State University is providing a great service by opening a dialog about young learner and how they are shifting and different. My question is... are they fundamentally different? I remember sitting in class as an undergraduate listening to what I thought was irrelevant information. I was disengaged in many of my classes. The difference is that students today have an option. An option, to learn on their own through extensive online learning communities.

A Vision of Students Today

Here is an interesting thought provocative video that was produced by students in a University program. It is a simple but creative way to deliver their message.

Here is a mapping site (CommunityWalk) that you can use to map your local, national and international discoveries. It is free and very easy to use. There were several teachers talking about using this mapping tool within the classroom (Classroom 2.0). You can see this discussion by clicking here.

Open Minds Conference.

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Originally uploaded by SteveHargadon

I have been listening to Steve Hargadon about open source software and the future within education. An international group of influential gurus got together yesterday and worked on concepts and a road map for the future. Here is one of their note pages. You can see the other notes and ideas @ K12openminds Wiki.

He talked about how everyone who has success implementing open source in schools has done so not by promoting the benefits of "openness" but by promoting it as a practical solution, e.g., saving money.

Sketchcast: A whole new mind

Daniel Pink, in his book A Whole New Mind, talks about the increasing importance of creativity and talent. He suggests that we all need to strengthen the right side of our brain by engaging in creative processes. Here is a great tool to do just that. Using Sketchcast, you can create presentations and stories using sketches.

Here is one that I enjoyed watching.