Where I'm From

I am from a mountain town,

where big snow falls with plum flower blossoming.

I am from a lake as blue as sapphire,

where a little girl giggled in a pedal boat.

I am from seven splendid waterfalls,

which hide within clouds and rainbows and rocks.

I am from bed-time folk stories,

where a fairy meets her earth lover on a magpie bridge,

I am from Heidi's straw bed and Alps village,

from a drop of golden sun and a long long way to run.

I am from Gone with the Wind,

where Scarlett winks --

Tomorrow is another day.

I am from a Chinese Youth Palace,

where a little girl was practicing "penguin dance".

I am from dreary violin classes,

with neighbors wearing earplugs.

I am from painted faces in Chinese operas.

I am from sketches of apples, aliens, and giant pandas.

I am from grandpa's warm study room,

with moments of laughter and moans

I am from mom's chrysanthemum garden,

with all colors budding in ardor.

I am from steaming rice cakes and dishes of nostalgia.

I am from a continuous apprenticeship,

challenged with academic practices.

I am from my world of equity and love,

from a universe of discoveries and believes.

I am from where I stand,

with you all.

A Recent MIT Report on Tech-integrated Instruction

A recent report (Klopfer, Osterwil, Groff, & Haas, 2009) issued by the Educational Arcade at MIT presents very interesting (teaching) examples regarding the utilization of video games, social networking, and simulations in classroom. The full report can be viewed here which includes:

• the background and affordances of Simulations, Digital Games, and Social Networking;

• the cognitive implications of these technologies;

• specific challenges with using these tools in the classroom, as well as strategies for overcoming these challenges in order to achieve successful learning experiences; and

• the future of these technologies and their impact and learning and teaching.

Here are a few highlights:

Video Games

(e.g., Civilization, World of Warcraft, Lure of the Labyrinth)

In addition to developing new cognitive abilities, it solves traditional classroom teaching challenges:

• the skill of negotiation
• solve problems collaboratively
• be mindful of their actions/impact on others
• “Games don’t teach the content… it teaches [students] the conceptual knowledge and sets the environment for you to teach what you want.” (p. 8)

Simulation

(e.g., StarLogo TNG)

The report mentions an interesting 3D programming software oriented at K-12 students. StarLogo TNG is an open-ended tool that allows the user to create simulations, developed by MIT Scheller Teacher Education Program. As a 3D modeling and simulation software, StarLogo TNG is a user-friendly programming language represented by colored blocks that fit together like puzzle pieces.

Social Networking

• The heart of social networking technologies -- social cognition.
• “almost all involve social skills developed through collaboration and networking. These skills build on the foundation of traditional literacy, research skills, technical skills, and critical analysis skills taught in the classroom” (Jenkins et al., 2006, p. 19).

President Obama's Speech to Students

The white house has released president obama's prepared remarks that he will deliver to school children today.

Overall it seems very much in line with Obama's campaign speeches and recent statements on education, in which he urges individual responsibility and innovation. But there are a few interesting points which should be pointed out here, like the reference to media and culture artifacts:

"I’ve talked about your parents’ responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and get your homework done, and don’t spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with that Xbox."

and

"Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor – maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine – but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class."

He also tells his expectation for the children, including thinking skills and fields they need to fight for in the future:

"You’ll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You’ll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You’ll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy."

He weaves his personal story into the address to make it more vivid, trying to deliver his messages in an illuminating way. I think it is a great opportunity for schools to share his speech with teachers and students on different formal or informal forums (e.g., Twitter, classroom blog, wiki, etc.) to engage discussions, and to decide what need to be further improved in their educational concepts, rationales, and practices.

My colleague at the EdLab passed me the following 4th grader's video response to the speech, which is quite interesting:

Newly Issued Pearson Film Series: Visionaries in 21st-Century Education

The film series newly issued by the Person Foundation, named "A 21st Century Education," highlights twelve innovative and compelling school-reform leaders from around the world and cases they presented in the field of education. The series was produced by the Mobile Learning Institute, a co-funded effort by Nokia and the Pearson Foundation.

All movie series are black and white. They are downloadable, each lasting for 10-15 minutes.

The first set of films profile and explore the following:
· Steve Barr and the Takeover of Locke High School in Watts
· James Dierke and Leadership Models for Urban Middle Schools
· David “T.C.” Ellis and Essential Learning at Hip Hop High
· Randall Fielding and Designing Schools for 21st Century Learning
· Stephen Heppell and Empowering Young Learners
· Jean Johnson, Notschool.net and Online Learning for Disaffected Youth
· Doug McCurry and the Success of Achievement First
· George McKenna and Personalizing Public Education
· Alan November and the Myths and Opportunities of Technology
· Larry Rosenstock and Project-based Learning at High Tech High
· Elliot Soloway/Cathie Norris and Educating the Mobile Generation
· Yong Zhao: No Child Left Behind and Global Competitiveness

I just had a brief look at two of them and got very impressed:

Disaffected youth’s experiences with multimedia
NCLB and global competition from a Chinese professor’s perspective