Library+-+Emerging+IT+and+Education

= = Emerging IT and Education 70-451 Library > Emerging IT and Education

[]
 * Title**: Using Mobile Phones to Improve Educational Outcomes: An Analysis of Evidence from Asia
 * Author(s)**: John-Harmen Valk, Ahmed T. Rashid, and Laurent Elder
 * Link or reference information**:
 * Core ideas** (1, 2, or 3 bullet points that summarize the core idea presented in the article):
 * For those in rural or remote areas where they are challenged with the environment and infrastructure eLearning happened to be a very beneficial resource for learning, under similiar circumstances mLearning presents even greater opportunities.
 * MLearning exerts a democratizing effect on the learning experience as learners. students don't learn the traditional way by learning from an instructor, rather the students have a greater responsibility for the learning process instead of being fed information.
 * Given that social interaction is main for effective learning, mobile phones should also impact educational outcomes by facilitating communication. Mobiles allows collaborative learning despite the difficulties people might face lwith distance.

This article takes about talks about the possibility of mobile phones to become one of the most available and most effective learning process, that students across the world can use. The authors states that the findings of the projects are mixed in regards to the extent to which mLearning promotes new learning. The Feedback they got from participants indicates that mLearning enables learner-centred education, particularly in comparison to traditional distance education models. The author argues that Mobile learning provides increased interaction and increase the motivational factor of the immediate feedback that mLearning makes possible.in-addition, participants, particularly those in the Philippines and Mongolia projects,seem to particularly enjoy the appeal factor from the use of a novel technology.
 * Commentary**:


 * Posting history**:
 * [Amal Osman, initial post on Dec. 5, 2011]
 * [<>, < >]

This project is innovative, as the founders used technology as a way to both entertain and educate students in India. Using technology as a way for education application is a good way to make students more interested in their class material. Having the computers in the streets, stuck to a wall, is very interesting because it allows students who can not afford to buy computers, to at least learn how to use them. It also teaches them more about their material, which will help them become more educated.
 * Title:** India's Internet Revolution
 * Author:** TechWebTV (Youtube)
 * Link or reference information:** http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JynKN5hn0Kc
 * Core ideas:**
 * The hole in the wall project in India, which got enabled by the availability of information technology and the internet, became a very valuable learning resource for children.
 * The project consists of a computer that is stuck to a wall, where students can go to learn more about their classes and also to do homework.
 * This project taught Indian children how to type, and made them more educated through the use of technology.
 * Commentary:**


 * Posting history**:
 * [Layal Al-Alami, initial post on Dec. 5, 2011]
 * [<>, < >]

[] This document talks specifically about India, however I believe most of what is being mentioned works all over the world. The document encourages integration of (ICT) in higher education. It talk about benefits that ICT integration in education can provide, such as how to break barriers to facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing among geographically distributed students, and how it facilitates sharing of best practices and knowledge around the world, and how such changes in the learning system are needed in the fast changing world
 * Title**: Enhancing the quality and accessibility of higher education through the use of Information and Communication Technologies
 * Author(s)**:Ashish Hattangdi and Prof. Atanu Ghosh
 * Link or reference information**:
 * Core ideas**
 * ICT improves the flexibility and delivery of education so that students can access knowledge anytime anywhere.
 * Today ICTs—including laptops have become affordable, accessible and integrated in large sections of the society throughout the world, making education more widely available
 * Teaching can be better fostered, due to a wider availability of best practices and best course material in education, which can be shared by means of ICT
 * Commentary**:
 * Posting history**:
 * [Khadeejah Al-Husseiny, initial post on December 5, 2011]
 * [<>, < >]


 * Title**: Bridging the Global Digital Divide, One laptop at a Time
 * Author(s)**: [Not stated]
 * Link or reference information**: []
 * Core ideas:**
 * A second version of One Laptop Per Child's laptop XO laptop was introduced in 2008 which was designed to bring affordable and yet modern technology to the children in living in the developing countries.
 * Technology companies and non-profit organizations are now exclusively aiming at the third world countries as the global expansion of markets. The goal of this project is to bridge the global digital divide which separates the rich and the poor countries. This project aims to use technology as a source to improve education.
 * Inexpensive computing can lead to economic development, however, the questions which arises is whether laptops can improve education in third-world countries- where there is a need for wireless phones as a device of choice.

Until today, there has been little research whether or not laptops given to children in the developing world lead to educational advances. The program aims to to enhance lives of the poor people in the developing countries by accelerating access to modern technology for anyone to use and anywhere in the world. The article states how education plays a vital role in giving us the best example of how technology improves our lives. We now see competition and a lot of innovation along with better outcomes from these technology companies compared to before, since the only world player used to be One Laptop Per Child business. There are a lot of challenges which will be faced by the companies along with the developing world such as the lack of infrastructure, funding, and technical support required as enabling technologies. Also, these programs need time to develop and fulfil there goals, while competition could improve education in the third world, it would not happen at a rapid pace. The biggest challenge towards this educational boom is the question of 'will one hundred dollars be cheap enough?' This was a very interesting article in a lot of ways and it certainly proved how technology can improve education and what challenges are faced.
 * Commentary**:

http://www.mmischools.com/Articles/News/Breaking-News/Maryland-Public-Television2c-MIT-Education-Arcade2c-FableVision-Launch-Lure-of-the-Labyrinth-Online-Math-Game-59796.aspx
 * Posting history**:
 * [Nahan Arif, initial post on Dec. 3, 2011]
 * [<>, < >]
 * Title**: Maryland Public Television, MIT Education Arcade, FableVision launch lure of the Labyrinth online math game
 * Author(s)**: Not Available
 * Link or reference information**:
 * Link or reference information**:
 * Core ideas:**
 * Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Education Arcade have developed an online math game to help develop math skills of students in middle-school. The game targets seventh and eight graders in particular.
 * The Lure of the Labyrinth game can be accessed free of charge on [|thinkport.org]. This is Maryland's Public Television's education website. The Labyrinth game uses the lure of traditional and popular video games with impressive graphics and challenges to build a solid basis of pre-Algebra skills including: fractions and ratios, number operations and variables and equations.
 * The website and game provide comprehensive teaching advice for students at each and every step of the game. These steps help game users who aren't technology and game savvy.

Math is one of the most challenging subjects that students at all ages and all around the world struggle with. The initiative provided by MIT and MPT will help children in the United States and the rest of the world with their math skills. Targeting 7th and 8th graders, at a young age, is an excellent idea, as improving their math skills and confidence in math will benefit the students during their educational career both in high school and university. The labyrinth game has already proven to be a success in Maryland and MIT are planning on introducing it to middle-schools in other states. MIT plans to launch a competition encouraging 7th and 8th graders to compete, play labyrinth and improve their math skills.
 * Commentary**:


 * Posting history**:
 * [Maryam Al-Thani, initial post on Dec. 5, 2011]
 * [<>, < >]

[] that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities
 * Title ** : Using Technology To Improve the Literacy Skills of Students With Disabilities
 * Author(s) ** :James R. Thompson, Jeffrey P. Baken, Barbara M. Fulk, George Peterson-Karlan.
 * Link or reference information ** :
 * Core ideas **
 * The article states that assistive technology, which is “any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, off the-the-shelf, modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities” (p.6) must be provided to students who require special educational services.
 * The article mentions that students who require special educational services are facing problems in their literacy skills. Some of these problems are thinking, listening, speaking, reading and writing.
 * The article suggests that educational teams have to consider student’s needs for the assistive technology to develop the Individualized Education Programs (IED). This step encourages collaboration between students with disabilities, their family member and education professionals to assess the assistive technology needed for the students. Moreover, by using the information that was collected from this assessment, the student’s annual objectives will be determined.
 * The article provides technologies to improve the student’s literacy, including technologies for both reading and writing problems. Furthermore, the article suggests detailed solutions for specific reading and writing problem.

I really think this article is really informative because it emphasizes the importance of providing the necessary assistive technologies to students with disabilities who are facing problems in any of the literacy skills, such as: thinking, reading, writing and speaking. By using these assistive technologies, we can help persons with disabilities in their learning process. We can conclude that the use of information technology in education has become wider and helpful to almost everyone in the society.
 * Commentary ** :

[<>, < >]
 * Posting history ** :
 * [Ahmad Al-Sarraf, initial post on December 5, 2011]


 * Title**: How Students Can Benefit from a Smartboard Equipped Classroom
 * Author(s)**: Author not mentioned
 * Link or reference information**: []
 * Core ideas**
 * Many colleges and universities are taking the step to transform their old classrooms into virtual learning environments
 * Smart boards are interactive boards that allow the students and the teacher to be able to interact with what the teacher is doing
 * With the smart board a student can ask a question and if the professor does not know it the class can research it in real time
 * Many teachers are using the smart board to make their classrooms interactive

This article is a brief explanation of the benefits of having smart boards in classrooms. It would’ve been much better if the author went into more details regarding the smart board itself to make it easier for readers to understand the benefits of the smart board.
 * Commentary**:


 * Posting history**:
 * [Mohammed Al-Rawahi, initial post on Dec. 5, 2011]
 * [<>, < >]


 * Title**: GSAT: Assistive Technology and Educational Success
 * Author(s)**: Carla Torres
 * Link or reference information**: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ND2vH5QrVI


 * Core ideas**:
 * Assistive Technology can help disabled individuals succeed in academics
 * Assistive Technology is a device or service that helps the student overcome the challenges they face
 * Assistive Technology range from low-tech non-electronic in expensive devices to high-tech expensive devices
 * Kurzweil 3000 is a software specialized for students with reading difficulty, it reads any information whether it was printed or electronic for the student.
 * AM system is a device used for students with hearing disabilities, it consist of two parts transmitter and receiver, the transmitter used by the speaker and it increases the volume of the speaker's voice, and the receiver used by the disabled individual.
 * GSAT help individuals with disabilities access Assistive Technology.

Assistive Technology aid disabled individuals learning, understanding and participation in the class room, by using Assistive Technology disabled individuals become more independent, have freedom and a choice when they learn by deciding what resource they use. Assistive Technology will also increases and improve their skills, overall understanding and most importantly will help disabled children in life and provide them with more job opportunities in the future.
 * Commentary**:


 * Posting history**:
 * [Al-Jawhra Al-Mana, initial post on Dec. 5, 2011]
 * [<>, < >]

**Author(s)**: Kara Page **Link or reference information**: [] **Core ideas** (1, 2, or 3 bullet points that summarize the core idea presented in the article):
 * Title **: Information Technology & Science Education

<span style="font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">1) Information technology has revolutionized how the lessons method and lectures are planned and led to help more students to appreciate and understand Science. <span style="font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">2) **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Accessibility **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">: With having the technologies like the laptops and other mobile, science students will have better access to more information. <span style="font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">3) **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Virtual Experiments **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">: The information technologies, nowadays, are helping in having science students to avoid the dangerous experiments and rather trying them virtually. <span style="font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">4) **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Organization **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">: The It has made it easy for the professors and teachers to monitor and organize the student work <span style="font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">5) **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Application **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">: IT has provided science professors and students with more interactive devices to pursue learning and making science more entertaining

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">**Commentary**:

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">The Article shows how Information Technology has been helping to improve the Science education. It is also showing how different Science is been taught and practiced with having modern use of IT. In fact, I believe that IT not only just helped in improving science education but also helping in having a better education experience as overall in all aspects of learning. Many people now and I am one of them who thinks that instead of having technologies around I wouldn’t have learnt as much as I do now, because it had made life easier.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">**Posting history**:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">[Hussain Hejji, initial post on Dec. 5, 2011]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">[<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]


 * Title**: Online Learning, Personalized.
 * Author(s)**: Somini Sengupta - The New York Times
 * Link or reference information**: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/technology/khan-academy-blends-its-youtube-approach-with-classrooms.htm?_r=1
 * Core ideas** (1, 2, or 3 bullet points that summarize the core idea presented in the article):
 * Salman Khan, head of the Khan Academy in Mountain View, California has become an online sensation with his lessons. Focusing on math and science, Khan would broadcast several videos on Youtube for his viewers whom reached 3.5 million a month.
 * About 36 schools around the US are trying this technique, splitting up the classroom between the teacher and a machine and combining teacher lessons with computer based lectures and exercises.
 * Khan's approach is to provide free lessons for anyone with high speed internet
 * “What Khan represents is a model that’s tapped into the desire that everyone has to personalize the learning experience and get it cheap and quick”
 * Today, the Khan Academy website gives more than 2,700 lectures and a constellation exercises for practice.
 * Teachers can see both the aggregate picture of the classes performance and a close up on each single student's math skills — "a peephole."

This most recent article, published in the NYT's really stood out when I came across it. Reading about Mr. Khan and his story is a great example that illustrates the uses of technologies in education. Simply by posting a lecture on Youtube, Khan was able to help 3.5 million students struggling with math in just a month! Youtube, the social network where people go to watch steaming videos could be a great resource for education. Professors, instructors, and teachers can show students visualizations (audio and video) that can help them with a particular subject and showing students helps them understand and grasp the particular subject or topic of study. I found this to be very interesting, I have done further research and found out that Mr. Khan is currently receiving funding from many big companies such as Microsoft, Apple, and many more to develop a curriculum using this technique to reach more students around the world.
 * Commentary**:
 * Posting history**:
 * [Nasser Al-Khori, initial post on Dec 6, 2011]
 * [<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]

This was a really interesting paper it made me realize how important it is for us to focus on merging IT in our daily life. the idea of merging IT in education may have seemed as a given and obvious way to teach. After reading this paper i realized that this might be new and a way for countries to create a drastic change in the system of education. This paper gave an example of a variety of teachers who want to improve the way they teach and introduce them to ways they should follow with the help of IT. Other than that, this paper gave us simple observations, findings and recommendations that those teachers should follow and how it all links into building an educationally collaborative network. This is a paper that teachers and IT developers must read or even students to know how important IT is for education.
 * Title**: Improving India's Education System through Information Technology
 * Author(s)**: International Business Machines India (IBM)
 * Link or reference information**: []
 * Core ideas** :
 * How IT can help face resolve problems facing education systems in India through an education collaboration network.
 * Show how a clear understanding of the social, culture, political, infrastructural and economical factors in India can help improve the teaching process in class rooms, improve the quality and relevance of the material being taught in the classroom and making quantified and measurable progress towards improving efficiency.
 * explain why focusing on school level education is important in the process of improving teaching in India.
 * Commentary**:


 * Posting history**:
 * [Ayah Abujarbou, initial post on Dec. 6, 2011]
 * [<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KALN0HPB_AA for MORE information. - Report by Qatar Foundation. As a student today, the use of technology has become part of my daily life. My ability to use these technologies that are available out there are without doubt extremely important. As a student in middle school, the use of this sort of technology explained above was not really used. Had this innovative use of technology been available, Im sure my experience with some of my math would have been a better experience. It was extremely interesting to see how instructors today are starting to move away from the "traditional" way of teaching. Although this is a scary thought for some, it is definitely something that is happening today. Schools around the world have recognized this, and innovative techniques to use these technologies in many ways will definitely enhance a student's ability to comprehend some of the material better.
 * Title**: Lincoln Middle School Students use Technology to help each other Succeed
 * Author(s)**: No Author mentioned. Organization: TechSmith
 * Link or reference information**: http://www.techsmith.com/education-customer-story-mathtrain.html &
 * Core ideas** (1, 2, or 3 bullet points that summarize the core idea presented in the article):
 * Several students are having a hard time grasping the core ideas of some math principles. In the article by TechSmith, a math teacher at the Lincoln Middle School in the US, has recognized this. He slowly began to realize that his use of technology not only engaged the students in learning the material, but actually made it more interesting to learn.
 * Some of the ways technology was used in this classroom included: "using a tablet and Camtasia Studio’s screen recording software, produced a video of a problem for students to watch online." Before using this website/software to help his students, the instructor would usually reply to his students' questions via email, which made it hard to really explain what he meant. The use of this software/website allowed the instructor to not only answer student's questions via video, but also post several tutorials about the topics they have studied.
 * To expand even further, the instructor allowed his students to post videos of themselves explaining the material to their peers, as it he deemed it important for students to connect. It is usually easier to understand something when a peer explains it to you. Some students respond well this way. And they sure did. The website used in this classroom became viral, and it became available for everyone to see and use.
 * Schools all around the US and other countries have admitted that through this use of technology, their students have all been able to enjoy the material and actually learn.
 * Many organizations around the world have recognized how technology was used to help as tools that made learning a better experience for students, mostly through the use of videos. One of the organizations that has recognized this important tool, was Qatar Foundation, which honored the instructor of Lincoln Middle School by recognizing his efforts. The use of videos has many positive effects, mainly an instructors ability to pause the video, explain, and the fact that "many students are already use to seeing videos," as the instructors at Lincoln Middle School add.
 * In the video, all thee notions are re-iterated, as Qatar Foundation explores these new innovative methods used in this school.
 * Commentary**:
 * Posting history**:
 * [Abdullrahman Al-Muftah, initial post on Dec. 5, 2011]
 * [<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]


 * Title**: Technology in Education
 * Author(s)**: No Author mentioned. Organization: Education Week
 * Link or reference information**: []
 * Core ideas** (1, 2, or 3 bullet points that summarize the core idea presented in the article):

The rapid changes that technologies are going through posed both opportunities and challenges for educational institutes such as schools in the US. Although there are numerous benefits that come along with technologies in education such as online course-taking, cloud computing, and using social media tools for learning and professional development, the pace of change that technologies undergo create a challenge for many schools. Although some schools maybe on track with changes and technology advances, the majority of schools fall behind. The rapid change of technology also makes it hard to find out what is best in for the schools.


 * **Technology infrastructure:** bandwidth for higher internet access to stream videos and other educational applications are insufficient in many schools, although improving. There remains to be big differences in technology infrastructures among schools in the US. Over the past couple of years there has been some improvement but many doubt that the capacity will catch up with the demand for higher, better and more advanced technology infrastructures.
 * **Research:** A lot of research has and is being done with the technology and its effects on learning and teaching but little show solid evidence. Also, research that usually shows meaningful data requires several years to complete and with the pace of change of these technologies, it is hard to keep up with any of the research. However, some solid reaserch has been done that shows the uses of technologies in schools and their positive effects but the research also point out that schools are not maximizing the use of technologies to make use of their potential. Some research showed the uses of online learning and electronic textbooks. But educational advocates are still emphasizing the need for "wider range of well-researched, longitudinal, and ethically sound data on education technology."
 * **E-learning:** This form of technology, the online learning is trending the many schools around the US. Students in many states can access a list of available choices of e-learning. "The menu of options often includes full-time, for-profit virtual schools; state-sponsored virtual schools; supplemental online learning courses offered by brick-and-mortar schools; and charter schools presenting a hybrid option of digital material coupled with face-to-face instruction." Its estimated that more than 1.5 million K-12 students were engaged in some form of online learning in 2009-10 school year. Credit recovery, one of the fastest growing subjects of e-learing for many schools and students, courses provided online for students to redo classes they haven’t successfully passed. But some teachers and educational experts are questioning the quality and benefits of these courses. Many schools have started to purchase online courses, while some many develop their own or tap into state virtual schools or other online learning tools state provides.
 * **Mobile computing:** Over the past couple of years, mobile devices have become more popular due to increasing access and growing acceptance and lower costs of production. All these factors have made the mobile an increasing and famous trend in the field of technology in education. Educators hope that some games and stimulations that could be accessed through mobiles would help students to picture a future career path, mostly in the subjects of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). While others believe some games and simulations help connect students to what they learn in class to real life situations. Moreover, it has been proven that simulations and games can help students to visualize processes and thus help the learning process. The disadvantages that lie behind mobile computing and educational technology is in the creating and design process of the games and simulations, which require huge amounts of funding, lots of time, and a complex framework (high resolutions, etc.)
 * **Social networking**: Most schools have shifted from debating on whether or not social networks play a role in education, but have managed to use mainstream social networking to promote, plan, and organize school events, class assignments, and projects. Challenges that have come up with social networking and education are that educators wary about security and information sharing. Some have moved to more secure social networking specifically designed for education. Moreover, many students have shown more interest and take learning more seriously through these sites. Wikis and blogs are a great example. Skype is also popular with education, allowing students to connect with their fellow peers across the country and even internationally.

This article shows both the advantages and challenges that revolve around education and technology. The rapid everyday changes make it hard for schools and educators to catch up and upgrade to. In my opinion, over the past decade technologies have proven to be a key player in access to education. Many educational institutes have developed online programs for students throughout all levels of education (k-12, undergrad, graduate). Moreover, the ease of access to educational resources through technology have made education accessible. We use the blackboard on a daily basis to communicate with other students, our professors, upload homework assignments, check our grades, and many more features that allow us to be up-to-date. Through social networks we get news and updates about our school or university, find out about activities and events, and many more features that helps us stay connected. Although this resource does not specifically mention on use of technology for education, I chose it because it shows many uses of technology and the opportunities and challenges that schools could face in implementing technologies.
 * Commentary**:

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">**Link or reference information**: http://www.nmc.org/pdf/Future-of-Higher-Ed-%28NMC%29.pdf
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Title **<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: The Future of Higher Education: How Technology Will Shape Learning
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Author(s) **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Marie Glenn


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Core ideas **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">:
 * Technology based learning is shifting the way classes are running in universities.
 * Social-networking is helping students connect with alumni and career services.
 * Technology could be disruptive: The research shows that the use of technology leads to high rates of plagiarism, cheating and distractibility.

The author mentions that according to a survey done on technology-based learning, 63% of the respondents think that technology will play a major role in education over the coming five years, changing most of the current teaching methodologies. Distance learning creates a wider access to education all around the world. A research done on this topic also showed that law students who are enrolled in both distance learning and in-class learning outperform those who are enrolled in only in-class learning. The only struggle that some universities might have is the rising cost of IT and also not having "adequate instructional design staff". The author also mentions that over the next decade technology will connect everybody around the world making education easily accessible. Finally, the author ends his article saying that technology will change the skill-sets that universities and employers will demand in the future and so people should stay updated with the latest technologies to remain competitive.
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Commentary **<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">:


 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Posting history **<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">[Walied El Hag Ali, initial post on Dec. 6, 2011]
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">[<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]

[] in this article the author talks about their idea of integrating technology into education, he discusses various method and ways that they are planning to take in-order to achieve their goal. they will be researching heavily on the topic through like conducting surveys, building a supportive network and so on. these will happen before they implement the strategy. Some of the goals they are trying to accomplish is to enrich schools with digital resources and then help make sure their are utilizing them. schools can use IT in many beneficial ways, for-example, it could be used for online assessment tools
 * Title**: Information Technology in Education - Way Forward
 * Author(s)**: Education and Manpower Burea
 * Link or reference information**:
 * Core ideas** (1, 2, or 3 bullet points that summarize the core idea presented in the article):
 * The Five-year Strategy is the beginning to integrate IT into learning and teaching
 * The Government plays a big role where it can help build the necessary culture for the use of IT in education, lead and organize activities and resources
 * some of the barriers faces schools in using IT is that they are still in need of support in handling procurement, management and maintenance of computers and networks, and use IT
 * Commentary**:
 * Posting history**:
 * [Amal Osman, initial post on Dec. 7, 2011]
 * [<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]


 * Title**: HKPC and IBM Partner to Launch Hong Kong’s First Cloud Computing Application for Education to Transform Learning and Improve Educational Outcomes and Efficiencies
 * Author(s)**: not stated
 * Link or reference information**: []


 * Core ideas**:
 * Education Cloud Pilot is a cloud computing platform that enables to student and teachers to share resources.
 * This Education Cloud Pilot will enhance the education, by giving the teachers the opportunity to improve their courses design and materials.
 * Cloud computing helps education to be more suitable for the 21st century and meets it demands for knowledge and skills.
 * Student will be able to study online from the place the wish to study from, as resource are easily shared and accessed.


 * Commentary**:

This article talks about an emerging information technology, which is “cloud computing” and how it can be used to improve education. I really liked the project that both HKPC and IBM are working on. This educational technology has a lot of benefits. One of the points that I really liked is how they are going to use Education Cloud to gather information in order to enhance the design and the materials of the course. Because I believe there are course that need to be redesign or in need for stronger materials that students can use and refer to. And this will definitely improve education and improve teacher’s performance.

[<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]
 * Entry history**:
 * [Fatima Al-Khayat, initial post on Dec. 8, 2011]


 * Title ** : Teaching Moves Beyond the Classroom
 * Author(s) ** : Mark Nagurski
 * Link or reference information ** : []


 * Core ideas **
 * Experimenting with new technologies is changing the way class periods are held and taught.
 * How social media has become a place to share and trend class notes, and an example of its implementation
 * How video games has helped to create real life simulation to students ranging from medical schools to literacy training
 * How mobile phones have facilitated the acquiring of information for a range of students from example downloading apps like FlashMath that could be used to help teach math to elementary level students.
 * Commentary ** :

I think the article gives a clear insight and simple examples on how simple technologies that we think are not formal and can’t be used in a teaching setting can be worked around to keep up with students that are more used to using new technologies to attract them to the material taught and relate to them. The author goes on to including examples other than education which I think were fairly interesting, such as using Ipods in a war zone. One thing that I think will prevent this from reaching to bigger audience is school budgets; some schools hardly have enough chairs to accommodate their students let alone giving them Ipads or incorporating technologies with their education. And with the rapidly increasing use of technologies in other teaching institutes and facilitations, the new form of illiteracy I think is going to be the ability not to use and incorporate technologies to live your daily life or develop your education.


 * Posting history ** :
 * [Sara Al-Mannai, initial post on Dec. 8, 2011]
 * [<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]


 * Title ** : Bringing Speech Recognition to Reading Instruction
 * Author(s) ** : Marilyn Adams
 * Link or reference information ** : []


 * Core ideas **
 * Automatic speech recognition is a technology that recognizes speech and converts spoken words to text. Today, speech recognition software is available in multiple of languages and is employed in various sectors including healthcare, defense and legal systems.
 * The technology is mature enough for experts, specialists along with policy-makers to be applying it to new sectors (where it is crucially needed): education. Speech recognition software has a great potential to help students learn to read and read to learn.
 * With the software’s technical capability, it can listen to students as they read, offer them help when they need it and prompt them for thoughts (or reading activities) at specific moments. The software can also record the students’ difficulties and progress by analyzing recurring mistakes.

The article aims to inform educators about effective approaches to teaching children to read with the help of information technology. Speech recognition software is a type of assistive technology that could provide one-on-one interactive support and guidance to young readers. With the international emphasis on enhancing children’s reading, the speech recognition technology can help provide appropriate levels of reading activities and personal feedback to the readers. Today’s speech recognition softwares use powerful and complicated statistical tools, which is great for detailed record-keeping. If the system would integrate a recognized reading-level standard such as the Development Reading Assessment (DRA), it would lead to an even greater benefit to both students and teachers. The effectiveness of this framework is however is highly dependent on the alignment between the needs of a specific school’s reading program and the capability of the technology. Reading specialists, education technology specialists and classroom teachers would need to work collectively to understand and evaluate the use of this technology within the K-6 reading programs - the value of it relies on the quality of the overall reading program.
 * Commentary ** :


 * Posting history ** :
 * [Maryam Al-Subaie, initial post on Dec. 7, 2011]
 * [<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]


 * Title ** : New Technologies Changing College Education
 * Author(s) ** : David R. Wetzel
 * Link or reference information ** : []

I really liked this article, as it shows the demand of students to integrate the products and the services that they use everyday such as their smartphones, laptops in their college studies. I think that these three technologies, which are mobile computing, e-books, and also open content, are important technologies that each college and university should think to include in their education process. The author of the article did a greet work in structuring the article as it was easy for me to follow how these three new technologies will help the students in their studies. The author did provide interesting examples of colleges using these technologies. It was interesting to read that one of these colleges is Carnegie Mellon University who uses the open content in their college courses.
 * Core ideas ** :
 * How adult education is now influenced by more than one source such as mobile computing, electronic books, and also open content in college courses.
 * How these different technologies can change the process of college education.
 * The demand of students in integrating these new technologies in their education to help them in their studies.
 * The benefit of integrating these new technologies into the education system so, the students can access the material, work on their homework’s, and also view the lectures everywhere and anytime they want.
 * How the mobile computing such as laptops and smartphones helps in the process of collaboration and communication between the students and the professors.
 * How open content for college courses can also allow the students in their studies in the college.
 * The benefits of electronic books on the students in more than aspect not only due to its efficiency.
 * Commentary ** :


 * Posting history ** :
 * [Fatima Abdulla, initial post on Dec. 8, 2011]
 * [<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]


 * Title**: << title of the article, book, video, etc. >>
 * Author(s)**: << the author(s) who wrote the article, video, book, etc. >>
 * Link or reference information**: << the URL to the article and/or bibliography reference >>
 * Core ideas** (1, 2, or 3 bullet points that summarize the core idea presented in the article):
 * Commentary**:


 * Posting history**:
 * [Bob Monroe, initial post on Oct. 1, 2011]
 * [<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]

**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Title **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**:** The history of technology in education **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Author(s) **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**:** SMAARTEDuEMEA **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Link or reference information: **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFwWWsz_X9s__]

**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Core ideas **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is a quick look at how advancement in technology have impacted teaching and learning over time.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This small video fragment starts with year of 30,000 B.C.E to recent years and shows how people were using various resources for education
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The most significant part in this video the transformation of paper to the digital technology
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Preceding step which is Internet when people share this information with one another in the global network

**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Commentary: **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I really liked this small video fragment in which we see the transformation of education. Education was always valuable thing for human being for centuries now. However, we see changes in tools and resources how people learn and share education. We see that recent years, due to technology this resources and tools dramatically affected the education. Now education is not limited only to one classroom or even one university or country but education is part of global network. At the end of the video, authors asks us the question what is next step of this trend. I think it is very interesting question to ask and think about new innovations that were made in recent years like cloud computing. For example, how cloud computing will affect our education and how it will be different?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Posting history:
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[Nijat Ibrahimov, initial post on Dec. 8, 2011]
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]

<span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">**Title**: Why the iPad should be used in classrooms **Author(s)**: Mkaufman **Link or reference information**: http://www.ipadinschools.com/284/why-the-ipad-should-be-used-in-classrooms/ **<span style="font-family: Arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Core ideas: **
 * Tablet PCs, such as the iPads, are showing a great success in terms of their usability in school classrooms as a part of every student learning experience
 * There are 6 reasons the author believes the tablets are useful and ready to be used in school classrooms, especially for college students:
 * Tablets Are the Best Way to Show Textbooks: This is due to fact that using a tablet would allow the user to view images, video and audio, highlight text and access dictionary. Having all these features available for students allow them to have a more integrated learning experience, which is more engaging compared to using an ebook or a traditional book.
 * Classrooms Are Ready for Tablets: The readiness comes as a result of the students’ affiliation to the tablets. The tablets today have become an everyday technology and so students are becoming more comfortable when using them.
 * Tablets Fit Students’ Lifestyles: The features that the tablets have such as their thickness (tablets are mostly thin), lightweight, speed, and long-lasting battery, make the tablets more usable and favorable for students’ use.
 * Tablets Have the Software to Be Competitive: The use of tablets makes the academic or educational life easier for students due to the fact that tablets allow students to access many online teaching and learning platforms, such as blackboards. In addition, tablets are compatible with many educational apps.
 * Tablets Integrate With Education IT Trends: Given their portability and options for constant connectivity, tablets can be used by students anywhere in campus with the readiness of saving and accessing information any time in campus.
 * Tablets Are Becoming More Available: Many issues regarding the slow penetration of tablets to the educational market are being resolved, causing tablets to become more available.
 * <span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> Tablet PCs are more usable, flexible, portabl e and manageable and therefore, they are becoming an important part of ‘everyday’ technology.

<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia,helvetica,sans-serif;">**Commentary**: As a university student, I really think that this article is making a very clear and true argument about the need of using tablet PCs in classrooms. I think that they are really helpful in improving the speed and the quality of learning. As mentioned in the article, information can be accessed and viewed any time given the tablets’ portability and options for constant connectivity. Also, according to my own experience and with regard to the article, a student can have a more integrated learning experience when using tablets for learning due to their flexibility, portability and multi-tasking abilities, which is more engaging for the students. The only thing that I think is missing in the article is the importance of motioning a comparison between a normal PC and a tablet when working on a long homework, for example. In think in this case, normal PCs are better to use due to the fact that they offer better and different screen sizes that are easy to watch when working for a long time. In addition, normal PCs have many places to plug in memory chips, CDs, DVDs, flash drives and USBs to view or save any information or document.

posting history:
 * [Najla Al-Madhadi, initial post on Dec. 8, 2011]
 * [<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]

** Title **: Qatar Pittsburgh Students Unite ** Author(s) **: Carnegie Mellon University ** Link or reference information **: http://www.cmu.edu/homepage/society/2010/spring/project-rwanda.shtml

** Core ideas **
 * Exposing children to technology could foster their education, as it shows them the amount of information that is available to them and how much they can learn.
 * When a child is aware of opportunities for education through the internet, that alone acts as a strong motivator for them to seek more of such opportunities.
 * Exposing children to such opportunities helps them dream bigger and feel less bound to only what they have available in their schools.

** Commentary **: The One Laptop Per Child project is one of the many examples of how Technology could play a large role in educating those who have no or little access to education. Project Rwanda focused on exposing children in to low-cost laptops on which they can access the internet, chat, and do basic computing. Such opportunities will not only enhance their education by giving them access to large amounts of information but will also help the children realize they can do a lot more than they are currently doing. Therefore, the benefits of such a program are both direct (more access) and indirect (more motivation).

** Entry history **:
 * [Firas Bata, initial post on Dec. 8, 2011]


 * Title**: Technology adds spark to science education
 * Author(s)**: Tina Barseghuan
 * Link or reference information**:[]
 * Core ideas** (1, 2, or 3 bullet points that summarize the core idea presented in the article):
 * What is it meant by Cyberlearning.
 * How Cyberlearning tools are being used in different learning institutes.
 * How Cyberlearning can improve the learning experience for the students.
 * The article includes a video, that contains different examples of the implementation of technologies.

The article talks about Cyberlearning and how Cyberlearning is implemented in different learning institutes. Cyberlearning can benefit universities and schools by introducing a new ways of teaching that the students are more familiar with. A lot of schools and universities use technology nowadays as a tool to make it easier for students to understand the materials. The video in the article talks about a lot of examples of Cyberlearning tools, for instance, Universe Quest, which is a game developed by the University of California at Berkeley, the students can learn more about astronomy and star formation in a fun way. Since Cyberlearning is based on activities, games and using devices and technology to learn, it helps the students to come to conclusion on their own and this develops a sense of mastery that contributes to understanding the concepts more.
 * Commentary**:
 * Posting history**:
 * [ Noor Al-Mohannadi, initial post on Dec. 8, 2011]
 * [<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]


 * Title ** : The SAT: Is There a Better Way?
 * Author(s) ** : Author not mentioned
 * Link or reference information: [] **


 * Core ideas **
 * The article talks about how technology started to be introduced in most of the aspects in the modern life.
 * The article talks about how technology was introduced in several forms of education.
 * It analysis how technology is not only used in learning but also in other aspects in education like grading.
 * Technology helped the SAT exam takers to submit their tests and get their grades in a more efficient way.

I think that technology is being used in the appropriate places. That is because companies started using in making the education process more efficient. With the aid of technology the students now are able to get their grades much easier and faster. This will help them improve more and make decisions more efficiently. That is because it will reduce the time that the students needs in order to make a decision whither he or she should repeat the exam or the score that he or she got is enough.
 * Commentary ** :


 * Posting history ** :
 * [Mohammed Hadi Takiddin, initial post on Dec. 10, 2011]
 * [<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]

__

Title: Education and Technology. Author(s): Author not mentioned Link or reference information: [] Core ideas
 * The article focuses on the most important aspects of technology.
 * The article starts with presenting the fact that technology has become a part of everything in this life.
 * The article talks about how did the education change in the era of technology.
 * The article talks about how people can use video games in improving education.

Commentary: The only thing that interested me in the article is how to use video games to improve the education in the world where everything started to be influenced by the technology. It is very interesting to make use of technology that almost all of the kids use everyday to improve their education.

Posting history:
 * [Dalia Saleh Hassan, initial post on Dec. 10, 2011]
 * [<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">**Author(s)**: Ben Johnson <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">**Link or reference information**: [] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">**Core ideas** (1, 2, or 3 bullet points that summarize the core idea presented in the article):
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Title **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">: Teaching and learning: Using iPads in the classroom


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">IPads are transforming the teaching process. This is allowing the students and teachers to take advantage and explore new options which are benefiting the learning process.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Features in IPads are helping children to learn different subjects which is actually enhancing the learning process. The students are engaged in the learning process in creative ways. IPads help to demonstrate scientific experiments and use math tools to teach children which the teachers were unable to do in the past.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">The technology is challenging the students more, which is allowing them to explore their skills. If a student asks a question, internet is provided to him so that he can try to answer his own questions by researching.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Teachers are using IPads in the classroom as a tool to assist their teaching process.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Commentary **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">:

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">In the recent years, the introduction of IPads has revolutionized how people use technology. IPads are a great tool which can be used to aid the learning process. It is portable and consists of many features which the students can use in classrooms. If the technology is used for children this could allow them to become more technology savvy and use the technology more commonly to assist in their studies. Furthermore, this technology is not limited to children. Undergraduate students at Texas A&M and Medical students at Weil Cornell Medical College are using IPads as an aid in their studies. The portability of IPads makes it easier to take notes and search for information quickly, especially for med students at Cornell. Furthermore, different apps allows more interactive methods of learning.**Posting history**:


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">[Anas Ali Chaudry, initial post on Dec. 12, 2011]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">[<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">**Author(s)**: Diane Curtis <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">**Link or reference information**: [|http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-digital-divide-scroggs]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Title **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">: From Curriculum to Communication, a School Immerses Itself in Tech
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Core ideas **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;"> (1, 2, or 3 bullet points that summarize the core idea presented in the article):


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">The students become adept at using technology at a young age. The students start using computer, internet and other technologies; becoming technological savvy which aids their learning process.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Internet helps to the teachers to connect with students and parents on daily basis. The students receive homework via email. The students are able to get immediate feedback when they submit their homework through email. In case of parents, the teachers connect to them daily. They send the classwork to the parents so they know what their children did in class, helping parents to start after school conversations with their children. Furthermore, teachers keep the parents well informed about the use of technology and what kind of work the students will do in the school, saving the parents from being paranoid about their child’s education.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Teachers are treated as professionals which enhances their teaching capabilities. The teachers are given moral support as well as other perks to show them they are professionals. The teachers have their own computers and telephones, indicating that they are professionals, raising their morale and providing them with resources so that they perform optimally.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Commentary **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">:

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">The system that Marry Scroggs Elementary School uses is mostly implemented in colleges or university. In case to children this is using technology in an innovative way to support learning. Mostly in elementary schools, children are only taught how to use a computer and basics of internet technology. In this case, the students are practically using the technology as a part of their education. The school promotes such activities to such an extent that parents who are unable to afford computers are lent hardware and software so that they can also be a part of this system. This learning process in unique for children because the children do not have skills and the amount of work to learn and use such resources. Use of technology at such an age is interesting because if a person knows such thing, when he grows old adapting to new technology would not be an issue. This approach instills the idea about technology in the children at an early age helping them in the future. Parents are also a part of this process which is very crucial in the learning process. If the parents are aware of such technologies they will motivate their children to learning and implementing these technologies in their lives.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">**Posting history**: <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">[Anas Ali Chaudry, initial post on Dec. 7, 2011] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">[<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Title: **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Tools for Distance Education: Towards Convergence and Integration
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Author(s): ** Robert Godwin-James
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Reference link: **[]


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Core ideas: **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">The author talks about various web options that innovate learning.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Introduces the concept of task based learning.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Emphasizes on the importance of the World Wide Web.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">How hybrid applications influence learning.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Commentary: **

The author takes us through the importance of internet and how it has shaped learning. It discusses the fact that due to extremely low costs learning is now handy. The availability of internet and potential videos online, learning could be reshaped and defined. It really depends who we are targeting, but at the end of the day, the idea is learning has become easier, faster and cheaper. It is very similar to the concept we learned from the TED talk by Salman Khan on this subject. This paper also talks and puts importance on applications that related to the internet and how they can be used to achieve higher learning.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">**Posting history**: <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">[MUGHEES AHMED, initial post on Dec. 13, 2011] <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">[<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]

= = =<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Title: Impact of Wolfram Alpha on Math Education =
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Author(s) **<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Teaching College Math

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> **Link or reference information**: =<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[] =
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Core ideas **<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(1, 2, or 3 bullet points that summarize the core idea presented in the article):
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The adoption rate of Wolfram Alpha (W|A) will be extremely fast among students in higher education.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A sizeable group of mathematics instructors will immediately use W|A in their classes, and possibly design courses around it.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Others will be fiercely opposed to the idea.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The technology allows us to unite the different ways of teaching mathematics into one complete form.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This is a must-watch technology for math education.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> **Commentary**:

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wolfram Alpha is an extremely powerful knowledge. It’s fundamentally different from Google because while Google tries to search for the answer, Wolfram computes it. It has extremely versatile and powerful math functions that allow differentiation, integration as well as statistics from hundreds of sources such as weather and stock prices. All this have great implications on math education. As the article maintains, curriculums can now be made around it, and W|A is considered a disruptive technology. Students can use this to enrich learning and it is interesting to see what will happen as W|A becomes more powerful. Further resources: <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> [] (TED talk describing Wolfram Alpha)

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> **Posting history**: <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"> Title: TEDxSudeste - Andrew Essex - The Role of Technology in Education Authors: Tedx, Andrew Essex Link or reference information:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s46sn-qPrRc
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">[M Hammad Abbasi, initial post on Dec. 13, 2011]
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">[<<next person who added commentary>>, < >]

Core ideas:
 * as we are becoming more reliant on technology in our lives, technology has to have a bigger role in education.
 * Technology can help make learning fun for students.
 * underprivileged children also need technology in their education in order for them not to fall further behind the rest of the world's students in terms of education.

Commentary: In a Tedx lecture given in Rio de Janeiro, Andrew Essex gave a lecture on how we need to incorporate technology into our children's education in order to make their learning experience more fun and interactive. He believes that the idea that phones are not allowed in schools will eventually change just as calculators were once not allowed but eventually, became an integral part of math and science classes. He also stated that underprivileged children today are at an even larger disadvantage today then they were 10 years ago due to the fast rise of importance of technology in our world today.

Posting history: [Mohammed Al Ahmadani, initial post on Dec. 15, 2011]