http:/// New or updated pages. en-us Mon, 20 May 2013 13:19:29 GMT+08:00 Swiiit Web-builder support@commontown.com (CommonTown) http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1199016 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:50:12 GMT+08:00 A summary of the New York Times (NYT) article by A.J. Jacobs:   The author signed up 11 online courses delivered on MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses). The bulk of the courses are on Coursera, a few others are on Udacity and edX. And he had made some comments regarding the quality of the online courses. These are the grades he gave.   THE PROFESSORS: B+. Most of the professors in the author's opinion are impressive teachers. Students like them generally. He foresees that with the rising popularity of MOOC, there will be "[…] a breed of A-list celebrity professors who have lopsided sway over the landscape of ideas. I pity the offline teachers." CONVENIENCE: A. One can take MOOCs anytime, anywhere. The courses can be played on desktop PCs or mobile devices. The author watched lectures on his treadmill, on a train, while eating a spinach salad. You can also skip parts you don't enjoy. The result is "MOOCs shift control to the student". On the other hand, the dropout rate for MOOCs is very high - 97 percent for one of the courses he took. He himself only finished 2 out of the 11 courses he signed up. To view more information about this article, kindly click on the following links:   The New York Times CommonTown facebook page ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1195521 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:13:41 GMT+08:00 Signs that cloud-based apps are starting to erode traditional enterprise software vendors (e.g Oracle, VMware: http://www.zdnet.com/oracles-q3-miss-canary-in-enterprise-software-licensing-coal-mine-7000012951/) "Virtually every emerging software trend is having a deflationary impact on spend. As long as Oracle can maintain the pace of maintenance renewals, the model should remain relatively stable, but our confidence in the renewals business is waning." "...cloud computing increasingly entices CIOs to refresh their legacy IT systems with cloud services rather than infrastructure."   For more infomation on this article, kindly click on this link . ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1192833 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 20:03:28 GMT+08:00 This article is taken from asiaone .   In an effort to reach students globally, NUS collaborates with Coursera to build an innovative technology-enhanced education culture on its campus.   Here are of the comments made by NUS:   "We are delighted to be part of Coursera's groundbreaking initiative. The availability of rich academic content on its open online platform will accelerate knowledge sharing in higher education globally."   "The Coursera platform has the capacity and capability to host online courses at a level of sophistication that can enrich the NUS student experience, and will enable us as a partner institution to also broaden access to our highly popular courses for our own students, and, where appropriate, for the wider community."   Read more on .   ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1189101 Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:02:10 GMT+08:00 Tablets are increasingly popular among young kids. The snippets of this article are as follows: "Touchscreen Android devices designed expressly for kids with bright colors, durable cases and rubberized surfaces are making a big splash in the tablet space." "The iPad took the top spot on kids’ Christmas wish lists in a Nielsen survey of 3,000 U.S. residents aged 6 and over, beating 16 other popular gaming and computing devices. The 13 and up set also favored the iPad over other brand tablets and computers." "Kids love tablets, but use them a little differently than we do.... Kids can read, play educational games, watch movies and entertain themselves in any number of ways with tablets, either at home or on the go ..." "And so a market for kid-friendly tablets has emerged, lead by options like Polaroid’s aptly named Kids Tablet, the Toys ‘R Us Tabeo and the OLPC XO Learning Tablet. The offerings are diverse, yet strangely similar." Click here for more information on this article. ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1188287 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 09:49:50 GMT+08:00 New companies are partnering with universities to offer online courses, in an effort that could define the future of higher education ― if anyone can figure out how to make money.   Read this article from the New York Times . ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1186499 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:04:12 GMT+08:00 This article is about a futurist's thoughts on the human brain.   Neocortex comprises 80% of the brain in humans. These 300 million modules in neocortex are pattern recognizers. They learn to recognize a pattern, and they're organized in a hierarchy. That hierarchy is built from our own thoughts.    However, as adults, we have filled up our neocortexes. We are constantly needing to forget things to free up neocortex to learn new things of any magnitude just because of that physical limitation.   In the year 2030,  scientist may develop intelligent computerized devices the size of blood cells, and we will can have them inserted into our blood stream. They'll go inside our brain and provide gateways to the cloud directly from our brain. As such, we will be able to extend the neocortex so that we are not limited to just 300 million pattern recognizers. This means more memory space so that we can remember better and absorb new knowledge.   Read more on     ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1185819 Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:29:51 GMT+08:00 One way to equip students with good presentation skills is to use the Ignite technique.  Ignite is a type of presentation where the presenter has 5 mintues to speak about a certain topic, with 20 Powerpoint slides. The slides will change automatically every 15 seconds. The objectives are to excite the audience with the topic and train students how to convey key ideas to their audience.   Ignite is similar to PechaKucha, where you have 20 slides that change every 20 seconds. Usually, someone is "offstage" to time the event by changing slides, which forces the presenter to stay on task and move forward in the presentation. The slides contain only images, which the presenter prepares. However, the presenter is usually not allowed to prepare a script. This demands improvisation and creativity while still trying to craft a message.   Read more on .      ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1178184 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 10:40:43 GMT+08:00 http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1178023 Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:45:57 GMT+08:00 The internet is filled with useful teaching and learning resources. Tutors, teachers and students are already benefiting from the use of such tools. Furthermore, these resources are easily accessible and free of charge.    1. Blogger Blogger, a popular online blog among many internet users, can be used as a resource for teaching. For one class blogs can be created making use of this website with links as well as resources placed on them with students subscribing to these blogs. Also, these sites can be updated with assignments, helpful links, etc.   2. Wikispaces Students and teachers can make use of Wikispaces to publish, post, share text, images, videos on this virtual space platform. With this platform, both parties are able to share and gain useful knowledge.   3. Google Drive Google Drive allows students and teachers to create original documents and then share these with one another as they deem fit. Thus, with a Google log in account, students are able to access documents shared by teachers as well as fellow peers.   4. 4teachers 4teachers as the name suggests is a website that is replete with educational tools for teachers to use. Now this site helps them in locating as well as in creating ready-to-use web lessons, rubrics, quizzes, etc. Also, there are tools available for students to make use of here.   5. Dropbox This service allows one to have files kept in sync across many computers with the Dropbox system itself serving as backup. And, these files can be accessed from anywhere. Meaning that automatic backups of these files are available and can be accessed 24/7. Although this service has a free plan, others include for pay plans.   6. Evernote Evernote is a good free resource that can be used to effortlessly capture information with whatever operating system or device that users use. After which, such information is then made accessible plus search-able from just anywhere. Notes, task lists, white boards, web pages and pictures can be captured to Evernote. Making it a great resource for both teachers and students to organize their information or work and also collaborate among their peers.   7. Animoto Educational videos can be created using Animoto. This tool offers both teachers plus tutors the opportunity of creating presentations that feature texts, videos, music clips, and images. With completed videos easily shared via email, a website or blog, YouTube, or just downloaded to be used in the classroom.   8. Voki Voki can be used for free. This service allows teachers to create speaking avatars that can be used in teaching their students. As an effective learning tool it can help in motivating their students to take part in school work, and help introduce technology to them in a lively and funny way.   9. Tag Galaxy Tag Galaxy is a great way to for students to learn through pictures and images. Type in any subject or topic and watch this tool pull in images to construct or create a virtual planet of photos.   10. Go! Animate This service is similar to Voki above.   Read more on         ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1177677 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 13:44:44 GMT+08:00 From OMG to FYI, there’s no denying that texting has changed the way we communicate with each other. Look no further than the fact that you don’t need clarification of what OMG or FYI means as proof that our written communication is evolving.   Though acronyms aren’t a new part of our language, the way we are using them in daily conversation with each other is a relatively new phenomenon. It’s safe to say that a new language has been born: text talk. This language is so widely used that it’s now infiltrating everyday life.   Read more on ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1177496 Thu, 25 Oct 2012 09:48:10 GMT+08:00 Every education system is different. Today we shall reveal 10 interesting facts about Finland's education system.   1) Finland has the same number of teachers as New York City but nearly half the amount of students. Finland has about 600,000 students while NYC has close to 1.1 million.   2) To qualify as a teacher Finland, it is a must to have a master's degree. The degree is to be subsidised by the government.   3) Students attend school when they are 7 years old.   4) The only mandatory test is taken when students are 16 years old.   5) There aren’t any separate classrooms for accelerated learning or special education. All students are taught in the same classroom.   6) Compared to the U.S., Finland spends about 30% less per student.   7) 80% of students in Finland attend universities. That’s the highest rate in all of Europe.   8) However, only the top 10% of graduates are eligible to become teachers.   9) The classroom size of science courses is limited to 16 students. This is so students can do actual in-person experiments in the lab.   10) Primary school students in Singapore get about half an hour of recess. Students in Finland get about 75 minutes.   Read more on     ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1176692 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 10:14:42 GMT+08:00 The following article is written by Jeff Dunn, from edudemic.com   What does wiki mean? The term “wiki” is derived from the word wikiwiki, which is the Hawaiian word for “quick”. A wiki is a web site which allows people to contribute content   Is Wikipedia accurate and reliable? Wikipedia’s objective is to become a compendium of published knowledge about notable subjects. The reliability of Wikipedia articles is limited by the external sources on which they are supposed to rely, as well as by the ability of Wikipedia’s editors to understand those sources correctly and their willingness to use them properly. Therefore, articles may or may not be reliable, and readers should always use their own judgment. Students should never use information in Wikipedia (or any other online encyclopedia) for formal purposes (such as school essays) until they have verified and evaluated the information based on external sources. For this reason, Wikipedia, like any encyclopedia, is a great starting place for research but not always a great ending place.   What prevents someone from contributing false or misleading information? Wikipedia’s content control mechanisms are reactive rather than preventive: anyone can go to almost any page and change the information to make it false or misleading. Although the majority of edits attempt to improve the encyclopedia, vandalism is frequent.   Fortunately, such deliberate errors tend not to linger. Hundreds of dedicated Wikipedia contributors monitor real-time edit feeds (particularly for important or controversial articles) and quickly revert most inappropriate edits. Many articles are on one or more editors’ personal watchlists (and major articles are watched by hundreds of editors), and this provides a second layer of content control. Third, Wikipedia’s huge user base is constantly analyzing and improving every article, undoing vandalism as it is found. If an anonymous or relatively new user changes a statistic or date by even a little bit, without justifying their edit, they are particularly likely to raise a red flag. If an individual continues to vandalize after being warned, then they may even be blocked from further editing.   Can students cite Wikipedia in assignments? The best policy for all writing is to have more than one source. Wikipedia can be an excellent starting place for further research. Teachers might ask students what they did to validate the information they learned from Wikipedia. Using a comprehensive search engine such as Google or Yahoo!, students can easily compare Wikipedia content with information from other reputable websites. Most Wikipedia articles also contain an “External links” section at the bottom, which often leads to other relevant sites. Students can compare information in Wikipedia with information in other encyclopedias or books in the library.    Read more on ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1176635 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:20:14 GMT+08:00 McGraw-Hill Education's Tegrity division has launched a stand-alone version of a service for secure online exam administration. McGraw-Hill Tegrity Remote Proctoring allows students to take exams from home or any other Internet-enabled location.  The proctoring service runs on a PC or Mac and requires a webcam, microphone, and Internet connection. When students are ready to take a proctored exam, they click "Test" on the Tegrity interface. The student is then taken through a simple workflow that asks them to agree to the testing policy. Then they prove their identity by holding up a student ID card or some other form of identification to a webcam. They click a button to capture a still image of the ID. Next, they begin the exam.   Read more on   ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1176259 Mon, 08 Oct 2012 10:38:07 GMT+08:00 What are the 5 reasons for using digital textbooks?   Save A Spine With digital textbooks, students do not have carry heavy school bags around. Studies have shown that heavy backpacks can cause chronic back pain, especially in chidren, who are still growing.   Interactive Features Rule Besides a digital version of a paper book, digital textbooks also contain features like videos, interactive models, and moveable diagrams to keep students engaged and enrich the explanations of topics.    Bringing Books and Notebooks Together Many digital textbooks have the ability to add ‘layers’ right on top of each page. Students and teachers can take notes, add drawings, write questions, and work out problems as needed. No need to keep a separate notebook or binder for class notes, homework, or miscellaneous associated work.   More Personalized Curriculum Many (print) textbook publishers encourage (read: basically force) schools and districts to purchase a package deal for their textbooks. So if you really want the extra super fabulous Algebra 2 textbook from X publisher, you’re probably stuck with their bordering on crappy basic math text, too. With digital, its much easier to pick and choose from the best of the best texts in each subject matter. Furthermore, if you (as a teacher or a student) want a copy of a different text then your class is using, it is much easier to obtain a copy than trying to get a single hard copy textbook from a publisher.   Save Money Pricing for both buying and renting digital textbooks is lower than for paper. Additionally, digital textbooks don’t need to be replaced for wear and tear or damage, but they also don’t need to be physically reprinted when they’re updated. New editions are easily available.   Read more on ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1176158 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:20:27 GMT+08:00 Cloud is a virtual storage space which allows one to store documents, music and pictures. With easy internet access, many consumers are able store their files in the cloud instead of hard drives. As a result, big names like Google, Amazon and Microsoft are enhancing their cloud-based storage and service capabilities to attract consumers to use their products. Including  other competitiors like DropBox and Mozy Stash, the cloud space can reach up to 1 exabyte, which is equivalent to 1,048,576 terabytes, 1,073,741,824 gigabyte or 1,099,511,627,776 megabyte.   Read more on ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1175888 Wed, 03 Oct 2012 09:44:27 GMT+08:00 This article is written by Eric Patnoudes from edudemic.com   Personal Learning Networks are systems that help learners take control of and manage their own learning. This includes providing support for learners to:   1) set their own learning goals 2) manage their learning; managing both content and process 3) communicate with others in the process of learning and thereby achieve learning goals   How to kick start Personal Learning Network?   Social Networking – Keeping up with personal, more social contacts like friends, family, and former students (Facebook, Google+)   Microblogging – Populated with educators from around the world who share best practices and resources in short bursts (Twitter, Teacher’s Guide to Twitter, Top education hashtags)   Professional Profiles – Find other professionals and experts in your field (LinkedIn)   Wikis – Community-monitored sites that can function as websites or for group organization and projects (Wikispaces, pbwiki, edublogs)   Blogs – Great sources of information such as classroom best practices as well as personal opinions; Blogs monitor the heartbeat of new trends in education and the commenting back and forth leads to many great ideas and relationships (WordPress, Blogger)   RSS Reader/News Aggregators – RSS means “Real Simple Syndication” – an RSS reader is a tool that allows you to keep up with many of your favorite blogs, all in one place   Nings – Communities of people interested in similar topics, with forums and messaging (Classroom 2.0, Future of Education, Ning)   Social Bookmarking – Share bookmarks with others, see what others are bookmarking; you can join groups and get email updates on new bookmarks (Diigo,Delicious, EverNote)   Webinars – Live, on-line presentations or conferences, with real-time chat, hosted by experts on specific topics; Great way to learn about new things and to meet new people (Classroom 2.0 Live, Elluminate – host your own, edtechleaders,edtechteacher)   Backchanneling of conferences – When there are neat (and expensive) conferences that you can’t attend, follow conversations and links about the highlights using hashtags (Guide to Twitter Hastags, Top education Hashtags)   Read more on ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1175588 Mon, 01 Oct 2012 10:25:10 GMT+08:00 Getting kids to really focus on what exactly they are searching for, and then be able to further distill idea into a few key specific search terms is a skill that we must teach students. Ever since we made a switch to internet-based resources, where kids do their research on the internet, they always end up searching for the wrong references. Thus, it is important for teachers to spend tine teaching kids the digital literacy skill of proper searching:   1. It begins as a critical thinking and language skill – narrowing their focus to a specific idea, and then selecting the few key terms and some alternatives that will help them.   2. Utilizing the various “search help” tools that many search engines offer – Google offers the ability for kids to narrow the search by time, type (images, news, dictionary, reading level), and also offers a nice advanced search tool.   3. Critically sorting through the results – is the top result always the best? Often the answer is no. Google sorts its results based on the amount of hits a URL gets and sorts that way. It’s not so much academic as it is a popularity contest.   4. Sometimes, supply your kids with the internet resources you want them to use. If your focus is on finding the information within a given resource, maybe it’s not necessary to always pile on the extra step of searching for the resource – especially if this is still a skill they struggle with. You can go old school and write the links on the board, or the easier route of pasting or embedding the links into your class webpage. Either way, this practice actually sets a bar for students – they become more accustomed to the type, format, and quality of resource that is valid for academic research. Obviously, they need to learn and use search skills, but this “calibration” every once in awhile is actually a good thing for setting expectations.   Read more on ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1175035 Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:36:13 GMT+08:00 Facebook, despite its massive size, is one of the least talked about social media tools in the education technology world. But a high school class in Amsterdam has started using it for educational purposes and you can check out the hard work they’ve done!   Students at Het 4e Gymnasium Amsterdam have had their history class infused into their digital lives thanks to school principal Hans Verhage and the creative agency THEY.   The students have built Facebook Timelines for four history subjects: - Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union - Fashion from 1950 – present - Inventions of the 20th Century - Magellan’s Voyage   Read more on ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1174074 Mon, 17 Sep 2012 10:11:09 GMT+08:00 In the past, the suggestion of getting a college degree without ever cracking a book meant paying a degree mill. It meant the degree was in name only, reflecting neither learning nor effort. Then distance learning meant correspondence courses, perhaps combined with some coordinated telecasts. Technology has already changed all that, and the future will change it even further.   eTexts Students can download their textbooks in password protected Portable Document Format (PDF) and copy the digital document to mobile devices, and carry all of their texts on one iPad or Galaxy Tab.  Virtual Libraries Most online school programs — even those which still use correspondence course designs have robust virtual libraries – something that never existed 15 years ago. Many colleges and universities contract with EBSCO Publishing to maximize available peer reviewed journals. Even traditional students use EBSCO Host in college libraries. Distance learners access the same journals as campus students — from anywhere in the world. Students quickly build up their own virtual libraries of thousands of journal articles, just as mobile as any e-text.  Online School Portals Until here resources for modern distance learning seem only different in form from correspondence courses. That changes with online school portals. These virtual campuses come complete with individual rooms for each class. They are so significant an innovation that they could change the future of on campus studies. Anticipating how ubiquitous technology should become, some schools already require even on campus students to take at least one class online. This innovation means students need not all be present at once. More, many schools are now integrating social media into their portals – so students can correspond about classes and socially connect for pleasure. Each school has minimum requirements for quality, quantity, and timeliness of posts and responses. The most successful online college students check-in early and often. Webcams & Teleconferencing With the advance of higher bandwidth, real time webcasts have become a reality for online courses. Some schools still set most of their distance learning around attending formal classes, and allow this method as a supplement. Other colleges choose to use up such heavy bandwidth only for specific lessons, allowing students and teachers to get to know each other better. Lectures that do not change need not have all the students watch at once, so schools now make them available to download as needed. Downloading is quickly replacing mailed audio and video recordings as a preferred media delivery method. Webcams and teleconferencing have added a new element of interactivity to the virtual classroom that cannot be matched.    Mobile Apps & Augmented Reality Mobile apps may present the biggest challenges for colleges with growing online programs. Augmented Reality (AR) apps interest schools. This cutting-edge technology is so young that its full potential still requires exploration. AR allows students to point mobile device cams at objects around them. The screen image offers information about what they see.      Read more on ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1173900 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 10:13:12 GMT+08:00 The classrooms of today are far from what most of us would consider traditional. In addition to the lack of chalkboards and the abundance of high-tech devices, many classrooms even conduct their lesson plans entirely online–giving whole new meaning and accessibility to education at several different levels. This practice is often called distance learning, though the process involved is anything but distant. With online learning media and education tech tools, learning experiences become more engaging and interactive than ever before–allowing students to be truly in control of how they send, receive and interpret information.   The Roots of Interactive Education Minus all the technological devices used in an academic setting today, interactive education has long been a part of many school curriculum.   From dissecting frogs to visiting museums, this hands-on educational practice has played a fundamental role in helping students grasp basic to complex concepts at every level. Reading about cultures and concepts in textbooks doesn’t quite compare to actually experiencing these concepts yourself in a place like a museum or a lab.   Educational Apps: Learning at Your Fingertips There are thousand of educational apps that can be downloaded on smartphones for students to learn at their fingertips.On top of devices designed to enhance learning, apps of all kinds improve education altogether by promoting organization along with more consistent communication and access to academic resources.   For example, school e-mails and websites like Blackboard can all be easily linked up through smartphone and tablet apps, making it easy for busy students to keep track of announcements, post to discussion boards, submit assignments and so on. Integrating educational apps into the learning experience does more than just acquaint students with the concepts addressed in each app—it also helps prepare them for the technology-dependent professional world that awaits them at the end of their academic careers.   Read more on   ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1173558 Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:48:28 GMT+08:00 The author of this article does not see introversion as anything different than being left- or right-handed, boy or girl, naturally athletic or not. It’s a part of who we are, and just like those other qualities, introversion is not something to be “overcome.” In fact, he would argue that as educators it is our job to harness the sometimes hidden gems hiding within our introverted students. To do so, he would suggest we keep in mind the following:   Introversion and shyness are not the same The key is how your student re-energizes. If she does so by being with others, she’s an extrovert. If she does so by being alone, she’s introverted. It’s important to realize, however, that introverts are not always shy, and extroverts can be shy. Shy extroverts may appear to not be shy because they are often found with others, but they do so wary of the vulnerability that comes with being public.   Conversely, introverts are not necessarily shy. How often have you had that student who says little, but when she does, she is able to push the thinking of others? Or how about the student who offers a piece of writing that is so profound you wonder why he doesn’t share these thoughts more often in class? As educators, we have to first determine if the student is shy or introverted. The difference is profound because you are either trying to minimize the pain of a shy student or respecting the process of an introvert -- which leads to my second point.   Introverts Need Time In short, processing pathways in introverts are longer and more complex than the pathways found in extroverts, thus it takes them longer to process information.   Introverts Need Space As introverts re-energize through solitude, it’s important to provide the space needed for them to be alone.  Introvert friendly classrooms provide private spaces for those who need them. In an elementary classroom, it may be a tunnel or a “cave.” Older introverts may enjoy the peace and quiet found in a small couch or chair tucked into the corner of your classroom. It could be something as simple as not seating introverts in the middle of your classroom, but instead, providing a desk on the edge of the class instead. Further, you may be able to assign the introvert to the back row as the privacy may be just what is needed to allow for maximum learning.   But, there is another way we can provide space for our students. Headphones. Yes, why not allow students to listen to headphones that allow them to cancel out noise interruptions from the outside world?    Asynchronous Learning Opportunities Based on her article in the New York Times, Susan Cain talks about the rise of “groupthink” despite the fact that “research strongly suggests that people are more creative when they enjoy privacy and freedom from interruption.” This group work can be a challenge to the introvert as the time and space often needed for learning is not always consistent with groupthink. In fact, the introvert may be a pushed out as the extroverts of the group dominate the conversation even if their thinking is not on target.   But there is an exception. One space where groupthink has worked and it is one that schools have been slow to endorse: online communities.   The asynchronous environments found on the Internet can provide introverted students with the ideal space needed for them to learn. The freedom to explore their passions, the ability to connect with similar learners, and the time to participate at their personal pace and depth, all with the solitude needed by the introvert, can make these communities the ideal space for learning and creativity to blossom in the introvert.   Read more on   ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1172500 Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:53:06 GMT+08:00 Some parents have a profound need to oversee every aspect of their children’s lives. They direct them academically, socially, spiritually, and every other way possible. These parents go beyond taking a loving interest in their children and attempt to plot out a life course for them. Media and society have dubbed this type of parenting “helicopter parenting” due to the hovering about of parents over their children.   Helicopter parenting understood Helicopter parents “Know what good parenting looks like” and are just trying to “ratchet it up to a new level” in order to make their kids even better. However, this has been shown to be detrimental on the students' development.   Helicopter parenting and short-term success Helicopter parents will often notice that their intervention into a child’s affairs will produce an outcome in a particular situation that seems better than if the child worked through the problem on his/her own. However, this ‘success’ is very short-lived. By continually solving a child’s problems, the child becomes accustomed to assistance and never learns to deal with common life issues. Alternatives to helicopter parenting Resourcefulness A child who is resourceful is a problem solver. He/she can analyze a difficulty and weigh the pros and cons of possible solutions. For parents, it is best to let a child handle a lot of their own problems. The experience will lead to greater maturity down the road. Enthusiasm Forcing kids into what a parent thinks is best for them robs them of any feeling of self-direction and saps enthusiasm. Figuring out what a child truly likes and then encouraging that like will lead to a child that is passionate about future goals. Creativity Book learning and good grades have their place, but a child with no creativity is like a birthday party where all the presents are textbooks. Expose a child to art, music, crafts, and nature. Don’t make children think that academic success and a good job are the only things that matter in life. A strong work ethic Parents need to be careful here. A strong work ethic can mean many things to many people. In this case, just make sure that children understand that is by their own efforts that they will succeed. Make sure to praise the effort regardless of the outcome.   Self-efficacy Let kids know they have a say in how their lives turn out. Don’t pamper them to the point that they think their parents will solve all their problems for them. This will only set them up for failure as adults. While complete hands-off parenting has its own pitfalls, it is not the only other option to helicopter parenting. A balance must be struck that allows for guidance and discipline without stifling a child’s natural maturation process.   Read more on ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1171629 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:29:43 GMT+08:00 Yes, it is said that reading can improves our writing skills. Hence, for students to better improve their expository writing skill, the best way is to read more writing that is expository in nature. However, this type of essay is not popular among students due to 2 reasons: creativity, and literalness. Some students believe that they do not possess creativity, or possess it in enough quantity that they can "create" an expository paper.   Outside of the box Other students simply believe they have nothing to write about any subject. If a student is given a topic upon which to write an expository paper, they have a definite format or process that they must use. They should have a thesis or main idea, they must give examples, supporting evidence or facts to support their opinions and they should have some sort of introduction and conclusion.   Some students get stuck with the thought in their heads, "I don't know anything about this topic! I do not have any experience with this subject! How can I write about it?" That is where the creative truth telling (imagination) comes to play. In answer to an expository prompt, all the student has to do is follow the format, and other than making some sort of sense, and coherence, the content is irrelevant.   Moving the Line Let's say the prompt was an experience that they had with their dog. So if they never had a dog, they can pretend that they did. Not only can they pretend, they can say it was a Great Dane. Not only was this dog huge, it believed it was a lap dog and constantly would sit on anyone who sat on the sofa. Then it would lick the face of their captive, just as a child licks a lollipop. You get the idea. After they are done with the writing, their peers should read through to check if the necessary pieces are there: intro, evidence, transitions and conclusion. When an expository submission is the right format, engaging, and interesting, it would be like a breath of fresh air among all of the other stale and rigid paragraphs.    Read more on ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1171000 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 10:45:31 GMT+08:00 There are some blogs that teachers can refer to for educational purpose. Free Technology for Teachers: http://www.freetech4teachers.com/ This blogger shares stuff from BBC and all over Google to help teachers make their classes interactive   MindShift: http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/ This blog is an innovative step towards learning through technology. The special attention to the learning needs of the visually impaired is a unique initiative. Articles like five small habits to develop before going back to school is a perfect primer for people who want to get back to learning post a sabbatical. Flypaper: http://www.edexcellence.net/commentary/education-gadfly-daily/flypaper/ You will find tutorials, engaging commentary on pedagogy and theories along with productivity through with the use of technology in higher education.   GeekyMomma’s Blog: http://www.leekolbert.com/ This website gives downloads and tips on social learning free of cost.   Study skills blog: http://www.studyskillsblog.com/ Did you know that music is great for concentration? Or that playing video games will improve your reflexes? Read such cool stuff here on this snazzy blog.   Read more on ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1170613 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 11:05:51 GMT+08:00 There are 5 useful tips for new teachers to take note. Be Able to Define What It Means to Be a Connected Educator Connected educator is able to engage tech-savvy students through blogs, social networking sites, multimedia and other Web 2.0 tools. Be Knowledgeable about Web 2.0 It is important for teachers to be familiar with Web 2.0. Web 2.0 tools include blogs, wikis, podcasts, social networking and social bookmarking sites, tagging, photo- and video-sharing, RSS and many more!   Be Willing to Join a Social Media Network Participating in an online community is allows teachers to connect with other teachers across the world. Twitter is a power social media tool that provides a hugh support to new teachers.   Become a Blogger Keeping a blog allows teachers to reflect, gain feedback and even engage their students. Be Reflective and Reach Out In years to come, new teachers will become more familiar with the 21st century education system. Therefore, it is important for them to share some experience with new batch of teachers.   Read more on ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1170377 Mon, 13 Aug 2012 22:39:57 GMT+08:00 Students in the 21st century are becoming more like 'digital natives' as new technology emerges rapidly.They are outside, engaging in social activities, and constantly on the move. They would be disconnected and feel lost if they were thrown into a slow-moving and old-fashioned classroom. Thus, it is very important for teachers to make use of technology to engage their students so that they are able to learn faster.    Read more on ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1168542 Mon, 30 Jul 2012 09:14:37 GMT+08:00 New technology from researchers at North Carolina State University and ImagineOptix Corp. might make smart-phone projectors as common as smart-phone cameras.   Tiny digital projectors, called pico projectors, have appeared already in smart phones like the Samsung Galaxy Beam, which has a 15-lumen output and can project up to 50 inches at a 640 x 360 resolution—but now researchers have developed a much more efficient process to polarize light in liquid crystal (LC) projectors to reduce light loss and thus heat.   Read more on ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1168224 Thu, 26 Jul 2012 22:37:09 GMT+08:00 Computers have integrated into many students' lives and majority of them are very tech-savvy. Therefore, it is important for teachers to embrace the 21st century technology in the classrooms.   The 3 simple ways include:   Improving learning habits for students Digital whiteboards have transformed the ways that teachers communicate with students. Teachers can use digital whiteboards to convey important messages in a clear way. Students are able to see writing on whiteboards clearly, and a teacher can also type messages onto whiteboards.   Using social media in the classroom Teachers can look for creative ways to show students how social media can be used for effective communication. For example, English teachers can develop the writing skills of students by having them write concisse tweets on Twitter.   Encourage students to blog Teachers can encourage students to set up an online blog to improve their writing skills and nurture their creativity to explore their thoughts and feelings through writing. Read more on ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1167823 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 00:11:55 GMT+08:00 Every carpenter has his tool belt, and every journalist has her AP style guide—but what are the resources that a teacher in the 21st century should have? A tablet With a tablet on hand, a teacher is able to look for information on-the-go when the students have queries.   Tools for student understanding Different students have different learning capabilities, and a teacher should find creative ways to teach.   Publications from the field Besides textbooks, a teacher should also find learning materials from other sources such as National Gepgraphic and Newsweek magazines.   A daily communication system for connecting schools and parents It is important to communicate effectively with parents so that they are aware of their children's progess.   The natural world To connect students with nature.   Inner resources Besides academic resources, a teacher should have the correct mindset, attitude and dedication to mould students' character.   Read more on   ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1167478 Sat, 21 Jul 2012 00:27:13 GMT+08:00 From Bill Gates’ perspective of the classrooms in the near future, students are grouped according to skill set. One cluster huddles around a computer terminal, playing an educational game or working on a simulator. Another works with a human teacher getting direct instruction, while another gets a digital lesson delivered from their teacher’s avatar.   Read more on ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1167336 Thu, 19 Jul 2012 23:08:50 GMT+08:00 Here are the 3 predictions that will be happening in the 21st century classrooms.   The move from Print to Digital Many people are using iPads and other ebook reader to source for reading materials.   Private social networks Schools can set up private social networks inspired by Facebook and Twitter.   Cheaper everything The education technology market is becoming more competitve. From the cost of buying textbooks, purchasing school supplies, and new-found love of technology, it’s clear that companies are starting to set their sites on the education vertical.   Read more on  ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1167002 Tue, 17 Jul 2012 08:38:00 GMT+08:00 As the number of students using smartphones increases,teachers can utilize text message technology in their classrooms to increase student engagement. Examples include:   Group texting Teachers can communicate with students outside of the classroom environment regarding assignments, deadlines and events.   Silent In-Class Discussion Students can silently share their thoughts and questions with both the teacher and each other during lectures or structured discussions.The discussions can be both formal and informal, providing a platform for students to brainstorm, respond to and discuss content material.   Live Polling Teachers can create classroom polls or quizzes that are recorded in real-time, and students can submit answers directly from their smartphones and results are displayed online in a matter of seconds. With this technology, teachers have the ability to pose questions to students throughout a class or at the end of the lesson, utilizing formative assessment methods to gauge student understanding and content mastery.   Read more on ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1166303 Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:06:03 GMT+08:00 Technology affords every child a voice. Many educators believe that the power of technology can break down barriers to learning. For example, the less verbally articulate students are able to use social media as a platform to share their knowledge and expertise with their friends.   Read more on ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1166107 Tue, 10 Jul 2012 10:53:41 GMT+08:00 Top 3 reasons for teachers to use technology in the classroom: Adapt to diverse learning styles Boost student motivation Enhance the material being taught Components of a 21st century classroom: Real world education Online courses Games and gamification Learning analytics Open source textbooks Integration of social networks   Read more on  ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1165912 Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:52:18 GMT+08:00 According to a new Gartner research report, many computer users are storing their digital content using cloud-based services.   This trend is likely to increase because many consumers are using multiple connected devices, where majority of them are equipped with cameras. This leads to a huge increase in new user-generated content that requires storage. The bulk of the cloud storage needs of consumers will be met by social media sites like Facebook which provides free storage space for consumers to share and upload their photos and videos. The "personal cloud" is a term that the company uses to describe how the user will shift away from the personal computer and toward the use of multiple devices all syncing back to the same online resource.   Read more on   ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1165721 Fri, 06 Jul 2012 11:17:27 GMT+08:00 Google and Yahoo come to mind when we think of search engines. There are many other hidden search engines that are useful for academic researches. Here are some of the general academic search engines: iSEEK Education   Refseek   Virtual LRC BUBL LINK Digital Library of the Common Repository OALster Internet Public Library Infomine Microsoft Academic Search Google Correlate     Read more on  ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1165654 Thu, 05 Jul 2012 18:02:45 GMT+08:00 Microsoft has released a free version of Office 365 for education, a cloud-based suite of tools that includes Office applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, as well as Exchange Online for eMail, SharePoint Online for collaborating, and more—rivaling Google’s education cloud. Office 365, which Microsoft introduced last year, now is available free of charge to students, teachers, and faculty, the company said. Upgraded packages are available for a fee, including unlimited eMail storage, archiving, and hosted voice mail support.   Read more on  ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1165413 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:57:01 GMT+08:00 Neuroscience is helping to shape educational policies and influencing new ways of implementing technology, improving special education, and streamlining day-to-day interactions between teachers and students. Here are some of the highlights that neuroscience is changing the 21st century classrooms. Cognitive tutoring It means teachers use cognitive psychology theory to teach students. High schools starting later Research has shown that students perform poorly in the mornings so many schools are starting their classes later. Offering more variety Students absorb more when episodes of learning are spaced out over time. Therefore schools should bring more variety into the classroom with lessons extending over the course of a semester rather than being fit into a few days or weeks. Individualized education Students have different learning capabilities. Teachers are encouraged to present information in creative ways so that students are able to link new information with past information. Understanding that you use it or lose it Neuroscience enables students to remember theories that they learnt many years ago! Therefore, neuroscience is useful because it helps to build neural connections. Better identification and intervention for learning disorders Neuroscience research is able to identify which students have learning disabilities and help to enhance their learning performance. Making learning fun Making learning social Neuroscience requires students to work in groups which will lead to effective learning. Focus on neuroeducation Neuroeducation not only helps students with learning disabilities, but also improves students’ memory and language skills.   Read more here ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1165191 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:21:38 GMT+08:00 When e-textbooks were first introduced, they were supposed to replace physical textbooks eventually but many students are not receptive to the idea of having e-textbooks. The reasons are: The books they need aren’t available in digital format: Some of the textbooks or even supplementary notes are not available in digital form. Even when certain titles are available digitally, they typically usually do not find them but instead they would rather purchase physical textbooks that are more important. They are not as affordable as you might think: E-readers like iPads do not come cheap. You can’t lend or resell most e-textbooks: Textbooks downloaded into e-readers do not go anywhere but into the students’ devices. Hence, they are unable to resell. It feels strange to mark up an e-book: Even though students can bookmark and highlight their e-textbooks, they still prefer to do so on their tangible textbooks. e-Textbooks are heavy, too: There are better digital options available: Examples are videos and interactive websites. Today’s students grew up with books: Experts believe that students who grew up with tangible books are less receptive to use e-books. E-books offer a different experience: Some researchers believe that the brain absorbs digital and printed text differently. And students learn better with physical books. Finding e-textbooks is a scavenger hunt: Downloading digital textbooks can be a hassle as students may have to source for different websites. Students expect more from digital editions: E-textbooks may lack of social tools for them to ‘share’ with their friends.   Read more here ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1165046 Mon, 02 Jul 2012 09:24:41 GMT+08:00 It is high time that teachers should fully utilise different technologies to enrich students’ learning experience. Access to technology allows for more differentiation. With multiple devices in each classroom, it can allow for students at different levels to function at different paces.   Read more from Edutopia ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1164462 Thu, 28 Jun 2012 09:16:22 GMT+08:00 Even though Social Media is a tool for global empowerment which facilitates multiple communications, it is important for schools to educate their students about the consequences of cyber bullying. They should take a leadership role in modeling strong social media engagement. Examples include sharing of achievements, promoting school events, sharing daily highlights from lectures, hosting conests, and posting resources and homework via social media.   Read more at Edutopia ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1162897 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:22:59 GMT+08:00 In 2012 we've seen amazing growth in the Consumer Cloud, meaning cloud computing for everyday users. There are three main categories in the Consumer Cloud: storage, sync, and notes. Dropbox, Apple's iCloud and Evernote (respectively) have been the most impressive performers in each category so far this year.   Read the full post on ReadWriteWeb ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1162400 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 14:28:43 GMT+08:00 Edudemic Magazine listed 10 ideas for enabling tomorrow's learning. Tomorrow's learning is already available, and we had tracked down the trends, concepts, and resources to make it happen. Here are the 10 incredibly powerful teaching tools of the future: 1. Visual Learning 2. Evolved Currencies 3. Personalization 4. Gamification 5. Social Media 6. Game-Based Learning 7. Connectedness 8. Crowdsourcing 9. Project-Based Learning 10. Digital and Physical Merge   Read the full post on  edudemic ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1161964 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 09:47:28 GMT+08:00 Microsoft views the Surface as a "stage for Windows 8". It's 9.3mm thin, has full size USB 2.0 ports, a massive kickstand and weighs only 1.5 lbs. The casing is made out of magnesium (specifically, a material Microsoft calls VaporMg) and screen is covered in the Gorilla Glass 2 and optically bonded, a feature Microsoft brags was specifically made for the Surface. The Surface is directly aimed at consumers, and with that, the iPad.   Read the full post on Techcrunch ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1161669 Mon, 18 Jun 2012 10:48:09 GMT+08:00 Student achievement benefits from strategic use of mobile apps and devices, reported an educational research firm, based on a study of technology implementation.   The research identified implementation as a key factor in the success of mobile technology in the classroom.   “Education technology does not operate in a vacuum, and the research findings reinforce that with a supportive school culture and strategic implementation, technology can have a significant impact on student achievement,” said Linda Zecher, President and CEO of HMH.   Read the full post on EducationWorld ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1161138 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 10:00:20 GMT+08:00 In a little over two years Pinterest has become the third largest social media network recently surpassing LinkedIn. Couple the size of this network with the fact that 83% of U.S. users are women and Pinterest occupies a unique position among social media networks.   Our internal research at my school continues to suggest that women, i.e. mothers, are the main decision makers when selecting a school for their child. So when you add all of these pieces together Pinterest quickly becomes a social media network that your school needs to pay attention to for marketing purposes.   Read the full post on  schneiderb.com ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1160941 Wed, 13 Jun 2012 10:35:14 GMT+08:00 Overall, educators need to understand some basics about technology and that it is not a be-all-end-all solution to everything in a classroom.   Technology can help teachers differentiate and provide new experiences for their students. Technology can also help students better understand a concept and provide extra help for them. Educators need to start with good pedagogy and lesson objectives and activities and then look for technology that can enhance those lessons, improve teaching and learning, and help students learn.   The How's, Why's and Value of Educational Technology   Read the full post on  Educational Technology Guy ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1160850 Tue, 12 Jun 2012 09:51:26 GMT+08:00 Today at Apple's WWDC keynote, far and away the most exciting product announced has to be refreshed and replenished mobile operating system. The days of iOS 6 are upon us, and the platter of 200 new features Apple is serving up is more than enough to make any fanboi's mouth water.   So which dreams came true, and which will be left for later generations of the software? Read the full post Techcrunch ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1160777 Mon, 11 Jun 2012 01:28:19 GMT+08:00 In Shanghai, China, every low-performing school is assigned a team of master teachers and administrators to provide weekly guidance and mentorship on everything from lesson plans to school culture. Watch the video on  edutopia           ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1160692 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 00:03:14 GMT+08:00 Online learning has been around long enough now for educators to understand its benefits and challenges in relation to traditional course delivery. For several years there has been a growing academic discourse and professional culture around online learning as educators have become more aware of that form of instruction. Currently, however, there seems to be a change in how students perceive these delivery options and, by default, how instructors are developing as general practitioners, or teachers who can teach in any mode of delivery. That is, there is a fading of the lines between face-to-face and online as technology becomes more ubiquitous and the true effect of mobility is observed and experienced. Students' world of interaction, communication, and exploration is increasingly mobile and as that begins to pervade education, so the expectations of students are changing regarding their learning.   Read the full post  Campustechnology ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1160534 Thu, 07 Jun 2012 10:06:46 GMT+08:00 Game-based learning and mobile apps are beginning to catch on in schools—and these also were key characteristics that defined several of the dozen emerging ed-tech companies recognized for their potential by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) last month. During SIIA’s Innovation Incubator program, held in connection with the organization’s Ed-Tech Industry Summit in San Francisco May 6-8, two new educational technology companies in particular—Language Express and Filament Games—were voted by the 350 conference attendees as being the “Most Likely to Succeed”   (first place and runner-up, respectively). Filament Games and Language Express also were voted as the “Most Innovative,” in that order. Read the full post on  eSchool News ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1160297 Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:15:14 GMT+08:00 Imagine a work day spent at home in your slippers, teaching students without the headaches of monitoring who's chewing gum, who showed up late, or who's sending text messages in the back row.   If you're interested in taking your teaching skills online, there are several ways to go. Some make virtual teaching their full-time occupation. Some do it part-time, moonlighting for extra cash and experience. And more and more, traditional teachers are becoming switch-hitters who bring the best online strategies to their face-to-face classrooms.   Below you'll find some tips on how to get started as an online educator and what challenges to expect.   Read the full post on  edutopia     ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1160158 Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:44:59 GMT+08:00 As school and family budgets have shrunk over the past decade, and Facebook and other social media have made it easier for students to tell their own stories, traditional yearbooks have struggled to survive. At some schools, yearbooks have vanished. Others have been forced to remake themselves, and they’re turning to online companies like Lulu, Lifetouch and TreeRing to do it.   “For today’s kids, who with smartphones now have a lot of photos of themselves on Facebook and communicate with their friends online, it modernizes the yearbook,” Greco said. “When we give them the ability to add their own photos and memories, the yearbook becomes a reflection of their own experience, not just an artifact about the most popular or photographed kids at the school.”   Read the full post here ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1159953 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:57:43 GMT+08:00 Educators to be encouraged to take up courses that build on their interests and strengths. Called the Teacher Growth Model, it was developed by the Academy of Singapore Teachers after consultations with the Ministry of Education (MOE), experts and teachers.   Currently, teachers have to clock about 100 hours of professional development per year, and it is up to the schools how much time is allocated to mandatory courses and how many courses the teachers can pursue for professional development according to the subjects they teach and their own competencies.   Read the full post here ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1159624 Thu, 31 May 2012 09:59:38 GMT+08:00 Kersten Kelly never thought she'd get her MBA online. "I wanted to enhance my theoretical skills while continuing to build my in-field experience," says Kelly who got her MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, which is located in Bloomington, Ind., four hours away from where she lived in South Bend, Ind.   Kelly is just one of the many young entrepreneurs opting to learn online, tackling business topics via such high-tech teaching methods as video lessons and embedded quizzes. It’s an ever-evolving world with an increasing array of options, from CodeAcademy, Skillshare and Coursera to Harvard/MIT, which just entered the arena with edX , a certificate program that will offer free online courses from both universities.   Read the full post here ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1159467 Wed, 30 May 2012 10:06:53 GMT+08:00 Google, together with its partner Samsung, launched a new Chromebook and its first desktop Chromebox today. The most important change to the new Samsung Series 5 Chromebook is that it is significantly faster.   Besides all of this, Google also brought its more Windows-like version of ChromeOS to its stable release channel today. This new “app-centric user interface” features a more traditional window manager than the previous single browser-only versions. This new interface will be the default on the new ChromeOS devices and will also replace the current UI on existing Chromebooks.   Read the full post here ]]> http://www.commontown.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1175237 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 11:41:35 GMT+08:00 Research has shown that students who have higher-order thinking skills tend to do well in both academic and non-academic aspects.     There are 5 ways to stretch students' thinking:   Produce a 'one-minute' video   When students are required to do this video, they have to brainstorm ideas on how to summarise and convey the message in a minute. Thus, they will learn to analyse and evaluate what kind of information should be included in the video.   Record a short podcast Besides improving their thinking skills, creating podcasts can also train students to become better speakers and listeners.   Design an infographic Infographics are useful because they reduce lots of content into a readily understood format. In order for students to present accurate facts in charts, graphs or other forms of visual representations, they have to research a topic to gather data and then present relevant information.   Explain via screencast Challenge students to create a video tutorial that demonstrates a skill or explains a basic concept using a screencasting app or screencasting program for a laptop. Instead of scripting the video, the student narrator has to outline basic steps in the process being covered and then describe out loud what he or she is doing during the demonstration or explanation.    Make a Five Story photo   Based on a Flickr group, Five Photo Stories tell tales using five images with no supporting text or audio, aside from the story title.  Photo 1: Establish character(s) and setting Photo 2: Create a situation where multiple actions might occur Photo 3: Engage the character(s) in the situation Photo 4: Built toward a likely outcome Photo 5: End with a surprising--but logical--finish   Read more on ]]>