01/24/07: EncycloMedia: Content for TEACHERS to use media more effectively within their own lessons.
KET's EncycloMedia is an interesting venture. I heard about it on a BBC News report and from the interviews and sound bytes, it seems to be a productive methodology for increasing active engagement. I saw something similar in classrooms in Seoul, Korea when I visited.
The thing that I appreciate about it, is that it doesn't seem to have false expectations that the media (content) can more effectively teach than an actual teacher. That said, it gives the teachers the material that they need to teach without undermining their capacity to do so. I think that this is critical not only because it keeps teachers part of the equation of learning in schools, but because it gives teachers the thing that they need MOST.
Taking a hint from the past 50 years of television programming... BETTER CONTENT! But wait... there's more... it's free (via streaming) for public school teachers in Kentucky through a collaboration with KET.
I think that this is just the tip of the iceberg regarding what is possible with educational content. This is a good start, I'd say.
The thing that I appreciate about it, is that it doesn't seem to have false expectations that the media (content) can more effectively teach than an actual teacher. That said, it gives the teachers the material that they need to teach without undermining their capacity to do so. I think that this is critical not only because it keeps teachers part of the equation of learning in schools, but because it gives teachers the thing that they need MOST.
Taking a hint from the past 50 years of television programming... BETTER CONTENT! But wait... there's more... it's free (via streaming) for public school teachers in Kentucky through a collaboration with KET.
I think that this is just the tip of the iceberg regarding what is possible with educational content. This is a good start, I'd say.
01/17/07: Working on...
- Final abstract for: "Who Killed Design?" interactivity session at CHI 2007 in San Jose, CA. This should be a great panel that's going to be focused on inter-disciplinary notions of what "Design" is. We've already secured three great panelists (Bill Buxton, Terry Winograd, and Meg Armstrong) who all deal with "design" on a daily basis but who come from and very different backgrounds. Will post the abstract soon. [UPDATE: Bill Moggridge has agreed to join the Panel rounding out our excellent group of panelists!!! - more soon]
- Course syllabus for Design Development - This is a studio based course I am teaching this term at Parsons focused primarily on prototyping as a means to understanding the design process. The course is going to focus on the design of tools, spaces, and systems for learning (broadly defined).
- My dissertation: an ongoing battle but progress is being made.
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