Engaging millions of students in virtual worlds of learning

For the next two days, I will be attending Virtual Worlds 2008, a conference to be held at the Javits Center in New York City. My interest in being there is to learn about an emerging digital sector that is creating compelling new ways of communicating. Education is a form of communicating, at least in part. Will educators be leaders at this conference? Well, no. Maybe they should be. It is advertising and entertainment that are the big thought leaders for digital communication, while educators are primarily still back in the print era. Maybe educators will step up soon to use virtual world possibilities for learning.

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Fostering Meaningful Teaching and Learning with Technology

I’d like to share a book with you about technology professional development.Meaningful Learning Using Technology: What Educators Need to Know And Doby Elizabeth Alexander Ashburn (Editor), Robert E. Floden (Editor) (Amazon link)

In this book, national experts use concrete examples to describe specific knowledge, beliefs, and strategies that will enable teachers and district leaders to support meaningful learning using technology. Chapters examine the intersection between course content, types of technology, and the supports and professional development required to effectively implement technology in the K–12 classroom. (From the publisher)

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MPS chief wants to pull charter for aviation school

MPS chief wants to pull charter for aviation school Academic, business failures cited in recommendationBy ALAN J. BORSUK
aborsuk@journalsentinel.comPosted: April 7, 2008

The Milwaukee Academy of Aviation, Science and Technology, one of the small high schools in the Milwaukee Public Schools system, has not been living up to the terms of the agreement that created the school and should lose its charter, Superintendent William Andrekopoulos has told the School Board.

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