Historians of technology trace the beginnings of computers from the analytic machine of Charles Babbage in the 19th century. The history of electronic digital computing is usually measured from the creation of Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC), the computer built to handle the massive computations necessary for military applications (including for the Manhattan Project Read More
Category: Technology
Humans and Computers
My social media feeds have been filled with many stories about “the next big thing” in technology and education. I suppose we expect such lists to be popular at important (and arbitrary) transitions like the end of one decade and the beginning of next. (For me, I am a few short weeks from working as Read More
My Elevator Pitch on “good #edtech”
So, we want our schools to be technology-rich places. That means we need to make sure there is mutual support for: Networks to be are properly planned; Devices to be properly installed and configured; Management is reasonable according to what we can afford and how we do business; Problems are resolved in a timely manner; Read More
A Short Rant on #edtech
My experiences have convinced me that computer-mediated communication is fundamental to life in the 21st century; humans adopt (with increasing rapidity) the information technologies in their environment and humans adapt their communication habits to the tools. Humans also exapt technology; they find new and unintended uses for technologies. In biology exaptations are those structures and Read More
On #edtech Audits
Information technology is an essential aspect of every school. Students and teachers use computers to consume and create digital information. Administrators and staff use cloud-based student information and business systems to manage data and facilitate operations. Librarians manage digital collections and subscriptions to full-text databases, and technology specialists support learning management systems and other infrastructure Read More
A Brief History of Computers in Schools
The first school computers were mainframe computers. As with all mainframe installations, the computer was physically located away from the end users, so teachers and students never saw or touched the case containing the processor. These machines were used for instruction in the simplest terms: Students were presented with information, and then they were presented Read More
#edtech for #edleaders: Technicians and Teachers
When listening to students and teachers, as well as administrators and staff who comprise the users of ICT systems in schools, I hear complaints about the technology (they tell me it is unreliable and insufficient). I also hear from them complaints about the people charged with managing ICT (they tell me technologists are unresponsive to Read More
Change or Die is Still Timely
About 15 years ago, there was a book and article entitled Change or Die that was widely popular and that was discussed at every conference and meeting we attended for a season or two. The thesis of the book and article was simple: When faced with the choice of changing one’s behavior or dying, many humans Read More
#edtech for #edleaders: Facilitating Conditions
While educators who work in technology-rich places and spaces are likely to become more independent and capable to using it, there are aspects of maintaining technology that are beyond the expertise of educators. This is particularly true of those parts of the technology that can be disastrous to other users if they are misconfigured. Also, Read More
Information Technology in Schools: An Emerging Rationale
Since computers entered the educational market in the late 1970’s, there has been debate about their appropriate role in schools. While some advocate for quick adoption of every new emerging tool, others advocate for avoiding digital technology altogether. Between those extremes we find the more rationale observers who advocate for purposeful and thoughtful approaches to Read More