Twitter in Education - Surely Not!

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Interesting post over at ZDNet regarding Twitter in education.

More than the content of the post I think it's useful in reminding practitioners (and IT managers) that technology is not, in and of itself, good or bad, it's how we use it.

If Twitter can be used to take a quick poll of students without installing any fancy software - why not?

Look, Ma! Twitter’s useful! | Education IT | ZDNet.com

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Browser Security Handbook

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Google has released a browser security handbook covering all sorts of threats to your computer from browser exploits.

This is the sort of background reading anyone doing a web programming unit should know about.

Main - browsersec - Browser Security Handbook landing page - Google Code

Web 2.0-savvy teachers testing old assumptions

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Interesting article on CNN.com about teachers using some Web 2.0 technologies.

Always nice to hear about some new, old, ideas.

Web 2.0-savvy teachers testing old assumptions - CNN.com

Area #1 - Practitioners

Image by confusedvision via FlickrIt was clear during our workshops on the future of computing that everyone knew exactly where the problem lay and, of course, it was never with us, the practitioners. It seems right, therefore, that I start this short series by addressing an area where we as practitioners can change.

The flexibility of courses offered by colleges is intimately bound to the skills and competencies of the staff. Too often, however, the provision of courses is hindered by the lack of available skills and the unwillingness of practitioners to expand their skill base.

The apotheosis of this is the situation, all too common throughout the country, where practitioners have 'their subjects' or, at the extreme, where practitioners keep the same timetable for several years.

This is not to say that practitioners should not have their specialist subjects. Computing is too broad to allow an in depth knowledge of all aspects of computing. It is vital, that to fully address the ongoing challenges facing Computing, practitioners become, and remain, as flexible as possible.

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Can Teaching in a Virtual Environment be Productive?

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Teaching in virtual environments can be very productive, Bill Thompson

Can it?

BBC NEWS | Technology | Moving to the Second Classroom

Sho What Ish Soshiku?

Image by bierzak via Flickr

Students never want to keep a record of their due work. The complexities of a paper diary seem beyond them. They lose it in their home or, more likely, they don't fill it in in the first place.

How about a super snazzy Web 2.0 version of an assignment diary instead? Perhaps the nice interface will prompt them to actually use the thing.

Got to be worth a go.

Soshiku › The Smart Way to Keep Track of Your Schoolwork