* The book breaks down common assumptions and misconceptions about the utility of educational technologies in effective teaching. * Each chapter uses vivid, accessible classroom scenarios to close the distance between traditional learning and competence in technologies. * After covering a wide array of classroom issues and applicable technologies, the author concludes with a unifying critical position on sound research methods.

* This book provides a range of perspectives and real stories from educators teaching overseas across multiple international school contexts and positional roles. * Includes essays, vignettes, and personal anecdotes that stem from the lived experiences of international educators in the field. * This book will address the challenges and acclimation issues many new teachers face when taking their first assignment overseas. * This book fills a gap -- international educators have few practical resources from which to learn about the experiences of their peers.

Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age is for all those interested in considering the impact of emerging digital technologies on teaching and learning. It explores the concept of a digital age and perspectives of knowledge, pedagogy and practice within a digital context.

By examining teaching with digital technologies through new learning theories cognisant of the digital age, it aims to both advance thinking and offer strategies for teaching technology-savvy students that will enable meaningful learning experiences.

Illustrated throughout with case studies from across the subjects and the age range, key issues considered include:

• how young people create and share knowledge both in and beyond the classroom and how current and new pedagogies can support this level of achievement
• the use of complexity theory as a framework to explore teaching in the digital age

• the way learning occurs one way exchanges, online and face-to-face interactions, learning within a framework of constructivism, and in communities
• what we mean by critical thinking, why it is important in a digital age, and how this can occur in the context of learning
• how students can create knowledge through a variety of teaching and learning activities, and how the knowledge being created can be shared, critiqued and evaluated.

With an emphasis throughout on what it means for practice, this book aims to improve understanding of how learning theories currently work and can evolve in the future to promote truly effective learning in the digital age. It is essential reading for all teachers, student teachers, school leaders, those engaged in Masters Level work, as well as students on Education Studies courses.

Virtual worlds offer engaging, rich visual and auditory experiences to their users. In them, players guide computer-based avatars through virtual landscapes filled with realistic buildings, objects, characters, and the avatars of other players. In the commercial realm, games and online virtual communities attract millions of devoted fans who spend large amounts of time and money in these worlds. In recent years, interest in virtual worlds as platforms for instruction and training has rapidly grown as researchers and designers focus on their potential power as learning environments. Educational virtual worlds are designed to incorporate situated learning concepts of collaborative knowledge building among communities of learners in contexts that closely mimic the real world.

In this, the first text written specifically on how to design virtual worlds for educational purposes, the authors explore: the history and evolution of virtual worlds (commercial and educational), the theories behind the use of virtual worlds for learning, the design of curricula in virtual worlds, design guidelines for elements experienced in virtual worlds that support learning, and design guidelines for learning quests and activities in virtual worlds. They also examine the theories and associated design principles used to create embedded assessments in virtual worlds. Finally, they offer a framework and methodology to assist professionals in evaluating off-the-shelf virtual worlds for use in educational and training settings.

Education Networks is a critical analysis of the emerging intersection among the global power elite, information and communication technology, and schools. Joel Spring documents and examines the economic and political interests and forces -including elite networks, the for-profit education industry, data managers, and professional educators - that are pushing the use of ICT for online instruction, test preparation and tutoring, data management, instructional software packages, and more , and looks closely at the impact this is having on schools, students, and learning. Making a distinction between "mind" (as socially constructed) and "brain" (as a physiological entity), Spring draws on recent findings from comparative psychology on the possible effects of ICT on the social construction of the minds of students and school managers, and from neuroscience regarding its effect on students' brains. Throughout, the influence of elite networks and powerful interest groups is linked to what is happening to children in classrooms. In conclusion Spring offers bold suggestions to change the course of the looming technological triumph of ICT in the "brave new world" of schooling.

* This book provides a range of perspectives and real stories from educators teaching overseas across multiple international school contexts and positional roles. * Includes essays, vignettes, and personal anecdotes that stem from the lived experiences of international educators in the field. * This book will address the challenges and acclimation issues many new teachers face when taking their first assignment overseas. * This book fills a gap -- international educators have few practical resources from which to learn about the experiences of their peers.

As the linguistic, cognitive and social elements of our lives are transformed by new and emerging technologies, educational settings are also challenged to respond to the issues that have arisen as a consequence. This book focuses on that challenge: using psychological theory as a lens to highlight the positive uses of new technologies in relationships and educational settings, and to advocate technological learning opportunities and social support where the misuse and abuse of ICT occurs. The Impact of Technology on Relationships in Educational Settings sets out to explore the role of ICTs in relationship forming, social networking and social relationships within our schools and has grown out of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST); Action on cyberbullying, involving 28 participating countries, and two non-COST countries, of which Australia is one. This cutting edge international text offers cross-cultural, psychological perspectives on the positive uses of new and emerging technologies to improve social relationships and examples of best practice to prevent virtual bullying. This comes at a time when much of the focus in current writings has been on the more negative aspects which have emerged as new technologies evolved: cyberbullying, cyber-aggression and cybersafety concerns. This text is ideally suited to researchers and practiitioners in the fields of Educational and developmental psychology, as well as those specialising in educational technology and the sociology of education.

How can we ensure we use technology effectively with young children?

Using New Web Tools in the Primary Classroom is for all teachers interested in the application of new web-based ICTs to primary teaching. It offers a justification for using Web 2.0 tools and explores tangible ways in which technologies such as blogs, wikis, podcasting, media sharing and social networking sites can enhance classroom practice, teaching and learning.

Considering key issues such as how children learn, curriculum, policy, and children 's prior experiences of ICT, this book focuses on the expectations and needs of the child and how technology can be unlocked to meet those needs now and in the future. Key ideas considered include:

• Diverse views of social software in education
• Using web tools to create and reinforce stimulating learning environments
• Teacher skills and the availability of suitable technology
• Competing demands of government policies and curriculum
• Practical ideas for enriching learning through social software: Children as producers of knowledge, as explorers, and as communicators.

Enhanced with reflective questions and tasks to support your own thinking, and with practical ideas for using web-based ICTs in a range of subjects and in topic work, Using New Web Tools in the Primary Classroom is a rich resource for all student and practising primary school teachers. Those on Education Studies courses interested in new internet technologies and their potential to enhance learning within primary schools will also find much food for thought.

This practical guide outlines a vision for online and distance STEM learning at the elementary level, with creative activities based on eight STEM themes. Online and distance learning may sound fairly straightforward. Instead of learning in a classroom setting, students learn at home with the assistance of online resources. But classroom learning does not always translate easily to online settings, particularly at the elementary level where children should be actively engaging in activities, exploration and discussion. For STEM subjects, integration across subjects, settings and play-based versus traditional learning present opportunities for young learners to engage in age-appropriate online and distance learning. This book features eight creative, integrated STEM lessons, including ideas for designing a zoo, learning to garden, exploring the night sky and more. Each lesson offers online, traditional and hands-on components, with connections to the ISTE Standards and STEM standards across elementary grades. Each of the eight lessons includes: An overview of materials, resources, time and supervision needed. Suggested resources to explore, such as simulations and virtual field trips. Supplementary learning materials such as questions and quizzes. Ideas for games and reinforcement. Hands-on activities and engineering design challenges. Connections to various content areas as well as children's books, movies and art to keep the learning going after the lesson is completed. Concluding with a model for designing online and distance STEM learning for elementary-aged children, this book will support teachers and parents in designing the types of resources and learning experiences they need for elementary students' distance learning.

Online and Social Networking Communities is a professional guide written for educational practitioners and trainers who wish to use online communication tools effectively in their teaching. Focusing on the student experience of learning in online communities, it addresses 'web 2.0' and other 'social software' tools and considers the role these technologies play in supporting student learning and building learning communities. The guide offers: real-world case studies and quality research a must-have list of useful resources guidance on building and supporting online learning communities information on how collaborative learning assessment differs from assessment of individual learning coverage of wikis, forums, blogging and micro-blogging, instant messaging, YouTube, Facebook, Second Life, Twitter, Flicker, desktop audio, videoconferencing, and social networking sites. Online and Social Networking Communities helps educators and trainers develop a critical approach by exploring online teaching from both the student and educator's perspective.This practical guide provides the tools to become a confident and thoughtful online educator, able to create successful and enjoyable learning experiences for your students.

The use of technology within the lifelong learning sector brings many benefits to learners, teachers and managers. Aimed at trainee and practising teachers, this book contains clear, practical guidance on how to use technology and e-learning effectively to enhance all aspects of teaching and learning in the post-compulsory sector.

Alan Clarke explains the technologies that are available and how to use them from whiteboards and virtual learning environments to digital photographs, podcasts and e-portfolios. Each chapter is fully aligned with the new LLUK standards and includes teaching strategies, practical examples and case studies to show how these work in practice.

Chapters include guidance on:

• using e-portfolios, blogs and wikis to present and share information with colleagues and encourage reflection
• motivating students and promoting collaboration using mobile devices, discussion groups and forums
• how to use ICT to develop literacy and numeracy skills
• ways to keep up to date with new and emerging technologies
• using technology safely and securely.

Including a wide range of activities, questions for reflective practice and links to further sources of information, this essential textbook will help trainee and practising teachers in post-compulsory education to understand the major ILT tools and use them confidently and effectively in their teaching.

The author is a leading expert on teaching history with games and on historical games studies It offers very practical and specific suggestions and insights It includes a number of templates for worskheets, analytical questions and rubrics Updated and added talking points for the value of historical video games in education for colleagues, administrators, parents, and students A new cutting-edge exploration of the features of historical games including the author's Historical Problem Space framework for historical game analysis. Extensive discussion of how to use the Historical Problem Space framework to study games and guide students in game analysis. A new cutting-edge investigation of the main genres of historical games and how those genres address history and academic history content Revised and expanded updated lesson and unit structures, for introducing students to historical games through video clips, whole class play, and individual gameplay Revised and expanded activities and assessments using current games as examples A fully updated appendix with a current list of most available history games and the academic standards they address

Improving Classroom Learning with ICT examines the ways in which ICT can be used in the classroom to enhance teaching and learning in different settings and across different subjects. Weaving together evidence of teachers' and learners' experiences of ICT, the authors: explain why the process of integrating ICT is not straightforward; discuss whether hardware and infrastructure alone are sufficient to ensure full integration and exploitation of ICT investment; emphasise the pivotal role that teachers play in supporting learning with ICT across the curriculum; argue that teachers need a greater understanding of how to put ICT to use in teaching and learning; highlight that out-of-school use of ICT has an impact on in-school learning; consider what kinds of professional development are most effective in supporting teachers to use technologies creatively and productively. Case studies are used to illustrate key issues and to elaborate a range of theoretical ideas that can be used in the classroom. This book will be of interest to all those concerned with maximising the benefits of ICT in the classroom.

Harnessing Formative Data for K-12 Teachers prepares teachers to apply real-time formative data to classroom instruction amid the expansion of online and blended learning in schools. In today's changing, technology-enhanced educational landscape, teachers must rethink how to generate and use formative data to inform planning and develop systems that lead to all students' success. This book's strategic insights into actionable formative data use will yield differentiated supports for students, helping teachers to foster greater academic outcomes, independent self-monitoring, and readiness for college, career, and lifelong learning. Each chapter includes connections to social justice, best practices for applying data points and field-tested tips for technology integration, and a host of interactive planning guides to support implementation.

* Explores the emergent movement away from transmission based to coaching based learning * Champions education as a dialogic process between learners and coaches * Strives for a training model in which the motivated learner embraces challenges and learns to assess his/her own level, * Includes data and examples from schools in the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, and Norway.

The method of programming outlined in this book represents a major contribution to the growing body of literature in programmed learning. It is the first book in the field to present a carefully designed, complete and integrated system for analyzing, organizing and structuring learning materials in programmed form.

Application of the system is illustrated through the step-by-step construction of two short programs. Starting with the analysis of the syllabus and course content, the authors take the reader through each phase of the programming process gathering and organizing the content material, construction of the program matrix and flow diagram and finally, the writing of frames.

Every teacher and trainer can benefit from the application of this method to lesson plan preparation and to classroom teaching techniques. Such a method is essential, for all those who are writing programmed materials. In a new computer age classroom environment, programmed learning can be especially beneficial.

"C. A. Thomas, I. K. Davies, D. Openshaw," and "J. B. Bird" are instructors or directors at the British Royal Air Force School of Education. They are pioneers in the application of programmed learning in Britain and are highly regarded as forward looking and creative educational research workers. Their accomplishments include, in addition to this ingenious book, the design and development of the Empirical Tutor, one of Britain's major teaching machines, and the publication of a number of technical papers in the field of programmed learning.

"Lawrence M. Stolurow" is professor emeritus of psychological & quantitative foundations at the University of Iowa.

Improving Student Retention in Higher Education provides a practical, curriculum-based response to the current situation in higher education, where participating students emanate from a range of backgrounds; international and lower socioeconomic backgrounds, mature aged students, students with disabilities as well as those for whom higher education is the first family experience.

Underpinned by research indicating that students are more likely to continue with higher education if they are engaged in their studies and have developed networks and relationships with their fellow students, this book presents best practice examples of innovative and inclusive curriculum, from a range of countries.

Interactivity is at the very heart of open and flexible learning, and is evident at all level of engagement, whether between fellow students, students and tutors or students and online learning materials.
By actively engaging a student with learning materials, interactions help to enhance learning by consolidating knowledge and providing context, encouraging reflection, questioning and a deeper understanding of a subject.
This book will be a groundbreaking study into the quality of interactivity in online learning. A collection of research and innovative case material drawn from leading practitioners and academics from around the world, it will scrutinize the role and effectiveness of interactivity and tease out the practical implications for both online course designers and online teachers.

First published in 2006. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

This Handbook provides a comprehensive and international representation of state-of-the art research, theory, and practice related to principal areas in which significant developments are occurring in the study of literacy and technology. It offers a glimpse of the commonalities faced by literacy educators around the world, together with specific challenges raised by unique circumstances. Volume I of this Handbook endeavored to lay essential groundwork for the study of literacy and technology; it retains an explanatory value that will not weaken over time. Volume II differs considerably in conception. It assumes for the most part a higher level of expertise on the part of readers, and the projects and applications described by the contributors are characterized by greater sophistication. The scope of technology use is broader, and the challenges that have emerged are in sharper focus. A powerful feature of this volume is the addition of commentaries from experts across the field on the potential of technology in key dimensions of literacy. The title of Volume II has changed slightly to reflect the inclusion of contributions on a broad geographic basis. It is now a truly international Handbook, with chapter authors from six countries and five continents. The International Handbook of Literacy and Technology: Volume II is organized in five sections: *The Role of Technology in the New Literacies; *Technology Applications with Specific Populations; *Literacy Software and the Internet; *Teacher Education and Professional Development; and *The Potential of Technology in Key Dimensions of Literacy. The effects of technology on literate activity have been both sweeping and subtle, marked by an increasing variety of changes that are difficult to evaluate and project. Perhaps the only prediction that can be offered with certainty is that the impact of technology is irreversible. Specific changes may come and go, but literacy and technology seem inextricably linked. This Handbook is dedicated to that linkage and to examining the intricacies that define it. International Handbook of Literacy and Technology: Volume II is an essential reference for researchers, professionals, and students in reading/literacy education, literacy and technology, educational technology, and related areas, and will serve well as a text for upper-level and graduate courses on these topics.

Give your students a powerful learning resourcethe Internet! The Internet, though brimming with potential, is still vastly underused as a teaching resource. Internet Applications of Type II Uses of Technology in Education gives teachers new strategies for the Internet's use as a dynamic educational resource. Where Type I teaching applications technologically mimic the procedures previously used by teachers, Type II teaching applications involve innovative thinking in the use of technology in learning. Using Type II applications with the Internet, students are actively empowered to look to its use as an effective partner in their learning process. This book clearly reviews several Type II teaching applications and integrative software for use in all educational levels, including Internet videoconferencing, instant messages, WebQuests, and WebCT. Though now readily available, even those schools with the capability fail to effectively integrate computer and Internet technology into meaningful classroom activities. Using the Internet as a teaching and learning tool offers a flexibility that can be extremely effective. Internet Applications of Type II Uses of Technology in Education clearly shows how some creative educators have implemented inventive Type II applications in their teaching plans to give their students a more enriching learning experience. Internet Applications of Type II Uses of Technology in Education explores: critically evaluating Web site information how perceptions and behaviors change when Internet access becomes universally available Internet2 Videoconferencing integrating online communication into courses utilizing computer-mediated communication (CMC) tools structured online class discussions using Instant Messenger (IM) increasing vocabulary through software and online texts online learning in second-language acquisition (SLA) a project in New Zealand in which teachers and students learn Web design with the help of an external expert WebQuests as a Type II application WebCT as a Type II application achievement testing through the computer the Global Forum on School Leadership (GFSL) as a Type II application Internet Applications of Type II Uses of Technology in Education is a valuable, idea-generating resource for all academics working in information technology and education, and for K-12 teachers and administrators at all levels.

The Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) conference has become an internationally-recognized forum for the exchange of research findings related to learning in the context of collaborative activity and the exploration of how such learning might be augmented through technology. This text is the proceedings from CSCL 2005 held in Taipei, Taiwan. This conference marked the 10th anniversary of the first CSCL Conference held at Indiana University in 1995. Subsequent meetings have been held at the University of Toronto, Stanford University, University of Maastricht (Netherlands), University of Colorado at Boulder, and the University of Bergen (Norway).
Just as the first CSCL conference was instrumental in shaping the trajectory of the field in its first decade, the conference in Taipei will play an important role in consolidating an increasingly international and interdisciplinary community and defining the direction of the field for the next 10 years. This volume, and the papers from whichit is comprised, will be an important resource for those active in this area of research and for others interested in fostering learning in settings of collaboration.

This volume presents research findings on the use of technology to support learning and reasoning in collaborative contexts. Featuring a variety of theoretical perspectives, ranging from sociocultural to social psychological to information processing views, Collaborative Learning, Reasoning, and Technology includes an international group of authors well known for their contributions to research on technology learning environments. Two themes are central: the use of technology as a scaffold for learning, and the use of technology to promote argumentation and reasoning. Collaboration among peers is a key element in both of these strands. These foci highlight, respectively, a key element in the design of technology-based learning environments and a key outcome that can result from online instruction/learning. As a whole, the volume addresses some of the core issues in using technology to support collaborative learning, reasoning, and argumentation.

The wide availability of digital educational resources for mathematics teaching and learning is indisputable, with some notable genres of technologies having evolved, such as graphing calculators, dynamic graphing, dynamic geometry and data visualization tools. But what does this mean for teachers of mathematics, and how do their roles evolve within this digital landscape? This essential book offers an international perspective to help bridge theory and practice, including coverage of networking theories, curriculum design, task implementation, online resources and assessment. Mathematics Education in the Digital Age details the impacts this digital age has, and will continue to have, on the parallel aspects of learning and teaching mathematics within formal education systems and settings. Written by a group of international authors, the chapters address the following themes: Mathematics teacher education and professional development Mathematics curriculum development and task design The assessment of mathematics Theoretical perspectives and methodologies/approaches for researching mathematics education in the digital age This book highlights not only the complex nature of the field, but also the advancements in theoretical and practical knowledge that is enabling the mathematics education community to continue to learn in this increasingly digital age. It is an essential read for all mathematics teacher educators and master teachers.

Cognition, Education, and Communication Technology presents some of the recent theoretical developments in the cognitive and educational sciences and implications for the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in the organization of school and university education. Internationally renowned researchers present theoretical perspectives with proposals for and evaluations of educational practices. Each chapter discusses different aspects of the use of ICT in education, including: *the role of perceptual processes in learning; *external cognition as support for interactive learning; *the role of meta-cognition; *simulation learning environments as cognitive tools; *the role of science controversy for knowledge integration; *the use of ICT in the development of educators; and *the role of narratives in education. ICT has great potential for revolutionizing education. Large investments of resources are being made, often without a strong understanding of how ICT will or should be implemented. The expectation is that students will show immediate improvements in terms of their motivation to learn and their learning achievements, but reality is different. Progress of ICT in education requires more than just computers in the classroom. It demands an understanding of the complex processes contributing to human learning and how they interact with new technologies. This text provides theoretical perspectives on the learning processes that can be used as a foundation for constructing pedagogically valuable tools based on ICT. The combination of results--from cognitive science and pedagogy, with more practically oriented suggestions for how ICT can be used in various forms of education--makes this book suitable for researchers and students in the cognitive and educational sciences, as well as for practitioners and planners of education.