09 Aug 11 From Mind/Shift: 50 Reasons to Invite Facebook Into Your Classroom

50 Reasons to Invite Facebook Into Your Classroom

August 5, 2011

By Carol Brown

At its start, Facebook was once exclusively for college students. But as it has grown in popularity and become adopted by everyone from grad students to grandmas, its usefulness has grown, too. Educators are beginning to realize the powerful potential that Facebook has in the classroom, not as a distraction, but as a collaborative learning tool. While some schools and instructors may be wary of inviting such a temptingly fun procrastination platform into their classrooms, others have seen great benefits in using social media. In fact, teacher Elizabeth Delmatoff in Portland saw a 50% increase in grades after implementing a social media program in her classroom. How can Facebook benefit your class? Online College enumerates 50 ways.

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Tags: ashford university, cabell county schools, cabell midland high school, creative, education, innovation, social networking, technology, web 2.0
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16 Jun 11 Scientists ask: Is technology rewiring our brains?

USA Today: Scientists ask: Is technology rewiring our brains?

Great article from a few years back in USA Today. It gives some interesting insights into the impact technology is having on individuals today versus just a few short years ago. Scientists have gone as far as to say that the brain has literally been rewired. What do you think about it? Do you agree with the findings presented in the article? Do you notice that students today are lacking in social skills? Is technology making it harder, if not impossible, for people to be aware of non-verbal cues in conversation? Do you notice younger people having a struggle communicating face-to-face with others?

Tags: ashford university, cabell county schools, cabell midland high school, creative, education, innovation, technology
Filed in Ashford University, Education, Technology with 1 Comment

21 May 11 The new Mr. B’s Education World

Mr. B’s Education World has relaunced after a short stint over on blogger.com. I did not find blogger to be adaquate to my needs so I relaunched RandallBlack.com using WordPress as my content management tool. I have used WordPress in the past to blog and provide information out to parents and students so this leap back in will not be a difficult transition. Please keep an eye out for upcoming updates from my graduate classes and technological items I come across during the summer.

- Mr. B