Special Assignment 2

Kahn Academy on the Gates Notes by Kahn Academy 62,714,665 lessons delivered
Kahn Academy is a learning experience sponsored by Bill Gates. This video was narrated by Sal Kahn founder of the academy where there are 1,800 lessons, 24,000,000 views and a faculty of one. This is clearly the power of technology and what learning will be in the 21st Century. There are instructions in all subjects from Math to Science with detailed instructions. The materials is broke down in lectures where the students can work at their own pace. If a math teacher has a lesson to present she could access the Kahn Academy's site and let Mr. Kahn explain the lesson giving the students a different voice and approach to the lesson. The lesson could be stopped if students have a problem or rewound if a point is missed. This site is dynamic for teachers and has unlimited potential for instructions. This site surprised me to what is accessible via internet and the type of instruction is available for teachers.
Apple-iTunes, Learn Anything, Anytime, Anywhere
This is an innovative way to get educational content into the hands of students. This content covers lectures, language lessons, films, labs, etc. iTunes U is a fascinating way for teachers to get their students motivated about the learning process.
The way iTunes works is that your institution creates it's own iTunes U by downloading and choosing it's own password and stating whether it wants public or private access. You could even choose some lessons to be public and others can be private thus making the experience flexible. iTunes U is accessible to students with disabilities. For the vision-impaired iTunes U works with voiceOver. Students with physical or motor skills iTunes U brings the classroom to them. This allows the student to learn at their own pace in a more comfortable setting. iTunes U can be downloaded directly to iPhones or iPod Touch making it available anytime and anywhere.
This was a very exciting concept to learning and will benefit teachers tremendously in the future. it is a shame we are not involved in this technology now as some countries are ahead of us. iTunes U offers a wealth of knowledge at the touch of a finger. iTunes U offers: Local Control with Global Reach, Fosters Lifelong Learning, and Creates an Extended Community. All exceptional qualities of a great education.
TED; Ideas Worth Spreading
TED is a nonprofit devoted to ideas worth spreading. TED was started in 1984 as a conference of the worlds most fascinating thinkers and doers to give lectures in 18 minutes or less, these lectures are in many different languages making them available to all. TED believes in the power of ideas to change lives, attitudes, and ultimately the world. There is a $100,000 prize awarded annually to an exceptional individual. This is a social network where everyone learns from one another. Listening to others especially well endowed minds can stimulate positive change in others.
I didn't get much from this site only that students could listen to ideas from others and dream to maybe be a well endowed mind also.
To sum up this assignment I was surprised by what is available to teachers and students but administrators are yet to implement these in our schools. This will soon be mandatory to schools as technology will continue to improve and be in demand. Teachers need to stay abreast with evolving technology and be ready when it reaches our classrooms.