Globalization has consumed our world. In an increasingly interconnected community, the daily happenings of the dwellers of Delhi to the inhabitants of Dubai seamlessly transcend borders. For those unable to explore the world on a physical level, these 5 apps can transport you from here to there in an instant, self-guided discovery.

7 Billion: How Will Your World Change

• An ode to the growing world population, National Geographic Magazine unveiled this visually stimulating app that takes users on a journey through a stunning array of photographs, thought-provoking charts and videos painting a picture of the challenges and problems associated with population growth. 

Hear Planet

• The world’s largest audio guide, with over half a million-voice files, this app is an “Audio Guide to the World.” HearPlanet provides a “virtual reality audio layer” that gives users feedback and facts about points of interest, turning your town or vacation spot into a self-guided museum tour. 

Open Culture

• The Open Culture app provides users with an educational experience through audio and video collections. Through free audio books, university courses, foreign language lessons, music podcasts and daily Open Culture blog posts, the app allows users to immerse themselves in the cultures of the world.

iCards

• Learn Japanese, French, Italian, Korean, German, Thai and other languages with this flash card producing app. iCards works virtually with any language or subject and allows users to engage in language immersion.

NATO News Reader

• Find out the top stores from NATO countries. By customizing your own news feed, you can use the app to share the latest happening with friends and co-workers. 

Have you done some international exploration from the comfort of your own cell phone or tablet device? Share with us your experiences in the comments section below.

Keep Calm and Learn On,

Nora

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Just-in-time management and tech training of the sort you can receive at General Assembly will increasingly replace traditional just-in-case business degrees. Why get an MBA when you can start a company and get just-in-time support? Why take a crummy programming course from your local community college when you can get one free from Stanford or MIT? – Tom Vander Ark (former Executive Director of Education, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)

Agreed! So, agreed! I was recently asked by someone, “Do you think community organizations and the private sector should be involved in teacher training initiatives given that so many universities in the Middle East are expanding their offerings for pre and in-service teachers?” My response was, “Absolutely!” Why? Because…

• Not all learning should end in a degree! - There are so many educators out there that want professional development that will help them in their classes now, but that frankly don’t want to spend the time and money getting a 1st or 2nd master’s degree.
• People outside of academia can bring a lot of value to education - As I wrote in Unconscious Education, “How can it be justified that the teachers that are meant to prepare students for the world of work, so often have little work experience outside of schools?” Or, as Tom Vander Ark puts it, “New eyes with no loyalties other than to kids and community gives an observer a chance to ask tough questions about the strange collection of historical practices that make up the typical school day. While not valued in education, a breadth of leadership experiences and exposure to solution sets from other sectors is helpful.”
• We need more “just-in-time” learning solutions - Learning is more meaningful when there is motivation and relevant context behind it. I remember being asked to take a real estate financial modeling course a few years ago when I was starting a new job. While I was excited about the course, I didn’t have the prerequisite modeling skills, nor was I working on or going to work on any real estate financial modeling projects any time in the near future. As a result, the course was essentially “a wash”. There is always something to be said for “knowledge for knowledge’s sake” but, workplaces need to get more savvy at determining when and how employees receive professional development. Furthermore, employees and entrepreneurs need to “own” their learning and seek help (courses, reading, mentors, etc.) when the time is ripe.

Tom Vander Ark’s interview in the Creativity Post is filled with so many nuggets of edu-wisdom from an insiders and outsiders point of view. Read it! Ponder it! Share it! Then check out his blog.

Anna

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This post was originally published by Bon Education’s Co-Founder on annabatchelder.com/ideas.

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Peer 2 Peer University is back again this month with some added bonuses. Early February, P2PU School of Ed eagerly announced their latest offerings – a new round of free, open-licensed professional learning groups meant specifically for educators.

Classes will begin on March 5^th and will explore a range of topics including:

• Student Grant Writing – Students will learn the grant-writing process
• Empower Your Personal Learning – For students and educators, this course unearths the different manners by which you can take control of your personal learning
• Writing and Inquiry in the Digital Age – Students will have the opportunity to join the National Writing Project
• Effective Use of Multimedia and Graphics – Learn to foster deeper learning through multimedia and graphics
• Global Classroom Collaboration Elementary and Secondary – Teachers from all around the world will talk over and design collaborations in order to bridge international classrooms
• Connected Learning with Youth Voices – A study group that encourages and helps teachers become accustomed to Youth Voices, a school-based social network

The School of Ed is driven by hands-on-learning and powered by the needs of educators around the world. The organization provides a platform where by educators can connect, join forces and design new means for transferring knowledge.

International Open Education Resources are transforming the way educators can spread knowledge around the world. With the seamless transfer of ideas, other international OERs beyond P2PU are fueling knowledge growth.

For the scoop on open education in South Africa, Vietnam and the Netherlands, delve into Education Week’s new piece. Stateside, Washington State has unveiled Open Course Library, which offers the public access to 42-intro level community college courses such as assessments, textbooks and syllabi for as little as $30 a course.

So tell us. How can international OERs be adapted into established learning institutions? Should there be more of a focus on teacher OERs or student OERs? Thoughts appreciated below!

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Nora

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On the digital textbook side, a choice of layout scheme can help students focus on either the text or on multimedia content such as animation. Questioning the meaning of a word? Simply highlight the term for a more in-depth explanation. Expecting a concept to appear on the midterm exam? A simple tap creates a deck of flashcards that can later be used for test preparation.

Apple Marketing Chief, Phil Schiller announced that all high school textbooks would run at about $15 a piece or less, and are guaranteed to always be up-to-date. Publishing companies McGraw-Hill, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Pearson and Dorling Kindersley are all onboard.

And now, Apple’s iTunes U – an interactive system that allows users to access hundreds of university lectures as podcasts- will be fully integrated into the offerings of iBooks. The iTunes U app will allow professors to upload syllabi and course materials and  includes a professor-student messaging system.

Such an application can easily impact the realm of education in emerging markets. The cost friendly textbooks will allow for more access to knowledge, the self-guided nature of the app permits more critical and independent thought, while the links to Apple U  permit for distance learning for those areas typically isolated from learning communities.

Over 1.5 million educational institutions worldwide have integrated the iPad into their curricula, ensuring that iBooks has the market and the features to sweep through education around the world.

Tell us. What challenges will iBooks face in terms of emerging markets? What would you like to see more of in terms of digital textbooks and accessibility? Comments welcomed and appreciated.

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Nora

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Mark your calendars: a very special day in February is quickly approaching - and no, we’re not talking about St. Valentine.

February 1, 2012 (2.1.12) marks the official Digital Learning Day. The day celebrates technology innovation in the classroom and the vast world of unique, technology-enhanced learning strategies. The event kicks off a year-round national awareness campaign around improving teaching and learning for all through the use of technology.

Over 520,000 students are participating in the daylong celebration.

Those signed up for the event are encouraged to try one new thing that day. From mobile use in the classroom or wiki-integration to digital storytelling or utilizing elements of blended learning, the goal is to challenge traditional notions of pedagogy and to bring the learning process to an inspring and innovative level.

Participants in the festivities will also be asked to start the conversation on tech use in the classroom with their local communities. The Digital National Town Hall Meeting on the morning of February 1^st will show participants how to use technology successfully in the classroom by providing practical examples. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman, Julius Genachowski and U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, will both be making an appearance.

Organizations such as Maine International Center for Digital Learning have adapted the mission of Digital Learning Day and made it the long-term foundation of their organization. The non-profit group looks to issue professional development to create digital environments meant to empower students in the globalized world. Collaborators work with researchers throughout Singapore, Brazil, Argentina and several other countries.

Do not be restricted by dates and times; digital learning is an ongoing process. We here at Bon recognize the importance of pushing education forward by injecting traditional learning strategies with technology, revamping the way students learn. Share with us: how have you celebrated digital learning in your classroom or learning community?

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Nora

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Rachel Winthrop, Director of the Center for Universal Education, and Marshall Smith, Senior Counselor to the Education Secretary Ame Duncan, collaborated on the landmark series, A New Face of Education: Bringing Technology into the Classroom in the Developing World.

The report is an overview of the most daunting education challenges faced by the developing world created by the Brookings Institute. By looking at different enabling conditions, the report identifies interventions that have driven educational development.

When these six elements are present, the report explains that the likelihood of success in terms of edtech expansion in emerging markets greatly increases:

1)    Access to Electricity: Many rural areas do not have access to electricity. Poor public infrastructure prohibits the expansion of power to remote areas. Power generation sources such as solar panels, batteries and bicycle cranks have been used to reach isolated communities.

2)    Connectivity: A demand for access to Internet and wireless capabilities continues to boom, but high costs stand in the way. Mobile phones have been used to extend connectivity to developing areas.

3)    Human Resource Capacity: Teachers are often neglected and do not receive adequate training. Furthermore, lack of skilled personnel who know how to maintain computers also prove detrimental. Organizations such as USAID help provide ICT support and training to classrooms overseas.

4)    Political Will and Management: Lack of policy infrastructure or government technology champions stand in the way of edtech expansion. Clear policy framework, government support and government responsibility are necessary elements for growth.

5)    Financial Resources: A lack of financial dedication leaves many technology projects unable to move forward.

6)    Links Between Infrastructure Availability and Ability to Integrate: A lag time between local and regional communities makes technology integration in civilian populations difficult.

The report also highlights inspiring success stories. In Hafizibad, Pakistan, girls tend to have limited opportunities to attend schools and often fail to receive individual attention. Mobilink-UNESCO  utilizes mobile phones to provide learning support in insecure areas. Young girls use their cell phones to send SMS messages to their teachers about homework assignments and lessons.

Modern information and communication carry major promises for the emerging world, but strategies must first be properly constructed and implemented. Remote regions around the world continue to be faced with daunting challenges, but the reality remains that edtech expansion can happen.

At Bon Education, we see the reality of these enabling conditions throughout our work. As we continue to act on the front lines of education technology in emerging markets, we wonder: how have these enabling conditions shaped your experience? We encourage you to share with us your stories of success – or roadblocks – in the comments section below.

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Nora

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One Laptop Per Child has just unveiled the latest edition to its XO family. The XO 3.0 tablet is the organization’s latest feat: a fully functional tablet created to withstand extreme weather conditions, use reduced energy and be easy on the wallet.

Most impressively, the XO 3.0 is able be fully powered by solar energy or hand-cranks, meaning that the new tablet will provide access and opportunity to isolated communities, independent of the power grid.

The organization, which has granted over 2.4 million children around the world access to technology in over 42 countries in 25 different languages, calls the X0 3.0 a “technological breakthrough” due to its “significant decrease in power consumption,” according to Chief Technology Officer, Edward McNierney.

Talk of the new XO 3.0 inspired me to check out other cost-friendly tablets making waves in the realm of education.

Raspberry Pi will hit the market later this month. The credit-card sized computer can plug into a TV or a computer and is available for just $25 – $35. The Raspberry Pi can be used for word-processing and gaming, and can also play high-definition video.

Founder Eben Upton hopes that the device can eventually be used all over the world to encourage students to engage in computer programming. Read his full story here.

So tell us. What are your thoughts on integrating tablet technology into schools throughout the emerging markets? Is it the necessary next step or should we be focusing on other 21^st century skills first? Comments accepted freely.

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Nora

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Every once in a while DotLearnt takes a step back from education technology to salute other technological feats making waves and changing lives cross-sector. Today we recognize a technology that is bringing new life, literally to the power of SMS.

Mali suffers from one of the highest infant morality rates in the world, with almost 111 deaths for every 1000 births in the country.

Pesinet is a non-profit organization that is using the power of mobile technology to deliver health care where it is needed most by using cell phones to track disease spread and to fortify local health infrastructure.

With almost 600 children registered in their program, the organization teaches local families and health care officials how to use mobile technology to issue health checkups and cost-friendly health insurance. For a small monthly fee, enrolled children are granted access to doctor examinations and receive  a fifty percent discount on medications. Local health workers test children each week for symptoms of diarrhea, low weight, vomiting and other health concerns.

Upon entering the information into their phone, the data is then sent via GPRS to an online database where local health care providers can analyze results and  monitor for sporadic changes in health. What’s even slicker is that community health workers automatically receive updates on their own phones whenever a drastic change is sensed. This alert system enables   health workers to be instantaneously on the front line of any health crisis.

With a mission to prevent, detect and treat disease in a timely fashion, the efforts of Pesinet have harnessed technology to assist countries in Africa with the most common concerns of family’s.

The system allows for the maintenance of medical records and for access to health statistics, both elements that the education sector could greatly benefit from. By keeping records on the development of a student’s literacy or math skills, community leaders can ensure consistent educational growth among children. To see an example of this, check out the work of Wireless Generation. Furthermore, when it is found that a student is falling off the academic track or is unable to attend school, teachers can cater to the student’s need and provide additional assistance.

So this year let’s make it a duty to embrace the lessons of others, apply the innovation of varying communities and innovate the way technology impacts our lives.

Keep Calm and Learn On,

Nora

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Dear Bon Education Team!

I wanted to wish you all a very happy new year and thank you for your hard work and dedication in 2011.

We are really excited to finally launch BB and Sam (our interactive digital literature app) in 2012 – that’s one of our big goals we have for this year. With all of your fabulous talents and skills I know we can make the final push these next two months towards a successful launch on the app store. We will also continue to grow and build our training and consulting business working with schools, teachers and students to empower and personalize their learning through technology.

I read an article in the NY Times this morning about the CEO of IBM.  He had these four questions that guided his management of IBM.  These are great reflection prompts, both from a company perspective as well as an individual perspective.  (link)

• “Why would someone spend their money with you — so what is unique about you?”
• “Why would somebody work for you?”
• “Why would society allow you to operate in their defined geography — their country?”
• “And why would somebody invest their money with you?”

The answers to these questions are where we’re going with Bon Education.  It’s about focusing on the purpose and impact of the work we do. I trust that if we are happy with our answers to these questions the financial returns required to sustain and grow Bon Education will follow.

I want to challenge all of you (and especially myself) to think about how we can go to the next level.

• Where are you playing it safe?
• Where are you holding back?
• Where are you keeping yourself small?
• What would it be to play your biggest game – to play to your full potential?

I’m excited to see where we go together, as a team, in 2012.

Enjoy the rest of your holidays!

- Chris

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The new year is a time for reflection on both past and future. As the Bon team prepares our Dot Learnt editorial calendar for 2012, here are some of our favorite posts from 2011 that we’d like to remember

We’ve talked about:

Open Education Resources: Hop on over to Stanford University for some free technology courses & with MIT OpenCourseWare celebrating it’s 10^th year in free education, there are no limits to who can receive an Ivy education.

Game Based Learning:  In Learning Hard and Playing Hard we took a look at the evolution of play with ChicagoQuest, the newest addition to the realm of gamed-up curriculums. The school is now open, with hundreds of children currently enrolled in the interactive curriculum. We also hosted Tim Hydari, Practitioner of Development and Therapeutic Play, who delved into the importance of gaming and Play Therapy.

Social Media in the Classroom: After chatting with Yasmin Fodil on how Social Media Can Technically Fix all Your Problems, the CEO and Principal Consultant at BYO Consulting shed some light on integrating social media tools from governments to the classroom.  While in Mohammed and Five of Your Friends Just ‘Checked-In’ To… School? you’ll find hard-hitting examples of what the latest Facebook apps can do for schools in emerging markets.

And some other random emerging market extras:

• Augmented realities in Back to Reality explores the new tech phenomenon’s role in educating
• The importance of cultural sensitivity in Technology and Cultural Sensitivity in Yemen
• The art of inspiration in Just What the Doctor Prescribed
• Learning re-invented, exploring Peer-to-Peer University in A Volunteer Run School of Education
• And the essence of basic technology in, On Light

We also chatted with:

Director of Outreach from the NGO Al-Hakawati.net, Sara Barclay on The Art of Storytelling in the 21^st Century Arab World

Columbia University Teacher’s College Professor, Dr. Nabeel Ahmad on Learning Technology and Mobile Phone Expertise

Associate Director of Regional Expansion at Teach First, Sid Djerfi on Mission EduTech MENA

Global Education Collaborative Founder, Lucy Gray on the Global Education Conference in 60 seconds

From the interviews to the site views, classroom to the boardroom and the local world to the global world, we here at Bon are wishing you a year filled with enlivened learning and engagement.

Want to see more of something this year? Have an edtech suggestion that Bon team should explore? Drop us a comment below!

Keep Calm and Learn On,

Nora

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