M.A. Hochberg’s Technology for Teaching

Making technology easier for people

Sunday
12/09/2007

1:45 pm

Typing Incentives

Getting students interested in typing doesn’t really take a lot of incentives. For younger (& even older students!) simply seeing me do my “happy dance” is enough to get them giggling, then typing.

One incentive that I do use is “old technology” and a learning moment too. When students pass a set of typing tests, they get to type on an old mechanical typewriter!

It’s a 1950s vintage typewriter with a very deep keystroke and it takes a lot of effort for them be able to type even one letter. I’ve removed the cover so that they can see what & why the “shift”, “return”, & “caps lock” do.

My students aren’t the only kids interested in old technology. Check out this Jump Start comic from 12/9/o7.

Jump Start Comic

Thursday
12/06/2007

1:38 pm

Games, learning, & the Web

One of my favorite companies just announced another new game-based educational website. The company is EduWeb & they have been around since 1996. I have been using their sites since 1999 and have been delighted with all of them.

http://eduweb.com/index2.html
From their main page:

“eduweb develops award-winning digital learning games and interactives about art, history, science and technology.”

“Our mission is to create exciting and effective learning experiences that hit the sweet spot where learning theory, digital technology, and fun meet. ”

Here’s their latest project.

America by Air – Online Activities
National Air & Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution
http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gal102/americabyair/activities

Explore the history of commercial air travel in these online activities, part of the online exhibit for NASM’s spectacular new permanent gallery. Navigate your way along an early airmail route. Make a newsreel about the first around-the-world flight by scheduled airlines. See if you would have qualified to be a stewardess in the 1950s. And much more!

I don’t know about being a stewardess in the 1950s but I know students find this type of thing fascinating. The look of shock on their face when I tell them the story of being in high school & sent to the principal’s office—for the offense of wearing pants to school—is amazing.