VirtEd

2012 Tech Trends From PC World

PC World notes several tech trends they anticipate for 2012.

These would include:

Dual-Core Processors Become the Norm in Smartphones

Optical-Disc Drives Disappear From New Laptops

Data-Only and Reduced-Voice Cell Phone Plans Proliferate

Facebook Accounts Become Necessary to Do More Stuff on the Web

NFC (Near-field communication) Facilitates Mobile Payments, Peer-to-Peer Networking

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God, Gadgets, Google All In Sync

A new study reveals that religious Americans are slightly more involved with technology than the average American population.  

Perhaps God, gadgets and Google will be the new 3 G's attributed to religious Americans who are often denigrated as being mostly interested in God, gays and guns by secularists. 

According to the 34-page study authored by Jim Jansen, Americans who are members of religious groups are engaged with core technology at levels similar or higher than the overall population. For example, 79 percent of religious Americans are Internet users, compared to 75 percent of non-religious Americans.

 

 

Northeastern University Goes National

Northeastern University is expanding its influence with campuses in Charlotte, Seattle, Austin, and potentially Minnesota and Silicon Valley.  

This definitely expands the concept of satellite campuses and the use of virtual education will be prominent.  

 

Northeastern, known for its co-op program in which undergraduates spend significant amounts of time in the workplace, opened its first satellite campus this fall in Charlotte, N.C., and is planning a second in Seattle next year; outposts in Austin, Tex., Minnesota and Silicon Valley are under discussion.

The goal is to offer master’s degrees in industries like cybersecurity, health informatics and project management, matching programs with each city’s industries and labor needs, through a mix of virtual learning and fly-ins from professors based in Boston (tuition will be the same as at the main campus).

 

The 10 Biggest Ed-Tech Stories of 2011

eSchool News reports on the ten biggest ed-tech stories of 2011 and explain them in detail rather than just listing them - a good read.

Education App Gems: Toontastic, Virtual History Roma

In App Gems: Top Education Apps, Computer World recommends two iPad education apps,  one for the younger set from  Launchpad Toys, Toontastic which allows younger children to create their own animations and Virtual History Roma. from  Arnoldo Mondadori Editore which is described as a virtual textbook,

Both sound like they merit a look-see.  

NEW SITE AT VIRTED: "A Christmas Carol"

"A Christmas Carol" is a new site with the novella's text, vocabulary, questions, videos, activities, and quizzes on Charles Dickens popular and beloved classic. 

 

iPads Become Child's Play - High Price Holiday Toy

The AP reports on the iPad as a holiday toy essentially with limitless possibilities:

 

Crayola allows tots to doodle on the iPad using its iMarker just as they would a crayon on a coloring book. Tweens are able to belt out their favorite Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez tunes on a Disney microphone that turns the tablet into a karaoke machine. And technology accessories company Griffin enables teens to fly its toy helicopter by using the iPhone as a remote control.

This holiday season, toy makers have turned Apple Inc.'s pricey tablet and smartphone into playthings for kids. They figure in this weak economy, parents will be willing to splurge on toys for their children that utilize devices they already have - or want - themselves.