BuzzLion for the week of August 19

Posted on August 24, 2007 
Filed Under BuzzLion

A look at what has ETS staff abuzz and gets people talking for the week of August 19…..

Vicki Williams points out that there is indeed a difference between assessment and evaluation.

“In short, we collect information and then ask what it means. Evaluation occurs in two modes, formative and summative.”

Is it time to think about the 2008 TLT Symposium already? You bet, says Derick Burns, and be sure to save a date in March 2008.

“The 2008 Symposium, which will build on the previous year’s theme of social computing, will take place March 29, 2008 at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, University Park.”

Chris Stubbs recently discovered that Joe Paterno credits quarterback Anthony Morelli’s late season improvement in play to playing a video football game. Who says JoePa is out of touch?

“Coverage schemes, blitz packages, audibles and check offs, defensive rotations, ball fakes and trick plays - with every iteration of the game these small details become more and more realistic. From an entertainment perspective, this adds an incredible depth to the gaming experience. But from a training perspecive, it makes games like this a useful learning tool.”

Referring to Chris’s previous blog post on Anthony Morelli, Brad Kozlek ponders what educational gaming would be like if the same amount of investment went into them like has with commercial games.

“Just like public broadcasting in the United States transformed television’s use with shows like Sesame Street and Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, imagine the uses of educational games that could be realized.”

Gary Chinn has been checking out the new version of Google Earth and discovers it’s potential impact beyond Earth, as in astronomy courses at Penn State.

“I’ve only been playing with the new Sky features for a few hours, and already I can see the potential for several of the topics Astro 001 covers. The sections on constellations & views from different parts of Earth can currently be handled using software like Starry Night, but Google Earth has that whole “free” thing in its corner.”

Cole Camplese ponders Digital Expression and it’s role in learning at Penn State.

“One of the things I have been working towards over the last few years is envisioning what a platform for digital expression in an educational environment might look like. I have also written quite a bit about the projects that we’ve been investing lots of time and energy into here at PSU to power this approach — namely Blogs at Penn State, the Podcasts at Penn State, the Digital Commons, Streaming Servers, and our Course Management System (ANGEL) to name a few.”

Related Resources

Comments

Leave a Reply