Digital Promise

In September 2011, the U.S. Department of Education sponsored a new project called Digital Promise. The bipartisan, public-private initiative will fund research in educational technology and will bring leading technologies into the classroom to help students with problem areas such as STEM subjects. 

Review the main directions of this project using the provided link and post your thoughts on which initiatives could be particularly helpful for the development of next-generation learning environments in Alabama schools and colleges. (Focus on your own subject area and grade level.)

Filter Bubble

The exponential expansion of the information on the web resulted in more powerful and more sophisticated search engines. Modern search engines use intricate algorithms to select information based on the user’s previous online behavior to tailor search results to what the user is most likely to like or agree with. As a result, the user is exposed to a personalized set of information, links, sites, and pages while being under the impression that he or she is seeing an untampered view of the World Wide Web.  Though most consumers benefit from  quick finds of desirable products, some intellectuals, like Eli Pariser and Tim Berners-Lee, sounded an alarm claiming that it would lead to information bubbles which will lock people within comfortable but isolated, their own cultural, educational, and ideological mini-worlds. Eli Pariser coined the term “Filter Bubble” and spoke eloquently against limiting people’s exposure to conflicting viewpoints and information. 

Watch his presentation at http://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_beware_online_filter_bubbles.html and post your thoughts on the issue. How can “filter bubbles” affect education and what is the role and responsibility of educators in ensuring free access to information?