Design+Ideas

Ideas for Cadre 13 Design Challenge (return to Cadre 13 home)

This is a place to post ideas that a group might consider as they decide to create their product. Free free suggest products or ideas that you have.

1) U**nderstanding Popular Kid Culture.**
 * IDEA:** What do kids all over the world do that is the same and different? Do they read the same or different books, do they play similar or different computer games? What do they like to eat? How global are television programs? Are there some that are watched by a large number of kids or do these television programs vary greatly from country to country? Are fads or trends, local, regional, or global? Every year thousands of kids share this information in [|learning circles] but the information is only shared in the 5-10 classrooms that make up a learning circle. And they often exchange the information in email making it hard for students to really work with the data. This idea is data created by students for students. It would be a site that students link to that would enable them to quickly add their information on the favorites in a number of categories. A classroom of students could do this and they would get back their top 5 favorites in each of the categories. Schools that were in a circle could see the information for only the schools in their circle. But each time a learning circle did this activity, the information would be collected and archived so students could use it compare their favorites with say all students of their age.. or all students who came from their country. This could be a data base that could be used for educational purposes as well for students getting to know their partners in global exchanges.
 * Who is this for:** It would be primarily for students and teachers from around the world who engage in global communication in [|iEARN Learning Circles]and the purpose would be help them to see how they are similar and different from their peers. But there are lots of people who would be interested. The kids might want to use the site to look beyond their own favorites to explore what kids in other places are finding of interest. The group work is organized by Barry Kramer. (posted by Margaret Riel)

2) **Project: Create an online, time capsule (2010-11 school year)** __Target audience:__ Potential high school dropouts and at-risk students __Goal:__ Help close the graduation gap by creating a personal, physical connection between students and their future. __Participant task:__ The student is to write a letter [to themselves] and post it to a private section of the researcher's website. The letter is to be opened, by the student, on a specific date. The letter should document the student's achievements, personal goals and stories about their life. __Researcher tasks__: Administrator one pre survey and two post surveys (pre survey administered before the letter is written; post survey two weeks after posting the letter and again after the student has opened their letter on the date provided by the researcher. The researcher will track change in student attitude and behavior over the course of the nearly year-long study. The researcher should make him/herself available, via online blog, for student support, questions, and concerns. Request a signed, parental consent form to participate in research study. (posted by Kathleen Lepori-Cadre 11).

Thanks Kathleen-- great idea. For the product, a team could create the tool that captured the letters, and then sent them back to the person on the date that they suggested. This could be used by teachers or as Kathleen suggested by researchers but the design team could create the tool. Paul has an idea for a variant on this that he is likely to post soon. I am looking forward to seeing what Paul's idea is. I thought I'd post this interesting report published by IES entitled "Public School Graduates and Dropouts From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2007–08."

3) GROUP Project: Create a Technology Assisted 21st Century Learning Environment that solves REAL world problems. Goal: Use your expertise to address and solve a Real World problem. Design and Build: All aspects of the Learning Environment Result: Template for Change, Practical experience and leadership training solving real world critical issues by using your Masters skills as they develop. JAMATUBE EXAMPLE FILE Current Sample: JAMATUBE ( Farmers Field Program) Agricultural Improvement and Sustainment Initiative Nation: Jamaica Construction Date: August14th 2010 Evironment: University of Calgary, Faculty of Education, Educational Technology Department, Doctoral Studies Depart. Designers: Mitchel N. Townsend, John Leary and Gail Allen Doctoral Candidates U of Calgary, Faculty of Education

Hope everyone is doing well!!! If their is anything I can do to help, answer any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!! Maybe someone needs some direction? Resources? Mitch Townsend 03DEC2010 6.33AM