Technology and Education: We need to better integrate the two, and fast!

Technology is something that almost everyone is at least semi-familiar with. Be it something as simple as turning on a television or a computer, or something as complicated as editing a kernel extension in Terminal, we’re all familiar with some sort of technology. Regardless of skill level, the reason we all are experiencing technology in our lives every day is because we’re living in the 21st century: the digital age, the millennium, the conceptual era. One place that has yet to really see the full potential of technology is education.  In the education sector, technology seems as though its trying to be used as a way of learning, not as a tool for learning.  There’s quite a large distinction between those two uses, and many educators are unsure of the dividing line. Our schools aren’t transforming student learning or differentiating instruction through the use of technology.  They’re simply throwing devices into the classroom without a clear plan or vision as to how they plan to use them.  In fact, our schools haven’t changed much at all over the decades.   (more…)

TRETC 2009

TRETC (Three Rivers Educational Technology Conference) 2009 was a huge success and most definitely a lot of fun.  Last year, I had the privilege of having the “Presenter” status on my tag.  I gave a presentation on creating a 21st century student technology leadership team in schools. (See this post).  This year, I had the “Exhibitor” status.
I got to demo two Web 2.0 products, Quizlet and Webnotes, in the Digital Playground.  The Digital Playground was new for this year, and I have to say, it was interesting idea.  Unfortunately, it was given a bad location and many folks didn’t really know what they were supposed to “do” there.  To many, it looked like just some more vendor tables.  That was the problem with it.  If the technology council can integrate some more students next year to show off some of their favorite tools, sort of like I did today, I think the Playground will be much more successful.

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Social Media’s Positive Business Impact

The final research paper for my COSK1221 (Argument and Research) class at Robert Morris University is worth 30% of my final grade.  I chose to argue that businesses that choose to accept and participate in this new form of interaction, social media has a positive impact in the areas of customer communication and connection, customer support, and monetization of brand evangelists.

I’d like to thank all of the companies that spoke with me, including Webnotes, Zeo, Comcast, Verizon, SurpassHosting, Discover, The PNC Financial Services Group, and Robert Morris Univeristy.  You can find all of the interviews here.  The Verizon and Zeo interviews have the most substance – they were hour long phone interviews.

You can download the final paper here.

Please leave a comment on this post letting me know your thoughts!  If you’d like permission to print the paper or copy anything out of it, please contact me using the contact page.

Interview 8 With Webnotes

For those of you who don’t know, Webnotes is a fantastic tool for taking notes on the web.  It lets you highlight and annotate any webpage and/or PDF.  I’ve had professional relations with them in the past.  I made both the PR screencast and the regular Webnotes screencast.  They’re a fantastic company, super nice guys, and Alex King, their director of marketing agreed to answer my questions.

What is your name and official title at your company?

Alex King- Director of Marketing

What is the name of the company you work for, and what does it specialize in?

WebNotes – We provide research tools to academics and public relations professionals.

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Interview 7 With The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

What is your name and official title at your company?

Michael Ley; vice president, e-business & payments

What is the name of the company you work for, and what does it specialize in?

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

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Interview 6 With Surpass Hosting

SurpassHosting is the company that hosts all of the websites I’m a part of, including this one.  I would not host with anyone else – they’re fantastic.  Kayla is their marketing director and she was willing to answer my questions.  Check out her responses below!

What is your name and official title at your company?

Kayla Selans, Marketing Director

What is the name of the company you work for, and what does it specialize in?

SurpassHosting.com, a web hosting company based in Orlando Florida

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Interview 5 With Discover Financial Services

If you happened to read my post entitled A College Student’s Credit Nightmare, then you might remember that Discover was the only company willing to give me my own credit card at the time.  I was incredibly thankful then for that, and I’m incredibly thankful that Discover was willing to answer my questions.

What is your name and official title at your company?

Suzanne S.

Social Media and Brand Manager

What is the name of the company you work for, and what does it specialize in?

Discover Financial Services

Consumer lending, Online Savings Credit Issuing and Processing.

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Interview 4 With Verizon (Part 1)

This one was a real success.  I got to speak with the Director of Social Media Strategy for Verizon Telecom.  Yes, that Verizon Telecom.  Verizon Telecom encompasses basically everything but Verizon Wireless.  This was probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever done in my life.  All responses transcribed below are from Beth unless otherwise noted.  Thank you so much to Verizon for allowing me to publish this interview!  This is the first part of my interview with Verizon – part two is where we’ll hear from John ‘CZ’ Czwartacki, Executive Director – External Communications.  Stay tuned for that!

What is your name and official title at your company?

Beth Mulhern - Director of Social Media Strategy – Verizon Telecom

Cheryl Harris – Senior Staff Consultant – (manages @vzpittsburgh)

Tabitha Geary - Consultant

What is the name of the company you work for, and what does it specialize in?

Verizon – A communications and entertainment company

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