No Such Thing: Education in the Digital Age

I was extremely honored to be invited by friends at CSTA-NYC to help produce a live episode of the show on the topic of Tech and Ethics. We called the event "Code of Ethics" and my thanks in particular to the kind and hardworking folks in the Audio-Visual department at Microsoft, NY, who hosted the event. Anil Dash is the CEO of Glitch, formerly Fogcreek Software, and host of Vox Media's new show on Tech and Society, Function, and long-time advocate for a more socially-minded technology sector, it's engineers, leadership, and the policy that structures (or doesn't) decisions about what gets made.Natasha Singer is a reporter for the NY Times Business Section, who covers Tech and has a special focus on accountability. And Brenda is a NYC Public School student who dreams of becoming a software engineer. She is a 1st generation Dominican-American and passionate about women in tech. This conversation was a journey into some of the most serious issues that all of us should be grappling with during Computer Science Education week. Thousands of events, big and small, are being logged globally tying into CS Education, but what could be more important than a step back to think about what, in the course of the conversation, we refer to as tech's "downstream effects." Links from this episode:Function Podcast: https://www.voxmedia.com/about-vox-media/2018/10/30/18039366/vox-media-podcast-network-function-anil-dashGoogle Is Teaching Children How to Act Online. Is It the Best Role Model?Just Don’t Call It PrivacyWeaponized Ad Technology’: Facebook’s Moneymaker Gets a Critical EyeMicrosoft Urges Congress to Regulate Use of Facial RecognitionTech’s Ethical ‘Dark Side’: Harvard, Stanford and Others Want to Address ItMaryland Schools May Tell Children When It’s Time to Log OffSenators Call for Federal Investigation of Children’s AppsDid you vote? Now your friends may know.Hudson High School of Learning Technologies: https://www.hudsonhs.nyc/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm cramming for my conversation next week about ethics and tech, and as I prepare I thought it would be a fun way to add some transparency to the process. Usually when I prepare for a big episode I reach out to folks in my network, I dig for sources, I spend a lot of time with the topic in my head. When I thought about who I should reach out to as I think about the roots of some of the issues we'll cover next week, I wondered, who might help me with something of a literature review on the ethics and philosophy part. As we know - but sometimes forget - many of the questions that we're asking today about ethics relevant to computer science have been asked before. There are entire schools of thought dedicated, scholars who've spent lifetimes... but I haven't reached back to those texts in forever, maybe you haven't either. So I did what anyone would do...John P. Cleary is my high school philosophy teacher, and the first person who came to mind when I considered who would make time for me as I cram for this interview. He's a busy guy, an Assistant Professor at Raritan Valley Community College, an acclaimed stage actor, and restorer of his cabin in the woods, where I imagine he'll one day sip brandy and read poetry by a wood stove. We caught up for a bit before diving in, but the questions you hear me refer to are ones that I shot him over Facebook Chat, where he and I keep in occasional touch. Enjoy my chat with John, it's a prep call for next weeks episode on Ethics in Tech, but if, like me, you're looking for a lit review to help you think about the scholarly history of some of civilizations' thorniest questions, here it is...Links:Joe Kincheloe, The Sign of the Burger: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2255502.The_Sign_of_the_BurgerNat'l Association of Media Literacy: https://namle.net/Zimyatin's WE, Russian novel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_(novel)Neil Postman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_PostmanMartin Heidegger: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_HeideggerJurgen Habermas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%BCrgen_HabermasMcLuhan's Mechanical Bride: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mechanical_BrideDonna Haraway: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_HarawayKaku, Physics of the Impossible: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physics_of_the_ImpossibleAlso Mentioned:Mary ShellyOrwellHuxleyKelnerNoam ChomskySartreFriedrich Nietzsche Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the end of October, the New York Times ran a series of articles on kids, parents, and screentime. It looked at trends among parents, largely around the Silicon Valley in California. When I read Anya Kamenetz's response in the Columbia Journalism Review, titled What the Times Got Wrong About Kids and Phones, I had to reach out and see if she'd be willing to talk. I think her perspective on this issue is extremely important.Anya Kamenetz is NPR's lead education blogger. She joined NPR in 2014, working as part of a new initiative to coordinate on-air and online coverage of learning.Kamenetz is the author of several books. Her latest is The Art of Screen Time: How Your Family Can Balance Digital Media and Real Life (PublicAffairs, 2018).Her previous books were Generation Debt; DIY U: Edupunks, Edupreneurs, and the Coming Transformation of Higher Education, and The Test.Kamenetz covered technology, innovation, sustainability, and social entrepreneurship for five years as a staff writer for Fast Company magazine. She's contributed to The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Slate, and O, the Oprah Magazine, and appeared in documentaries shown on PBS and CNN.It's worth noting that in addition to the rock stardom above, she's a parent, and someone who, admittedly, is dealing with the stuff in real time. If you take nothing else from this episode, if you don't read her book or the many links that I drop in the show notes for this episode (available on our facebook page facebook/nosuchthingpodcast) pretty please, use your instincts as a parent, consult educators and specialists who know technology on this topic, talk with doctors who really want to dig in about what's fears are real and which are not. Take the time to do your homework, and make plan that fits what you're looking to each achieve at home, in your classroom, or with the young people you serve, wherever that is. And talk to the young people in your life. Preaching tech abstinence comes from a good place - we want children safe and productive - but don't be suckered by the temptation to conflate all that's changing for us culturally, don't trust non-expert voices because they seem elite, and don't miss out on all that's there in the upside.Links from this episode:Columbia Journalism Review - What the Times got wrong about kids and phones: https://www.cjr.org/criticism/times-silicon-valley-kids.phpTHE ART OF SCREEN TIME: HOW YOUR FAMILY CAN BALANCE DIGITAL MEDIA AND REAL LIFE: http://www.anyakamenetz.net/NYTimes, A Dark Consensus Begins to Emerge About Kids and Phones in Silicon Valley: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/26/style/phones-children-silicon-valley.htmlSilicon Valley Nannies Are Phone Police for Kids: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/26/style/silicon-valley-nannies.html?module=inlineAnya's Newsletter: https://tinyletter.com/AnyaKamenetz/subscribeAnya on Twitter: https://twitter.com/anya1anya Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Buckle up for some real talk about solutions to our Math challenges that might sound simple in a lot of cases, but they certainly aren't obvious. If they were, we would've figured out a long time ago that, for example, "school math and real math" as Marvin puts it during this interview, should not and cannot be such very different things.In this episode, Marc interviews researchers from Education Development Center's Center for Children and Technology and Bank Street College of Education, who are collaborating on an effort funded by the National Science Foundation and the Institute of Education Sciences at the U.S. Dept. of Department of Education, to help better equip educators supporting the wide variety of learners who populate the classrooms of American schools. Their program, Math For All, is developing digital resources to show general and special education teachers how to provide high-quality, standards-based math education to all students, including those with disabilities.Links from this episode:Math For All: http://mathforall.cct.edc.org/Pew Research, U.S. students’ academic achievement still lags that of their peers in many other countries: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/15/u-s-students-internationally-math-science/Marvin Cohen, Nesta Marshall, Babette Moeller: http://mathforall.cct.edc.org/about-math-for-all/STEM: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science,_technology,_engineering,_and_mathematics Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Del Lago Academy is one use case that shows the potential of alternative credentialing (or digital badges) for reforming assessment in the digital age. If you're a K12 professional, a funder, or a education technologist that's been following the conversation on Badges for Learning, you don't want to miss this conversation. Alec Barron is the lead behind Competency X, a project that's already engaged teachers, local industry, and higher ed in a serious conversation about how competency-based practices, along with strong software platforms, can change the efficiency and effectiveness of school-supported pathways for youth to meaningful, prosperous futures in San Diego County.Links from this episode:Del Lago Academy: https://www.dellagoacademy.org/Portfolium: https://portfolium.com/Competency X: https://www.competencyx.com/BIOCOM: https://www.biocom.org/s/Fleet Science Center: https://www.rhfleet.org/Digital Badge Summit: https://badgesummit.weebly.com/Palomar College: https://www2.palomar.edu/Miramar College: https://www.sdmiramar.edu/Pharmatec: http://www.pharmtech.com/Assessment for Learning Project: https://www.assessmentforlearningproject.org/Education Design Lab: https://eddesignlab.org/Nicole Pinkard: http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/profile/?p=1049&/NicholePinkard/Center for Collaborative Education: http://cce.org/Reimagining College Access: https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/project/reimagining-college-access Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I'm talking with Julia Bennett, Director of Learning Strategy at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, along with Dan Rice, Director of Training for an organization called, Answer out of Rutgers University in New Jersey, and Temitayo Fagbenle, Senior, City University of NY, Queens College and soon-to-begin "Fellow" at "Nancy," a production of WNYC Studios. You may remember her from previous episodes of this show on higher education and youth radio.If you've wondered about this intersection between technology and the sexual development of young learners, I'm with you. We tackle some big issues in this episode, and I hope also shed some light on the reality of where young people are learning sex ed, and what role adults in their lives can play.Links from this episode:Planned Parenthood Federation of America: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/Answer: http://answer.rutgers.edu/Temitayo Fagbenle on Instagram and Twitter @theeetemi: https://www.wnyc.org/people/temitayo-fagbenle/NYC Comptroller's Report on Sex Ed: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/comptroller-stringer-report-high-number-of-middle-and-high-school-students-arent-taught-sex-ed/PrEP, HIV prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/prep/index.htmlSex Etc: SexEtc.orgOnline Shaming, WNYC Radio Rookies: https://www.wnyc.org/story/261104-radio-rookies-sexual-cyberbullying/It's Complicated by dana boyd: https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300166316/its-complicated Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is part 2 of an experiment. If you listen to both episodes, it’s two hours of gameplay, and talk about games in learning, play, popular titles, a takedown of the Fortnight franchise by young Game Reviewer, and Rudy Blanco's student, Kimari Rennis - I can’t wait for you to meet Kimari - we talk about diversity in games, we define some terms, sidetrack a bit into mythology, and so so much more. Here’s the bottom line, though. If you’ve never played video games with your students, you might be missing out on a tremendous learning opportunity. How often in your class does a student jump in an say, “I’m happy to control the ship?” This and so much more in the episode ahead. Enjoy.Links from this episode:NYC Video Game Critic’s Circle: https://nygamecritics.com/DreamYard Project: http://www.dreamyard.com/(Game 1) Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime: http://www.loversinadangerousspacetime.com/Until Dawn (game): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Until_DawnPlants Vs Zombies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plants_vs._ZombiesGeorge Fan, PVZ designer: http://plantsvszombies.wikia.com/wiki/George_FanDisney Quest (arcade): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisneyQuestFortnite (game): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FortniteSmite (game): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smite_(video_game)Pub G: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayerUnknown%27s_Battlegrounds(Game 2) Don’t Starve Together: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_StarveAssassin’s Creed: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassin%27s_CreedPlaystation “Shareplay”: https://www.playstation.com/en-us/explore/ps4/share-play/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is another two-parter and it’s something of an experiment. If you listen to both episodes, it’s two hours of gameplay, and talk about games in learning, play, popular titles, a takedown of the Fortnight franchise by young Game Reviewer, and Rudy Blanco's student, Kimari Rennis - I can’t wait for you to meet Kimari - we talk about diversity in games, we define some terms, sidetrack a bit into mythology, and so so much more. Here’s the bottom line, though. If you’ve never played video games with your students, you might be missing out on a tremendous learning opportunity. How often in your class does a student jump in an say, “I’m happy to control the ship?” This and so much more in the episode ahead. Enjoy.Links from this episode:NYC Video Game Critic’s Circle: https://nygamecritics.com/DreamYard Project: http://www.dreamyard.com/(Game 1) Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime: http://www.loversinadangerousspacetime.com/Until Dawn (game): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Until_DawnPlants Vs Zombies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plants_vs._ZombiesGeorge Fan, PVZ designer: http://plantsvszombies.wikia.com/wiki/George_FanDisney Quest (arcade): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisneyQuestFortnite (game): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FortniteSmite (game): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smite_(video_game)Pub G: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayerUnknown%27s_Battlegrounds(Game 2) Don’t Starve Together: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_StarveAssassin’s Creed: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassin%27s_CreedPlaystation “Shareplay”: https://www.playstation.com/en-us/explore/ps4/share-play/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The organization Games for Change is hard to describe as being just one thing: they throw a Festival that happens every year in NYC, and that's been the backbone of the organization, but around that has grown a really important community of artists and activists, educators, computer scientists, developers, funders, and game studios who believe deeply in the power of games for improving the human experience. Sometimes that's about empathy for other humans, sometimes it's about zooming in on something remarkable, sometimes it's about simply tapping the playfulness in all of us. When I think of Games for Change - some might call them Serious Games - I think of titles like Dys4ia, a flashgame by the legendary Anna Anthropy - quoting from Wikipedia, "to recount her experiences of gender dysphoria and hormone replacement therapy". There are hundreds of titles, and many would argue that the boundaries between "serious games" and others is really about your game design practice, more than genre. They can be blurry, when you put them up against Educational Games, or even virtual environments where the outcomes aren't purely a play for revenue.I've been really lucky to be a part of this organization's evolution as a participant at the festival, as a partner to their student game design challenge in my role at Mouse, and as a member of the community that gains so much from the vision they put forward 15 years ago. I feel like an Anniversary gift is in order, and while I didn't send chocolates to founders - Ben Stokes, Barry Joseph, Suzanne Seggerman - it felt like the next best thing to spend some time with G4C President, Susanna Pollack, and give you a chance to hear from two winners at this year's festival.3 Conversations, 15 years of Games for Change - enjoy.Notes from this episode:Games For Change: http://www.gamesforchange.org/Attentat 1942: http://attentat1942.com/Attentat 1942 Gameplay: https://youtu.be/kLct7kVW1sMCharles University: https://cuni.cz/About Assassins Creed, Origins for Education: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/16/arts/assassins-creed-origins-education.htmlSTEAM: https://store.steampowered.com/Technology Student Association: http://www.tsaweb.org/Play Garrett at Chameleon School: http://tsabms.bsd.k12.pa.us/VideoGameDesign/Team903/2018 G4C Student Challenge Winners: http://www.gamesforchange.org/studentchallenge/awards-2018-student-challenge/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Gretchen Givens Generett, is a researcher / educator on issues of teacher professional development, educational leadership, and cultural diversity. An associate professor in the School of Education at Duquesne University, Gretchen is the Director of the University Council for Educational Administration Center for Educational Leadership and Social Justice.   Her teaching and research are designed to enhance the skills and habits of mind necessary for educators to effectively teach students from diverse populations.  During our chat, Gretchen shares her own personal narrative, and talks about how each of us has a story that needs to be explored as preparation and proper framing for the work we endeavor to do. I learned so much from my chat with her, and I hope you do too.Dr. Generett has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes in the field of education. She is the co-editor of the book Black Women in the Field: Experiences Understanding Ourselves and Others through Qualitative Researchpublished by Hampton Press and has served as the guest editor for the journals Educational Foundations, Educational Studies, and Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership.  Notes from this episode:Dr. Francisco Guajardo: http://iel.org/francisco-guajardoLinda Treadway: http://iel.org/lynda-tredwayGretchen Generett’s Inspire Speaker Series story: https://youtu.be/d_fwIjZlaMwMalcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History (on school segregation): http://revisionisthistory.com/episodes/13-miss-buchanans-period-of-adjustmentChris Janson https://www.unf.edu/bio/N00607194/Matt Militello https://coeweb.ecu.edu/directory/name/matthew-militello/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.