Geek Knowledge Quiz

Courtesy of: Infographic Journal

Using superheroes to teach science

Superpowers have their limits too
[Image source: http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/]

Science educator Joy Lin developed five interesting physics lessons that use different superhero powers as case studies. What about super-speed and friction? Does super-strength help you save a person falling from a tall building? Is immortality desirable?

Find all the super-power lessons and videos here.

As an example, below is the video about super-speed.

Visionary computer interfaces predicted by science fiction movies

50 Years of visionary Sci Fi Computer Interface Design by Glow New Media

Collaboratively generating or critiquing Knowledge Integration Maps to learn about human evolution

My CSCL 2013 conference presentation discusses findings from a design-based research study that compared generating or critiquing discipline-specific concept maps (Knowledge Integration Maps (KIM) to facilitate integration of ideas about human evolution.

Empirical study of design for learning

How do interdisciplinary teams of educational designers collaboratively design blended learning environments? My short presentation includes first observations from an empirical study of educational designers working on revising an university-level course.

Empirical studies of design for learning from Beat Schwendimann

Video about the history and art of data visualization

Visualizing data is an ancient human activity that dates back to stone age drawings and, later on, cartography. This informative PBS video discusses the history and range of the art of knowledge visualization. The video features Edward Tufte, Julie Steele, Josh Smith, and Jer Thorp.

Inspirational future of learning video

What will the future of learning look like? GOOD magazine created a video that discusses technology-oriented visions from Whole-in-the-Wall and Khan academy to serious gaming. The video features education innovators like Dr. Sugata Mitra, visiting professor at MIT; Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy; and Dr. Catherine Lucey, Vice Dean of Education at UCSF.

The video suggests that the current school system is still based on Victorian-age ideals (such as submission) and industrial age skills (such as arithmetic . People featured in the video suggest that education needs to prepare students for the post-industrial world. Basic arithmetic skills are now less relevant than reading comprehension, information search and retrieval skills, and critical evaluation skills.