Computers & Technology Books

Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns

Clayton Christensen, Curtis W. Johnson, Michael B. Horn

Amazon Price: $21.75 List Price: $32.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: McGraw-Hill Amazon Marketplace: 54 new & used starting at $17.94

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

A crash course in the business of learning-from the bestselling author of The Innovator's Dilemma and The Innovator's Solution�

. .

�A brilliant teacher, Christensen brings clarity to a muddled and chaotic world of education.�
-Jim Collins, bestselling author of Good to Great

. .

According to recent studies in neuroscience, the way we learn doesn't always match up with the way we are taught. If we hope to stay competitive-academically, economically, and technologically-we need to rethink our understanding of intelligence, reevaluate our educational system, and reinvigorate our commitment to learning. In other words, we need �disruptive innovation.�

. .

Now, in his long-awaited new book, Clayton M. Christensen and coauthors Michael B. Horn and Curtis W. Johnson take one of the most important issues of our time-education-and apply Christensen's now-famous theories of �disruptive� change using a wide range of real-life examples. Whether you're a school administrator, government official, business leader, parent, teacher, or entrepreneur, you'll discover surprising new ideas, outside-the-box strategies, and straight-A success stories.

You'll learn how

.

.
• Customized learning will help many more students succeed in school.
• Student-centric classrooms will increase the demand for new technology.
• Computers must be disruptively deployed to every student.
• Disruptive innovation can circumvent roadblocks that have prevented other attempts at school reform.
• We can compete in the global classroom-and get ahead in the global market.

.

Filled with fascinating case studies, scientific findings, and unprecedented insights on how innovation must be managed, Disrupting Class will open your eyes to new possibilities, unlock hidden potential, and get you to think differently. Professor Christensen and his coauthors provide a bold new lesson in innovation that will help you make the grade for years to come.

. .

The future is now. Class is in session.

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Using Technology With Classroom Instruction That Works

Howard Pitler, Elizabeth R. Hubbell, Matt Kuhn, Kim Malenoski

Amazon Price: $20.12 List Price: $27.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: ASCD Amazon Marketplace: 25 new & used starting at $18.51

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Subjects -> Science -> Technology -> General & Reference

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Excellent translational text ... 4 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

This book is an excellent transitional text that links instructional strategies that work (i.e., produce improved student achievement) with practical uses of available technology. Too often, technology is considered a separate subject in K12 education. This book shows how technology supports and enhances sound instructional practices.

It is a must read for school technology directors and curriculum directors. Thanks to the REMCAM (Regional Educational Media Centers Association of Michigan) for recommending it.

Informative and Easy to Read 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and kept my attention. It is organized in a fashion that is easy to follow, giving one time to digest each strategy at a time. Lots of good tips that one can take right into the classroom and use with students. This would be a great book to do a book study group on!

Using Technology With Classroom Instruction That Works 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is an excellent book for any teacher that uses technology. This is a guide for any teacher or administrator.

Computer Repair with Diagnostic Flowcharts: Troubleshooting PC Hardware Problems from Boot Failure to Poor Performance, Revised Edition

Morris Rosenthal

Amazon Price: $13.45 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Foner Books Amazon Marketplace: 16 new & used starting at $13.45

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Very helpful 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

If you have basic knowledge of computer parts, this book is excellent at helping you track down which part of the computer is most likely causing whatever problems you might be having.

Editorial Review:

A unique visual approach to troubleshooting PC hardware problems. Morris Rosenthal creates a visual expert system for diagnosing component failure and identifying conflicts. The seventeen diagnostic flowcharts at the core of this book are intended for the intermediate to advanced hobbyist, or the beginning technician. Following a structured approach to troubleshooting hardware reduces the false diagnoses and parts wastage typical of the "swap 'till you drop" school of thought. Flowcharts include: Power Supply Failure, Video Failure, Video Performance, Motherboard, CPU, RAM Failure, Motherboard, CPU, RAM Performance, IDE Drive Failure, Hard Drive Boot and Performance, CD or DVD Playback, CD or DVD Recording Problem, Modem Failure, Modem Performance, Sound Failure, Sound and Game Controller Performance, Network Failure, Peripheral Failure, SCSI Failure and Conflict Resolution.

Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms

Will Richardson

Amazon Price: $26.05 List Price: $28.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Corwin Press Amazon Marketplace: 32 new & used starting at $21.49

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 33 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

"Hits the nail on the head by emphasizing how technology can be used in ways that go beyond one-on-one student use with software programs and teachers' use of PowerPoint for presentations. The book emphasizes the collaborative work and learning that can occur when educators take advantage of all that the Internet has to offer."
-Erica Boling, Assistant Professor of Literacy Education
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Use the Web to help students learn more, create more, and communicate more effectively!

Technology impacts every facet of students' lives and plays a significant role in how students receive and process information. The second edition of Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms shows educators at all levels and disciplines how to tap into the potential of digital tools for creating relevant, interactive learning experiences in the classroom.

With updated research on Web technology, a critical section on Internet safety, and a new emphasis on information literacy with related links, this resource equips teachers with:

• Definitions, explanations, and how-to's for using technology to enhance learning
• Applications for blogs, wikis, podcasts, Real Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds, aggregators, social bookmarking, and online photo galleries
• Real-world examples from K–12 teachers around the world

When teachers expand their knowledge of Web tools to build 21st-century learning skills, they can effectively prepare students for future success.

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e-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning

Ruth Colvin Clark, Richard E. Mayer

Amazon Price: $44.00 List Price: $55.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Pfeiffer Amazon Marketplace: 42 new & used starting at $39.59

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Extremely Accessible and Great Basic Information 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I operate an educational multimedia publishing group serving the public healthcare sector. I found this book to be eminently approachable and extremely well organized. I was able to read through it over a weekend. One can get to the key concepts (the HOW) of each chapter without being forced to muddle through the supporting theory. That being said, all major concepts are well supported by research and cognitive theory for those who wish to understand the WHY. It is important to note that the authors' focus is mostly on the corporate training world and adult learners needing to develop fundamental skills. Not until chapter 14 do they discuss approaches to more advanced learners. Overall, I highly recommend this book. It should be on the shelf of everyone who is creating e-learning for adult learners.

Editorial Review:

In this thoroughly revised edition of the bestselling e-Learning and the Science of Instruction authors Ruth Colvin Clark and Richard E. Mayer— internationally-recognized experts in the field of e-learning—offer essential information and guidelines for selecting, designing, and developing asynchronous and synchronous e-learning courses that build knowledge and skills for workers learning in corporate, government, and academic settings. In addition to updating research in all chapters, two new chapters and a CD with multimedia examples are included.

Using Moodle: Teaching with the Popular Open Source Course Management System (Using)

Jason Cole, Helen Foster

Amazon Price: $35.99 List Price: $39.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: O'Reilly Media, Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $26.24

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Using Moodle is a complete, hands-on guide for instructors learning how to use Moodle, the popular course management system (CMS) that enables remote web-based learning and supplements traditional classroom learning. Updated for the latest version, this new edition explains exactly how Moodle works by offering plenty of examples, screenshots and best practices for its many features and plug-in modules. Moodle gives teachers and trainers a powerful set of web-based tools for a flexible array of activities, including assignments, forums, journals, quizzes, surveys, chat rooms, and workshops. This book is not just a how-to manual. Every chapter includes suggestions and case studies for using Moodle effectively. By itself, Moodle won't make your course better. Only by applying effective educational practices can you truly leverage its power. With this book, you will: Get a complete overview CMS in general and Moodle in particular. Review Moodle's basic interface and learn to start a course. Learn to add Moodle tools to your course, and how different tools allow you to give quizzes and assignments, write journals, create pathed lessons, collaboratively develop documents, and record student grades. Discover some of the creative ways teachers have used Moodle. There are plenty of ideas for effectively using each tool. Effectively manage your Moodle course, such as adding and removing users, and creating user groups. Learn to use Moodle's built-in survey functions for assessing your class. Find out how to administer an entire Moodle site. A system administrator usually handles these functions, but if you're on your own, there's a lot of power behind the curtain. Using Moodle is both a guide anda reference manual for this incredibly powerful and flexible CMS. Authored by the Moodle community, this authoritative book also exposes little known but powerful hacks for more technically savvy users, and includes coverage of blogs, RSS, databases, and more. For anyone who is using, or thinking of using, this CMS, Using Moodle is required reading.

Web 2.0: New Tools, New Schools

Gwen Solomon, Lynne Schrum

Amazon Price: $34.25 List Price: $34.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: International Society for Technology in Education Amazon Marketplace: 4 new & used starting at $30.82

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Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Web 2.0 has arrived--find out how it can transform teaching and learning!

What is Web 2.0? Once upon a time, Web sites were isolated information 'silos'--all content and no functionality. Today, the next generation of Web sites gives power to the end-user, providing visitors with a new level of customization, interaction, and participation. Many Web sites now allow users to upload, categorize, and share content easily. Weblogs and podcasts allow anyone to publish or broadcast on any topic. Wikis provide information that is constantly updated by the end-user. Open-source software is free and customizable. These new technologies are changing our relationship to the Internet.

What can Web 2.0 tools offer educators? Web 2.0: New Tools, New Schools provides a comprehensive overview of the emerging Web 2.0 technologies and their use in the classroom and in professional development. Topics include blogging as a natural tool for writing instruction, wikis and their role in project collaboration, podcasting as a useful means of presenting information and ideas, and how to use Web 2.0 tools for professional development. Also included are a discussion of Web 2.0 safety and security issues and a look toward the future of the Web 2.0 movement. Web 2.0: New Tools, New Schools is essential reading for teachers, administrators, technology coordinators, and teacher educators.

Also available:

Database Magic: Using Databases to Teach Curriculum in Grades 4-12 - ISBN 1564842452
What Works in K-12 Online Learning - ISBN 1564842363
Toys to Tools: Connecting Student Cell Phones to Education - ISBN 1564842479

Engaging the Online Learner: Activities and Resources for Creative Instruction (Online Teaching and Learning Series (OTL))

Rita-Marie Conrad, J. Ana Donaldson

Amazon Price: $24.30 List Price: $27.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Jossey-Bass Amazon Marketplace: 49 new & used starting at $20.33

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Worth the read 4 out of 5 stars.
8 of 11 people found this review helpful.

I found the book to be a good read and had a lot of interesting things to say and good examples of activities for online participants.

The book focuses solely on the online learner, which is good, but if you teach students in a classroom setting and are looking to extend their learning online in the evenings and between classes you need to 'read between the lines' to pull out the pieces that you need (which are many and included in this book).

Editorial Review:

Engaging the Online Learners includes an innovative framework—the Phases of Engagement—that helps instructors become more involved as knowledge generators and cofacilitators of a course. The book also provides specific ideas for tested activities (collected from experienced online instructors across the nation) that can go a long way to improving online learning. Engaging the Online Learner offers the tools and information needed to:

• Convert classroom activities to an online environment and use online activities in a classroom-based course

• Assess the learning that occurs as a result of collaborative activities

• Phase-in activities that promote engagement among online learners

• Help online learners use online tools

• Build peer interaction through peer partnerships and team activities

• Create authentic activities

• Implement games and simulations

Building Online Learning Communities: Effective Strategies for the Virtual Classroom (Jossey Bass Higher and Adult Education Series)

Rena M. Palloff, Keith Pratt

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Building Online Learning Communities further explores the development of virtual classroom environments that foster a sense of community and empower students to take charge of their learning to successfully achieve learning outcomes. This is the second edition of the groundbreaking book by Rena Palloff and Keith Pratt and has been completely updated and expanded to include the most current information on effective online course development and delivery. A practical, hands-on guide, this resource is filled with illustrative case studies, vignettes, and examples from a wide variety of successful online courses. The authors offer proven strategies for handling challenges that include:

• Engaging students in the formation of an online learning community.
• Establishing a sense of presence online.
• Maximizing participation.
• Developing effective courses that include collaboration and reflection.
• Assessing student performance.

Written for faculty in any distance learning environment, this revised edition is based on the authorsâ many years of work in faculty development for online teaching as well as their extensive personal experience as faculty in online distance education. Rena M. Palloff and Keith Pratt share insights designed to guide readers through the steps of online course design and delivery.

Opening Up Education: The Collective Advancement of Education through Open Technology, Open Content, and Open Knowledge

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Editorial Review:

Given the abundance of open education initiatives that aim to make educational assets freely available online, the time seems ripe to explore the potential of open education to transform the economics and ecology of education. Despite the diversity of tools and resources already available—from well-packaged course materials to simple games, for students, self-learners, faculty, and educational institutions—we have yet to take full advantage of shared knowledge about how these are being used, what local innovations are emerging, and how to learn from and build on the experiences of others. Opening Up Education argues that we must develop not only the technical capability but also the intellectual capacity for transforming tacit pedagogical knowledge into commonly usable and visible knowledge: by providing incentives for faculty to use (and contribute to) open education goods, and by looking beyond institutional boundaries to connect a variety of settings and open source entrepreneurs.

These essays by leaders in open education describe successes, challenges, and opportunities they have found in a range of open education initiatives. They approach—from both macro and micro perspectives—the central question of how open education tools, resources, and knowledge can improve the quality of education. The contributors (from leading foundations, academic institutions, associations, and projects) discuss the strategic underpinnings of their efforts first in terms of technology, then content, and finally knowledge. They also address the impact of their projects, and how close they come to achieving a vision of sustainable, transformative educational opportunities that amounts to much more than pervasive technology.

Contributors: Richard Baraniuk, Randy Bass, Trent Batson, Dan Bernstein, John Seely Brown, Barbara Cambridge, Tom Carey, Catherine Casserly, James Dalziel, Bernadine Chuck Fong, Richard Gale, Gerard Hanley, Diane Harley, Mary Huber, Pat Hutchings, Toru Iiyoshi, David Kahle, M. S. Vijay Kumar, Andy Lane, Diana Laurillard, Stuart Lee, Steve Lerman, Marilyn Lombardi, Phil Long, Clifford Lynch, Christopher Mackie, Anne Margulies, Owen McGrath, Flora McMartin, Shigeru Miyagawa, Diana Oblinger, Neeru Paharia, Cheryl Richardson, Marshall Smith, Candace Thille, Edward Walker, and David Wiley

Through the support of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, an electronic version of this book is openly available under a Creative Commons license on The MIT Press website.