SnarkysGuide to Open Source for Educators

Welcome
This site provides you with information on Open Source Software and Education resources in the form of links. Here and there you will find articles.

Technology and Learning

Thousands of web pages exist detailing the pros and cons of technology in the classroom, at this site it's a given that technology benefits classroom instruction and management, however, currently very little information is available on how to incorporate technology into existing education pedagogy. In the following pages, I will use Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, a popular learning strategy, in relation to specific open source software. I have attempted to use only software that is available for Linux and Windows operating systems, I indicate Linux ONLY when that is the case. When you download for Windows you want an exe. or zip format. The tar.gz is for Linux.

Multiple intelligence theory is not intended to provide new IQ-like labels for students. By using Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, teachers, school administrators, and parents can better understand the learners capabilities and potentials. When we allow students to explore and learn in many ways, students learn to identify and appreciate their strengths. The following represents some of the benefits of using multiple intelligences;

Teacher's view students' intellectual ability more broadly. Studies show that many students who perform poorly on traditional tests are turned onto learning when classroom experiences incorporate artistic, athletic, and musical activities.Teacher's provide opportunities for authentic learning based on students' needs, interests and talents. Students become more active, involved learners.Parent and community involvement in school may increase. This happens as students demonstrate work before panels and audiences.Students will be able to demonstrate and share their strengths. Building strengths gives a student the motivation to be a "specialist," which increases self-esteem.Students accumulate positive educational experiences and the capability for creating solutions to life problems.

Integrating technology with today's education knowledge.

The following chart lists Gardner's nine intelligences. Each intelligence below links to specific technology tools that support classroom activities.

This list is not comprehensive...

Verbal-Linguistic intelligence:	"word smart" well-developed verbal skills and sensitivity to the sounds, meanings and rhythms of words
Logical-mathematical intelligence:	"number/reasoning smart" is the ability to think conceptually and abstractly, and capacity to discern logical or numerical patterns
Visual-Spatial intelligence:	"picture smart" capacity to think in images and pictures, to visualize accurately and abstractly
Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence:	body smart is a physical experience; the ability to control one's body movements and to handle objects skillfully
Musical intelligence:	"music smart" ability to produce and appreciate rhythm, pitch and timber
Interpersonal intelligence:	“people smart” is a social experience; capacity to detect and respond appropriately to the moods, motivations and desires of others.
Intrapersonal intelligence:	"self smart" self-reflection; capacity to be self-aware and in tune with inner feelings, values, beliefs and thinking processes
Naturalist intelligence:	“nature smart” is an experience in the natural world; ability to recognize and categorize plants, animals and other objects in nature
Existential Intelligence:	this is the sensitivity and capacity to tackle deep questions about human existence, such as the meaning of life, why do we die, and how did we get here

As time permits I will continue to add information to the pages, My next project is to identify lesson plans for technology. I hope to connect this information to other learning theories as well; however, I will continue to use Gardner's Multiple Intelligences to complement the technology.

The following pages contain material from Technology and Multiple Intelligences

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