What happens to the Old School?

I’ve been playing with some great new tools today thanks to my friend Graham. Things like PopFly and Microsoft Robot Studio. These are some cool little tools.

Microsoft Robotics Studio brings the programming of Robots into a realistic 3D world. Add to that the Soccer or Sumo Tournament that can be downloaded and I’m sure that our Students will have great time with it.

PopFly is still in Beta, and once released I think it will be a very handy teaching tool. I also think that once LG gets it onto her Tablet she will see the opportunities that it holds within. I can see her Year 9 IST class producing some pretty impressive content. Used with Visual Studio, which we have under the Schools Agreement, and this little beauty can be used to cover a myriad of the outcomes I’m sure.

The sad thing will be what happens to the “Old School” tools. This really is a time where new technologies are being used in a variety of Educational Projects. Teachers really do have to keep up or they will find themselves being left behind. We are already seeing ways in which Students are showing their Teachers a thing or two, so ICT in Educaton is surely a bi-directional learning experience.

Of course the sad part of this is that I have just created a lot more work for my team in this already too busy Roll-Out for 2008. It will be worth it when I see what our Students will create.

Roll on 2008.