COE Exchange

Archive for October, 2008

Freeware and open source software have taken an ever increasing roll in education over the past decade largely owing to the greater sense of community emerging on the Internet and the growing centrality technology is playing in educational practice and goals.  Gathered here is a small sampling that our staff at the TLC recommends as both alternatives to proprietary solutions and a means of enhancing your productivity in ways you might not have been aware were possible, especially from free software. While by no mean comprehensive, these are a great way to get some exposure to the advantages of an…

Commentary on: Look into the Teaching Mirror from www.budapestsun.com Hungarian educators have brought several teachers from other nations to spend time teaching in their schools. Moni Oyeyele recently talked with an African teacher about his experiences in Hungarian schools. Haeekem Babalola, who has previously taught in Nigeria, is currently teaching at the Terezvarosi Bilingual Elementary School and Pedagogy Center. He noted, among the most significant differences is attitudes of teachers and students toward one another. “In Nigeria, teachers are meant to be second to God. They are the authority in the classroom and students are expected to obey and respect…

Commentary on: Finland in mourning after Kauhajoki tragedy from www.helsinkitimes.fi The Finnish nation is still attempting to make sense of what transpired in the recent shooting of ten students by Matti Saari. A task force is engaged in a wide variety of tasks ranging from developing counseling programs for schools to assist students in coping with the second school shooting within a year as well as uncovering the actual events that occurred. It is now evident, Saari was talking on the phone even as he fired at his fellow students.  Finnish educators note both shootings involved, in one way or…