Good idea, Jason, but the questions fail to reach my work in creating a new design for digital textbooks. Please see
http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Creating_textbooks for an outline and a list of partner organizations, and then feel free to ask any questions that that suggests. On Sun, Mar 8, 2009 at 8:36 PM, Mel Chua <[email protected]> wrote: > It's somewhat US-centric, but I thought the folks here might be > interested in Jason's project - he's been interested in Sugar for quite > some time and came out to the ILXO office in Chicago this summer where > we had a wonderful conversation. > > I thought IAEP might be a good place for Jason to ask for thoughts on > Sugar, open source in education, the internet and education, educational > technology, and other "education + tech" themes. Perhaps there's some > way that Sugar could be a good fit for what he ends up doing next. > > More context in the letters below. > > --Mel > > Jason Hoekstra wrote: >> I wrote up a survey for educational technology which I'd like you >> consider filling out. More details can be found by clicking on the >> link below. Thanks in advance for your consideration and time. >> >> > https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=cGhNc2w3NUJzdGZHNWJ6MUR3YjVfQ0E6MA.. >> > <https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=cGhNc2w3NUJzdGZHNWJ6MUR3YjVfQ0E6MA..> >> (If I forwarded this to you and you aren't an educator, the intent is >> for you to forward along to the educator(s) that is (are) close to >> you. Also, feel free to forward this along to anyone you think that >> would like to participate. Many thanks!!) >> >> Jason >> > > > > Here's why I'm doing this. I've been working a good 14+ years as a > professional in information technology, mostly as a lead software > developer. Last year, I decided to take a strong turn away from a stable > career at a pharmaceutical research company to join the Barack Obama > campaign in Chicago. Never before have I worked with a more dedicated > group aligned with what, in my opinion, fiercely needs to happen in this > country. It has been a great ride and I'm continuing on by finding where > I can best positively impact change in our country. > > Obama's understanding of technology as a component to drive change > (health care, education, small business, green tech) is a top reason of > why he very early became my candidate of choice. Well, apparently others > found things they liked in Obama, and with a tremendous effort, we won. > From the campaign, I traveled on to the transition team and now working > for the White House Office. The role I'm in is temporary as many backend > systems are being developed for a department which will soon get a > permanent team. I've been thinking very, very deep about what's next and > I believe my best move is into the sector of educational technology. > Specifically, I'd like to work in the Department of Education's Office > of Educational Technology (OET). > > Stepping back a bit, here's my story. I grew up on Chicago's South Side > where educational resources weren't necessarily engaging nor enriching. > Luckily, I received a garage sale VIC-20 (precursor to the C64) which > allowed me to heavily explore the world of computers. Over the years, > this tool (and the others after it) helped me develop skills in logic, > persistence, exploration, experimentation and confidence. I felt first > hand how a computer can provide an unlimited lab for self-education and > exploration which put me on a pretty good track moving forward. For > these next few years, I'd like to focus my efforts on helping others > (educators, administrators, etc.) find ways to use technology to expand > learning and developmental possibilities for our nation's youth. > > As a consultant for the past decade, I've found the successful > application of technology follows a pattern. 1.) Ask the folks in the > field about the strengthens and weaknesses of the domain. 2.) Cull over > the gathered responses/data and compare to what is in the marketplace. > 3.) Propose solutions, modify with the end users until a good fit is > found. 4.) Deploy the solution. 5.) Measure success of the solution. 6.) > Modify plans as necessary, repeat strengths were possible. > > So I'm at step one and requesting your help. As a person in the field of > education, I'd like to gather your responses to what and how you see > technology benefiting education, both as it stands now and in the > future. Your responses will help guide my research of the problem and > impact areas in educational technology. This will help lead me to my > next steps as I begin to work towards a position at the Department of > Education. > > Your honest feedback is greatly appreciated. Please only share what you > feel comfortable sharing. Your individual responses will not be shared > with anyone else. Thank you greatly in advance for your time and efforts. > > Sincerely, > > Jason Hoekstra > _______________________________________________ > IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!) > [email protected] > http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep > -- Silent Thunder (默雷/धर्ममेघशब्दगर्ज/دھرممیگھشبدگر ج) is my name And Children are my nation. The Cosmos is my dwelling place, The Truth my destination. http://earthtreasury.net/ (Edward Mokurai Cherlin) _______________________________________________ IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!) [email protected] http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep
