My friend Philipp Schmidt (of the Peer 2 Peer University) passes along word of an exciting new initiative, sponsored by Mozilla and with support of the MacArthur Foundation:
Help turn the open Web into a rich learning environment and explore
new possibilities for using Firefox add-ons to support learning
online, as part of the the Jetpack for Learning Design Challenge
sponsored by the Mozilla Foundation with support from the MacArthur
Foundation. Designers, educators and software developers who want to
turn their innovative ideas into working prototypes will learn to use
the new Jetpack technology from Mozilla Labs to create Firefox add-ons
to support learning on the open Web, using standard web technologies
like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The creators of the most promising
add-ons will be invited to an intensive three-day Jetpack for Learning
Design Camp (to be held in conjunction with SXSW Interactive in March
2010), where they’ll further refine their work and the best add-ons
will be publicly recognized.For more information:
URL: http://design-challenge.mozilla.org/jetpack-for-learning
TWITTER: @jet4learning / #jet4learning
The deadline for mockups is November 27, then there’s a 2 month online design course (December and January), and then some teams will get an all expense-paid trip to SXSW.
I’m interested in building a Mozilla add-on for assessing online projects (blogs, wikis, etc.). This could be for peer assessment or faculty assessment of student work. If you’d like to participate, please get in touch, either via e-mail or in comments below. The rules say that they “especially encourage submissions from inter-disciplinary groups (designers, educators, and software developers),” so don’t be shy about pitching in!
[Image by flickr user martinjetpack / CC licensed]
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4 Responses to Mozilla’s JetPack for Learning Design Challenge / Call for ProfHacker Participants
Heather Whitney - October 28, 2009 at 4:42 pm
I’m really interested in such a project. I’ve moved to a point where students submit all assignments to me electronically, and can see areas where I’d like to improve assessment and feedback methods.
Mike Garcia - October 27, 2009 at 4:40 pm
I’d be interested, Jason. I’m basically a novice when it comes to Firefox add-ons, but I know a fair amount about assessment and grading technologies and could help you think through the possibilities/limitations for the add-on.
Alex Jarvis - October 27, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I am certainly throwing my hat in for some Profhacker/jetpack projects.
Chris Clark - December 1, 2009 at 4:20 pm
This is an excellent idea. Don’t forget the possible tie-in with course management systems like Blackboard and Sakai.
I am a huge fan of rubrics. I use them in the course I regularly teach, as well as a new one last summer where I was grading blog posts. This would be a perfect tool for me.
My background is in education and I now work in faculty development. If there is a way I can help, I’d like to.