Here are several great ideas perfect for kids. Designed to make parents smile, too.

In Jakarta phones are banned in elementary schools

In Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has announced that he supports a proposed ban on cell phones and other electronic gadgets in school. The belief by leaders is that children in school should not be pointed in the direction of consumerism as much of the western world is.

“I think it’s good, in the sense that we should not teach children to (fall into consumerism),” Jokowi said at City Hall.

Jokowi said that he is not against gadgets on principle, and believes that communication is important, just not for young children still in elementary school.

“If parents need to contact their children, they can do so through the school teacher. Let the Jakarta Education Agency and schools set the regulation,” he said.

Children should be sitting in their school chairs and paying attention to their teachers, and not be distracted by their cell phones.

“If parents need to contact their children, they can do so through the school teacher. Let the Jakarta Education Agency and schools set the regulation,” he said.

These interesting devices can make a big difference in the learning experience.

Nowadays it’s not just the school furniture that students require, but a whole host of gadgets, from electronic to simple, which gets students excited. Here is a short list of some of our favorite items no students should be without.

Mobile Phone: Whether it is an iPhone, or android, your student needs a way to communicate, not only with his friends, but with you as well.

Ebook Reader: For students that love to read, ebook readers are a wonderful convenience. Libraries offer books strait to the reader for free, and getting a book not in the library is as easy as pressing a few buttons. The choice is mostly between the $70 cheap Kindle and the $120 Kindle Paperwhite. The $50 difference gets you a light and a touchscreen. You decide if those two items are worth the extra money.

Satechi External Battery

External Battery: This is an essential item for anyone that relies on their cellphone to keep running all day long, not to mention other gadgets they might have on the go. There are a few expensive versions of this gadget, but the best example of value for dollar is the Satechi External Battery. It is only $58, but it has 10,000 mAh of power which can charge a phone at least five times. It fits in a pocket, and with two USB ports for charging you can use it to charge two gadgets simultaneously.

Check out the most up to the minute electronic and other devices to make going to school more fun and fulfilling.

Are you thinking that all your child needs is some cool educational gadget to get him to sit happily at his school desks? Well here is a list of a few great ideas to get your kids in the mood:

MacBook Pro

For a reasonable (by Apple standards) $1,199 you can give your student a tool that will serve them well for years to come. The MacBook Pro is compact and powerful, with a fast 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. It has 2 GB of RAM and lots of room in the 160-GB hard drive. The battery life is great, too, getting more than 5.5 hours of work on a charge.

Kensington Combo Saver notebook lock

If you’re going to bring your laptop anywhere and leave it for a moment, especially to school, you better have a way to keep it from disappearing.  This indispensable tool works with your notebook’s security slot to keep your machine safe, and all your documents, too. There is a 6 foot coiled cable and a four number combination lock. A must for anyone with a laptop at school.

Incase nylon backpack

Made to carry around your laptop all over campus, this lightweight backpack promises to keep your back intact as you scurry from classroom to classroom. Shoulder straps come with lots of padding, and several compartments make it easy and convenient to tote around everything you need for school in one simplified place.

Today’s educational environment is leaning away from learning facts or particular skills and heading more towards learning to think. The world is simply changing to quickly to keep up with all the facts, plus what is really needed in our world is innovation and creativity.

A new method of learning is being created and developed to help our newest students better develop creativity, innovation and adaptation. This new method is called ‘inquiry learning.” This new style of learning is an integrated approach that includes several basic learning skills: content, literacy, information literacy, learning how to learn, and social or collaborative skills. Students are encouraged to think about the choices they have made through the process and the way they feel as they learn. In this new style of learning these observations are just as important as the content they learn or the projects they complete.

“We want students thinking about their thinking,” said Leslie Maniotes a teacher effectiveness coach in the Denver Public Schools and one of the authors of Guided Inquiry: Learning in the 21st Century. “We want them reflecting on the process and the content.”

These are five tools used to guide students to this new approach to learning:

• Create an ‘Inquiry Community’: The classroom is the inquiry community. Each student seems himself as a member of this community, exploring a topic related to the same class subject. Students help each other clarify ideas. “All of this is set within the social context of an inquiry community,” said Maniotes. “We value that community and we’re using all these other tools to inform the level of conversation we might have within that community.”
• Keep an Inquiry Journal: One of the most important and powerful tools in the inquiry learning process. The journal is where students reflect on the process and the content they discover as they go journey through learning. Students should be encouraged to write down their feeling during the learning process and which ways they feel they learn the best
• Set up an Inquiry Circle, which is a small group in which students can talk to each other about a more specific topic related to the more general subject matter. Inquiry circles are where students can feel free to talk about any “crazy” ideas they might have about a subject. Students feel less inhibited when teachers are not around.
• An Inquiry Log will help students to keep tabs on their learning journey. Every choice, change in direction or exciting moment can be jotted down in the log. “When they are able to see where they came from and where they got to it is very powerful for them,” said Maniotes.
• An Inquiry Chart is wonderful device which can help students to discover a central question or problem.

The effect of using these tools is to give students the experience of true in-depth creative thinking. So pull up a few folding chairs, set them up at the computer table, and get to work!

This video helps you to see why technology in the classroom can be so helpful. Learn more here.

You couldn’t have a more comprehensive list of educational technology opportunities for kids. Enjoy everything from play activities to worksheets to shopping with your kids, you’ll find the lists you need here to get started. Here are just a few of the suggestions they offer:

1. Rompr – Share and discover ideas for cool stuff to do with your kids.
2. Kaboose – Crafts, printables and other activities for kids.
3. Playses – Where parents go to discover places and activities their kids will love (app).
4. Fun Finder – (iPhone App) Select a grade and category and see tons of activities.
5. Feelday – The activity guide for playful families.
6. Sprockster – Discover new entertainment for your family.
7. FamilyFun – (Disney) Crafts, activities, recipes and other ideas for kids and parents.
8. Red Tricycle – Free email newsletter that helps parents have more fun with their kids.
9. ChatterBlock – Events, camps, classes, programs and drop-ins.
10. Built by Kids – Children’s projects, DIY, crafts, tools and hands-on skills.

Children are naturally curious. It doesn’t take much to get them interested in something new. Even small children can learn a surprising range of concepts if they are given the opportunity. So put away your folding chairs and desk, and get up and get into learning with your child.

• The simplest activity such as a walk to the park or a ride in the car can be made into a learning experience. Take the time to point out the things that you and your child see. Flowers, insects and animals on the route can lead to interesting, fun discussions.
• Get out the crayons and paper and draw with your child. Reinforce the things you learned about on your walk by drawing them and talking about them again. Drawing favorite places, what you see out your window, or even what is right in front of you. And don’t forget to just draw from the imagination, too. A great chance to talk about colors and the different feeling color and shading produce.
• Now take your child’s drawing and turn it into a story. Write down what your child says about the picture he just drew, or to make about a whole story about it. Encourage him to use his imagination in new ways. Save what he says with his picture.
• Listen carefully to your child. Ask him questions and encourage him to ask questions, too. When you ask your child to tell you about his experiences he learns to choose his words and to think about his experiences.
• Choose appropriate toys which encourage learning of all types. Children learn about the world around them mostly by playing. The best toys that encourage exploration and imagination are not necessarily the ones advertised on television. Make sure the toys you choose are safe, and long-lasting.

Here are some ideas for great, simple and inexpensive toys that can contribute a lot to your child’s education:

• Balls
• Blocks
• Puzzles
• Consider planting a garden with your child
• Books-read to your child

Those are just a few simple ideas which will do a lot to get your child learning, naturally.