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"Every educator wants to teach in a connected classroom, and every student wants to learn in one. But what is the "connected classroom," and what are some of its most important features? Ideally, the connected classroom expands on the ever-popular concept of 21st century skills and puts many "must-have" ideas into practice. Connected classrooms have many moving parts, and each must work in sync to give students the best and most effective learning experiences possible. (Next page: Six characteristics of a connected classroom)"

"Blogging in the classroom was a watershed discovery for me.  I had such an acute need for a better way to manage my student's writing, but I was wary of blogging.  There are challenges to helping students learn in an online community.  Until I met Matt Hardy from KidBlog, I viewed these risks as too big to manage on my own.  I believe that as a teacher I have to both innovate and protect my own professional reputation.  When I heard Matt talk about how he created KidBlog to support exactly the kind of connected learning I want to happen in my classroom, I realized how accessible this learning is now.  Using school specific tools like Kidblog, or  Edublogs, can give you more control and management potential than using conventional tools like Blogger, or WordPress"

"From connecting via Twitter as an educator to Twitter in the classroom and connecting your class globally." This Slideshare from Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano looks at Twitter from a classroom prespective.

Today, we're excited to introduce the latest version of Edmodo. We listened to your feedback and added new features that will make it simpler to connect with resources, and get insight into how students feel about assignments, classroom discussions and shared content. We also made the features you love even more powerful. We will be rolling out the latest version to all of our users over the next few weeks. Here's a peek at what's new:

"Infuse Learning is a free student response system that works with any Internet-connected device including iPads and Android tablets. Infuse Learning allows teachers to push questions, prompts, and quizzes out to students' devices in private virtual classrooms. In an Infuse Learning room a teacher can give students a wide variety of formats in which to response to a question or prompt. Students can reply to prompts and questions in standard multiple choice, true/false, and short answer formats. But Infuse Learning also offers an option for students to reply by creating drawings or diagrams on their iPads, Android tablets, or on their laptops."

"Edmodo is a web and mobile application that provides a safe and easy way for students and teachers to connect and collaborate, share content, and access homework, grades and school notices." This is a collection of videos designed to get you started with Edmodo.

Virtual schools here and throughout California provide flexibility needed by child actors, musicians and serious athletes, and offer options to regular students dissatisfied with traditional classrooms. Vincent is enrolled in Capistrano Connections Academy, an Orange County charter school available in neighboring counties, including Riverside. "I get home just in time for my science live lesson," Vincent said by phone after skating practice. "I eat lunch and I start school." Several Inland districts operate their own virtual schools, including the Perris Union High School District. Lake Elsinore Unified School District will launch its online school in August. San Bernardino City Unified chartered a virtual school.

"Technology is increasingly pervasive in the classroom and in the lives of educators as a whole. There are myriad tools designed specifically for teachers, to help you reach students, monitor results and tailor lesson plans. But what about popular social networks like Twitter? As an educator, is it worth the time to integrate Twitter into your already packed schedule? We asked a few of our more active "twitterati" Milken Educators for their thoughts, then added a handy resource guide to get you on your way."

"Let's face it. The easier and more automated I can make certain things I do, the better off I am. While I haven't perfected my "Get Out Of Bed, Dress Me, Make Me Bacon" machine...yet, I have found a site that puts the power of the Internet to work for me. If This, Than That (or IFTTT) is a powerful website where you set up triggers and recipes to do tasks for you. You connect IFTTT to your favorite web tools like Twitter, Facebook, Pocket, Foursquare, etc and set up statements that if this happens, than that should happen."

Arguments go around and come back again about the role technology should play in the classroom. Should it be a subject? Should we have standards? Should it be mandated or optional? Some people argue that technology is simply a tool to be applied where and how it's appropriate. Others say no technology is neutral and we have to be deliberate in our choices to use it. In my view, technology can't be optional and it can't be an add-on.

Smartphones and tablet computers are radically transforming how we access our shared knowledge sources by keeping us constantly connected to near-infinite volumes of raw data and information. We enjoy unprecedented instant access to expertise, from informal cooking lessons on YouTube to online university courses. Every day people around the globe are absorbed in exciting new forms of learning, and yet traditional schools and university systems are still struggling to leverage the many opportunities for innovation in this area.