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"Tablet computers are on a lot of people's wish lists this year. A recent Nielsen survey found the Apple iPad is the most wanted gift for kids ages 6 to 12. Some have even taken their appeals to YouTube. But if an iPad isn't in the budget, there are some 30 other tablets out there to choose from."

"Apple is upping its bid for its hot-selling iPad to be a teaching device, with an update today to its iTunes U app that allows any teacher to create a private course."

"There is an awful lot of hot air blown about accessing student work from "class sets" of iPads, via email, WebDAV, Dropbox etc etc. A little known and cool method is this… We all know that we can share via iTunes over USB to any Mac/PC with a recent version of iTunes. Well would you believe the same thing works without a cable and it doesn't have to be the Mac/PC that manages the devices. It means that any teacher can access all the students files on a device that has been "Saved to iTunes". You can even pick up the work, mark it and hand it back to the iPad whilst the iPad is still being used by the kids (unbeknown to the user!)."

"Pinstagram, a mashup launched last month combining hot Internet properties Instagram and Pinterest, has launched its app for iPad. The app beats both startups it builds upon to launch an iPad app. "

"Learnist is one of the hot education-oriented social networks you should know about. If you're a teacher, student, administrator, or anyone who wants to learn while browsing the web, you should know about Learnist. Founded by the folks behind Grockit (the test-prep company), I've been following Learnist since inception. This course is a quick overview of all the key points to know about! Take This Course Students "

"Teaching primary and secondary students how to program has become a hot topic lately. Even people like United States President Barack Obama to actress Angela Bassett to music artist Shakira have spoken about the value of computer programming in an initiative called Hour of Code. With good reason too. Technology is a major part of our lives. Knowing how to build new technologies means having the ability to shape its direction. So let's encourage students not just how to program, but how to write programs that can help our world. And to start, technology coordinator Holli Scharinger has curated a set of web, desktop, and mobile apps that students can use to learn computer programming."

"It's a pretty hot topic of debate… Is the Internet making us smarter or dumber? Or is it just making us more volatile to the occasional 'YouTube comment' outburst. I guess it would be difficult to comment on YouTube without the Internet… So maybe it is to blame! Well, according to this infographic from WhoIsHostingThis? the Internet is not to blame. In fact according to the stats below the Internet is actually making our kids smarter."

"Popularized by Angela Lee Duckworth's excellent TED Talk in April 2013, "Grit" has become a red-hot buzzword in education today. However, is this a legitimate concept that teachers should start integrating into their educational zeitgeist or just another passing trend? The research in favor of grit as a predictor of success is compelling, suggesting that this is a much-awaited key measuring stick that works on both students and teachers. Read on to learn more about this trending topic and decide for yourself whether grit is something that should play into your teaching techniques."

"Introducing kids to coding is the hot new thing. Even President Obama is promoting it. By teaching children how to write code, we enhance their understanding about how computer science makes so many things work. Using their new coding skills, budding programmers can create their own games and solve problems, while also practicing logical thinking, math and reading skills. Here are some of the best free ways to start kids down the path of coding."

"lassroom Flipped learning is more than just having students do homework during the school day. It's more than just putting the onus on students to teach themselves. In fact, it's neither of those things. Don't be fooled by simple explanations of flipped classrooms that simplify a highly complex undertaking. Flipped learning is a hot trend in most stages of education right now - and for good reason. It's a way to really shake up the typical classroom and incorporate education technology in a positive way. The graphic below from Circulus dives into the benefits of flipping your classroom, homework, and learning in general"

"Amazon is currently having a massive sale on all Maker and DIY Electronics books! There is up to 40% off on digital and paperback books covering everything from 3D printing to electronics and Raspberry Pi. Regardless of what tools, languages, kits or operating systems you use to make, there is guaranteed to be some great learning material at a remarkable price. From a quick look through the items on sale, here are a few of the hot MakerEd books we have spotted:"

"The Managing Complex Change model puts language to that which makes some schools successful while others struggle. The model looks at five components necessary to create a desired environment. These include vision, skills, incentives, resources, action plan. If any one piece is missing the model indicates results schools will experience including change, confusion, anxiety, gradual change, frustration, and a false start. When thinking of successful schools such as Science Leadership Academy, The MET, The Island School, The iSchool, you will find they have all those components in place. On the other hand, when I hear teachers lamenting about their school failures, the model brings clarity to the fact that one or more of these components are missing. Below is the chart that lays this out. Following the chart, I'll take a look at what each missing component might look like in a school environment. As you read, consider which, if any are components, are missing at your school. save image Lack of Vision = Confusion When I hear exasperated teachers spinning their wheels, working so hard to get ready for all the various mandates and requirements, but never feeling a sense of accomplishment, it is clear there is not a tangible school vision that has been communicated. In some cases this is because what is being imposed does or can not reconcile with what the school wanted for their vision. Skill Deficit = Anxiety My heart goes out to those with a skill deficit. They are required to implement a curriculum they are not trained in using or being evaluated via measures with which they are not familiar. Or…they are put into a position they were not trained for or prepared to embrace. Social media provides a great medium for helping these teachers get up to speed, but when the outreach occurs, the anxiety is abundantly clear. Lack of Incentives = Gradual Change It is not unusual for innovative educators to feel like and be perceived as misfits. Islands onto their own

"Experience the sensation of being a modern day Columbus as you travel across the vast spaces of the land of the free and home of the brave. From the hot deserts of the south to the great forests of the north, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 50 states of challenging locations awaits you!"

Hot, Flat, and Crowded Why We Need a Green Revolution-and How It Can Renew America

With the No. 1 bestseller The World Is Flat, Thomas L. Friedman helped millions of readers see and understand globalization in a new way. Now you can have it for free. From now until August 11th, you can download the audiobook version of The World Is Flat and receive an exclusive audio preview excerpt of Hot, Flat, and Crowded.