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This is one of our stops during the Australia trip.  New technologies enable museums to create learning experiences for teenagers where they can authentically research, create, communicate and collaborate. Museum Victoria is using 21st century communication technologies to support students to investigate the past, both online and onsite. This session will outline how two programs developed by Museum Victoria, Making History and 600 million years in 60 seconds, are transforming museum learning for 21st century learners. The new programs enable teenagers to collaborate with their peers, communicate their ideas, create new digital media and make sense of the world around them. 600 million years in 60 seconds is an onsite education program at Melbourne Museum where exhibition objects are the learning focus and ICT tools are used by students to communicate their understanding of key concepts. Making History is an online resource where experts share historical knowledge and experience as well as an online gallery that can host student generated digital histories.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe the barriers and challenges school leaders face as they implement a standards-based grading (SBG) system.  The researchers used a multiple case study methodology to investigate how key school leaders described their implementation journey at three schools that differed in size, demographics, and location.  Purposeful sampling was used to identify key administrators at three different schools who were in the process of implementing a SBG system.  Data were collected primarily via semi-structured interviews.  In the analysis, researchers used three phases: horizontalization, thematizing, and textural-structural synthesis.  Each of the three schools had very different implementation stories.  Barriers in the process included: student information and grading systems, parents/community members, the tradition of grading and fear of the unknown, and the implementation dip.  This study suggests that implementation of SBG must be purposeful and well communicated.  That is, in order to enhance the likelihood of success, an intentional plan with a reasonable timeline, ongoing professional development and collaboration, and effective two-way communication about the purpose of grading is needed.  Also maintaining A-through-F final grades-even as they simultaneously implement more progressive assessment and reporting strategies-is often seen as a necessary concession.  Finally, the authors explicate SBG's relationship to competency-based education and professional learning communities (PLCs).

Between adaptive software that can present and assess mastery of content, video games and simulations that can engage kids on a different level, and mobile technologies and online environments that allow learning to happen on demand, we need to fundamentally rethink what we do in the classroom with kids. (personal communication, October 1, 2011)

"caffolding Culture How are you building a culture of collaboration in your classroom? Teachers should not forget the importance of scaffolding the skills needed for students to work in groups. Paired with a good collaboration rubric, where students know what is expected of them in terms of behavior, teachers need to scaffold skills such consensus building, effective communication, and the ability to critique. Educators need to explicitly teach and assess collaboration, a critical 21st century skill, if they want their group work to be productive."