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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).

"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."

This is one of the schools we visited, and was one of my favorites.  I have some footage of their language class.  All these little ones have iPads and it is just amazing to watch them use them.

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.

Video sessions from ISTE.  50 of the zillions of options during the conference are available for a year.  Teri and I can recommend this conference highly and warmly encourage you to check out some of these amazing talks!

Wow! What a great collection of Tools!! I will have to spend a lot of time exploring this

I wish they had iPad recommendations, too! Of course, the Flash tools won't work on our iPads. Looks like a great list of resources.

Another list of great iPad apps for education, but this one seems to be from a credible source.

I got the diigolet on my iPad, finally!  When he says to copy the code, he means the code in step 3, not step 2.  I use Diigo all of the time, and the lack of the diigolet prevented me from using the iPad as often as I'd like.  Whew!

Sightings from citizens create a map of crowd sourcing.  Awesome for authentic audience/assessment.

3rd grade web site.  Check out the "money earned" for doing homeworkd, etc.  Not sure what I think of it.  Some of the math games might be fun in advisory?

5 lessons using MLK I Have a Dream in conjuntion with Nikkii iGiovanni's Poem "The Funeral of MLK".  Nice companion piece to the YouTube video of his speech.  Thanks to Mary Benton!

7 lessons on concepts of proportional reasoning, ratio, and indirect measurement.  Recommended by middle school math specialist Heather.

Cheryl Lemke of Metiri Group's talk at ISTE. Marvelous background "stuff" for the importance of personalizing.

Teri and I got intrigued by the concept of a bank of iPads while we were at ISTE.  Here are a few things to consider.

I have used, and am a fan of, GoodReader! Some of these others look fabulous as well.

This is a video of an online meeting I had with several educators around the state.  Bram, the moderator from Danville, has created a wonderful Inspiration presentation considering many aspects of eportfolios.