English classes today focus too much on self-expression. “It is rare in a working environment,
“narrative nonfiction
New Journalism could be applied to most student writing. It benefits from intense reporting, immersion in a subject, imaginative scene setting, dialogue and telling details. These are the very skills most English teachers want students to develop. What’s odd is how rarely such literary nonfiction appears on English — or other class — reading lists.
Narrative nonfiction also provides a bridge between the personal narratives students typically write in elementary school and the essays on external subjects that are more appropriate assignments in high school and beyond.
Models of narrative nonfiction are everywhere, on programs like “This American Life” and “Radiolab,” in nonfiction books for young adults, like “Sugar Changed the World” (which is about slavery and science in the pursuit of the food additive), and even in graphic nonfiction works, like “Persepolis,”
Students are a natural (and the future) audience for serious, in-depth reporting.
Two business men who are creating education apps and supporting students who are creating education apps have begun "The App Evaluation Program for Schools" which allows teachers to test educational apps for kids for free.
"The apps, which cover everything from math, spelling, and reading to language learning, storyboard building, and puzzles, are provided by developers around the world and sent to teachers two or three times per month. Teachers receive a questionnaire after testing the app as a way to help developers improve, but Larsson stresses they are not required to fill it out."
There are some interesting finds in this article; although, I would say we are all utilizing most of these technologies all ready as part of our practice.
I was just about to add this article when I saw you already had. I agree that we are using many of them. I would like to know more about the Epson projector that is an IWB. I believe that product is somthing to watch!
"This new report reinforces that effective teachers need to incorporate digital content into everyday classes and consider open-source learning management systems, which have proven cost effective in school districts and colleges nationwide," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, in a statement released to coincide with the publication of the report. "We must take advantage of this historic opportunity to use American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to bring broadband access and online learning to more communities."
Everything old is new again-and that's a good thing! If you've always wanted to collaborate with your history teacher using the Library of Congress (LOC) American Memory Project, but felt overwhelmed by the prospect of having to actually develop lesson plans and collect all of the digital material needed, then it's time to revisit the idea of teaching with primary sources.
It looks like they have done a nice job revamping the "American Memory" website. It is definitely much more user-friendly from previous versions. I highly recommend introducing SS teachers to this amazing tool.
Effective school and district leaders driving the innovations;
Collaboration and participation in professional communities;
Use of data to improve instructional approaches;
Subject matter expertise;
The sustainability of the programs; and
Access to resources and tools.