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It is common for observers and bloggers (including myself) in educational technology to proclaim that the current educational practice is, in some way, 'broken'. It is seen as not delivering deep learning, or failing to meet the needs of students, and of potentially becoming irrelevant to a new generation of digital learners. Before exploring the potential impact and benefits of a digital, networked, open approach, it is worth taking time to place these claims within some context and to give a sober assessment of much of the rhetoric that surrounds technology and education.

Designing 21st Century Schools and Learning starts with "what knowledge and skills do students need for the 21st century?" But real design needs to go much further and address these questions: What learning curricula, activities, and experiences, foster 21st Century learning?What assessments for learning, school-based and national, foster student learning, engagement, and self-direction?What physical learning environments (classroom, school, and real world) foster 21st century student learning?How can technology support a 21st Century collaborative learning environment and support a learning community?

Apps for creation and more!

Making the connection: Common Core and National Educational Technology standards

Modern children are more likely to claim "I finished my homework but deleted it by accident", "The internet was down" or "my printer broke". The study also found the average teacher hears at least 20 different homework excuses a week.

Earlier today Google added a handy new sharing setting to Google Documents. Now when you share a document with someone you have the option to give him or her "comment-only" access. Comment-only access means that the person with whom you have shared your document can only add notes to the margins of your document but cannot actually change the content of what you have written. In the past your only sharing options were "can edit" and "can view."

I posted this yesterday on Google+ and it seems to have been well-received so I thought I'd share it again. In February of 2010 I designed a short activity for my students to compare textbooks, Wikipedia, and primary source documents on a given topic. Next week my students will be doing this activity with a slight modification to match where we are in the curriculum right now.

This app gets a worthy mention for students who need practice narrating or verbalizing their stories or vice versa: Story Wheel is super helpful in giving teachers and parents tips in storytelling.

Over 50 BHM teachers took that step at the Teach 2.0 Day on October 19. Thank you to all of the teacher leaders that took the time to teach a class or to lead a discussion. Pressure and anxiety come along with presenting to colleagues, and so does a feeling of relief and pride when the ideas you have shared impact the learning happening for students. The courage shown by these teacher leaders left an impression on our staff.

Free Social Teaching and Learning Network focused solely on education

"Many workers, in short, are losing the race against the machine," the authors write.