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"...for the most part, schools have incorporated these 21st century instructional techniques and tools as add-ons to the teacher-centric 19th century classroom structure, in which the majority of the curriculum is pulled from a textbook, and, despite best intentions, most students learn the same thing in the same way at the same time. Enter personalized learning, a student-centered teaching and learning model that acknowledges and accommodates the range of abilities, prior experiences, needs, and interests of each student--with the goal of moving every student to a higher standard of achievement. It's not a particularly new theory (versions of it have been around since the 19th century), but it has gained currency among many of today's education thought leaders, particularly because technology seems to be ready to do its part to provide a more personalized learning environment for every student."

Chief Information Officer offers perspectives to consider when determining if mobile learning is right for a school district or learning environment

Examination of the real costs of blended learning

mobile devices enable learning anywhere and anytime, moving education beyond the industrial era model, where classrooms are the primary place of learning, the school day is the primary educational time, and the teacher is the primary source of information.

From the article: "Still, students have had to learn to think of the iPads primarily as a learning tool, not a toy. Teachers and administrators have developed new strategies to deal with some apps' inherent distractions. And, perhaps most significantly, the use of iPads as a take-home device has raised questions about Internet safety: Who's responsible for a student's online behavior once they leave school?"

While this article doesn't answer if the iPad is the correct tool to aid learning in education, it represents two sides of the debate. 

"Those pursuing online learning will see that, though there is no 'silver bullet' solution, there is evidence to suggest that virtual learning (both part-time and full-time) can provide significant opportunity to save money," the report said. "Future innovation should include careful tracking of quality and outcomes to continue to provide more robust options for those experimenting with lower-cost delivery of instruction."

What students want from digital learning - and what we aren't giving them.

From the article: "Why not let kids use the tech tools they're already familiar with to enhance their learning? But as schools try to figure out the best way of transitioning to this new world, some thorny issues must first be sorted out. How do teachers and school systems prepare for all the different platforms, when some kids are bringing in tablets, others are bringing their parents' old laptops, and the remainder are on mobile phones? And what effect does this change have on the dynamics of a classroom?"

Free video resources from NBC Learn, an educational arm of NBC.

Very cool virtual learning/field trip resource

Links to many resources for PBL project based learning.

Resource for learning about integrating web 2.0 tools in the classroom... all videos are 5 minutes or less!

Check out the International Studies School Network link.

"The world's leading website on learning disabilities and ADHD"

Teachers in digital classrooms have become learning coaches, moving around the room and giving students more one-on-one instruction. Educators who have embraced this approach said it better prepares students for the interactive environments they'll encounter in their college and professional lives.