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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."

ESRC report on Generation Y's use of technology - they assert that the "net generation" moniker is a misnomer and doesn't represent the different levels of ability and technology use seen in this generation.

From the article: South Forsyth High School in Georgia made the leap to BYOT in 2009 and saw the number of discipline referrals for technology abuse drop dramatically, principal Jason Branch said. In its first year of BYOT, the school had four discipline referrals for technology abuse, after amassing 400 over the previous two years. Instead of working to subvert tech barriers, students were protecting their privilege with what Branch called a "mutual respect and instructional understanding between teachers and students." Sion made its leap trusting students - and trusting teachers. "We have to change the way we teach," said Sion world history teacher Beth Ingram. "Our concept of what knowledge is is changing.

"How are we supposed to use technology responsibly if we don't use it at all?"

Elementary- and middle-school teachers who help raise their students' standardized-test scores seem to have a wide-ranging, lasting positive effect on those students' lives beyond academics, including lower teenage-pregnancy rates and greater college matriculation and adult earnings, according to a new study that tracked 2.5 million students over 20 years.

interesting advent in the digital textbook market - Discovery's Techbooks. iBooks competitor? From the article: Discovery's Techbook series is cloud-based, meaning students can access the materials from wherever they have an internet connection; the company says that's because not all school districts have the funds to give every student his or her own device. The Techbooks are also platform-agnostic to work with whatever hardware a district or student might have-iPads, tablets, mobile devices, laptops, or desktops.

From the post: "One challenge teachers face is requiring and enabling every student an equal opportunity to ask and respond to questions during class. A new web-based classroom tool called GoSoapBox is one possible solution to this problem. With GoSoapBox, students can simultaneously interact with the class in real time as well as participating with any Internet connected device. I am currently accessing GoSoapBox with my classroom set of iPod Touches; however, the app will run on laptops, notebooks, iPads or other mobile devices."

Using the technology students are already using - like Twitter, Facebook, and cell phones - to extend educational opportunities.  A few good ideas for teachers who are just dipping their toes into the "technology" water, like "low-tech tweeting" and "physical Facebook walls."

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.

DIY.org - a site for students to safely create digital portfolios, where others can give comments and feedback.  This looks perfect for K-7 students

Short CNN story on a high school teacher's use of twitter in the classroom to help all students become engaged.

Should technology and tech tools that students use be banned in schools? Peter DeWitt says it's counterproductive, and sends a negative message to our students.

Connecting students on every continent through collaborative global projects. Since 2004 we have been connecting students and teachers to collaborate in composing original music, making movies, and meeting each other in live video chats.

52 great tips for using Google Docs to its fullest extent. Not just for students, as the name says.

Educators from Skyline High School in Ann Arbor, MI discuss how they used Google Sites to streamline curriculum management and create a network of student portfolios.  Potential for use in CCS, where we have Google Sites as part of our closed CCS domain; students don't have to register for accounts like they did in A2.

An alternative to traditional, clunky scanners... I read a good review here: http://www.thenerdyteacher.com/2011/08/doxie-scanner-for-teachers-and-students.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thenerdyteacher%2FIZyg+%28The+Nerdy+Teacher%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

Interesting infographic about the students who have attended/graduated from high school in the past 10 years. As part of that group, the timeline and experience ratings are interesting...

How the use of Facebook affects students' online and offline behavior

Comcast is providing low cost internet to students who receive free and reduced lunch.