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The debate over the most effective method of instruction continues as ever and where one stands on the topic is largely influenced by the purposes one attaches to education. Analysing a series of research articles reveals the nature of the debate between advocates of direct instruction compared to those who support a problem based learning methodology.

"In our survey, we asked teachers to tell us about resources that they found on twitter which they then implemented in the classroom. Here are 25 of the most commonly shared ideas"

The book 'Non Obvious' by Rohit Bhargava present an intriguing exploration of how careful observation and thought can reveal emerging trends and as the subtitle suggest 'predict the future'. For educators the ability to identify the trends which will deliver the best outcomes for our students from the noise of fads is alluring. While the talk of new technologies, of learner centric pedagogies and teaching for lifelong learning play the part of the obvious trends in education identifying the non-obvious trend is a more challenging endeavour. 

Slideshow that explores how the landscape and pedagogy of teaching is changing in the tertiary classrooms and halls.

Looking for a conference with a difference? What story do you have to tell? The #motm12 Unconference is built around stories for the purpose of making strong connections with other passionate educators who are integrating ICT with pedagogy. 

See Wesch's comments down in the comment stream. I think he is correct in supporting a balance between good lecture and participatory pedagogy in the classroom

Wonderful article from @aknill about SOLO.

Physics Homework: Search Internet and get physics homework helpThere are many science tutoring companies that offer Physics homework to students. These companies have dedicated teachers trained in modern pedagogy to help students compete their homework.  Physics homework is not just limited to completing daily homework prescribed by classroom teachers. If students complete their daily homework…

Example o Aesop's Story plugin. Description of pedagogy in Finland.

Solution Tree, a leading educational professional development company, has released Mind, Brain, & Education, a new book that explores neuroscience's implications for improving teaching and education.Mind, Brain, & Education is a landmark publication in the emerging field of educational neuroscience. The book showcases insights into the learning process and explores its implications for educational theory and practice. With an introduction and chapter by David A. Sousa, one of the primary researchers in the field, and chapters by 16 leading experts, Mind, Brain, & Education provides a comprehensive overview of the history and current research being conducted in this emerging field.The researchers who contribute to the volume use the growing knowledge of how the brain functions and develops to explore the field's implications for pedagogy and the classroom. "It's an excellent, timely, informative book on the history and current status of the field that has come to be known as educational neuroscience," said Robert Sylwester, emeritus professor of education at the University of Oregon. "The 10 chapters that constitute the heart of the book were written by a wonderful mix of outstanding researchers and educators, from Michael I. Posner, a renowned pioneer in the use of neuroimaging technology in psychology/education and the recipient of the 2009 National Medal of Science, to Judy Willis, who left a career as a neurologist to become an elementary/middle school teacher." Mind, Brain, & Education is the sixth book in the Leading Edge™ series. The Leading Edge™ series unites education authorities from around the globe and asks them to confront the important issues that affect teachers and administrators-the issues that profoundly impact student success

Listen carefully at around 27:00 about uncertainty of impact on new social connections via screens... 38:00 "We need to maximize the ration of learning:teaching" 53:00 Teacher needs to be more of a philosopher than technician 62:35 onward: Teachers wait for "training" because that is the traditional paradigm of learning. As we get more "sophisticated", we stop learning (on our own) and wait for training (the teacher as technician/pedagogy). We need to embrace a new paradigm of learning over teaching (constructionism/constructivism)...

An excellent read for those interested... and those who need a kick in the pants re: engaging meaningfully a new culture of students, especially in higher education.

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Dennis is a former English teacher and administrator in urban and suburban schools for many years. Dennis has always gravitated toward K12 leadership, learning and technology topics. He has graduate degrees from Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English and Harvard University's School of Education. In addition to blogging about K12 learning, leading and web 2.0 tools/pedagogies at innovation3.edublogs.org, he is president of the Massachusetts affiliate of ASCD, a member of the Leadership Council for ASCD; a member of the Massachusetts Working Group for Educator Quality; Co-Facilitator of the Massachusetts High School Redesign Task Force; and a member of Massachusetts STEM Summit V Planning Committee. The web 2.0 conversation is not about technology tools; it is about student learning. Dennis subscribes to the definition of Professional Learning Communities that Rick and Becky DuFour and many other leaders of education have espoused. In simple terms, * learning (for us and for students) is our purpose, * we can improve student learning if we learn together collaboratively, and * monitoring student learning is the only way to know: 1. what students are learning, 2. how we are teaching and 3. how we get better at it. A former English teacher and administrator in urban and suburban schools for many years, he has always gravitated toward K12 leadership, learning and technology topics. He has graduate degrees from Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English and Harvard University's School of Education. He is married with three children and four grandchildren. Among other things, he loves running, cycling, kayaking, contemporary poetry, photography and the outdoors. In the summer of 2007 his professional life changed when he attended the Building Learning Communities Conference 2007 and in three days experienced, for the first time, the power of Web 2.0 tools and their potential for transforming schools and learning. That experience

This unit on "MySpace in Democracy: inquiry on how social networks and media technologies promote and disrupt democratic practices" is intended to integrate with the School Districts Philadelphia's middle grades' Social Studies core curriculum. Through my proposed unit, students will conduct inquiry on how the proliferation of social networking sites, search engines, and electronic media shapes democratic practices. Inquiry and critical thinking will be core skills students will master. To lead students to master research skills this unit will use media literacy and free speech topics to provide students with seed ideas for their own inquiry. As Leonisa Ardizzone posits, students need to find themselves at the center rather than the margins of learning for critical pedagogy to take place. 1 My students consequently need opportunities to create their own media where their voices can be heard and honored. The hope is that my students' voices will placed at the center of topics related to digital literacy and democratic practices.

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