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Fab read. I've only highlighted a few paragraphs... then it goes into concrete ways to improve tech integration using the example of the iPad. ---- "n: Just bringing new technology in your classroom and working it into day-to-day routines isn't enough. The iPads arrived two days before my students, and I quickly made plans to integrate them into our curriculum. Despite my high hopes, the next two months were less than successful. A casual observer would have witnessed a sea of students glued to glistening tablets, but the effects were superficial. The iPads were not helping my students make substantial progress toward self-efficacy, academic achievement, or social-emotional growth. Around the end of September, I took a step back-it was time to evaluate and reflect on what was happening. I asked myself: "What have we been doing so far with this technology?" Students used math apps instead of math card games. They'd made slideshow presentations for isolated units. They'd done some research on the Internet. In short, things were going ... OK. Nothing to write home about. Not what I would consider "worthy" of a $20,000 grant. Clearly it was time for a change. The problem, I began to realize, was my own understanding of how the iPads should be utilized in the classroom. I had seen them as a supplement to my pre-existing curriculum, trying to fit them into the structure of what I'd always done. This was the wrong approach: To truly change how my classroom worked, I needed a technology-based redefinition of my practice."

Fab read. I've only highlighted a few paragraphs... then it goes into concrete ways to improve tech integration using the example of the iPad.

"WIN BIG  Teams compete for more than $300K in prizes such as scholarships, adventure trips, assemblies with Discovery Channel talent and more! GET STARTED  Register online today to get your team started and access free resources like lesson plans, step-by-step guides, sample projects, and virtual labs that will help you support your students."

Finally! An alternative to Jaycut!

Finally! An alternative to Jaycut! I haven't tried it, but looks like there is potential here. If you try, please let the rest of us know how it works out.

Lesson plans for social studies

There are challenges for internet searching that has culture, geography, history, or science as the theme.

"Clear communication with students and their parents is one of the primary goals of every teacher. Start this year with just that by using a variety of tools to share your plans and expectations for the coming academic year."

Classroom Challenge -- (PS If the entire school signs up and does it, then they might get prizes) -- The tutorials for learning how to do computer coding are also awesome math and critical thinking lessons! "Even if you aren't a student, you can take the Hour of Code yourself during Dec. 9-15. And you can help us recruit others to join the movement - at school, in your workplace, in the community. If you are an educator, host the Hour of Code as an activity in your classroom. If you're an organizer or employer, host an Hour of Code event as a team-building exercise, after-school activity in a club, or elsewhere in your community. Click the appropriate tab, and start planning your Hour of Code!"

Just a quick heads up that ASSET is still here for you and ready to help in filling the Discovery Streaming void. PBS is launching Learning Media, a digital repository of over 14,000 resources, including video, audio, images, interactives and lesson plans. By the end of the year, there will be 30,000 assets. This basic service is totally free to teachers. You can see more at www.azpbs.org/asset and then click on Learning Media.

This is ASSET's answer to helping with Discovery Streaming deciding to charge for their services. If you think it's worth investigating, would you let Jon know? Thanks!

Assessing Projects is a no-cost, advertisement-free online resource to support the implementation of effective assessment practices. Visit to: *Create an account in the Teacher Workspace where you can save 21st century skills assessments to your Personal Library *Learn about the research and theory behind successful assessment. *Browse Assessment Plans that illustrate how different units incorporate ongoing assessment *Explore explanations and examples of assessment strategies

Being a visual learner, this was perfect. I was imagining my year's experience as I listened to your presentation. Yep, so many of us were all locked up at the beginning of the year and have since allowed ourselves to be unlocked to what technology has to offer. I know I'm somewhat unlocked. My lock is still rusty and the inside mechanisms don't move smoothly, but then there's next year for that! Thank you.

Loved the video. It does a great job of showing the journey and how the excitement spreads when collaboration is involved. I'm wondering how we can "free" those still locked in the dungeon.

Superb summary of your/our experiences for this year.

Technology is in the forefront of everything we do as collaborators in the classroom. Teachers incorporating the use of technology while lesson planning increases engagement and rigor. Lessons are enhanced and students are focused. Many of the projects we were involved in incorporated technology and we collaborated with others at the school site and across the district. Valuable relationships were formed among the students and the teachers. Teachers not involved with the collaboration process also benefited from this through observing what was taking place in our classrooms. These teachers then requested to be involved in the program. Relationships were built, the use of technology was increased, and a 21st Century classroom was created.

Those students are going to be coming up to the junior and senior high so prepared. Thank you! Knowing that they are coming up to the higher grades with the ability to work with technology and work with each other at the same time is reassuring. Excellent work, guys!

I love how your video focuses on how becoming a 21st C classroom is a process that we (teachers & students) are somewhere along the spectrum.

Description: "The resources in Xpeditions provide an opportunity to cross the curriculums of science, social studies, math, and language arts using National Geography Standards. At the same time students are engaged in unique and well planned inquiry, project, and problem based activities." Benefits: Just about all the work is done for you. Lesson plans, video links, everything right at your fingertips. Pitfalls: Deciding what you want to do and where to start.

Degree Confluence Project The goal of this volunteer-run project is to post a photograph on this Web site of each of the 13,584 latitude and longitude degree intersections in the world (whole-number values only!). Confluences in the oceans and some near the poles have been excluded. There is a confluence point within 49 miles of wherever you're standing. You can join the fun with a camera and GPS receiver. Participants must create an account or log a plan Here's my question -- is this just a 21st Century collaborative learning oportunity, or is it pbl? Did I tag it right?

Grade/Subject: 9-12 Language Arts Description: Students will research the American Dream, what it means to different people and cultures, how it changes, and how it manifests itself in politics, religion, education or entertainment. In addition, students will define their own American Dreams and explore obstacles and adjustments they might need to make. Benefits: The student will apply pre-reading skills and comprehension strategies, while extending independent reading, and will organize and synthesize information that will be used to plan, create, organize and present an age appropriate media product. Students will also become more aware of the way culture changes across the decades. Possible Pitfalls: Finding an authentic audience could be an issue. However, some front work could solve that problem.

A list of links that might prove to be helpful in your planning a 21st Century lesson/unit.

Lesson Plan focusing on character traits for grade level 3-4

A lesson plan that incorporates all the Topic 8 geometric terms from enVisions Math using project based learning. The end product is a children's book with real life/world illustrations.

Nicely done! I appreciate how you're having them look for math in the real world. I'm wondering if you've seen Mrs. Yollis' blog post about polygons: http://yollisclassblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/polygon-movie.html I'm also wondering if we can connect with an architect or artist as an expert.

@suzieboss: Looking for Earth Day ideas? Download FREE #PBL guide to Natural Heroes docu series naturalheroes.org/educational-re… Videos + action plans Pls RT we have developed a 46-page classroom guide consisting of 6 projects aligned to common core to accompany these films. We also have included interactive links to additional resources and short video selections from the films to use with your students.