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Teachers can bring Q?rius into their classrooms with Smithsonian Science How?, a new way to tap into the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Smithsonian Science How? delivers real-world science into classrooms through free, interactive, live webcasts and supporting classroom resources. The 25-minute programs feature the research and personalities of the National Museum of Natural History, providing students with positive STEM role models, information about science careers and pathways, and connections to current research. For example, students can interact with Smithsonian experts who examine bones and artifacts that are millions of years old; they can piece together forensic anthropology mysteries and dive into coral reefs. In addition, students will see how scientists and other experts use tools and technology in their work and how the science is connected to them. Browse the program schedule to plan your next journey.

"It's challenging enough to manage a traditional learning environment where the curriculum is handed to you, and meetings are set, and you're simply there to manage; adding more ingredients to the mix seems like asking for trouble. But the truth is, it's becoming increasingly difficult to educate children in the face of such radical technological and pedagogical progression. The good news is, many of the elements of a progressive learning environment-e.g., digital literacy, connectivism, and play-conveniently, and not coincidentally, work together. And better yet, collectively they can reduce the burden on those managing the learning because they place the learner at the center. While it's possible to tack these ideas on to a traditional classroom, and then sit back and wait for the clouds to part and the sun to shine brilliantly, you'll likely be waiting a while. These aren't single tools to "try," but news ways to think about how learners access media, how educators define success, and what the roles of immense digital communities should be in popularizing new learning models. None of it is really complicated-it just requires new thinking."

How Project Based Learning works in England

"Learning How to Comment!"

"Players aged 8 and up shape the future of a new society while learning how to recognize ethical issues and deal with challenging situations in their own lives. Players lead a new human colony on a distant planet. They must make difficult decisions in which there are no clear right or wrong answers but important consequences - to themselves, to others in the colony and to the planet Braxos. Players develop skills such as critical thinking, perspective-taking and decision-making. Quandary provides a framework for how to approach ethical decision-making without telling players what to think."

What sort of rubric do you use for blogging? How do you have students blog for homework if they do not have access to the internet or a computer (in a poor, rural area)? To moderate or not who has the time? What can we do to increase readership? How can a student blogger attract more readers?

"Here are some tips on how to get the most out of it when creating your own lessons for the SMART Board."

"The iSchool Initiative is a student-led, non-profit organization that is dedicated to revolutionizing our education system through innovative technology. Our mission is to inspire and educate students on how to become life long digital learners in the information age. We accomplish this by raising awareness for the technological needs of the classroom, providing collaborative research on the use of technology in the classroom, and guiding schools in the implementation of this technology."

"The Educurious Expert Network (TEEN)™ connects students to pivotal role models that might be missing in their young lives. One inspirational adult can make all the difference and lead to academic and career success. Connecting kids to a future they care about. As a virtual advisor, our Experts inspire students to finish school by sharing what they do, how they work and the difference they're making in the world."

"Creating an App Inventor app begins in your browser, where you design how the app will look. Then, like fitting together puzzle pieces, you set your app's behavior. All the while, through a live connection between your computer and your phone, your app appears on your phone."

Shows the technology divide in how students and professors use and view technology.

"Technology has changed a great deal in the last 5-6 years. Although, realistically, you would not use all of these technologies, you should be knowledgeable in what each of the following technology is and how it could be/might be used in a classroom"

How do you work to build relationships and make sure students feel connected?

Infographic on the how and why of blogging

"The playful approach to learning a new concept that kids usually take when playing a video game can be just the right jumping-off point for diving deeply into a topic. Games can't do all the teaching, but can engage kids to start thinking. At least that's how MIT's Education Arcade and the Learning Games Network are approaching their new free game Quandary. The two groups designed the video game to teach ethics while aligning with Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts for third through eighth graders."

Just found this web tool that allows teachers to take videos and add questions, which students answer, at specific points in the video. These are created as assignments and allow the teacher to track who completed the assignment, as well as how well they did and/or the number of students who answered a question correctly or incorrectly. Teachers can use their own screencasts, as well as videos from YouTube and other locations. Best of all it is supposed to work on ALL devices!

"The most dreaded word in school reading for students: book reports. Teachers assign them, viewing them as a necessary component of assessing reading comprehension. Book reports can be a contributing factor to 'readicide'. "Read-i-cide n: The systematic killing of the love of reading, often exacerbated by the inane, mind-numbing practices found in schools." http://stenhouse.com/html/readicide.htm. So, how can we as teachers continue to monitor our students understanding of reading material without killing the love of reading? Enter technology. Technology can help bring some excitement and creativity to the traditional book report while still displaying students understanding of reading."

"In conversations with educators in the lower grades, I often find that there is a sense of frustration or even fear in bringing technology into the classroom. These emotions have nothing to do with a fear or frustration with technology itself. In fact, many of these educators WANT to bring technology into their classroom but are boggled by how to train or prepare 6-9 year olds to create multi-step and engaging projects."

"Today's kids connect, create, and collaborate through media. But who helps them reflect on the implications of their actions? Who empowers them to make responsible, respectful, and safe choices about how they use the powerful digital tools at their command? Our Common Sense Parent Media Education Program and our Digital Citizenship Curriculum give educators, administrators, and parents the tools and curricula they need to guide a generation in becoming responsible digital citizens. "