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"This morning, Elon University and the Pew Internet and American Life Project released a report about the cognitive future of the millennial generation. Based on surveys with more than 1,000 thought leaders -- among them danah boyd, Clay Shirky, David Weinberger, and Alexandra Samuel -- the survey asked thinkers to consider how the Internet and its environment are changing, for better or worse, kids' cognitive capabilities. The survey found, overall, what many others already have: that neuroplasticity is, indeed, a thing; that multitasking is, indeed, the new norm; that hyperconnectivity may be leading to a lack of patience and concentration; and that an "always on" ethos may be encouraging a culture of expectation and instant gratification."

"In order for teachers to better guide themselves in their learning, they need to know what it is that they need to know. They need relevant questions about relevant changes. Being connected to other educators, who are practicing these changes already, is a great first step. Using technology to do that is the best way to develop these Professional Learning Networks. Connected educators are relevant educators. That is how we can begin to change the culture and move forward to real education reform."

why ed research need new perspectives

"Technology offers an opportunity to improve students' learning within a context of authentic, challenging, and complex tasks. Schools throughout the world are making strides in accomplishing this common goal. However, it is important to recognise that it takes more than dedicated teachers to really implement change in any educational environment - it takes everyone working to achieve the same vision - technology-enhanced teaching and learning to prepare students for work and life in the 21st century."

Great teachers, stable families and a school's location have long been said to be key to student success. But a new study out of the United Kingdom suggests that a school's physical design can improve or worsen children's academic performance by as much as 25 percent in early years. The year-long study by the University of Salford's School of the Built Environment and British architecture firm Nightingale Associates examined 751 students in 34 classrooms across seven primary schools for the 2011-2012 academic year. Students were assessed at the beginning and end of the year for academic performance in math, reading and writing, and classrooms were rated on environmental qualities like classroom orientation, natural light, acoustics, temperature, air quality and color. The researchers found that classroom architecture and design significantly affected academic performance: Environmental factors studied affected 73 percent of the changes in student scores. "It has long been known that various aspects of the built environment impact on people in buildings, but this is the first time a holistic assessment has been made that successfully links the overall impact directly to learning rates in schools," Peter Barrett, a professor at the University of Salford, said in a statement. "The impact identified is in fact greater than we imagined and the Salford team is looking forward to building on these clear results." The study will continue for another 18 months across an additional 20 schools in the U.K. Researchers seek to apply their findings to help schools "maximize their investment in the learning environment."

1. Asking questions. 2. Solving problems. 3. Tackling projects. 4. Finding passion. 5. Independence. 6. Being happy on their own. 7. Compassion. 8. Tolerance. 9. Dealing with change."

Software in the Cloud: HOT Common Core Online: HOT iPads: HOT Tablets Other Than iPads: LUKEWARM The Flipped Classroom: LUKEWARM Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): HOT Textbooks: LOSING STEAM Social Media as a Teaching and Learning Tool: LOSING STEAM E-portfolios: LUKEWARM Interactive Projectors and Whiteboards: LOSING STEAM

Monitoring anticipated tech changes

This is a very helpful glimpse. Very useful for focusing our precious energy, time and budget.

Cursive writing, once the backbone of the three Rs of schooling - reading, writing and arithmetic - has fallen into such disuse these days that many youngsters will grow up unable to read their own parents' handwriting.

Contains an exclusive video interview with cultural anthropologist Michael Wesh in which he discusses the tools today's students need to be good digital citizens.

""One of the challenges and important priorities for K-12 today has to be broadening our understanding of what it means to be a digital citizen," says Joseph Kahne, Davidson professor of education at Mills College in Oakland, CA, and chairman of the MacArthur Network on Youth and Participatory Politics, "so that we're talking about young people as producers and managers of information and perspectives, and not simply as people we need to keep safe and civil.""

Schools have always been charged with the task of producing good citizens. But how has our definition of a "good citizen" changed over the ages?