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"If the right-wing billionaires and apostles of corporate power have their way, public schools will become "dead zones of the imagination," reduced to anti-public spaces that wage an assault on critical thinking, civic literacy and historical memory. Since the 1980s, schools have increasingly become testing hubs that de-skill teachers and disempower students."

"Children who regularly walk or cycle to school are less likely to be overweight or obese than those who travel by car or public transport, a new study suggests. Based on results from more than 2000 primary-age schoolchildren from across London, the researchers found that walking or cycling to school is a strong predictor of obesity levels, a result which was consistent across neighbourhoods, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. The results are reported in the journal BMC Public Health."

mattrenwick.com

I'm not so sure that I believe that less than 1,500 graduates nationwide over the span of just three graduating classes is exactly representative of all high school grads in America, but at least it was conducted by a nonprofit and not one of our education deformer companies or a textbook publisher. Also, isn't a certain amount of laissez-faire attitude a normal teenage brain condition? "I wish I'd paid more attention in high school" was a major theme of conversation at *my* 20 year high school reunion last year (did I just date myself)  BUT I did feel better prepared in study skills and habits, perhaps because in 1993 we weren't so test-centered. Just sayin' Thanks for sharing!

At Oak Hills High School in suburban Cincinnati, students returned from summer break to learn they were free not only to bring their mobile devices to school, but also to use them-at their teachers' discretion-to connect to the school's wireless network to do their work .. In Chicago, the Mikva Challenge's student-leadership branch suggested in an August report that the city's public schools allow students to use their own smartphones on campus for learning.

"Over the course of two years, I, along with the Burlington Public Schools tech team, had the opportunity to meet and connect with over one hundred schools. These discussions would usually involve what device works best in the classroom and how the iPad is affecting teaching and learning outcomes. Frequently this conversation focuses on the most effective hardware for teaching and learning. While this is an important decision to make, it should not be the focus. In fact, the best devices a school can employ are great teachers."

In what could be a result of widespread teacher layoffs, some virtual schools and online learning providers are reporting huge increases in teaching applications for the coming school year. "We have seen at least a 50-percent increase in the number of applications we've received versus this time last year," said Annie Middlestadt, senior director of human resources for Connections Academy, an operator of virtual K-12 public charter schools.

An important read for anyone who truly wants to understand what's really important in education and the false reform strategies of our current (and past) administration.

Ian Yorston explains why investment in ICT doesn't necessarily pay "If you had to spend a million pounds, you'd really hope to have something to show for it. Yet most schools have spent at least that on ICT and get nothing obvious in return - aside from a few hundred PCs running Windows XP and a handful of smart gadgets."

Ian Yorston explains why the current investment in ICT doesn't pay "If you had to spend a million pounds, you'd really hope to have something to show for it. Yet most schools have spent at least that on ICT and get nothing obvious in return - aside from a few hundred PCs running Windows XP and a handful of smart gadgets."

Insight Schools is part of the nation's leading network of online public high schools offering a rigorous full-time curriculum, experienced state-certified teachers that know how to inspire, and a diploma recognized by colleges and universities nationwide.

"For students attending one of Vancouver's most popular public schools, the classroom is an exciting world of iPads, iPods, apps, laptops and SmartBoards. Even the youngest children at Elsie Roy elementary in Yaletown are using iPads as they learn to write the letters of the alphabet, pull them together into words and tackle basic addition and subtraction with colourful and interactive applications that make learning feel like fun."

Integrating mLearning into the primary school classroom.

This is an excellent PBS video describing the needs and strategies for educating children to prepare them to function in the 21st century.

I have to say, I watched this when it aired, and it was infuriating to me. Like most educators, I get really excited when there is talk of tech in the classroom. This video does not have a counter-argument. What I got from it was, "Hey, look at all of this cool stuff these schools are doing." I am ready for schools to take this approach. I am ready to go for it. However, I would like to see a documentary on the numerous hurdles to having education like this in the other 99.9% of public schools. Some of these schools get to hand-pick students, or are on a lottery system. How about the cost? Or the professional development? Or the inequity in public school funding? With a couple exceptions, all I could see were dollar signs when I watched this. Money that is not there, and won't be for some time. If you want to feel behind the times, inadequate about your teaching/pedagogy, or flat out jealous, this is the video for you.

Focusing on high-need schools and districts with an emphasis on urban areas and the TX-Mex border; public and private organizations - new models inc Early college high schools, T-STEM academies

Lowe's will donate $5 million to public schools and public school parent teacher groups - at more than 1,000 different public schools per school year. Click here to see if you are eligible!

One of the best articles that I have read on change, reform, school bashing, Waiting for Superman,...

Really liked this! I sent it to all my teacher friends. She does a good job addressing a much better way to enact change in our districts than the method used by media and Hollywood. I think Waiting for Superman is a cop-out. A bonafide cop-out. It's so easy for the media and entertainment industry to just throw sticky-bombs at public schools. The ironic thing is there are so many privileged individuals in the media industries that were taught in elitist environments. When is someone going to make a movie bashing parents who do nothing to help their children succeed? Lastly, I loved her comment about the decision being dumber the further the person making is from a real classroom. Classic. Thanks again for sharing.

Glad you found it helpful. I thought it was very clear, well written, and offers some solutions... solutions that require social and moral change, not just political and hegemonic change.

".. the more productive way to battle these teachers and the bleeding out of our profession's reputation is for those of us who love this job -- and we are the majority -- to battle the poor publicity with the sword of our own successes."