Interesting read on teacher education reform. I'm not sure if I agree with everything, but the author makes some great points and had some strong suggestions to aid reform.
A PBL project includes both the creation of the authentic product aligned to the project AND the scaffolding, learning activities, drill and skill, etc., that must occur to support student creation of the final product.
Projects and PBL aren’t the same.
I use the Project Essential Elements checklist to ensure that I am in fact doing PBL and not projects.
Gr6-12
"If students could develop their school's curriculum this is what it would look like. Find lessons that teach core academic subjects through popular culture including Math, Science, English, History and many more!"
Engagement must be deliberately designed to improve student learning. This article talks specifically about technology, but I would challenge people to apply to any effort to "engage" learners.
Key groups to follow in Twitter. Many resources and very active.
1.) 100 Educators to Follow on Twitter
2.) Twitter 4 Teachers Wiki
3.) Educators on Twitter - Google Doc Spreadsheet. You can add yourself by filling out the following form once you create your Twitter account.
4.) Connexions - Directory of Learning Professionals Online
5.) You can get some more ideas at Free Technology 4 Teachers: Seven Ways to find Teachers on Twitte
" Education Blogs by Discipline
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This is a place to list P-12-oriented blogs that are worth sharing with others. Only list really good blogs (not wikis or web sites), please!"
Larry Ferlazzo and Katie Hull Sypnieski teach at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, California. Their book, The ESL/ELL Teacher's Survival Guide, will be published this summer by Jossey-Bass; this article is an excerpt. Larry also writes a popular blog for teachers and has written several other books.