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What I am learning from my school's infatuation with computers When I first learned that all of my students were getting laptops, I thought it was an educator's dream come true. One year later, I look at the situation differently. Like many progressive educators, I have regarded computers and other technology in schools as important tools to help students understand the world around them. I also hoped that providing all students with laptops would address the digital divide. But after an exhausting year, I have learned that before adopting the technology on a wide scale, it is essential for schools to first consider the potential promises and perils of using technology in the classroom. I believe that social justice educators must ask ourselves and our schools: What are the ethics and power structures involved in using a technology, and how do we create a learning environment to discuss and track the impact of technology on the cognitive, social and emotional development of both students and educators.

CITE Journal Article

Storytelling is the original teaching tool. Long before there was formal schooling grandparents and parents there were stories. These stories provided children in the community with the knowledge base they needed to survive as an adult. With the introduction of the printing press and the the development of formal schools the role of storytelling in education was diminished. Yet, we still know how a powerful story can capture out attention, fire our imagination, and make clear a difficult idea or concept

"Despite sluggish gains in reading, our nation has not seriously integrated digital tools and new teaching practices into all classrooms. Schools of education are still failing to teach student teachers how to integrate digital media in the classroom... We recommend the following for policymakers, business leaders and practitioners to consider help make schools more effective."

The Florida Association of Computers in Education, in collaboration with The Florida Digital Educator program, has officially announced a statewide event called STUDENT VOICES. Students will be podcasting from their individual schools (or other locations) on the same day, at same time, and same theme: "Learning is Cool". We want to have as many students as possible across Florida raise their voices about the importance of 21st century skills. More information will be posted soon or contact your FACE Regional President for additional details and locations in your area. Theme: Learning is Cool When: Saturday, April 25, 2009 Time: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Where: Your School

Terrific resources, links, and commentary about the why and how of teaching at an international school.

Professional Development plan Follow this 5 step guide to plan and develop a training strategy for users at your school

How to use and what to do with Google education / Apps.

The Networked Student was inspired by CCK08, a Connectivism course offered by George Siemens and Stephen Downes during fall 2008. It depicts an actual project completed by Wendy Drexler's high school students. The Networked Student concept map was inspired by Alec Couros' Networked Teacher. I hope that teachers will use it to help their colleagues, parents, and students understand networked learning in the 21st century.

Saugus Union School District in Santa Clarita, CA is launching a new program for its fourth-grade students that couples writing and science using ultra-mobile devices and collaborative learning software, among other technologies. According to information supplied to us by the district, the initiative is being funded through a $1.4 million EETT competitive grant the district recently won. The initiative, dubbed "Student Writing Achievement Through Technology Enhanced Collaboration" (SWATTEC), focuses on writing achievement within the science curriculum. EETT funding will provide access to Asus wireless ultra-mobile devices (UMDs) for all 1,700 fourth-grade students in the district, Web-based writing tools, and an online collaborative learning environment. It will also provide teachers with laptops, projectors, printers, interactive pads, mobile carts, and wireless hardware. Teachers are also receiving professional development for the initiative.

For math teachers, "GeoGebra is a free and multi-platform dynamic mathematics software for schools that joins geometry, algebra and calculus."

Read, watch and listen to interviews conducted by high school students.

Huge report for those in education and wanting reform. Gives examples of what schools are doing for a change.

Roll your own Microblogging Social Network. Teachers and Schools could use this to setup K-12 PLNs.

This cartoon by Dwayne Godwin, a professor of neurobiology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and Jorge Cham, the former researcher and cartoonist who created PhD Comics, has won first place in the informational graphics category of the 2009 International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge.