GlobalSkillsCC

By Susan Imel, published in ERIC Digest No. 200, 1998. This paper traces the concept of "transformative learning" from its development by Mezirow in 1978 through Robert Boyd and other contemporary thinkers.

Brains are being rewired from focused attention to flashing from one thing to another because of the digital devices now ubiquitous in the culture. This article asks what it means for learning and education.

By Sara Lipka in the Students section of the Chronicle of Higher Education, Nov 11 2010. Reporting on the latest report from the Center for Community College Student Engagement, which states that "Increasing college completion is meaningless unless certificates and degrees represent real learning, which community colleges must work harder to ensure."

Presentation by Josh Jarrett, Senior Program Officer, Education -- Postsecondary Success at the Gates Foundation; given September 10, 2010. Jarrett outlines his vision for education innovation, also highlighting some interesting resources.

This is a neat "tool" for free-writing. When the user hits the "go" button, s/he will see a word at the top of the screen and have 60 seconds to write about it. \n\n

Conrad Wolfram presentation on TED.com (filmed July 2010; posted Nov 2010). Wolfram argues that math applications are all around us, and that people in a ever-wider variety of workplaces are excited about math...but students are not. Wolfram argues that bringing computers into the math classroom would help improve math's relevancy -- and build excitement as well. Use the tag wolfram to look at his "knowledge engine," Wolfram Alpha.

By Khairil Imran Ghauth and Nor Aniza Abdullah in Australasian Journal of Educational Technology 2010, 26(6), 764-774. From the abstract, "we propose a new e-learning recommender system framework that uses content-based filtering and good learners' ratings to recommend learning materials, and in turn is able to increase the student's performance."

Presented by the Center for Teaching at Vanderbilt University, this guide provides excellent resources to a wide range of cooperative learning publications, from a guide (Students Working in Small Groups) to key articles on the topic. There are two case studies, provided by instructors who have adopted some cooperative learning practices in the classroom.

Unsigned article describing cooperative learning. Includes references and links. From the Education Technology Training Center at Kennesaw State University. A "teaching strategy in which small teams, each with students of different levels of ability, use a variety of learning activities to improve their understanding of a subject."

Excerpted from Biehler/Snowman, Psychology Applied to Teaching, 8th ed., 1997, this page is part of Houghton-Mifflin's Project-Based Learning Space. This review of cooperative learning resources looks at the models of the Johnson Brothers, Slavin, and Sharan & Sharan, comparing and contrasting each. This page includes resources, results, and methods for using cooperative learning in the classroom.

From Channel Thirteen's Ed Online, books, articles, and websites that promote collaborative and particularly cooperative learning.

This explanation, from (channel) Thirteen/Ed Online, defines collaborative learning as the larger category of students learning in groups. Cooperative learning, a subset, is where students are in small groups, working together on structured activities. Work is assessed both individually and as a group.

By W. Norton Grubb, et al., published by Routledge NY 1999. The WorldCat page also enables a preview (through Google Books), which makes the table of contents available. From the WorldCat summary, "Based on extensive research on community college teaching to date, this book examines the nature of teaching and the institutional forces that shape it."

PA's comment: "There's an interesting book by Norton Grubb entitled Honored But Invisible based on a thorough qualitative study of pedagogy in a whole bunch of community colleges. His basic point is that while we claim to be "teaching" colleges, there is little support for improving teaching."

Built by Thomas J. Petra, Real World Math uses Google Earth as a tool to help teach math. "Within this site you will find lesson ideas, examples, and downloads for mathematics that embrace active learning, constructivism, and project-based learning while remaining true to the standards." The lessons are targeted to Grade 5 and up.

From the Overview page, Next Generation seeks to "identify, improve, and scale solutions and will stimulate adoption of the many ways technology can deepen, accelerate, and support learning." The Gates Foundation is one funder.

PA brought this to our attention in October Coffee Klatch, having read several articles about the new initiative.

By Susan Blau and Kathryn Burak, published by Houghton Mifflin, Boston in 2007.

NH is using this text in her class (Fall 2010).

From About page, "EdTechTalk is a community of educators interested in discussing and learning about the uses of educational technology. We webcast several live shows each week." Webcast categories include 21st Century Learning, EdTech Weekly, EdTechTalk, and many others.

By Joe Cortina, Janet Elder, New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011, 4th Edition.

This book was mentioned in TO's classroom practice, week2. Assignment is to read Ben Carson's "A Mother's Answer."

By Caralee Adams in the College Bound section of Education Week, October 5 2010. Adams reports on the White House Summit on Community Colleges, held on October 5.

Hosted by the Research & Planning Group for California Community Colleges in Cosa Mesa, CA, October 6-8 2010.

RA to attend this conference