Go Wireless Community of Practice

Interesting article given the discussion amongst the 8th grade team a few weeks ago...

I think iPod Thursday is an innovative and creative way to start to make the tech integration in our schools that we all know we need. The AP had many good refective questions that they should look for answers for as they go forward. One that was suspiciously absent, and the one that our discussion at the 8th grade meeting was really about, was equity. He cites iPod thursday as a "perk for all," but is it really benefitting all? I know that even in Edina, mp3 players of any kind are not 100% ubiquitous. The subtext of our 8th grade conversation was less about actual iPods, and more about continuing to address the growing social, racial and economic tensions that have been evident this year and are affecting student learning and achievement--things we've been discussing in our meetings all year.

Nicole, Thanks for expanding on this! Do you think if the district were to change the model of allowing kids to bring their own laptop that we would only increase the "inequity" even if those without had a district supplied device that may not be as "flashy" or full featured as what some could afford?

Peer Reviewed research supporting increased achievement in 1:1 environments

Interesting possibilities with this.

Great list of examples of how to use Google Forms in your classroom. Includes links to the actual forms!

Great Glogster of the PLP project from a group in New Hampshire. All of the examples tied to state standards. Might give you some ideas for differentiated projects.

I definitely fell into the category of providing too much!

Applications for using math in real life

Interesting Op-Ed on what students really should be learning in Elementary School.

From the site: 1. Teachers now have an unprecedented resource of meaningful science projects to engage their students. 2. Students can work with professional scientists anywhere in the world on real research projects that benefit us all. 3. Students can create their own projects and find collaborators all over the planet. 4. Citizen scientists can find like-minded people to share ideas. 5. Home-schoolers now have a network of science lovers to use as a resource for their children. 6. Professional scientists now have a turn-key solution to promote their research projects, archive their data, find collaborators and reach out to thousands of people they could not reach before.

From the site: 1. Teachers now have an unprecedented resource of meaningful science projects to engage their students. 2. Students can work with professional scientists anywhere in the world on real research projects that benefit us all. 3. Students can create their own projects and find collaborators all over the planet. 4. Citizen scientists can find like-minded people to share ideas. 5. Home-schoolers now have a network of science lovers to use as a resource for their children. 6. Professional scientists now have a turn-key solution to promote their research projects, archive their data, find collaborators and reach out to thousands of people they could not reach before.

Perhaps someday, our kids will be able to use it. 

Great new resource!! Take some time over Winter break to check this out and feel free to add your voice!!

Howard Zinn's Education Project site

Some fabulous resources here.

Sheryl Nussbaum Beach recommended this article in our Powerful Learning Practice cohort.

Science resources and FREE software

Allows you to select the thinking skill, content, product, and groups for different projects

I sat in on Zach's class at Educon last year. Great teacher. Interesting reflection!

Resource for Science and math projects

This post does an amazing job of tying together the power of making connections, learning and re-thinking school. 

Language Arts 1:1 activity Could be adapted.