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Through optimizing the power of digital footprint in the classroom, students transform from passive to active learners. When incorporating technology within core curriculum, students' prior knowledge and experiences (PKE) with content are leveraged. They can then build learning communities, or personal learning networks, within and outside the classroom.

Assistive technology and the ability to personalize learning for students with disabilities

A school principal blogs about the powerful role that Twitter has played in his professional development. Great quote about Twitter and other social media: "The smartest person in the room, is the room."

Thanks for posting! This is very similar to what I am focused on for my project- using twitter to send out "joyful learning" tips of the day. It is at least one proof point that twitter can be a powerful tool for professional development.

@Komal and Steve - article about MOOC meet ups 

An unfortunate article about student understanding in which the author thinks the only solution is a private tutor. How can we address this through technology? What technologies can change this issue in the classroom? How can we offer students personalized help?

Great philanthropic effort by George Lucas to continue his contributions to innovation in education.

Thanks for posting this. While I was aware of Lucas' philanthropic efforts, I had not read his statement before- very personal and inspirational! I hope he will be patient and thoughtful about how to best utilize these additional dollars. There is no need to rush headlong into the next fad..

Gateway source for all students: high school and college composition and journalism and student of life. Bookmark this source and then bookmark the hyperlinks in this article. Do you have the 10 (11 for the bonus) tech skills down? I certainly can improve in some of these areas.

How test designers are trying to move away from standardized tests to computer programs that can measure a myriad of skills simultaneously through simulations and "stealth monitoring."  Both Chris Dede and Howard Gardner are mentioned.

This article presents a very compelling personal narrative from the parent perspective.

"This is our second Sputnik moment. At a time when women hold only 24 percent of STEM jobs and blacks and Hispanics also fare poorly in these fields, we better get this argument about diversity of talent right or else it's going to be a very expensive moment, indeed."

I like the ethic and attiude that this article promotes. I have seen this gap for a long time and I have heard the meritocracy argument as well. The fact is that people who benefit from a system want to believe that they inherently earned their spot due to superior intellect, personality, etc. It is difficult to believe that you are a member of an organization because others feel you belong there and your presence reinforces the establishd culture of power.

Over the most recent few weeks I've seen similar articles touting the iPod Touch (as opposed to iPads or other tablets). More similar to use of phones as computing devices.

A new version of the Personal Learning Network

"Yet one of the most significant things Sahlberg said passed practically unnoticed. "Oh," he mentioned at one point, "and there are no private schools in Finland." This notion may seem difficult for an American to digest, but it's true. Only a small number of independent schools exist in Finland, and even they are all publicly financed. None is allowed to charge tuition fees. There are no private universities, either. This means that practically every person in Finland attends public school, whether for pre-K or a Ph.D."

Equity in teaching education would be a good start.

I love this quote, too: 'As for accountability of teachers and administrators, Sahlberg shrugs. "There's no word for accountability in Finnish," he later told an audience at the Teachers College of Columbia University. "Accountability is something that is left when responsibility has been subtracted."' American's are SO good at blaming everything and everyone ELSE for what is wrong with education in this country. Good for Sahlberg. I might just have to move my family to Finland!

Quoting directly from the company-wide email (to Microsoft) "Microsoft YouthSpark is a new companywide initiative that will create opportunities for 300 million young people around the world over the next three years. We know young people everywhere face real challenges....Yet, this is more than philanthropy. We are mobilizing the company. From Partners-in-Learning to Office365 for EDU to Skype in the Classroom, we're marshaling a wide range of company's programs to support youth. As Steve said this morning, "We believe that working with our partners we can help empower young people to change their world, and we are committed to using our technology, talent, time and resources to do that."" (Personal Communication)

I'm sharing this more for an example of author bias & incentives in writing about edtech, than because I think he's right: he doesn't think tech will replace teachers at all. (Keep in mind who his customers are.)