This is a pretty solid How-To introduction to creating student-centered, problem-based classrooms. 

Students can access websites that do not contain or that filter mature content. They can use their real names, pictures, and work (as long it doesn't have a grade/score from a school) with the notification and/or permission of the student and their parent or guardian.

It takes a giant leap of faith for a teacher to think that their students can learn the material on their own. Teachers become teachers to teach. It is natural for the teacher to want to force the student to learn. But, this is similar to trying to force the proverbial horse to drink. Think about how many video games people have learned and won, on their own! No one had to "teach" them how; no one had to force them to play.

Explanation of what Creative Commons copyright is.

Transforming Learning Environments through TechnologyFriday, July 15, 2011University of Kansas

Ken Robinson's YouTube channel, with all his videos on here. It's a great resource for thinking about teaching, learning, creativity, and transformation.

This is a short set of "thumbnails" from recent blog posts from ESSDACK. You can join this email list by clicking "join email list" button at the top of the page.

Experiential programs where we learn a huge amount about critical issues in a short period of time while having fun. Our programs are interactive simulations delivered by our staff at your school. We do assemblies and other on-site programs for colleges, high schools and organizations around the world. Typically, these cost around $1,000 to $1,500 plus expenses.

Life in the 21st century provides a whole-new world of opportunities for self-directed, passion-driven, personalized learning.  Educators who are ready to move on from teaching the way they were taught, and administrators who will let them, can begin supporting students using tools and strategies available to the 21st century learner. 

The draft of PD standards, coming from NSDC/Learning Forward.

"In Intelligence Reframed Howard Gardner contends that "literacies, skills, and disciplines ought to be pursued as tools that allow us to enhance our understanding of important questions, topics, and themes." Today's readers become literate by learning to read the words and symbols in today's world and its antecedents. They analyze, compare, evaluate and interpret multiple representations from a variety of disciplines and subjects, including texts, photographs, artwork, and data. They learn to choose and modify their own communication based on the rhetorical situation. Point of view is created by the reader, the audience and the medium."

But we can still be civil. It's easy. We can trade ideas instead of insults. We can vow to not say things online we wouldn't say to someone's face. We can put away our phones and pay attention. We can think before we speak or hit send. Join us and spread the word.

"What can we do to change things? For starters, we need to overhaul the way we teach copyright and other intellectual property issues in our schools. Library media specialists also need to quit being copyright cops. And it's time to stop thinking that if we don't know for sure if something's 100-percent legal, we shouldn't do it-that mindset just doesn't work. Below are four changes our profession must seriously consider if we're going to meet the needs of our students and teachers."

"increasingly, some educators are calling for more attention to the career part of the equation - and questioning whether a traditional four-year college degree is necessarily the best path for everyone. A new report released by Harvard Wednesday states in some of the strongest terms yet that such a "college for all" emphasis may actually harm many American students - keeping them from having a smooth transition from adolescence to adulthood and a viable career. "

"Google Apps has been a boon to schools all over the world. This was a packaged deal from Google where many tools are made available to the schools and school districts to create a controlled system for communication and collaboration."

"I thought I'd bring together a few resources that I've found helpful in gaining an understanding of what Common Core might mean. Please feel free to share additional suggestions."

"From role-playing games for students to parent seminars, teaching social and emotional learning requires a lot of moving parts, but when all the pieces come together such instruction can rival the effectiveness of purely academic interventions to boost student achievement, according to the largest analysis of such programs to date."

"With so many career options available, where do you start?"

"A Career Cluster is a grouping of occupations and broad industries based on commonalities. The 16 Career Clusters organize academic and occupational knowledge and skills into a coherent course sequence and identify pathways from secondary schools to two- and four-year colleges, graduate schools, and the workplace. Students learn in school about what they can do in the future. This connection to future goals motivates students to work harder and enroll in more rigorous courses."