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"To ensure App Ed Review is the highest quality educational app resource, its essential features have been vetted by scholarly journals, such as the Journal of Information Technology Education and the journal of Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education. Using research as its guide has resulted in App Ed Review developing: An organizational system that supports teachers finding the apps they want quickly and efficiently Two research-vetted app evaluation rubrics A system for classifying educational apps based on their purpose and function 3-5 instructional ideas or classroom applications for each app reviewed"

iPads are a great tool to encourage continual sharing and collaboration in the classroom, says education technology consultant Sam Gliksman. Gliksman runs iPads for Education, a Ning network that has drawn several thousand educators and other people interested in exploring the use of iPads in schools. He has captured much of what he's gleaned from working with schools and teachers on their iPad programs in a new book, iPad in Education for Dummies. Recently, he shared with THE Journal his best advice on what to do before a rollout and how to help an iPad classroom run as smoothly as possible to let teachers focus on the learning, not the technology.

"To counter common misconceptions and offer educators a practical framework for Flipped Learning, the governing board and key leaders of the Flipped Learning Network (FLN) today announced a formal definition of the term. According to Aaron Sams, FLN board member and coauthor of Flip Your Classroom: Reach Every Student in Every Class Every Day, "One of the biggest misconceptions is that the main component of Flipped Learning is the use of video … although video is a very important component of Flipped Learning, the most valuable benefit is the enhanced use of class time to get students engaged in higher-order thinking.""

"By 5:01 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon, Byron High School (MN) math teacher Troy Faulkner has already received five e-mails from his students: "Where's tomorrow's video lesson? We are waiting!" With their laptops, tablets, or smartphones--whatever is convenient--Faulkner's students are waiting to log on to Moodle and watch a YouTube video of him solving quadratic equations. In the classroom the next day, Faulkner will work with students as they demonstrate how well they understand the concepts laid out in the lecture the night before. "

"Which open source learning management systems are right for K-12? Which districts are using them? And what has the experience been compared with commercial alternatives? THE Journal offers this overview of both popular and emerging LMS options for K-12 technology decision makers."

Leading Educational Organizations Release Guiding Principles for Teacher Compensation Programs NSBA Executive Director's Statement on the Report by the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity NSBA Announces the Creation of the National School Safety Coalition Michigan School Board Member Elected NSBA President and New Board of Directors Announced American School Board Journal Examines the Impact of the Economic Downturn in May's Issue

A company known for helping clients in the media and retail sectors digitize their publications has launched a version of its publishing platform for converting PDF-based books into interactive texts that can be accessed on multiple platforms for the education segment. YUDU Media has launched YUDU Education, which allows publishers to create course materials that can be optimized and delivered for Macs, Windows-based PCs, and Android and iPad tablets. The same technology can also simultaneously create an accessible edition of the same materials for users who use assistive technologies. Read more at http://thejournal.com/articles/2012/10/10/digital-conversion-service-publishes-accessible-multi-platform-textbooks.aspx?admgarea=News1#HUs7FcTbx8BE0aL9.99 

Marc has created over 50 software games for learning, including the world's first fast-action videogame-based training tools and world-wide, multi-player, multi-team on-line competitions. He has also taught at all levels. Marc has been featured in articles in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, PBS, and the BBC, and was named as one of training's top 10 "visionaries" by Training magazine. He holds graduate degrees from Yale (Teaching) and Harvard (MBA).

"Camilla Gagliolo got the first inkling there could be some real use for iPads in the classroom when she tried them out initially with students who had learning disabilities. Today, the instructional technology coordinator with Arlington (VA) Public Schools said she thinks the iPad is emerging as a tool that can greatly enhance educational technology after what she believes has been a lull in the field's progress."

"ighty-two percent of districts are "highly interested" in launching or expanding a 1:1 technology initiative within the next two years, according to a new report from Amplify and IESD."

"What Can Ed Tech Certification Do for You? A variety of programs can help K-12 technology professionals boost their knowledge and prepare themselves for the expanding demands of their jobs."

We often read that there are 4 C's in a true 21st century education: critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity and innovation. The iPad is a success at engaging individual students in critical thinking and creativity, but how about collaboration? After all, tablets are consumer products, designed to be used by one person at a time, not by teams of students. It's up to teachers and instructional technologists to figure out how best to deploy them in the classroom in a way that supports project-based learning and fosters teamwork. We asked several teachers involved in iPad initiatives which apps they've had the most success with on the collaboration front. Here is what they told us.

Predications on 2013

"Report: Video Games Can Sub for Outdoor Play Time"

"4 Features to Look for in a 21st Century LMS Two districts share their experiences of choosing a learning management system that does a lot more than help teachers post assignments."

"A coalition representing 11 state education agencies is setting out to create open educational resources to support math and English/language arts in K-12 schools."

The conventional wisdom in education is that any school reform--be it curriculum, instruction, assessment, or teacher professionalism--is most likely to take hold in schools that have strong leadership. The same holds true for technology. Any educator will tell you the most successful implementation of technology programs takes place in schools where the principal sees him or herself as a technology leader. 

"If you Google "four c's of technology integration" you'll get links to a myriad of "c-words" including Creativity/Creation, Consumption, Curation, Connection, Collaboration, Communication and Critical Thinking. All of these are important elements of learning and can be enhanced with the use of technology, but for the sake of this article, I am going to focus more on what devices themselves can do, so my four C's are the following:                     "

A Chicago elementary school has gone public with its pilot use of a tablet designed specifically for pre-school students. Hayt Elementary in Chicago has been using iStartSmart Mobile devices since October 2012. At least one pre-school teacher said he believes the use of the technology is an effective way to supplement what's going on in the classroom.

"Though all classrooms are different, there are four critical elements that successful flipped classrooms have in common, according to a new report developed by the Flipped Learning Network, George Mason University, and Pearson's Center for Educator Effectiveness."