"Using technology to make, repair, or customize the things we need brings engineering, design, and computer science to the masses. Fortunately for educators, this maker movement overlaps with the natural inclinations of children and the power of learning by doing."
Speak Up 2012 is open for input through December 21, 2012. Speak Up, a national online research project facilitated by Project Tomorrow®, gives individuals the opportunity to share their viewpoints about key educational issues. Each year, findings are summarized and shared with national and state policy makers. Participating schools and districts can access their data online, free-of-charge in February 2013."
"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."
This site, "dedicated to the idea that information will be the raw material that drives the 21st century, and that today's students should be learning to build with information," offers free Web tools for integrating the Internet into the curriculum in a meaningful way. The tools include a rubric maker, citation machine, permission template, and digital index card, as well as Web site and WebQuest creators.
"It's a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify "code" and show that anyone can learn the basics to be a maker, a creator, an innovator."
"ARDUINO IS AN OPEN-SOURCE ELECTRONICS PROTOTYPING PLATFORM BASED ON FLEXIBLE, EASY-TO-USE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE. IT'S INTENDED FOR ARTISTS, DESIGNERS, HOBBYISTS AND ANYONE INTERESTED IN CREATING INTERACTIVE OBJECTS OR ENVIRONMENTS."
"MaKey MaKey is an invention kit for the 21st century. Turn everyday objects into touchpads and combine them with the internet. It's a simple Invention Kit for Beginners and Experts doing art, engineering, and everything inbetween: "
"Make poster-sized collages
Use your or friends' Facebook photos
Use free poster backgrounds or upload your own
Get big, high quality posters up to 3 feet tall
Free downloads, prints from $7.50 + shipping"
Saw it used to create posters of quotes that can be embedded in powerpoints. Great for exhibiting ideas.
"Mirobot is a very cool open source robotics kit that's completely open source and very affordable. When I was contacted by Ben Pirt, the man behind this project, I was admittedly a little skeptical about yet another robotics system. However, this robotics kit seems very nice and sports some very cool features:"
"MaKey MaKey is an invention kit for the 21st century. Turn everyday objects into touchpads and combine them with the internet. It's a simple Invention Kit for Beginners and Experts doing art, engineering, and everything inbetween: "