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Click here to register for this webinar!What:Schools are moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to education toward greater efforts to differentiate learning for each student. To truly personalize the learning process in more meaningful ways, many educators are turning to technology. They're blending face-to-face instruction with electronic resources, which can be everything from online courses complete with online teachers to digital curricula that enhances or reinforces classroom learning. However, experts caution that this approach must be planned very carefully in ways that maximize the benefits of digital content and online courses. Our experts will discuss how to use technology, especially blended learning, to personalize education and raise student achievement. When:Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011 12:00 PM  MountainAlso available "on demand" 24 hours after the event.

Click here to register for this free webinar What: A growing number of educators around the country are turning to technology and different teaching and learning approaches to give students personalized learning experiences that mirror the customized experiences they take for granted outside of school. To meet students’ individual needs, they are putting in place 1-to-1 computing programs and using online courses and curricula, digital assessments, data tools, and Web-based games for education. Our guests will talk about how to use these tools and approaches to customize education based on students’ strengths and weaknesses. When: Wednesday, April 28, 2011 12:00-1:00pm Mountain (Also available "on demand" anytime 24 hours after the event) Guests: Christina A. Clayton, director virtual learning, Georgia Virtual School. Christopher Rush, co-founder and chief product officer, School of One, New York City. This webinar will be moderated by Michelle R. Davis, senior writer, Education Week Digital Directions.

Register here Or Click here for Hotel Accomodations, Reservations, etc... What:Plain Talk About Reading is heralded as the nation's premier reading institute. The Institute gained its reputation because of its clear focus on providing the latest scientifically based reading research (SBRR) and strategies for those who teach reading at all ages and grade levels.     From the nation's leading researchers, you will learn the current findings on reading instruction, reading difficulties and reading intervention.   From seasoned practitioners, learn classroom strategies that put this knowledge to work.  This Institute features a "who's who" of experts from researchers to practitioners, including Louisa Moats, Daniel Willingham, Maryanne Wolf, Anita Archer, Kate Cain, Sam Goldstein, Virginia Buysse, Joe Torgesen, Michael Fullan, Jack Fletcher, Jan Hasbrouck, Robert Pasternack, Judi Dodson, Cate Heroman, Linda Farrell, Mel Riddile, Anne Whitney, Susan Ebbers, Vicki Gibson, and many, many more! Registration Fee:  $645 per person (if received between 10/1/11 - 3/2/12) $745 per person (if received after 3/2/12) When:April 30 - May 2nd, 2012Where:New Orleans, LouisianaContact:The Center for Development and LearningWebsite: learn@cdl.org Phone: (504) 840-9786Email: www.cdl.org

On Tuesday, July 10, the US Department of Education (ED) hosted "What Teachers Need to Know about Personalized Learning" as part of their Teacher Summer Seminars. Richard Culatta, Deputy Director of the Office of Educational Technology, Matthew McCrea, Science Instructional Lead Teacher at G. James Gholson Middle School in Maryland, and I discussed our perspectives on promoting personalized learning in schools from the policy, classroom, and staff development perspective.

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Autism spectrum disorders are surrounded by a haze of misconceptions, many of which are harmful for autistic children and adults. It’s time to straighten a few things out, and to spread the word on this complex series of cognitive and intellectual disabilities with a little good old-fashioned debunking. 1. Autistic people have no empathy. This is a common belief about autism; people think that because autistics are sometimes blunt or have difficulty navigating social norms, they aren’t empathetic. In fact, just the opposite seems to be true. Rather than not feeling enough, many autistics feel very intensely, and are easily overwhelmed by the emotions of those around them. 2. Autistic people can’t communicate. Autism spectrum disorders take a variety of forms, and some people with autism are nonverbal, but that doesn’t mean they can’t communicate. Some use communication boards and other methods to communicate with the people around them, but it requires patience to establish and maintain communication with them. Historically, people with more severe forms of autism were often isolated in institutions, but more modern treatment of autism encourages the use of therapy and other techniques to interact with patients and find a communication mode they feel comfortable with. 3. Autistic people are violent. This particularly damaging assumption about autism was widely bandied around in the aftermath of the horrific Sandy Hook shooting. In fact, autistic people are no more likely to commit acts of violence than anyone else, and when they are violent, self-harm is a much more significant concern. Autism and other disabilities also put people at an increased risk of violence, which means autistics have far more to fear about the world around them. Some autistic people do act out or have what are known as “meltdowns,” usually as expressions of frustration with themselves or situations, but this doesn’t equate to violence against other people; an autistic might throw objects in frustration, for example, without any desire or intent to hit people with them. 4. Autistic people are savants. Everyone who’s seen Rainman thinks autistic people are savants, capable of extreme feats of memorization and other amazing skills. While it’s true that some savants are autistic, not everyone with an autism spectrum disorder has these capabilities; some in fact have significant learning disabilities that require accommodations in the classroom. 5. Autism is the result of “refrigerator mothers.” This awful myth about autism has been largely debunked, but it’s still worth a mention. Some people used to believe that autism was caused by bad parenting, with a specific focus on cold or isolated mothers. The result was a lot of misinformation about autism, and terrible pressure on mothers who were already learning about how to navigate the world with autistic children. In fact, autism has no clear cause. 6. Autistics can’t make friends. Along with the belief that autistic people lack empathy comes the assumption that they live isolated lives and have difficulty making friends. Just like everyone else, though, autistics are perfectly capable of establishing and maintaining not just friendships but other kinds of relationships with the people around them. Isolating autistic people in a misguided attempt to protect them can be very harmful, just as it would be for anyone else. 7. Stimming (repetitive behavior like flapping or rocking), is undesirable and should be stopped. Stimming is familiar to many people who are at least vaguely familiar with autism — sadly, it’s often used in mockeries of autistic people, by individuals who think that making flapping gestures or imitative noises is funny. For autistic people, stimming is one way to deal with chaotic environments or stress, and rather than being something that should be suppressed, it can actually be a healthy method of personal expression and sometimes communication as well. Autistics who are forced to modify or hide their stimming behaviors can develop even more stress, which can interfere with focus, completing tasks of daily living, and other activities. It’s important to be aware that the autism spectrum is vast, and that autism spectrum disorders can manifest in a huge variety of ways. Every autistic is different, and every one deserves respect and dignity. That includes not perpetuating harmful stereotypes, and correcting people who falsely repeat them.

Click here download the full informational brochure (PDF) Click here to download the registration form (PDF) What: MSDB 11th Annual Family Learning Weekend for the Blind and Visually Impaired Where: MSDB Campus in Great Falls When: June 3‐5, 2011 Who: Families of Blind and Visually Impaired Children living in Montana! Why: The Learning Weekend is a creative program that provides opportunities for families of sensory impaired children to learn about blindness and visual impairment, share their experiences with other families, and learn how to communicate more fully with one another in a warm, caring atmosphere. The focus of the weekend is to enhance each individual's personal knowledge of blindness and how it relates to the education and development of their child. Information in the form of informal workshops, group discussions (parent groups, kids groups, siblings groups, etc.) and hands‐on activities will be offered. Child care and recreation for the children (siblings included) will also be available at no charge. Families will be reimbursed for mileage at the current state rate.