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Building positive group work ethics in project-based learning Teach_Tec 4 Nov 2011 8:59 AM 0 Can you think of a job or profession that is done alone? No co-workers to consult, no team responsible for contributing different pieces of a project, no meetings (well, maybe that might be okay ; ) It's hard to come up with many. Artist? Author? (at least during the initial writing process). We could probably come up with a few more, but the list is relatively short. Working in teams, collaborating with others in our work and life is fundamental. Not only do we gain social benefits, but the ability to combine the strengths of a team most often leads to a better end result. Though we've all heard that initial reaction from students as a group project is introduced: 'Can we pick our own groups?' or even worse, 'Do I have to be with him/her?' The skills of working effectively in groups need to be coached, practiced and encouraged. So when you see reflective comments such as these (from real students) it is encouraging: "A good team looks like a team that is on task, getting along and sharing." (5th grade) "A good team looks like a friendly team with members working together. I have learned practical skills that will help me get a job." (5th grade) "A good team looks and sounds like they are working together, improvising, compromising, discussing ideas calmly and working out disagreements." (6th grade) "In the real world you may have to work with people you do not like and you need to know how to still be productive." (6th grade) So how did these students get here? Pauline Roberts, a 5th and 6th grade teacher at the Birmingham Covington School in Bloomfield Hills, MI has made developing these skills a priority. The unique program she and her colleagues have collaborated on at this 3rd - 8th grade public school is called ENGAGE. The focus is to embed 21st century skills across multiple grades and all parts of the curriculum with a specific

This site has great ideas, how to's and inspiring examples for digital storytelling

The University of Cambridge holds a large collection of Sir Isaac Newton's notebooks and papers. Recently, the University of Cambridge announced that they have put scanned copies of those papers online. There are six scanned collections that you can flip through and read online. If you would like transcripts of some of the works, visit the Project Newton website. Applications for EducationThe digitized copies of Newton's works provide students with a great opportunity to dive into the thinking of one of the world's great minds. Newton's "Waste 

"The ThinkQuest International Competition challenges students to solve a real-world problem by applying their critical thinking, communication, and technology skills. Participants may enroll in the following competition events: ThinkQuest Projects, Digital Media, and Application Development."

Everyone needs to read this. As we build a community of life long learning for the 21st century with our students it becomes increasingly important that we ensure that they are getting the training that they need to be successful. Its not enough for students to be able to use a computer they need to understand what they are doing and why.

Most of us agree that the use of images and graphics in e-learning help the learners make visual associations. However the images or graphics need to be relevant to the content being presented. They need to support the text and be used, not for diversion, but a clear instructional purpose.

Educators have long cautioned students about posting damaging information online, but now it's also becoming important to build a positive digital footprint. When should students start building their online persona? The earlier, the better.

INANIMATE ALICE 'Inanimate Alice,' an interactive tale delivered online, tells the story of Alice, a young girl growing up in the first half of the 21st century, and her imaginary digital friend, Brad. Over ten episodes, each a self contained story, we see Alice grow from an eight year old living with her parents in a remote region of Northern China to a talented mid-twenties animator and designer with the biggest games company in the world.