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"Here's the thing - I have a theory. My theory is that most people who don't like it, don't like it because of the way it was taught to them - A bunch of $100 words by a very intelligent teacher. Now, I'm not trying to bash on teachers because they (we) are important. However, sometimes, it is necessary to break down concepts into little bite-sized chunks. That is what Interactive Biology is all about - Breaking down the concepts in biology so that if a Freshman in High School wants to understand Graduate-level Neurobiology, with enough discipline, she could do so. Technology is AWESOME, and I enjoy using it to enhance my classes. The internet continues to amaze me. It's such a useful tool that can help anyone who wants to learn about any subject. Well, if biology is the subject you want to learn about, this is the site for you."

"The concept of "Flipping the Classroom," which involves having students learn independently from video-based lessons and do their "homework" in school with the teacher's help, is gaining popularity - and a successful track record. It looks different in different classrooms and is also known as inverted learning. The practice has a wide variety of uses that are transforming student learning. This Webinar will feature the two educators who coined the term and representatives from two award-winning districts that have taken the concept and made it work well for their schools. You'll learn exactly what a Flipped Classroom is, why it works, how to do it, and where it is in practice today."

"I don't know which side of the fence you are on in regard to inclusive education. And for all intents and purposes…it does not matter. This post could just as easily have been called, No…Really…I'm Not Crazy…Inclusive Education Works! Usually when I talk to people who are not familiar with the idea of having students with disabilities (including significant disabilities) in the general education setting they say they are having a hard time "wrapping their head around it" or want to see "what it actually looks like". So…just for those of you who need to see it to believe it, I have picked out five videos that will most definitely change your mind about whether inclusive education is really a good thing or not (or at least they should)."

The TUBRICTM is a simple, easy-to-customize, hands-on educational tool for students & teachers to create and apply to unlimited classroom activities & projects.  It is a unique paper manipulative designed on Microsoft Powerpoint.  Just download it, change it, print it, & build it!

"I truly believe technology enhances the classroom, but I never think it should be used just for the sake of using it. This is another visual I created to help teachers select the right technology tool for the job. I hope it helps you think backwards (or rather the "right" way) to think about selecting a technology tool to use in your class. It starts by asking what you want students to do, and then you pick a goal, such as explain a concept. Follow the diagram until you either reach a list of tech tools to help you or your students complete this task or you reach a prompting question, such as "do you need them to do this verbally?" Based on your yes or no answer, you'll finally come to a list of edtech tools."

"It is the formative learning that is a key to the PBL Essential Element of "revision and reflection". It is this element that allows student to take risks, have minor setback, innovate, apply strategy, remix, evaluate, succeed, and learn! Enjoy the multitude of formative possibilities below. I would like to learn from you. Please share with me any others websites you think should be included to facilitate STEM. Remember that formative is more than assessment… it is learning. It can come in many ways!"

""With a better presenter it might seem like you are taking more in, but it doesn't mean that anything has actually been learned - it doesn't mean there has been an 'Aha!' moment," Professor Mazur said. "The hard work has to be done by the learner - there's not much the instructor can do to make the neuro-connections necessary for learning.""

"using symbols to support a student's understanding of text is an approach that doesn't always achieve its intended outcome. It is also an approach that may have unintended consequences as it may also interfere with literacy development."

"So you and PowerPoint have created the Presentation That Ate Cincinnati. Your file size has gone spiraling out of control and you can't figure out why. I live in Cincinnati. I kinda like it here, so I want to help. There are quite a few reasons why your files might get huge. We're going to look at why it happens, how you can fix it, and what you can do to prevent it from happening again."

"The Google Drive iPad app is not yet all that we might want it to be, but it is definitely moving in the right direction. A recent update included the ability to create and edit spreadsheets, but it also added something equally useful - the ability to upload files from other apps to Google Drive via the "Open in" function. This creates some useful workflow options for teachers who want to assign, receive and grade student work on the iPad."

"When looking for apps for students on the autism spectrum (ASD), it is important to look at all educational apps and not just those that are tagged as autism apps. They have many of the same learning needs that other students have. This list was developed to provide apps based on common learning characteristics and traits that are typical for students with ASD. It is important to remember that all students learn differently and selecting apps should be based on the unique learning needs of the student. This list is only a sampling of apps available for each skill area. This is not, nor is it meant to be a definitive list. This list is intended to give you a starting place and a rationale for picking certain apps."

"Ok, I'll be honest. I get very nervous when I hear education reformists and politicians tout how "incredible" the flipped classroom model, or how it will "solve" many of the problems of education. It doesn't solve anything. It is a great first step in reframing the role of the teacher in the classroom"

"So I hope no one minds if I continue to try to document the ways in which "education" is being reframed in this country at the peril, I think, of losing everything that is best about schools and teachers and classrooms. If you're not up to speed with these reframing efforts, the above titled article in the Wall Street Journal this morning should do the trick. The canary is singing in full throat. And let's not make any bones about it: the Journal has a vested interest in making the type of online learning it describes successful as it owns a large stake in many of the vendors trying to occupy the space."

"Believing in students is not simply telling them that you believe in them. These words matter only if they are true and if you demonstrate them by your actions. There is no way to fake it, because kids have built in crap detectors (a phrase taken from Neil Postman, and Charles Weingartner, in Teaching As a Subversive Activity), and they can tell if you don't mean it. Here are some ways to express it."

"Inclusion is not about creating conformity to some pre-defined norm.  It is about creating the circumstance where each individual can come to understand their strength and value and then nurturing it in such a way that it will expand the entire community.  We don't lose our identity when we embrace diversity... we find and are empowered by both our individual and our collective identity. "

"We talk a lot about the growth mindset but our actions may be counterproductive to putting it into action. A growth mindset is so vitally important for adults and students. Adults need to have that mindset for their own growth but more importantly for the growth of their students. Talking about the growth mindset is not good enough. Our actions are where the rubber hits the road. If we believe the growth mindset is important, and believe that it should have a higher effect size, then we need to follow up with the actions to make it happen. "

"So what would a lesson for students look like if it was inspired by something shared from the teacher's iPod? The purpose of this page is to answer that question. It contains many writing across the curriculum lessons created by many amazing teachers from nearly all curriculum areas. Each lesson is tied to the writing process, the writing traits and a "mentor text" which, in each poetry lesson below, is the song and its lyrics. Read, enjoy, and give some of them a try. We will consistently be adding great lessons to this page. Perhaps yours will be one of them."

This site provides a road map for creating, planning, and implementing innovative media projects with young people. It provides educators with planning tools, examples, and tips that help launch, guide, and sustain effective youth media programs. While it challenges users to develop their own approach, it is also intended to inspire users with examples of successful projects from around the globe.

"Presenters sign up to give a two, five or seven-minute presentation, usually on a subject associated with classroom practice. It is much the same as the TED model, where speakers must distil an idea into a defined timeframe. It is a challenge to engage and communicate in a short time but thrilling when someone gets it spot on."

"In this visual, Jackie features a number of ideas and tips that educators should adhere to in order to help their students develop a growth mindset. The argument here is that it takes a growth mindset to develop a growth mindset. To this end, Jackie provides a toolkit of reflective questions for educators to ponder on. I invite you to check it out below and as always share with us what you think of it. Enjoy"