Group items tagged

Action research is a process of deep inquiry into one's practices in service of moving towards an envisioned future, aligned with values. Action research is the systematic, reflective study of one's actions, and the effects of these actions, in a workplace context. As such, it involves deep inquiry into one's professional practice. The researchers examine their work and seek opportunities for improvement.

Summary via The Scout Report (May 2012): "How does math get used in the "real world?" The short answer is that it is used to create hip-hop music, in fashion design, and through a number of other endeavors. This interactive website combines video and web interactive to help young people develop algebraic thinking skills for solving real-world problems. The series is funded by The Moody's Foundation, along with assistance from WNET and American Public Television. The sections of the site include The Challenges, Video, and Teachers. In The Challenges area, users will find video segments profiling the various young professionals who use math in their work, along with interactive tools to help students solve the challenges they are presented with. Moving on, the Teachers area includes resources for teachers, such as a training video showing how to use project materials in the classroom, along with student handouts. Visitors shouldn't miss the Basketball challenge, featuring NBA player Elton Brand talking about the problems presented by free throw shooting. [KMG]"

I've been using Twitter on the iPad and selecting the READ LATER option for links to sites. The InstaPaper app lets me read these longer articles when I have time and off line, which is convenient.

I was very happy to discover a research report on the potential of using Facebook as a learning management system. Facebook popularity and the ease with which most teachers and learners can create an account these days was, after all, one of the reasons our aPLaNet project team decided to include Facebook as one of the three Social Networks which may help teacher with their professional development easily and with complete autonomy.

For as long as I have been involved in education, the focus for finding the key to fixing education has always been about providing professional development for the teachers and administrators. The philosophy is top-down with the intent that knowledge will eventually trickle down to benefit the students.

Lesson study* is a professional development process that Japanese teachers engage in to systematically examine their practice, with the goal of becoming more effective. This examination centers on teachers working collaboratively on a small number of "study lessons". Working on these study lessons involves planning, teaching, observing, and critiquing the lessons. To provide focus and direction to this work, the teachers select an overarching goal and related research question that they want to explore. This research question then serves to guide their work on all the study lessons.

Have we given teachers an environment in which they have had an opportunity to continue to grow as professionals? Have we given them the autonomy to expand their knowledge/skills and take risk in the classroom?

Report on how Tweeting for Teachers can support PD. 

a collection of professional development opportunities in the region, curated by Shamblesguru

Focus Education provides a global Professional Learning Service for educators, corporations, parents and students. The mission of the organisation is to provide the most current information about learning with the brain in mind as possible, at the most competitive rate achievable.

reference for writing and teaching writing, research, grammar, style guides, ESL and professional writing

Twitter for PD - some good suggestions in here.

How teachers are NOW learning...

A great 'getting started' guide for teachers new to Twitter.

Some good tips here for iPad frames and apps to find and manage screenshots

one-day professional development conference, Sat. Nov 13, 2010, at WAB in Beijing

"Keith Schoch is a veteran professional educator. He shares his thoughts and expertise with colleagues through three blogs: Teaching that Sticks, Teach with Picture Books, and How to Teach a Novel"