Education

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  • Q & A with Diane Ravitch

    Education Perspectives
    Michael Sporer
    7 Mar 2010 | 8:56 am

  • Expert Advice about Parent Engagement: An Interview with Larry Ferlazzo

    Teacher Leaders Network: Teacher Voices
    John Norton
    1 Mar 2010 | 3:52 pm
    A review of the Dragon Naturally Speaking voice recognition softwareReviewed by Karen Van DuynHigh School English & Drama (IN)Teacher Leaders NetworkWhat does a teacher do when she starts to feel like an “old” teacher? Why, she finds something new to learn! Lately my lessons have mostly been in the area of technology, as that seems to be an area of constant development and change. In the past couple years, I’ve become dependent upon my LCD projector, gone wireless at home (with some tech support), and scratched the surface of Moodle and online learning (great potential and lots of…

  • Why subsidize wealthy college kids?

    CNN: Education
    9 Mar 2010 | 11:50 am

  • Cyberspeech Common Law Foundations

    LeaderTalk
    LeaderTalk Contributor
    8 Mar 2010 | 6:51 am
    I have had friends ask me what I think of our neighborhood school, and my answer is quite simple. I tell them, "The school is only as good as the teacher your child has that year." I have believed this for a very long time. This stems from my belief that good teaching trumps everything when it comes to student achievement. Analyze all the data you want, throw a bunch of acronyms at people (NCLB, RtI, IEP, DIBELS, FAPE, PBIS, Yada Yada Yada), and race to the top of wherever you want. Yet, everything boils down to good teaching in the classroom. This opinion is based on watching my own two…

  • Five Tips for Communicating

    2¢ Worth
    David Warlick
    11 Mar 2010 | 4:19 am
    My Wimpy Self Have you wimped yourself? I did, first thing this morning. See? It started with Facebook, a quick scan of what’s happening (or the latest 15 happenings) and Jennifer LaGarde having wimped herself into… (see left). I’ve been looking for a way to caricature myself, so this caught my attention, and I clicked over to http://wimpyourself.com/. It’s based on the movie, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, (”Its not a diary it’s a journal”) opening March 19 (”Holy Moly, how have I come to LEARN so much about this movie).. OK, it’s viral…
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    DetentionSlip.org

  • Michigan 6-Year-Old Suspended From School for Making Gun With Hand

    Hall Monitor
    5 Mar 2010 | 4:30 pm
    Story: Michigan 6-Year-Old Suspended From School for Making Gun With HandAfter pretending to shoot his classmates with his fingers, the 6-year old was sent home for the rest of the week. Hopefully during his suspension, his mom allows him to use his pretend pencil and pretend books to keep learning.

  • Teacher suspended over Black History Month photos

    Hall Monitor
    5 Mar 2010 | 7:52 am
    Story: 3 LA Teachers Removed Over Choice of Black HeroesOJ Simpson was a gridiron great who not only set several NFL records, but successfully transitioned into a notable acting career with commercials and movies. Dennis Rodman was one of the most prolific rebounders in NBA history who has been a key member of many championship teams. RuPaul can be seen as a torchbearer in the gay community for not only becoming a well-recognized cross-dresser, but served in lead positions in a number of major network tv shows. These individuals are among a long list of African-Americans who were celebrated…

  • Students Accused Of Trying To Poison Teacher

    Hall Monitor
    4 Mar 2010 | 4:48 pm
    Story: GA Students Accused Of Trying To Poison TeacherWe can only hope that much like a Shakespeare classic, that the teacher was poisoned out of love...twice.

  • VIDEO: Tom Yorke Raps For Education in Indiana

    TheTruth
    4 Mar 2010 | 1:07 pm
    If there is one thing we love more than shaking down the education system, it's teachers rapping about state tests... Brandon Curl, a 7th/8th Grade Science Teacher at Gary Lighthouse Charter School sent us this video. P.S. Is that Radioheads Thom Yorke at 1:36? You decide...

  • Teacher Accused Of Giving Student Concussion

    Hall Monitor
    3 Mar 2010 | 10:15 am
    Story: Teacher Accused Of Giving Student Concussion Throwing kids against doors might be one way to problem solve, but every silver lining has a touch of gray right? The teacher was probably aware that very few people who suffer from concussions actually die, but in the future, we might want to explore some alternative methods of discipline. Just a thought.
 
 
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    2¢ Worth

  • Technology-Transformed Learning Environments

    David Warlick
    12 Mar 2010 | 5:40 am
    "Students & faculty gave presentations on technology used for sustainability.1It isn’t about technology. It’s about becoming responsible for learning… It was six years ago that I was asked by Linworth Publishing to write a book about technology for teachers — and, in mapping out the book, concluded that advances in technology was not nearly as disruptive for teaching and learn as how ICT has changed how we use information.  So the book (Redefining Literacy 2.0) turned into an exploration of contemporary literacy — reflecting today’s prevailing…

  • My Wimpy Self

    David Warlick
    12 Mar 2010 | 4:56 am
    My Wimpy Self Have you wimped yourself? I did, first thing this morning. See? It started with Facebook, a quick scan of what’s happening (or the latest 15 happenings) and Jennifer LaGarde having wimped herself into… (see left). I’ve been looking for a way to caricature myself, so this caught my attention, and I clicked over to http://wimpyourself.com/. It’s based on the movie, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, (”Its not a diary it’s a journal”) opening March 19 (”Holy Moly, how have I come to LEARN so much about this movie).. OK, it’s viral…

  • Five Tips for Communicating

    David Warlick
    11 Mar 2010 | 4:19 am
    Yesterday, Ralph Jean-Paul suggested “5 Powerful Ways to Write Dynamic Content” in the Famous Bloggers site.  It’s a short read but speaks more broadly to communication than just blog writing.  It’s about competing for attention, which, in a world that supposedly is doubling its technical information every 72 hours, we’re all making decisions on what we’re going to read and what we’re going to ignore. I would insert one additional recommendation — Have something to say. I’ll append Jean-Paul’s list and suggest again that you link…

  • How Did I Get Here?

    David Warlick
    8 Mar 2010 | 8:46 pm
    Most of this entry was written while flying to the iCTLT event in Singapore. After about an hour’s delay in London, we enjoyed an amazing take-off bound for Singapore and the iCTLT (International Conference for Teaching and Learning with Technology). The take-off amazed me because of the size of this jet, an Airbus a380. Unlike the Boeing 747’s signature second floor hump in the front, the A380 is two floors all the way to the back of the plane. I am just behind the wing on the top floor sitting in a premium version of coach class (thanks, Brenda). It’s not business class or…

  • Some Reflections on the iCTLT Conference in Singapore

    David Warlick
    4 Mar 2010 | 9:22 pm
    I’m sitting in Michael Furdyk’s session on project based learning at the iCTLT conference.  He’s a great presenter with a timely message.  It wasn’t my first choice, because I spent just about all day yesterday in the spotlight rooms, and wanted to attend some of the local sessions today.  Alas they were all full. The Minister of Education (center) witnessing a video conference between learners in Singapore and learners in New Zealand (photo by the mob from New Zealand) iCTLT has been quite an experience and it’s given me a lot to think about.  I saw a couple…
 
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    Chronicle of Higher Education

  • Video-Indexing Patents, Developed for Holocaust Archive, Head to Auction Block

    03-11-2010 The organization founded by Steven Spielberg that has collected and archived video testimonies from nearly 52,000 Holocaust survivors and liberators is preparing to auction off commercial rights to the patented technology it developed for indexing and searching vast libraries of video. The Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education, which... ...

  • 3 Women Sue Alabama State U., Saying It Condoned Harassment

    03-11-2010 Three women who say they experienced sexual and racial harassment on their jobs at Alabama State University have filed a federal lawsuit against the institution. They have named John F. Knight Jr., a top university administrator and state legislator, among the defendants. The complaints date back to 2008, when all three women worked in the Office of the Special Assistant to the President. Mr. Knight was special assistant to the president and executive director for... ...

  • Audio: Poverty, Reconsidered

    03-11-2010 Ever since economists started trying to keep tabs on poverty, they've done so by measuring income.... ...

  • Democrats, Under Pressure, Look to Cut Benefits From Student-Loan Bill

    03-11-2010 Updated: 11:50 p.m., U.S. Eastern time Congressional Democrats have begun private discussions on cutting down their $87-billion student-loan bill, largely accepting the political reality forced by new estimates of the legislation's cost and savings. The talks began in recent days, after a new analysis last week by the Congressional Budget Office showed that President Obama's proposal to end... ...

  • Jury Finds Iowa State Professor Filed False Bias Complaints in Pursuit of Tenure

    03-10-2010 In a case that sheds light on how bitter personal feuds can drive the actions of faculty members, a jury has ruled that an associate professor of sociology at Iowa State University brought false charges of gender discrimination against two colleagues he had viewed as obstacles to his gaining tenure. The verdict, issued late last week, came in a lawsuit filed by the two other faculty members in an Iowa district court. The jury held that the associate professor, Daniel A. Krier, had... ...
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    Teacher Leaders Network: Teacher Voices

  • Taking the Words Right Out of My Mouth

    John Norton
    10 Mar 2010 | 3:01 pm
    A review of the Dragon Naturally Speaking voice recognition softwareReviewed by Karen Van DuynHigh School English & Drama (IN)Teacher Leaders NetworkWhat does a teacher do when she starts to feel like an “old” teacher? Why, she finds something new to learn! Lately my lessons have mostly been in the area of technology, as that seems to be an area of constant development and change. In the past couple years, I’ve become dependent upon my LCD projector, gone wireless at home (with some tech support), and scratched the surface of Moodle and online learning (great potential and lots of…

  • Expert Advice about Parent Engagement: An Interview with Larry Ferlazzo

    John Norton
    1 Mar 2010 | 3:52 pm
    The ever-resourceful Larry Ferlazzo joined the Teacher Leaders Network in 2008, to our great benefit. Larry was already well-established as a leading edu-blogger, widely known for his daily outpouring of useful (most often web-based) teaching ideas and resources. Larry entered the blogging arena with a tight focus on English Language Learners – a focus he still maintains – but gradually broadened his output to include many other topics, including one close to his heart: parent and community relationships.Larry’s “first career” as a community organizer in the labor arena has made him…

  • Powerful Teaching with Metaphors & Analogies

    John Norton
    12 Feb 2010 | 11:23 am
    Metaphors and Analogies: Power Tools for Teaching in any Subjectby Rick Wormeli(Stenhouse, 2009)Reviewed by Marsha Ratzel, NBCTMiddle Grades Math and Science (KS)Teacher Leaders NetworkMetaphors and Analogies: Power Tools for Teaching in any Subject taught me more than any education book I’ve read in the last 10 years. This book opens doorways into using metaphors and analogies as instructional tools that I never dreamed of. Rick Wormeli brings both his intellectual insight and his pragmatic understanding of daily classroom instruction to what is an often-overlooked but critical part of…

  • Caring Teachers and Confident Students

    John Norton
    1 Jan 2010 | 11:09 am
    Teaching as an Act of Loveby Richard Lakin(iUniverse, 2009)The Complete Guide to the Gap Year by Kristin M. White (Jossey-Bass, 2009)Reviewed by David B. Cohen, NBCTHigh School English & Counseling (CA)Teacher Leaders NetworkNewspapers (for those of us who still read them) and online reports provide a steady flow of stories that might induce stress in teachers and students. I find I can immerse myself in this constant stream and become dizzy — or step aside and feel marginalized when the education policy conversation is dominated by talk of data systems, national standards, and racing…

  • PLCs at Work: An Interview with Teacher-Author Bill Ferriter

    John Norton
    15 Dec 2009 | 3:27 pm
    Bill Ferriter’s participation in the Teacher Leaders Network began in March 2003, on the very first day of TLN’s existence. We kicked off TLN with an email conversation among 200 accomplished teachers, mostly from states in the southeast. The idea was to stage a series of 3-day chats exploring some key professional issues and then see who wanted to stick around and become the nucleus of a national virtual community of classroom educators. By the end of the six-week startup, Bill’s provocative questioning and his willingness to reflect on his own professional practice — tarnish and all…
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    U.S. Department of Education

  • Recovery Act Funds for States

    12 Mar 2010 | 11:07 am
    Florida, Iowa, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, and Utah are among the states to receive additional Recovery Act funds to help support education jobs.

  • ED Announces Civil Rights Review

    10 Mar 2010 | 12:37 pm
    ED will examine the academic opportunities and access of English Learner students in the Los Angeles Unified School District to assess whether they are being denied equal educational opportunities.

  • Investing in Innovation

    8 Mar 2010 | 8:24 am
    The grant application and final priorities for the $650 million Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) are now available.

  • High School Commencement Challenge

    5 Mar 2010 | 11:10 am
    The White House and ED announced the Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge, inviting public schools to compete to have President Obama speak at their graduation this spring.

  • Detroit Discusses Turnaround Efforts

    5 Mar 2010 | 11:09 am
    More than 250 community leaders, educators, parents, and students gathered to discuss turning around the Detroit area's lowest-achieving schools.
 
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    LeaderTalk

  • Making Better Teachers

    LeaderTalk Contributor
    8 Mar 2010 | 7:05 pm
    I have had friends ask me what I think of our neighborhood school, and my answer is quite simple. I tell them, "The school is only as good as the teacher your child has that year." I have believed this for a very long time. This stems from my belief that good teaching trumps everything when it comes to student achievement. Analyze all the data you want, throw a bunch of acronyms at people (NCLB, RtI, IEP, DIBELS, FAPE, PBIS, Yada Yada Yada), and race to the top of wherever you want. Yet, everything boils down to good teaching in the classroom. This opinion is based on watching my own two…

  • Cyberspeech Common Law Foundations

    LeaderTalk Contributor
    8 Mar 2010 | 6:51 am
    As mentioned in a previous post there has been a recent trend of students facing school disciplinary procedures for off-campus activities and behaviors in cyberspace. It is the goal of this post to discuss 1st Amendment common law as it relates to student cyberspace activities. Because there have been no truly definitive rulings to date on 1st Amendment issues regarding free speech in the schoolosphere, all parties are left to hypothesize about the boundary lines of student cyberspeech. However a review of a trilogy of law cases dating back as far as 1969 that acts as the guidelines for…

  • The Man of La Mancha and the Teacher's Heart

    LeaderTalk Contributor
    7 Mar 2010 | 11:11 am
    When I think back to my days in the classroom the most important moments happened when I looked past the hardened sneer of a difficult student to see them as they really were. It turns out they were rarely what they seemed on the surface. Somewhere deep inside them there was something more than the negative image that they projected to the outside world. Of course, this inner spirit was often walled off and starved; and the more a student needed my help, the more likely they were to push me away. It seems the one's who needed love the most were always the hardest to love. There were many,…

  • What's up with online learning?

    LeaderTalk Contributor
    6 Mar 2010 | 4:28 am
    Ok, so we all know someone or know someone who knows someone who took an online course. We all see the increasing popularity of universities like Capella, Walden, and the University of Phoenix. With regard to school principals, the real question is can a principal candidate with online credentials get a job? The findings might surprise you. We recently sent out a survey to 500 human resource manager to understand the acceptability of online credentials for principal candidates. Among other things we found the following: Question % Agree It is more difficult to assess the quality of online…

  • Have you heard of the Google?

    LeaderTalk Contributor
    28 Feb 2010 | 11:02 am
    I would like to start this post with a short anecdote: A friend of mine called me this fall and told me that he was feeling very downtrodden. He had a new superintendent who was not that tech savvy. However, he had stopped by this one particular afternoon all excited and holding a new article about technology. He came into my friend's office waving it and saying that he had a new technology of which he had just learned. He then asked my friend, "Have you heard of 'The Google'?" My friend almost cried. So what makes this story so humorous? Well because everyone has heard of Google. It is one…
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    Education Perspectives

  • Q & A with Diane Ravitch

    Michael Sporer
    7 Mar 2010 | 8:56 am
    As I said in my prior post, I’m nearly finished reading “The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education”, by Diane Ravitch.  From 1991 to 1993, Diane was Assistant Secretary of Education and Counselor to Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander in the administration of President George H.W. Bush. This book is excellent and definitely worth reading.   I've had the opportunity to do a quick Q & A with Ms. Ravitch.  Check it out; 1.    What would you consider the single most pressing problem…

  • When in Doubt, Toss Them Out!

    Michael Sporer
    6 Mar 2010 | 11:13 am
    As many of you know, I am not a proponent of No Child Left Behind (NCLB).  NCLB is punitive and mean-spirited, and it has little if any effect on student outcomes.  NCLB forces schools to focus on math, reading and standardized testing while failing to address other subjects that students need to be successful in life.  It is a failure and needs to be recognized as such!  Unfortunately, President Obama is continuing on with an agenda of standards and testing. From and educational standpoint, President Obama is a disappointment. I’m currently reading “The Death and…

  • Career Education in a New Economy

    Michael Sporer
    20 Feb 2010 | 1:03 pm
    Career and technical education (CTE) in Pennsylvania is in a state of change.  Much of this change is being driven by the Department of Labor and Industry in an effort to stimulate growth and to focus dollars most effectively.  CTE schools will be forced to re-focus their efforts toward programs that support high priority occupations.  High priority occupations (HPOs) are determined by how well they meet 2 statistical requirements; a) job availability and b) ability to pay family sustaining wages.  HPO data is collected at the state and county level, and the focus of…

  • The Power of Career Technical Education

    Michael Sporer
    8 Jan 2010 | 8:53 am
    As you know, I’m a big proponent of career and technical education.  I’ve worked in it for over 34 years, and have seen and experienced the benefits of vocational education.  People involved in career education will tell you that it does not have the recognition in society it deserves.  Many people believe that “trade school” is for students who are not academically proficient.   NOTHING could be further from the truth.  I’m always searching for prominent people who understand the value of trades.  One of these people is Mike Rowe, famous…

  • Bureaucracy in Schools

    Michael Sporer
    5 Dec 2009 | 11:37 am
    The article in the newspaper about GM Corp. initiating cultural change is significant.  It tells me that US corporations finally "get it"!  The old top-down, heirarchical slow-moving american corporate culture is breaking down and being replaced by a customer-centered culture where plausible risk-taking is embraced.  This is the change we need in order to survive globally.  Yet, the American school system seems to lag significantly behind this trend. I'm part of the school bureaucracy, and here are the areas that frustrate me: Due to the…
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    National School Boards Assn: BoardBuzz

  • Teens and social networking

    Barbara Moody
    10 Mar 2010 | 2:49 pm
    Social media is everywhere these days. With more and more people joining Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other sites, and the pros and cons of social networking being debated constantly, we can all agree that our communication methods have changed drastically in recent years. Controversy surrounds the role social media can and should play in the lives of our children, and internationally known writer and educator Rosalind Wiseman has focused on the technological outlets facing the new generation of teens. Wiseman is the author of the best seller, Queen Bees & Wannabes, which examines the…

  • Civil rights, Duncan, and the 45th anniversary of Selma

    Kevin Scott
    8 Mar 2010 | 2:44 pm
    Today, following the 45th anniversary of the march in Selma, AL (AKA “Bloody Sunday”), Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, was in Selma giving a speech refocusing attention on the U.S. Department of Education’s efforts to enforce civil rights matters.  As most BoardBuzz readers know, “Education is a Civil Right,” is a phrase that has been endorsed by many educational organizations, including NSBA, and it seems that Duncan is putting some muscle behind that idea starting today. BoardBuzz hopes that the re-invigoration focuses not just on education as a…

  • Temple Grandin: The world needs all kinds of minds

    Andrew Paulson
    5 Mar 2010 | 9:50 am
    In her recent TED talk, Temple Grandin, diagnosed with autism as a child, tells us how her mind works. She gives an overview of how people on the autism spectrum think and makes the case that the world needs those people: visual thinkers, pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and all kinds of smart geeky kids. She describes autism as “a continuum of traits. When does a nerd turn into Asperger’s, which is just mild autism? I mean Einstein and Mozart and Tesla, would all be probably diagnosed as autistic spectrum today.” Grandin advocates that people on the autism…

  • No make or break factor in RTTT

    Katherine Shek
    5 Mar 2010 | 9:35 am
    The Race is definitely on…and the finalists are: CO, DE, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MA, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, and DC. At first glance, there seems to be no common patterns among these states for the phase I competition — about half of them are right-to-work states; some have charter school laws; some don’t; some have policies that link student achievement to teacher evaluations; some don’t. However, geographically, they tend to be from the south; Colorado is the only state from west of the Mississippi. Boardbuzz was encouraged to hear Secretary of Education, Arne…

  • Children benefit from physical activity programs at school

    Alexis Rice
    4 Mar 2010 | 11:27 am
    A study in the British Medical Journal shows that a structured school physical activity program can improve a child’s fitness and decrease body fat. Researchers in Switzerland studied 540 seven and 11-year-olds in 15 schools over a nine month period that were randomly selected. Students underwent a physical activity program designed by experts that involved structuring their existing three physical education lessons and adding two extra lessons a week. The students were also given daily short activity breaks and physical activity homework. The researchers reported a relative decrease…
 
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    Angela Maiers Educational Services

  • Failure is a Success in Learning

    Angela Maiers
    11 Mar 2010 | 6:12 am
    My friend and occasional roadmate, Vicki Davis wrote a wonderful piece recently about failure as part of learning in Fail Forward, Move Forward. A striking part of the post was a study by an art teacher in how students might respond to a new grading system. Dividing the class in two groups, one grading was based on QUALITY of work, the other group was graded on QUANTITY.  The second group (Quantity) ended up doing better (quotes and data can be found on Vicki's post). While the "quality" drowned in theory while striving for perfection, the "quantity" group…

  • Literacy in a Digital Age - ASCD 2010 Presentation with Ben Grey

    Angela Maiers
    8 Mar 2010 | 9:12 am
    Here's the deck from the presentation Ben Grey and I collaborated on at ASCD2010 yesterday, Literacy in a Digital Age: Ascd Engaging Literacy in a Digital AgeView more presentations from Ben Grey. The deck includes video resources and our take on Luke and Freebody's Four Resources model and how it pertains to Web 3.0.It was a fantastic experience collaborating with Ben on this project. I learned much and consider him to be a great friend, a generous mentor, and a powerful peer!

  • My Twitter Resources Library

    Angela Maiers
    8 Mar 2010 | 8:30 am
    I'm still filling the shelves of my Twitter Resources Library, but here's the work in progress that I talked about during my "I'm on Twitter, Now What?" ASCD presentation this weekend. Sites, Tutorials & Articles Lists & Links Add-Ons & Plugins Twitips 100 Ways to Teach with Twitter Twittes (A stream of links about Twitter) Twitter Guidebook 50 Ways to Use Twitter in the Classroom 99 Essential Twitter Tools & Applications Twitter 4 Teachers Wiki 27 Tools to Manage Relationships Twitter Grader Twitter in Plain English (Video) 100 Tools to Help You Reach…

  • I'm on Twitter - Now What? ASCD 2010 Presentation

    Angela Maiers
    7 Mar 2010 | 4:18 am
    Here's the deck from yesterday's ASCD 2010 presentation, I'm on Twitter, Now What? Twitter Ascd Conference San AntonioView more presentations from angelamaiers. The acronym I use for Twitter is simple and, for me, used as a compass for why I use Twitter:TribeWisdomIndividualTrustTransparencyEngagementRelationshipsI've learned so much from my friends, colleagues, and mentors in this space. I'm grateful to be part of the conversation -- and even more grateful for those who have embraced me into their community. Related Posts: My Twitter Engagement Formula (70-20-10) 26 Keys…

  • Digital Literacy Conversations at ASCD

    Angela Maiers
    6 Mar 2010 | 5:38 am
    Part of the conversations we'll be having at ASCD this year includes those centered around Digital Literacy. One close to my heart and head is, in part, will be one I get to co-present with my good friend Ben Grey.  The presentation below is a glimpse of what we'll be talking about: Communication and CollaborationView more presentations from Ben Grey. Related Posts: BREATHE & Digital Literacy Changing Rules of the Literacy Club Digital Literacy: Come and Join Us
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    Cool Cat Teacher Blog

  • Daily Spotlight on Education 03/12/2010

    12 Mar 2010 | 1:30 am
    YouTube - Social Networking: Horizon ProjectExcellent social networking video from the archives of FlatClassroom projects. Demoing this at MACUL.tags: education, digitalcitizenship, bestpracticesFunny or Die's Presidential Reunion from Will Ferrell, Chevy Chase, Ron Howard, Jim Carrey, Fred Armisen, Darrell Hammond, Dan Aykroyd, Maya Rudolph, Dana Carvey, FOD Team, Jake, and Antonio Scarlata - VideoFor those who like political humor - this comedy includes some of the greatest people on Saturday Night Live to ever impersonate presidents. tags: education, learningPosted from Diigo. The rest of…

  • Daily Spotlight on Education 03/11/2010

    11 Mar 2010 | 1:30 am
    Google GroupsA wonderful way to share information with a group of people. We use these behind the scenes to manage all of our flat classroom projects.tags: education, learningShare Documents and Files Online | Create a Free Website | Microsoft Office LiveIF you use office, you should set up the office live add in. It is so useful for sharing and backing up files!tags: education, learning, office, productivity, wordprocessing, workflow_software, edu_newappBlog Smarter | Zemanta Ltd.Great tool to enhance blogging whether you blog on Ning or blogger or wherever. I set up the profile and it helps…

  • MI-Champions: A phenomenal mentoring program in Michigan and other ponderings at #MACUL10

    10 Mar 2010 | 8:29 pm
    Hello, my friends, I'm in Michigan this lovely evening and just had a delightful chat with my good friends Anne Truger, Hall Davidson, Steve Dembo, and Rushton Hurley - all fellow spotlight speakers here at MACUL 2010.  Attendance is up, which is delightfully great news - about 3,300 will be here tomorrow. I enjoyed dining with Spotlight Speaker Chair, Ren Baldwin today at lunch as he discussed their Mi-champions Program. (See the video below.) The second class of graduates will be graduating at this conference (they have had 300 per "class") and the third cohort will begin.  The…

  • Daily Spotlight on Education 03/10/2010

    10 Mar 2010 | 1:30 am
    Women of Web2.0.4 - Discussion with Patsy Lanclos | EdTechTalkGetting requests for information on keyboarding research - Patsy Lanclos, who worked with Texas Standards for years in this area gave the most comprehensive discussion I've heard back in an older archived version of the Women of Web 2.0 show that we did some time a go. Don't let the time fool you - this is still as current as if it was recorded yesterday.tags: education, keyboardingGirl starved to death while parents raised virtual child in online game | World news | guardian.co.ukThis is just too far. Too FAR!Online game raising a…

  • Fail Forward, Move Forward

    9 Mar 2010 | 5:06 pm
    John Maxwell in his book Attitude 101 quotes a story from two artists David Bayles and Ted Orland about an art teacher who did an experiment with his grading system. The ceramics teacher told the left half of the room that they would just be graded on the quantity of what they produced. If they had fifty pounds of pots on the last day, they'd get an "A," forty would get a "B" and so forth. The right half of the room would be graded on "quality" and "needed to produce only one pot - albeit a perfect one - to get an "A." An interesting thing happened when it was time to grade.  The HIGHEST…
 
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    Eduspaces: Christopher Sessums

  • Sketching the Future: The Classroom and Play

    11 Mar 2010 | 2:43 pm
    http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/csessumscom/~3/WtV3ifjZP98/ Escape from IDEO on Vimeo. Here is a video developed at IDEO imagining “a future shaped by electric power dependency – where schoolyard play offsets the cost of fossil fuel and kids take an active part in their powering their world.” What I found most disheartening is not the kids taking an active part of powering their world–that would be kind of cool, actually. What I found most disturbing is the depiction of the classroom of the future. Clearly, a dystopian future is one where students still sit at neatly…

  • Building a Better Teacher by Design

    10 Mar 2010 | 9:21 am
    http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/csessumscom/~3/GIDR9j8FclA/ First, I want to thank the editors at the New York Times Magazine for featuring an article that focuses on teacher education (Elizabeth Green’s “Can good teaching be learned?” 7 March 2010). Since most of us attended school at one time or another, teaching and teacher education are always hot-button topics in which most people have an opinion. This opinion is often based on what one researcher dubbed an apprenticeship of observation, that is, we think we understand teaching because we have watched it happen to us and…

  • Designing the Future Without Us: A response to an essay by Trent Batson

    12 Feb 2010 | 11:25 am
    http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/csessumscom/~3/zFao7-l920Q/ This is article is written in response to Trent Batson’s essay As We May Learn: Revisiting Bush in Campus Technology. Batson argues: “We lack a coherent and comprehensive way to study media and learning that would help us make wise enterprise decisions instead of the constant lurching we’ve sponsored during those 20 years. Where to turn for this new knowledge and wisdom?” My contention is that this is both near-sighted and patently untrue. Batson himself, a former professor at a large university, clearly…

  • Using Participatory Media to Produce an Art Show

    19 Jan 2010 | 6:44 am
      Recently I was thinking about ways to connect my classroom to the larger world outside our door. I noticed each morning on my way to work, a beautiful space in my building that was not being used for anything. Long corridors of empty wall space. Aha! A perfect space for an art show. I created an assignment for my integrating new digital media into the curriculum course as a way of getting students to use social/participatory media to share, communicate, create, organize, collaborate, and network focusing on a specific project/problem: creating, organizing, advertising,and managing, a…

  • Empathy: An Overlooked 21st Century Skill

    4 Jan 2010 | 11:56 am
    http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/csessumscom/~3/njpoEZxoDyc/ Recently I was reflecting on the skills we want our kids to possess as they enter adulthood and participate actively as g/local citizens. Here are two major skill sets defined by Henry Jenkins, et al., and Tony Wagner: Jenkins, et al. (2006) 21st Century Skills (pdf) Play — the capacity to experiment with one’s surroundings as a form of problem-solving Performance — the ability to adopt alternative identities for the purpose of improvisation and discovery Simulation — the ability to interpret and construct dynamic models of…
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    The Student Affairs Collaborative

  • THREE #SACHAT Recaps!

    nope
    12 Mar 2010 | 6:00 am
    All of us the Student Affairs Collaborative are thrilled at the response of the #NASPA10 demo of #SACHAT this past Monday that focused on How You Use Twitter in Student Affairs and today’s weekly #SACHAT that focused on Best Student Development Strategies. We’re thrilled to welcome all our new participants from ACUI and NASPA and hope that we gain even more friends at ACPA in Boston in 10 short days!  Each week, we continue to grow our numbers and this week’s chats produced over 1,800 comments from almost 200 Student Affairs professionals,  graduate students and…

  • TuesTally: Which statements best describe your use of Twitter?

    nope
    9 Mar 2010 | 9:00 am
    If you cannot view this poll click here. And here are the results from the last poll.

  • Me vs. “InBox.” Let’s Go.

    nope
    9 Mar 2010 | 6:20 am
    One recent thread on the Twitter #sachat has related to the quest for something called “In Box Zero.”  Out of sheer desperation for some motivation to get my e-mail life under control, I posted a challenge to readers and participants of the #sachat to see if we could motivate each other to get our e-mail situations under control. Postings and responses were mixed.  I could talk for a while and analyze whether or not it is possible to be productive when there are 2,000 e-mails in your In Box, but I’ll let your own conscience ring in on that one as you are asking yourself if…

  • Career Decision Making: Where Do I Go From Here? – #SACHAT Recap

    nope
    4 Mar 2010 | 6:29 pm
    Thanks to everyone who participated in today’s #SAchat focusing on Career Decision Making: Where Do I Go From Here? Each week, we continue to grow our numbers and today’s chats produced over 1,000 comments from over 100 student affairs professionals,  graduate students and undergraduates interested or working in the Student Affairs field! In case you missed it, below is a quick recap. If you haven’t yet participated in an #sachat, learn more here. Full Transcripts DAYTIME: View as webpage Download as PDF EVENING: View as webpage Download as PDF Today’s Top Contributors @JGinese23…

  • TuesTally: How many e-mails are currently in your In Box?

    nope
    2 Mar 2010 | 7:00 am
    If you cannot view this poll click here. And here are the results from the last poll.
 
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    Swift Kick Central

  • Upcoming Webinar: Leveraging Social Media for Student Engagement

    Tom Krieglstein
    25 Feb 2010 | 8:58 am
    We're excited to partner with The Student Affairs Collaborative for an upcoming webinar on Leveraging Social Media for Increased Student Engagement. This webinar is an updated version of our last webinar in December on the same topic. The biggest update is the inclusion of a student panel to talk about how they want you to engage them online.100% of the webinar proceeds go to the Student Blogging Scholarship. "Seating" is limited to allow everyone to engage in the Q&A, so check below for details and to reserve your spot. Title: Leveraging Social Media for Student EngagementDate:…

  • Students Helping Students

    Tom Krieglstein
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:27 am
    Kansas State University's "Students Helping Students" campaign has the potential to be a national theme for peer-to-peer learning. For those who've had us on campus working with your student leaders, you should recognize the Blender Events and Flash Mobs throughout the video. Enjoy!

  • What If We DO Succeed in Increasing Student Engagement?

    Tom Krieglstein
    2 Feb 2010 | 8:29 am
    Over the weekend, I was talking with a group of students and advisors from Kutztown University about student engagement. In Swift Kick, we use dance floors to describe how student leaders are the ones in the center of the dance (fully engaged), and the rest of the student body (60-84% according to NSSE) are against the wall, not participating. It looks like this:   If the above image represents an oil reserve, the outside area represents the largest pool of potential energy at an institution.Lots of tools are great at helping student affairs departments better extract 2% more energy…

  • 7 Steps to Awesome: The Tech of a Leadership Conference

    Kevin Prentiss
    19 Jan 2010 | 10:05 am
    I promised the good student affairs folk of the Penn State system that I would write up a draft outline of a tech plan for a state wide student leadership event. I delayed a bit, so that we could finish up this new sachat platform - I think it's an important example of the goal. This will be a picture of what is possible, and the benefits, complete with notes. While I will aim at "reasonable and doable," the degree of difficulty will vary by campus. This certainly isn't THE way to do this, it is a draft plan to pick apart and play with. This plan isn't about just getting something up or what…

  • The Value of Integrating Social Media into Education

    Tom Krieglstein
    15 Jan 2010 | 7:33 am
    Dean Long, of LAUS, only needs two minutes to perfectly explain how every educator should be thinking about social media. And if your life is too busy for a two minute interlude, here are the highlights:Use SM (Social Media) to cultivate a community around the activities already being done on campus Support student bloggersLet students be the producers of the school's contentGive students the capacity to think and reflect around their experiencesSchools benefit by showcasing what they do to a larger audienceUsing SM will cultivate a larger communityReflective learning is nothing new, the new…
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    CogDogBlog

  • There’s Gotta Be a Better Way To Search a WordPress Blog

    Alan Levine aka CogDog
    10 Mar 2010 | 10:27 pm
    cc licensed flickr photo shared by Stéfan That little search field and button in WordPress has not changed in function one bit since i started with WordPress. Oh sure, you can pop words in there, and get list of results. That works. But it is really limiting, especially when you have a few years heaped up of posts. Let me be more specific. If I want to find something I wrote about Jim Groom and car toys, if I type in the search field Jim Groom Car Toys My results will include posts that mention Jim Morrison, ones about Jim beam, Ones about not wanting to be a bride of a groom, ones about…

  • TEDxNYED-ed

    Alan Levine aka CogDog
    9 Mar 2010 | 8:41 pm
    cc licensed flickr photo shared by aliceskr It’s been rattling around in the grey matter since Saturday, an un-organized strand of thoughts about the TEDxNYED event– and lacking a clever title, I made it a past tense verb (and that is something I expect no one to even spot as clever). Just to set the baseline, I only saw about 1/3 of the sessions on the live video stream; after al it was a nice Saturday, and I had a pile of firewood to cut. So I cannot give a full opinion of the event based on the portions of the elephant I touched. First of all, it is no small feat that the…

  • Reborn: Five Card Flickr Stories

    Alan Levine aka CogDog
    7 Mar 2010 | 7:48 pm
    It’s been on my to do list since August, but I finally got the last mile of code done to restore my Five Card Flickr stories site to life. If you had not played with this before, the initial description tells it all: I’ve been ultra interested in the idea of telling stories in pictures. Ever since I saw Ruben Puentadora’s workshop on web comics back in 2007 (and later at the 2008 NMC Summer Conference) a little idea has been brewing. Ruben does this fantastic group activity based on work from Scott McCloud, that makes creative work, from all things, of old Nancy cartoons. Using the…

  • Today’s Lucky Stumbling Find: Turn Any Part of Web Page into Dashboard Widget

    Alan Levine aka CogDog
    4 Mar 2010 | 2:57 pm
    Again, nothing warms this web dog’;s heart that accidentally discovering something useful. With my two daily photo habits (@dailyshoot and 2010/365 photos) I am continually having to seek out specific bits of information. For dailyshoot I check in the morning what the assignment is usually by a visit to their twitter page or checking an RSS feed). For naming of my daily photos, I use a title based on the day number of the year (today is the 64th day of the year). I usually flip open a Mac OS X dashboard widget I found 2 years ago, but I have to enter the date for it to calculate the day…

  • Beyond Slidedeckophelia

    Alan Levine aka CogDog
    1 Mar 2010 | 11:29 pm
    Last week I was deeply immersed (3 days x 14 hours ea) in helping run an NMC Conference in Second Life. Something that has always been obvious came knock me over with a hammer obvious – there is something perversely wrong in communicating something in a 3D space using 2D slides. cc licensed flickr photo shared by NMC Second Life What’s even the point? Frankly, I’ve been in this game long enough and see what too many of us (often me, yes I am Mr Pot calling kettle black) rely too heavily on the linear slide deck to prop up what we are communicating. It’s not that all…
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    Educause

  • Tune In March 18: Spotlight on Cloud Computing Series--Clearing the Air On Cloud Computing

    fyfthgeer
    11 Mar 2010 | 3:11 pm
    In this free March 18 EDUCAUSE Live! Spotlight on Cloud Computing Web Seminar, Clearing the Air on Cloud Computing, special guest, John L. King, joins host, Steve Worona, to discuss the topic Gartner says is at the peak of its hype—cloud computing. King, professor of information, School of Information and vice provost for Academic Information, University of Michigan, will talk about what all the hype is really about and why higher education is still so excited about cloud computing.

  • IAM Online: March 11 Session on Remote Identity Proofing

    pkurkowski
    5 Mar 2010 | 1:34 pm
    InCommon recently kicked off IAM Online, a new monthly series delivering interactive education on Identity and Access Management (IAM). The next session in the series is March 11 at 1:00 p.m. (ET). This session will explore the general challenges of provisioning remote users and the specific impact of HEOA regulatory requirements that ask accrediting organizations to evaluate college identity procedures for distance education students. IAM Online is sponsored by InCommon in cooperation with Internet2 and the EDUCAUSE Identity and Access Management Working Group.

  • New ELI 7 Things... Brief Explores E-Readers

    pkurkowski
    5 Mar 2010 | 8:23 am
    E-readers are portable, low-power, high-resolution devices that display digital versions of written material from books, magazines, newspapers, and other printed sources. They typically use e-ink, a display technology designed to simulate printed paper that offers similar resolution as newsprint and, relative to an LCD screen, eliminates glare and reduces eyestrain. Digital texts can be updated easily and often include advanced features such as annotation, hyperlinking, cross-linking, saved views, interactive quizzes for individual study, analyses, and shared commentary.

  • EDUCAUSE Joins Library And Other Higher Education Groups In Calling on FCC to Adopt Net Neutrality Principles

    fyfthgeer
    3 Mar 2010 | 7:07 am
    In early March, EDUCAUSE, The American Library Association (ALA), and the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), as part of a broad group of eleven library and higher education-related institutions and organizations, sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski in support of preserving an open Internet.  The letter's signatories urge the adoption of Internet (net) neutrality principles including non-discrimination and transparency, while allowing for reasonable practices to manage technical issues such as congestion and spam. These principles would give…

  • Southeast Regional Conference :: Register before May 5 for Early Bird rates

    jberg
    25 Feb 2010 | 8:18 am
    Atlanta, June 2-4 | Experience a rich conference agenda that addresses topics from: teaching and learning to managing the enterprise to developing new leadership in the IT profession. Get real-world examples, insights, and discussions.Low early-bird rates end May 5 -- register now to save money.
 
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    Techlearning

  • Bronx Cheer by Christine Weiser, Managing Editor

    12 Mar 2010 | 2:40 am
    I’ve been reporting on education for a long time. I’ve been to countless education conferences, reviewed thousands of press releases, and talked to hundreds of educators about how they are changing the lives of young people through the effective use

  • New online, affordable SAT prep

    11 Mar 2010 | 11:00 pm
      Archipelago Learning has announced the introduction of Study Island SAT, an affordable web-based SAT review program.

  • All about flight

    11 Mar 2010 | 10:00 pm
    Toby the wizard wants to fly. Learn how three items can help him accomplish this goal. Real world information and video can be found on this site helping to further explain the properties of flight.courtesy of netTrekker 

  • New version of database software

    11 Mar 2010 | 12:55 pm
     FileMaker, Inc. has announced FileMaker Pro 11

  • Web filter monitors and reports also

    11 Mar 2010 | 12:30 pm
     M86 Security has introduced a single appliance which provides filtering, monitoring and reporting capabilities to protect students from inappropriate Web and Instant Messenger use.
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    NPR: Education

  • Charges Of 'Re-Segregation' At N.C. High School

    11 Mar 2010 | 9:00 pm
    A high school in Wayne County, N.C., has a student population that is poor and 99 percent black. That's not the case at other public high schools in the same county. The disparity has prompted a civil rights inquiry — and complaints about what one leader calls "re-segregation."» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

  • Schools Across U.S. Grapple With Closures

    11 Mar 2010 | 12:12 pm
    Kansas City, Mo., has just approved one of the largest school closures in the nation's history. All over the U.S., the number of districts shutting schools is growing rapidly in the face of declines in both revenue and enrollment.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

  • Mass School Closures Approved In Kansas City, Mo.

    11 Mar 2010 | 1:49 am
    Facing potential bankruptcy, the board that governs the once flush-with-cash Kansas City school district is taking the unusual and contentious step of shuttering almost half its schools.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

  • L.A.'s Inner City Schools Struggle With Layoffs

    11 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am
    Teacher layoff's in the Los Angeles school system have hit inner city schools especially hard, and more layoff notices are being sent out this week. Markham Middle School in Watts has lost at least half its faculty since the last round of layoffs. In many cases, school officials haven't been able to find new full-time teachers and have to rely on subs.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

  • Draft National Education Standards Unveiled

    10 Mar 2010 | 12:00 pm
    Schools took another big step toward an elusive goal: establishing basic education standards that could apply to nearly every student in the US. The draft proposal released Wednesday tries to unify what students need to know about English and math at each grade level. But supporters of the effort still face skepticism.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us
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    elearnspace

  • Learning powered by technology

    gsiemens
    12 Mar 2010 | 12:32 am
    The National Education Technology Plan (.pdf) reads like a somewhat random mix of concepts that have been discussed in various blogs and forums over the last decade: connected learning, 21st century skills, data-driven improvement, learning networks, life-wide learning, etc. Nothing new here. What is new, however, is the organization publishing the document: U.S. Department of Education. Many a school reformer, conference presenter, and consultant – not to mention tech companies – will be salivating over this report. The drawback is the approach taken – if you proclaim…

  • Summary: Collapsing to Connections

    gsiemens
    9 Mar 2010 | 11:17 am
    I’ve posted a rough summary of my talk at TEDxNYED on my connectivism site: Collapsing to Connections

  • Social Media Conference: Dave Snowden

    gsiemens
    9 Mar 2010 | 8:41 am
    TEKRI is hosting a conference on Making Sense of Social Media in Education, Government, and the Enterprise, April 25-26 in Edmonton. Dave Snowden is our keynote speaker. We are issuing a call for presentations. Deadline is March 21. The conference will run two days – Sunday is a social media bootcamp: a quick way to get up to speed on various emerging technologies and implications for organizations. Monday is the more typical conference day – keynote, panels, presentations.

  • TEDxNYED

    gsiemens
    4 Mar 2010 | 5:52 am
    With full awareness of growing criticism of TED conference (see D’Arcy Norman’s post on the topic and the growing discussion thread), I’ll be presenting at TEDxNYED on Saturday, March 6 with this group of presenters. The entire day will be live streamed and should be accessible from here. I’ll post on my Twitter account as the day progresses.

  • Web 3.0 & Libraries

    gsiemens
    4 Mar 2010 | 5:28 am
    Web 2.0 hype has subsided, largely replaced with terms like “social media”. Adding a “2.0″ to anything dates it – immediately. Because it’s just a matter of time before someone comes along and says “3.0″. Defining software by version number i.e. x.0 makes sense because software is bounded. Windows 98 shares some features with Vista, but overall, it’s a distinct piece of software. Real life – like learning – can’t be reduced to a bounded entity like software, making “2.0″ versions largely useless as a means of…
 
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    A Difference

  • Teaching Interdependance

    1 Mar 2010 | 10:58 am
    ... was the title of the Keynote address I gave to 500+ educators at this year's B.Y.T.E. conference. The sense I had of the audience was that many of the ideas I talked about here were new to them. A quick survey of the room while giving the talk revealed only about three people had heard of Wolfram Alpha and I think about the same number had heard of the TPACK Framework. I hope I get a chance to do this talk again. There are a number of things I think I could have done better. Anyway, if you're interested, here it is in various formats. You pick how you'd like to take it in. Audio Download…

  • "Infotention" or scraping the cream off the top of what you want to know

    27 Feb 2010 | 12:49 pm
    How do you deploy your attention? Infotention: “Honing the mental ability to deploy the form of attention appropriate for each moment is an essential internal skill for people who want to find, direct, and manage streams of relevant information by using online media knowledgeably. Knowing how to put together intelligence dashboards, news radars, and information filters from online tools like persistent search and RSS is the external technical component of information literacy.” It's getting harder to attend to something that interests you because of the abundance of information available…

  • Always Beta 03: textbooks Learning Platforms

    25 Feb 2010 | 10:55 am
    If you missed it: part 1, part 2. In this third part of my interview with Carly Shuler we talk about reimagining digital textbooks as learning platforms. 11 min 25 sec Download (10 Mb) I haven't done much digging in this space until recently. If it interests you here are some other things worth looking at: A Kindle in Every Backpack A Kindle in Every Backpack?...Would we even need backpacks? The Future of Digital Textbooks (download the PowerPoint slides) 2010 Horizon Report Building Research and Writing Skills Through Student Authorship of Wiki Textbooks (download pdf of slides) [The student…

  • Always Beta 02: (mobile) Learning Beyond Time & Space

    23 Feb 2010 | 4:59 pm
    If you missed it: part 1. In this second part of my interview with Carly Shuler we continue the discussion of the state of technology in Canadian classrooms and find ourselves talking about Mobile Learning; a topic close to both of our hearts. When I talk about the shift of learning times and spaces, this is what I was thinking of: Time and Space v2 by flickr user dkuropatwa CORRECTION: Towards the end of this segment I talk about the 2010 Horizon Report. I said the 2009 Horizon report had Mobile Learning on the 1 to 2 year horizon but this years report doesn't mention it all. I was wrong.

  • Always Beta 01: The Future of the Textbook ... we need a new metaphor

    21 Feb 2010 | 8:31 pm
    FBI Classroom by flickr user billerickson Last week I was interviewed by Carly Shuler. We talked about many things. Mainly she wanted to talk about the future of the textbook in the digital age from the perspective of textbook publishers. The interview was about 50 minutes long so I've broken it down into 4 or 5 chunks. This first bit focuses on the current state of technology integration in Canadian classrooms. I told her what I know. You probably know more about it. Please share it here in the comments. Thanks. 13 min 16 sec Download (12.1 Mb) ∞β
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    Dangerously Irrelevant

  • The future of print, part 3

    dr.scott.mcleod@gmail.com (Scott McLeod)
    10 Mar 2010 | 4:45 am
    Here's another envisioning of the forms that traditional print publications are going to take as tablet eReaders and computers become more prevalent. This one is from Penguin Books and shows what some interactive experiences might look like for younger children. Previous installments in this series were: Yes, this is the future of magazines (and newspapers and books and ...) The future of magazines, part 2 Thanks to Fast Company for leading me to this video. Happy viewing!

  • The status quo no longer suffices: An open letter to the Ames (IA) School Board

    dr.scott.mcleod@gmail.com (Scott McLeod)
    8 Mar 2010 | 1:15 pm
    The Ames (IA) Community School District – my kids’ district – is hiring both a new superintendent and a new high school principal for next year. Below is the letter I just sent the school board members. I thought some of you might be interested. Everything I do has a Creative Commons license, so feel free to use as desired. Also available in Microsoft Word (.docx) and/or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format! March 7, 2010 Fellow Ames citizens and Board members of the Ames Community School District, I am the coordinator of the Educational Administration program at Iowa State University and the…

  • BlogBall10 - Edublogger fantasy baseball returns for Year 3! [registration due March 21]

    dr.scott.mcleod@gmail.com (Scott McLeod)
    7 Mar 2010 | 10:18 am
    It's spring training for Major League Baseball and that means it’s time for another season of edublogger fantasy baseball! Last year’s champions, Vinnie Vrotny and Rick Heitmeyer, have their trophies and hopefully will be back to defend their titles (we had enough participants for 2 leagues last year). I shall return as well, hoping to improve on my annual late-season collapse. Same rules and league settings as the two previous years. A trophy for the winner(s). Friendly banter, potential bragging rights, and loads of baseball fun could be yours! If you’re interested, complete the…

  • Why don't schools with the biggest challenges have access to the biggest talent?

    dr.scott.mcleod@gmail.com (Scott McLeod)
    7 Mar 2010 | 7:59 am
    Rethink Learning Now asks: Why don't schools with the biggest challenges have access to the biggest talent? Answer My answer: Because as educational systems we allow individual teacher preferences and/or union seniority systems to trump what’s best for kids. If the Number 1 school influence on students’ success is the quality of their teachers, the fact that we often (usually?) give our most disadvantaged students our least-qualified instructors is an indictment of all of us. Many districts across the country are laying off teachers right now. This would seem an especially critical…

  • TEDxASB and TEDxNYED: Getting YouTube channels into iTunes

    dr.scott.mcleod@gmail.com (Scott McLeod)
    7 Mar 2010 | 5:19 am
    Yesterday was the TEDxNYED event in New York City. Many of us watched the LiveStream online. Last week was the TEDxASB event in Mumbai, India. I had the pleasure of both attending and speaking. Both events had some great speakers (I’ll let you decide if I was one of them!). Other TEDx events do also, and many of the videos will be uploaded to the TEDxTalks YouTube channel for others to see after the fact. I wanted to get the TedxTalks YouTube channel into iTunes, but didn’t want to download each video individually. Could I get the YouTube RSS feed into iTunes? Yes, with RSSHandler!
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    Do I Dare Disturb the Universe?

  • What you need to know when you’re done with high school

    Scott
    25 Feb 2010 | 5:03 am
    I had a great experience working with a group of teachers and leaders in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, a couple weeks ago. While I like to kid about them being a “tough crowd,” the truth is that they were an open-minded group who asked great questions. One of the participants (I can’t recall her name – sorry!) challenged me during my session to identify the Top Ten Things Every Graduating High School Student Know or Understand. Since I enjoy a challenge, I told her I’d work on it and post a response here. I’m not sure it’s what she had in mind, but…

  • Indispensable

    Scott
    21 Jan 2010 | 4:08 pm
    Scott McLeod recently shared 13 tools he couldn’t live without. Here are 12 of mine and 2 honorable mentions. iPhone – I know there was a world before the iPhone, but I prefer not to think about it. Increasingly, I use it more and more around the house in lieu of my laptop if all I’m doing is Tweeting or reading my RSS feeds. My iPhone Google Docs – Almost everything I write at least begins life as a Google Doc. Sure, it may end up in Scrivener or Pages for fine-tuning or formatting when it’s ready to be published, but for just getting something down “on…

  • Teaching and encouraging creativity

    Scott
    6 Jan 2010 | 2:49 pm
    When I first saw the video of Ken Robinson talking about creativity, I sat and nodded my head in agreement. Most of the people I show it to do the same thing. But then most of us go back to business as usual. Is our current educational system even capable of addressing an idea as nebulous as “creativity?” Do we employ creative teachers? Creative leaders? Is it even a trait that we value when we interview prospective teachers or administrators? Do we have students who think of themselves as being creative? I’ve said out loud before, ‘You know – I’m just not…

  • Technology and Plumbing

    Scott
    30 Nov 2009 | 2:07 pm
    I think some of us — for fear of being perceived as fundamentalist technology apologists — feel the need to qualify statements about particular hardware or software with the phrase, “It’s not about the technology…” I should know. I’m one of them. It’s about the learning, certainly. And the technology that supports that learning. But if the goal is to create a collaborative, networked space for learning then technology and the Internet are necessary catalysts. I’ve become increasingly reliant on certain online tools to get things done at…

  • McLeod’s Slide Contest – Late Entry

    Scott
    31 Aug 2009 | 8:26 am
    I made this because I saw this and this on the same day. Then I saw Scott was having a contest, but the deadline had already passed. Then Dan made this and I got re-inspired. Plus, I hate getting beat at my own game. So I made this. Because I don’t like to be left out.
 
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    21st Century Collaborative

  • More Reflection On TedxNYED - Learner First

    Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach
    8 Mar 2010 | 11:43 am
    Would love your comments on these ideas — let’s have a conversation. OTHER FORMATS Portable (iPod) http://blip.tv/file/get/Snbeach-Reflection1ToTEDxNYED352.wmv Audio-only http://blip.tv/file/get/Snbeach-Reflection1ToTEDxNYED604.wmv

  • Lessig on Openness

    Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach
    7 Mar 2010 | 6:08 pm
    Lawrence Lessig, at a talk given at TEDxNYED March 6, 2010, does a wonderful job of modeling how we can work together to accomplish copyright policy change that is in the best interest of freedom and our kids’ future, rather than reinforcing the polarizing type of rhetoric heard from both conservatives and liberals alike. He encourages us to teach the values of freedom, community, limiting regulation, respecting the creator and other issues of fair use,  while teaching us a thing or two about copyright and the shift in the process. The talk is brilliant and absolutely TED quality. …

  • TedxNYED: Learner First

    Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach
    7 Mar 2010 | 9:40 am
    I am driving home from NYC and while I know I should be devoting my time to the PLP communities, I couldn’t help myself- I had to come here first and reflect. It is such a rare thing when I have a chance to attend an event as a learner only and at TEDxNYED I was just that “learner only.” Don’t get me wrong,  I learn a great deal while I am presenting and engaging  audiences in the workshops and keynotes I am invited to give, however, it is rare that I am ever able to attend an event with no pressure to perform-where I am allowed to take the posture of learner only-…

  • Dream Catcher and Value Adder

    Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach
    14 Feb 2010 | 2:26 pm
    I had an epiphany today. For most of you who lead change, run a company or ministry this is probably obvious. But for me– not so much. I was listening to John Maxwell on TV today and he shared something I had never considered. My mission, my purpose in all the work I do, whether keynoting, conferences, working with for profits like Intel or Microsoft or non profits like the EETT grant work and especially in the building of PLP, has to be about adding value to the lives of others. I know..I know.. for you guys it is a no brainer, but for me it is transformational- and here is why.

  • The Notion of Leadership is Shifting

    Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach
    14 Feb 2010 | 11:18 am
    What do you think of when you try and define the concept leadership? I surveyed my Twitter community recently and was struck with the diversity represented as they grappled with the idea. Most of the definitions spoke to leadership belonging to a group broader than individual leaders.  Which is a shift from the dictionary definition: lead⋅er⋅ship 1. the position or function of a leader: He managed to maintain his leadership of the party despite heavy opposition. 2. ability to lead: She displayed leadership potential. 3. an act or instance of leading; guidance; direction: They prospered…
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    Ewan McIntosh | Digital Media & Education

  • Links for 2010-03-11 [del.icio.us]

    Donald Clark Plan B: Moodle: e-learning’s Frankenstein Educationalists love to talk about learner-centric, constructivist models of learning but usually default back into a didactic, lecture-driven, ‘I teach-you learn’, behaviour. Stray too far from the current model and any LMS will collapse into a soup of collaborative connectivity. Social CRM: The New Rules of Relationship Management 18 Use Cases That Show Business How to Finally Put Customers First. Customers continue to adopt social technologies at a blinding speed – yet organizations are unable to keep up. Why? Rapid…

  • Links for 2010-03-10 [del.icio.us]

    Slowcoast - Soundslide - Paul Smith, Clothes designer My fave Twitter / Ross C Brown: If you didn't know already ... If you didn't know already, @mikecoulter and @ewanmcintosh are top blokes. Thanks for your help guys :-) Where goes the river? Arts and Culture Education is important. Prof Anne Bamford: * Fashion is the 2nd biggest industry in the UK. * You pay £4.00 for a coffee in a posh coffee house, but only £1.50 for the same coffee in a polystyrene cup on a train. That's over a 150% mark up because of design. * Children who are taught arts and culture have better brains. * An…

  • Links for 2010-03-09 [del.icio.us]

    Amazon Mechanical Turk - Welcome HITs - Human Intelligence Tasks - are individual tasks that you work on. Find HITs now. Give Work | Samasource Connecting women, youth and refugees to life-changing work via the internet Contact Center Software and Call Center Outsourcing from LiveOps Open Innovation | Innovation Management A site that calls you to action to solve challenges for prizes offered by large companies. IP Transfer Internet Eyes, CCTV Monitoring Registered Viewers anonymously monitor random video feeds. At no time can Viewers designate or control the video feeds they receive and the…

  • Links for 2010-03-08 [del.icio.us]

    how we do it | Space Unlimited We help our clients identify and develop an effective Project Question. We recruit young people in partnership with schools and other youth organisations. We support the relationships between young people, educators and clients, and we manage all admin and logistics. In Space Unlimited, we use the metaphor of a journey to describe the experience on our projects. Our illustration shows the three stages - the thoughtful beginning, creative middle and valuable ending - and the different participants.

  • Teacher's been on a course...

    Ewan McIntosh
    8 Mar 2010 | 11:19 am
    "It's like the teacher's gone on a course and come back with something new. Except it's like that every day."A quote recently overheard by Pat Chapman. As a teacher I know what that feeling of coming back with something new is. I don't know if I managed it every day, though, when I was dealing with unnecessary summative assessments, requests for paper from bosses, and lessons where the pace was unnaturally high to 'get things done'. I did have it when I was doing project-based inquiry-based student-led programmes of work over six weeks, rather than 60 minutes. You?
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    College Admissions Counseling

  • Medical School Essays for BS/MD Applicants

    Todd Johnson
    11 Mar 2010 | 5:00 am
    Last time we spoke about the college essay for the BS/MD applicant. Today we are going to discuss what is important for the medical school essay for the BS/MD programs. The medical school questions may change from year to year but in my experience they will fall into one of four general categories. The first question looks at your motivation for becoming a physician.  To answer this question you might look at a personal experience you had that provided your motivation.  Or you might find your motivation from one or more of the activities you have been involved in. The second general essay…

  • College Essays for BS/MD Applicants

    Todd Johnson
    9 Mar 2010 | 5:00 am
    Students applying to BS/MD programs need to write essays for the undergraduate college as well as the medical school. Today I want to talk about what you need to consider to write the best college essay. I am not talking about general things to consider when you write a college essay. Instead, I am discussing the specifics you need to consider as a BS/MD applicant. When writing the college essay, remember what is important for admissions to BS/MD programs.  The programs are looking for students with a long standing passion for medicine as well as students who have leadership abilities,…

  • Hamilton College Goes Need Blind for Admissions

    Todd Johnson
    8 Mar 2010 | 12:31 pm
    Hamilton College in New York has announced that they will now be need blind for admissions. For those of you not up on your college financial aid jargon, this means that Hamilton will now make admissions decision without considering whether a student will need financial aid.  Hamilton also  meets 100% of the financial need of each admitted student. This is very good, if not somewhat surprising, news. With all of the losses sustained by college endowments in the past few years, colleges have been looking at reducing their generosity, not increasing it.  Williams College, for instance,…

  • 6 Steps to Make Yourself the Best BS/MD Candidate

    Todd Johnson
    4 Mar 2010 | 5:00 am
    Younger students who are potentially interested in BS/MD programs often ask what they can do to make themselves the best candidate. Here are 6 steps that freshman and sophomores can take to strengthen their eventual applications. Step 1, get good grades. At a minimum, you need to be in the top 10% of your class and to be the most competitive, you should be in the top 1 or 2% of your class. Step 2, take the right classes. You need to take the most challenging courses available to you at your high school. You also need to make sure that you take a class in biology, chemistry and physics if they…

  • The Limitations of High School Counselors for College Admissions

    Todd Johnson
    3 Mar 2010 | 5:58 pm
    A new survey out from Public Agenda and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has confirmed what I have said before here many times: don’t expect much college admissions help from your high school counselor. The survey involved 614 people between the ages of 22 and 30 who had at least some college education. The people in the survey were asked a number of questions regarding their experiences with their high school guidance counselors and the degree of help they received in their search for the right college. 67% of the people in the survey gave their high school counselor a…
 
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    Creating Lifelong Learners

  • RTI (Response to Intervention) A Complete Apple Workflow

    Mathew
    7 Mar 2010 | 8:49 am
    Thank you to those of you who attended my workshop, “RTI:  A Complete Apple Workflow” at the CUE conference this weekend.   I spoke about using Apple Software to address your Response to Intervention program.  This post contains the links, resources, and ideas that I shared.  Rather than simply posting the keynote file (which is much easier) I prefer to recap and flush out some of the ideas so that it’s beneficial even to those who weren’t there. What is RTI? As I define it, rather than simply teaching everyone the same thing and assuming that if someone…

  • Down and Dirty Data Analysis

    Mathew
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:20 am
    Green is good.  Red is bad. Here’s what they taught me in “coaching college” about how to read data. Reading vertically indicates the teacher’s problem.  Reading horizontally indicates a student’s problem. So, Harpo needs some additional help in all language arts areas.  However, in the vocabulary category, it appears that the teacher needs to examine his/her own instruction as its not succeeding for most of the students.  There’s all kinds of reasons why the teacher could say the students aren’t succeeding and there is validity to all of…

  • The iPad…Why Teachers Should Care

    Mathew
    28 Jan 2010 | 1:02 pm
    OK, I don’t like the name (iTablet or iSlate are much cooler sounding) but I think the iPad bashers have got it wrong and that this new device has the potential to change education.  While many journalists are complaining about the $499 price tag, I keep thinking wow, only $499, that’s half the price of laptops! Reasonable Expectations/ Reasonable Price Tag First, you need to understand that the iPad is not a laptop.  You will need a traditional laptop if you want all the functionality of a laptop.  The iPad is a cross between an iPod touch and a laptop lite.  The iPad is…

  • Your Days in a Sentence

    Mathew
    26 Jan 2010 | 8:26 am
    Thank you for submitting your sentences. Elona Harjes had a Dickensian week:   It was the best of times; it was the worst of times- it was the end of semester. Gail P also sees an end in sight:  I know we haven’t reached the middle of the year yet but I can already feel this vehicle’s momentum shifting to accommodate the race to the end of the year. Bonnie K is looking forward to merit pay:  It’s been a tough week, dealing with the “small” election in Mass. I want to remain positive and will. Obama is my guy-BRAVO to his first year in the White House! What can I say, I’m a…

  • How to Waste Money on Technology in Schools

    Mathew
    22 Jan 2010 | 10:50 am
    Here is a typical district/principal purchase that undermines the case for spending money on technology in schools.  This is an anecdote from an actual school that I am not affiliated with but will not name. Elementary principal knows she wants to integrate technology in her school (and also needs for teachers to be able to take online attendance). Principal decides to buy each teacher a laptop and buys the best…Mac Book Pros for everyone! (MacBook Pros are about twice as much as MacBooks and are more powerful than most teachers would need). First instructions from principal are,…
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    GlobalHigherEd

  • Budapest-Vienna Declaration on the European Higher Education Area

    globalhighered
    12 Mar 2010 | 7:06 am
    Budapest-Vienna Declaration on the European Higher Education Area March 12, 2010 1.    We, the Ministers responsible for higher education in the countries participating in the Bologna Process, met in Budapest and Vienna on March 11 and 12, 2010 to launch the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), as envisaged in the Bologna Declaration of 1999. 2.    Based on our agreed criteria for country membership, we welcome Kazakhstan as new participating country of the European Higher Education Area. 3. The Bologna Declaration in 1999 set out a vision for 2010 of an internationally competitive…

  • Celebrating, protesting and reflecting about the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Bologna Process

    globalhighered
    10 Mar 2010 | 11:37 am
    Deliberations and background documentation are blossoming this week given that the Bologna Ministerial Anniversary Conference 2010 will be held 11-12 March in Budapest and Vienna, and the Second Global Bologna Policy Forum will be held on 12 March in Vienna. As most of our readers know, the Bologna Process was launched in 1999 with the objective of constructing the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) by 2010. For those of you interested in the nature of the transformation of the European higher education system over the last 10 years, link here to access a series of informative reports…

  • Europe 2020: what are the implications of Europe’s new economic strategy for global higher ed & research?

    globalhighered
    5 Mar 2010 | 12:08 am
    This week marks the launch of the EU’s EUROPE 2020: A European strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. As noted in EurActiv (‘Brussels unveils 2020 economic roadmap for Europe‘) on 3 March: The EU’s new strategy for sustainable growth and jobs, called ‘Europe 2020′, comes in the midst of the worst economic crisis in decades. The new strategy replaces the Lisbon Agenda, adopted in 2000, which largely failed to turn the EU into “the world’s most dynamic knowledge-based economy by 2010″. The new agenda puts innovation and green…

  • A Southeast Asian perspective on university development cooperation as a means to enrich academic quality

    globalhighered
    26 Feb 2010 | 12:30 pm
    Further to our recent entry ‘Euro-Asia university cooperation as a means to enrich academic quality‘, Prof. Dr. Supachai Yavaprabhas kindly alerted us to the existence of three insightful videos (see below) that address the issue of regionalism and higher education in Southeast Asia.  These videos were used as a resource for Prof. Dr. Yavaprabhas’ presentation at the same conference that Alistair MacDonald of the European Union Delegation Manila spoke at, and at the SEAMEO RIHED Council meeting in January 2010. SEAMEO RIHED is the acronym of the Regional Institute of Higher…

  • Tweeting about Phoenix’s Chicago, Chicago’s Phoenix, and other matters

    globalhighered
    21 Feb 2010 | 12:47 pm
    Over the last several months we’ve been experimenting with GlobalHigherEd’s Twitter service http://twitter.com/globalhighered.  Uncertainty at first has morphed into considerable happiness with the nature of this communications medium.  It is complimentary to the GlobalHigherEd weblog in that is serves as an archive of URLs (e.g., to key reports, news stories, etc.), and it reaches a very different different audience for the most part. It is also one of the least immersive of digital communications technologies which reduces hurdles to participating. In addition, there is a…
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    The Jose Vilson: The Blog

  • It’s What I Like About You (A Meme For Schools)

    Jose
    The Romantics In my personal journey for growth, I’ve found that the dearth of positivity amongst involved adults can turn any school, well-meaning or otherwise, into a dumping ground of negative soot. In such an environment, it only makes sense that kids suffer. While I don’t participate in too much negative banter nor do I like simply listing problems that exist if not accompanied by some form of solution, I find it’s the responsibility of all adult parties involved to make sure that the soot stays out of the walls of their buildings. Here are some #eduthingsIlike I like:…

  • Excellence Is My Presence, Never Tense, Never Hesitant

    Jose
    Notorious BIG, Biggie, 1994 As we commemorate the passing of Christopher “Biggie” Wallace 13 years ago, we must also remember a big reason we consider him one of the greatest rappers of all time: his delivery. It wasn’t so much the diversity of flows and rhythms within rhymes and from song to song; it was the crisp and commanding delivery of each line. Like a Black Russian, his songs were at once smooth and potent, sweet and demanding. Along with the actual lyrics and subject matter, his rather introspective lyrics spoke to the pathos of the ghetto and the mentality of newly…

  • No More Heroes

    Jose
    Superman Dies Last week, the whole world found out that Guru a.k.a. Keith Elam of the world-renown hip-hop duo Gang Starr had (ostensibly) died of a recent heart attack he suffered the day before. Entertainment bloggers reported it. Wikipedia reported it. Celebrities who are usually in the know said it. Then, I typed up a dedication to the man, thinking these three had become relatively credible sources. Ten minutes later, the news of his demise was squashed. I was crushed. Hurt. Distraught. A bit angry, especially after my apology and subsequent redaction. Then, happy the man was still…

  • Short Notes: 14 Things I Learned from #TEDxNYED 2010

    Jose
    TEDxNYED, Apples This past Saturday, I had the fortune of attending the TEDxNYED conference, an independently run conference based on the TED conferences where they speak on an idea for a good 18-20 minutes about whatever topic they like. While some critics have come out in full force against the latest TED conference, wondering whether these events actually promote ideas for others or if they’re invite-only silos for information, people like me enjoyed the conference for simple reasons: We never met any of these people before. We actually understood the idea of this event. I’ve…

  • The Question Is: Are You Part of the Conspiracy?

    Jose
    Pedro Noguera Reading through the plethora of feedback given not only to this blog, but the rest of the blogs out there, I noticed a big part of the Teach for America event missing in all of our posts. For the purposes of this post, I’m glad we did since I’ve mulled it over so many times, it’s made me stop dead in my tracks twice since Wednesday. Dr. Pedro Noguera made good mention of the schools-to-prisons funnel system, highlighting how so many schools are structured like prisons and how people have looked at 3rd – 4th grade test scores to determine the need for more…
 
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    Teachers Teaching Teachers

  • Katherine Schulten and the Learning Network AND “…making the case for the NWP - TTT191 - 03.10.10

    Paul Allison
    11 Mar 2010 | 7:28 pm
    Download Katherine Schulten and the Learning Network AND "...making the case for the NWP - TTT191 - 03.10.10 ACTION ALERT! (To learn more, please listen to this week’s podcast.) Those of us who are members of local Witing Projects are asking for your help to keep federal funds for the National Writing Project. Organizers have 26 signatures [...]

  • Reading and Writing in Kentuckiana: Paul Hankins and student talk about their Ning - TTT 189 - 02.24.10

    Paul Allison
    7 Mar 2010 | 1:27 pm
    Download Reading and Writing in Kentuckiana: Paul Hankins and student talk about their Ning - TTT 189 - 02.24.10On this episode of Teachers Teaching Teachers, you will learn more about RAW INcK: Reading and Writing in Kentuckiana. Our guests were one sites student managers, Tyler, along with their teacher, Paul W. Hankins, an English [...]

  • Texas in the house with Liz Stephens and Kerry Ballast on doing digital make-overs - TTT186 -02.10.10

    Paul Allison
    28 Feb 2010 | 3:11 pm
    Download Texas in the house with Liz Stephens and Kerry Ballast on doing digital make-overs - TTT186 -02.10.10This podcast is another in a series of Teachers Teaching Teachers shows to feature the authors of a recent outcrop of books on new media and literacy (Copyright Clarity: 184, 135, The Digital Writing Workshop: 172, 171, [...]

  • A snow day in NYC gives us a chance to do some collaborative planning - TTT188 - 02.26.10

    Paul Allison
    26 Feb 2010 | 7:19 pm
    Download A snow day in NYC gives us a chance to do some collaborative planning - TTT188 - 02.26.10Because of a rare snow day in New York City, four NYC Writing Project teachers used some of our “found time” to do some impromptu thinking together. Our students are using Youth Voices, and recently we agreed [...]

  • Did Educon 2.2 Make Us Smarter? - TTT 185 - 02.03.10

    Paul Allison
    20 Feb 2010 | 1:22 pm
    Download Did Educon 2.2 Make Us Smarter? - TTT 185 - 02.03.10On this podcast a few of us who attended Educon 2.2 reflect on our learning there. Appropriately enough, we were guided in this reflective conversation by: Hannah, a student from The Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia her history teacher Diana Laufenberg their Principal, Chris Lehmann On this podcast [...]
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    So You Want To Teach?

  • Cut the Cord

    Joel
    27 Feb 2010 | 8:18 pm
    For the first time since started my blog three years ago, I am going to be taking a break for at least a month. No writing, no checking stats, no emails, no nothing. In fact, I’m pulling the plug on my cable modem as soon as I finish writing this. This is not just a blog issue, but I am going to be away from Facebook almost entirely for a month. In fact, I deleted Facebook from my phone a couple of weeks ago and noticed a substantial improvement to my productivity at work. My free time isn’t spent checking to see who else is slacking off at work, but rather in avoiding the…

  • 7 Ways To Impress Your College Professor

    Joel
    21 Feb 2010 | 12:31 pm
    This is a guest post by Liz Cutten, who helps run FindCollegeCards, a college student blog that helps students learn about everything college. All college professors are different, but what you’re going to find out is that all of them are human, and many of them are going to be impressed by the same things. I went to college over 6 years, and what I had found out is that most professors will honestly look at the good students in a different way, compared to those that are bad. Now, I know when you read the title, you’re probably thinking, “I don’t want to be suck up!”, and that’s…

  • Trials Turn To Gold

    Joel
    18 Feb 2010 | 8:22 pm
    Are you at the bottom of a pit? Maybe you’re in a place you never thought you would be. Or you never thought you’d be there again. I can’t count the number of times I’ve fallen into a bad habit in teaching. I allow myself to get bogged down with paperwork instead of taking care of it right away. Students ask me questions at the beginning of class and I forget the six magic words that liberate me: “I’m not answering questions right now.” Oh, you’ve done it too… Positive changes come and go like the wind most of the time. How do we stick it…

  • Seven Deadly Sins of Veteran Teachers

    Joel
    10 Feb 2010 | 9:49 pm
    So here’s the situation: You’ve been teaching for quite a while. You’ve pretty much gotten a handle on classroom management, paperwork, classroom rules, and any number of the other day-to-day tasks we encounter. But how many of these teaching vices do you struggle with? I know I’m not guiltless in these areas. In fact, I’ve had run-ins with most of these. Not all of them, of course. Luxuria (extravagance or lust) While most people think of lust in a sexual kind of way, in the original context, it essentially meant excessive love of others. Even so, some teachers…

  • Three Years of So You Want To Teach?

    Joel
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:20 pm
    I am leaving tomorrow after school to go to the annual Texas Music Educators Association clinic/convention in San Antonio. I’m not taking my laptop with me and won’t be accessing a computer besides my iPhone, so I will be away from blogging for the rest of the week. I don’t want to spend a long time here, but I thought I would note that Thursday marks the third anniversary of So You Want To Teach? This has been a fun project. I’ve learned a whole lot about web development, myself, teaching, and the art of blogging through the building and maintaining of this site. It…
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    The Reading Workshop

  • Prom Crashers Book Talk

    12 Mar 2010 | 6:17 am
    Hadley shares the "realistic" fiction book that focuses on relationships, Prom Crashers, written by Erin Downing.  To see all of the book talk videos, you can visit The Reading Workshop Book Talk Wiki page.

  • A Smile Spreader

    10 Mar 2010 | 12:00 pm
    Each morning Madison walks into the room, passing out smiles and hellos to everyone in her path.  She greets each student like a long lost friend, and lets them know she is glad to see them.  There are no rainy days in her world, and she wants every person she sees to join her in the sunshine.This upbeat attitude has infected the whole class.  You cannot be around her without giving some of the smile back.  The next thing you know, even if  you are real careful, and try to prevent it, you give a smile to someone else, and on and on.  It's almost ridiculous how…

  • Spy X, The Code Book Talk

    10 Mar 2010 | 7:10 am
    This book talk by Micah features book one in an adventure series.  Find out about Spy X, The Code by Peter Lerangis.  To see all of the book talk videos, you can visit The Reading Workshop Book Talk Wiki page.Thanks for sharing an exciting series of books, Micah!

  • What Words Students Don't Know--Achievement Vocabulary

    9 Mar 2010 | 11:47 am
    Students frequently miss questions during an assessment simply because they don't understand the question.  Use of unusual or uncommon words is a common practice on the Ohio Achievement Assessment.  In addition, simple requests are often worded in a way that create confusion for the test takers.To overcome this barrier, students went through the OAA 2006 test booklet that they just used as a practice test and highlighted all of the words in the questions that they didn't understand.  Once we compile this list, I will compare it to the vocabulary list from The Reading Workshop…

  • Students' View on Achievement Test Practice

    9 Mar 2010 | 9:06 am
    Students took the 2006 edition of the Ohio Achievement Assessment.  This serves several purposed including a practice run-through, data regarding students' ability, projection data, areas of strengths and weaknesses, and specific needs prior to the actual test in April.Here are a few of the students' thoughts, ideas, and opinions shared from a discussion after the test.Cody--It is confusing.  Some of the questions are confusing because I wasn't sure what they were asking.Joanna--I didn't like how a lot of the stories were nonfiction because they were harder to understand.Karly--I…
 
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    Technology Education Know-How

  • 137 Years of Popular Science Magazine is Archived with Google

    greg@techedknow.com (techedknow.com)
    9 Mar 2010 | 7:43 am
    Popular Science Magazine has partnered with Google to host 137 years of POPSCI archives.   http://www.popsci.com/archives Popular Science magazine could be and is a great resource for research projects in education. As a student in the late ‘70s and throughout the ‘80s education wasn’t very individualized. I was often forced to read and study the same exact thing as everyone else.  Well… this just didn’t work for me.  I had no interest in whether or not PUG could run, jump or chase Jane or Ted.  But yes, at an early age I had an interest in technology, science, but mostly how…

  • Geocaching for the Classroom

    greg@techedknow.com (techedknow.com)
    28 Sep 2009 | 12:10 pm
    Over the past few weeks I’ve become acquainted and interested in Geocaching.  As always, I’m looking for ways to use Technology, Life Experience and Fun in the classroom.  The more I get involved with Geocaching I see tons of ways it can be used in Math, LA/Writing, Social Studies, Science. This weekend for me was one of PE (Physical Education).  WOW, my legs hurt from the climbing!  I would like us to take a look a few of the ways that Geocaching can be used in each of these subject areas. Math – With Geocaching students will be using GPS waypoints to find locations. Students can…

  • Taking the Summer off from Blogging

    greg@techedknow.com (techedknow.com)
    10 Jun 2009 | 9:07 am
    This summer I’m going to concentrate on family, so I’ll be taking the summer off from blogging. I’ll pick it back up when school starts in Aug. I hope to see you back here then! In the meantime feel free to check out the past posts. I’m sure you’ll find some helpful ideas. Check ya later gaiter!

  • Tying in Current Events, Week of 5/7/09

    greg@techedknow.com (techedknow.com)
    8 May 2009 | 8:00 am
    The Swine Flu or N1H1 virus has been the biggest news outside of our Presidential Election. There is no doubt that our students have heard about it from the news, friends, parents, or even their teachers. Every kid gets excited about the idea of getting out of school, but do they know the ramifications behind it? – make up days, learning, food purchased for lunches, economy This is the perfect way to tie in Calendar, money and other math concepts depending on your grade level. This is obviously a prime opportunity to tie in health content as well. 4th and 5th grade need good hygiene…

  • Online Tools for Poetry in the Classroom

    greg@techedknow.com (techedknow.com)
    7 May 2009 | 10:04 am
    A few weeks back I twittered out to my PLN to get ideas for online resources that 4th grade could use in their poetry lessons. I wanted to share some of those ideas I got back with you. 1. http://www.Piclits.com I tested this site out and had lots of fun with it. You can pick a background that goes with your poem and thin type your poem out on it. Or, you can accept the challenge to select a background and use a limited word bank to write a creative poem. I did both and it was a challenge but a good experience. I signed up for an account so I could imbed the picture and poem into my wiki page…
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    apophenia

  • Empowering Parents & Protecting Children in an Evolving Media Landscape

    zephoria
    24 Feb 2010 | 2:39 pm
    The FCC published a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) on the important topic of empowering parents and protecting youth in an era of an evolving media landscape.  John Palfrey, Urs Gasser, and I took the opportunity to respond to the NOI on behalf of the Youth and Media Policy Working Group Initiative at the Berkman Center. What we wrote should not surprise any of you who are following our work, but our research-grounded response may be of great value for those of you who are interested in this topic.  For this reason – and because we all believe in transparency – we have decided to…

  • ChatRoulette, from my perspective

    zephoria
    21 Feb 2010 | 6:48 pm
    I’ve been following ChatRoulette for a while now but haven’t been comfortable talking about it publicly. For one, it’s a hugely controversial site, one that is prompting yet-another moral panic about youth engagement online. And I hate having the role of respondent to public uproar. (I know I know…) More importantly though, I find it difficult to respond to the fears because I find it endearing. ChatRoulette reminds me a lot of the quirkiness of the Internet that I grew up with. Like when I was a teen trolling through chatrooms, ChatRoulette is filled with all sorts of…

  • ChatRoulette by Sarita Yardi

    zephoria
    21 Feb 2010 | 6:38 pm
    Sarita Yardi has been doing a lot of thinking about ChatRoulette these days and I wanted to share a short essay she wrote to explain ChatRoulette to the uninitiated. I think that this is a fantastic introduction for those who aren’t familiar with the site. (And I’ll follow up with my own thoughts in the next post BY SARITA YARDI ChatRoulette is a new website that connects you face to face with Internet users around the world. When you go to the site and hit Play your webcam turns on and you’re connected to another person. Most times you’ll hit Next within a few seconds…

  • Upcoming Mary Gray talk on on “Out in the Country: Youth, Media & Queer Visibility in Rural America”

    zephoria
    28 Jan 2010 | 12:06 pm
    It used to be the case that all of the queer youth living in rural America ran away to the city to find others like them. The Internet has dramatically changed this. More and more, rural queer youth are building out networks of other queer rural youth, helping generate a rural queer identity. Think about what this means for the health and safety of queer youth. Think about what this means for the future of tolerance. It is with great pleasure that I will be hosting Mary Gray at Microsoft Research on February 10 to discuss her latest book: “Out in the Country: Youth, Media, and Queer…

  • Public by Default, Private when Necessary

    zephoria
    25 Jan 2010 | 6:48 am
    This post was originally written for the DML Central Blog. If you’re interested in Digital Media and Learning, you definitely want to check this blog out. With Facebook systematically dismantling its revered privacy infrastructure, I think it’s important to drill down on the issue of privacy as it relates to teens. There’s an assumption that teens don’t care about privacy but this is completely inaccurate. Teens care deeply about privacy, but their conceptualization of what this means may not make sense in a setting where privacy settings are a binary. What teens care…
 
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    Flux

  • “Pupils not heard in BSF process “ Futurelab survey says.

    Bob Harrison
    7 Mar 2010 | 7:20 am
    Pupils are not being engaged or listened to in the planning for schools for the future according to the draft results of a survey published by Futurelab. Dr Tim Rudd, Senior Researcher at Futurelab, who managed the research, says: “Although this was not a statistically representative sample the results suggest there is an appetite from pupils to be involved and engaged with the planning of future learning environments but the children are not as engaged as the want to be” Tim Rudd shares the findings of the research into pupils views of BSF process The sample of over 3000 Key stage 3/4…

  • Future Schools-Why wait for BSF?

    Bob Harrison
    2 Mar 2010 | 1:33 pm
    “What can schools do now?” was the question posed by Specialist Schools and Academies Trust programme leader Paul Hynes at the event held in Millbank this week. The timing of the event was unnervingly apposite given the current “political football” status of the BSF programme in the build up to a general election. Will BSF survive? Although the current BSF programme has a treasury commitment until 2011 and a political commitment from Labour into a next parliament if they are re-elected the Conservative position is less clear. Shadow Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, raised anxiety levels…

  • Whole Education

    Whole Education
    23 Feb 2010 | 8:00 am
    For the first time, a group of leading non-political organisations in education are coming together to share and promote a set of common beliefs and practices. The purpose of Whole Education is to accelerate the transformation in education already occurring across the country to ensure that every young person has access to an education that will equip them with the skills and knowledge to succeed in life and to contribute positively to the creation of a good society. The active partners behind Whole Education so far include Paul Hamlyn Foundation, RSA, Edge, Innovation Unit, Calouste…

  • From conference, to unconference, to conflab

    Dan Sutch
    12 Feb 2010 | 5:44 am
    If you could create the most exciting, inspiring and useful education conference, what would it involve? Who would be there and what would it be about? This year’s Futurelab conference – planned for late Autumn 2010 – will allow you to create just that, your ideal conference.  It’s a new approach – called conflab – to createthe most useful and inspirational events by marrying your interests and needs, with Futurelab’s ability to attract leading speakers and thinkers from around the world. This new approach puts the audience in control of the programme but also takes…

  • Student survey

    Sarah Grier
    11 Feb 2010 | 4:32 am
    Futurelab is seeking KS3 and KS4 pupils to complete a short online questionnaire that explores their perceptions about learning spaces, education and new technologies in the future. It also seeks their views about participation and involvement in school related activities. The survey aims to capture pupil’s perceptions and disseminate the results to policy makers and practitioners in order to highlight young people’s perceptions about these important issues. The results will form the basis of further and more detailed research in this area. We are therefore seeking your help and support…
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    Stephen's Web ~ OLDaily

  • Mistakes I have made building web applications

    11 Mar 2010 | 9:36 am
    As son as I saw the first web application building 'mistake' I knew I should link to this post. The mistake? "Not thinking about character encoding right from the start." All I can say is, ack! ack! ack! (I hate character encoding issues). Another good one is number 10: "Underestimating the problem of spam." Juliette Culver, Weblog, March 11, 2010 [Tags: Spam] [Link] [Comment]

  • Moodle: Frankenstein or Franken-steen?

    11 Mar 2010 | 8:58 am
    Antonio (no last name on this blog) offers a responds and reframing of recent criticisms of Moodle. He's concerned abut the critics implicitly helping competitors, like Blackboard. And the criticisms, he says, miss the point. "It's not Moodle which cost 6 million British Pounds. Moodle was free, had they deemed to stick just with it. Then, I have no clear info that the OU has repented its decision." Antonio, Skate of the Web, March 11, 2010 [Tags: Great Britain, Blackboard Inc., Web Logs] [Link] [Comment]

  • Creative Commons licenses on Flickr: many more images, slightly more freedom

    11 Mar 2010 | 6:55 am
    Keeping you up to date: there are now 135 million Creative Commons licensed images in Flickr. Of these, the large majority (73 percent) have a Creative Commons 'non-commercial' license (CC-NC). Interestingly, there's a clear bias in this post for non-CC-NC licenses - a so-called "freedom score" increases the fgewer CC-NC licenses there are. I'll say it again: a resource is MORE FREE if it is NOT sold commercially, because the owners of these resources won't let you have them unless you pay them money. It is an Orwellian turn of phrase that allows you to portray as "more free" resources that…

  • Microsoft issues vouchers for online training

    11 Mar 2010 | 2:04 am
    One would think that organizations and companies that support vouchers would use them themselves, instead of relying, as they all do, on directed or in-house training. Until now, looking for a company that actually did this would be futile. But according to this article, Microsoft is offering free online learning to customers in the form of vouchers. This program, offering 18,500 vouchers, is a very small-scale experiment in the system. But it will be interesting to see how the pilot works. If so, it could then be scaled to serve the corporate community generally. It would be good to have a…

  • Self Education: Five Essential Sites

    10 Mar 2010 | 7:22 am
    Can people educate themselves? The jury's still out, I think, on this. But these five autodidact sites suggest that, maybe, they can. Jeff Cobb, Mission to Learn, March 10, 2010 [Tags: none] [Link] [Comment]
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    The Power of Educational Technology

  • Foursquare & Buzz: Building Community or Too Close for Comfort?

    Liz Davis
    13 Feb 2010 | 12:32 pm
    I recently started playing with two newish social media applications, Foursquare and Google Buzz. Foursquare is an iphone app where you "check in" to different places when you visit them. If you are the first to check in, or you check in the greatest number of times, you can become the mayor of that location.The mayor of my local Starbucks is @KevinPalmer a social media blogger who I follow on Twitter. He lives just a few blocks away from me. I DM'd him and suggested we meet for coffee (at his Starbucks of course).Google Buzz is a new Twitter like service that is integrated into Gmail. The…

  • Anticipating Educon

    Liz Davis
    21 Jan 2010 | 1:10 pm
    The Educon 2.2 conference is only 6 days away. Educon is one of my favorite conferences of the year. It brings together the top thinkers in education and provides an environment perfect for learning from others. This will be my third Educon and knowing how fast it goes by, I'm trying to savor every minute that leads up to it.Lisa Thumann is my conference buddy. We met three years ago at Educon and hit it off immediately. We both have two kids at home, so a trip away is both exciting and difficult for both of us. We try to make the most of our freedom, but feel the pull of home in the…

  • 10 Tips for Beginning Bloggers

    Liz Davis
    9 Jan 2010 | 4:25 pm
    My brother has recently started blogging and asked me for some tips. I thought I would share them here. I started blogging in 2006 and it has been some of the best professional development for me that I have ever done. Blogging forces me to think, reflect and write about my experiences. Blogging helps me retain my learning and connects me to others who help and support me in my endeavors. If you don't yet have a blog, I recommend giving it a try. You don't have to blog every day or every week. Just establish a place Online to share your thoughts. If you give it a chance, I think you will find…

  • Digital Journalism Syllabus 2010

    Liz Davis
    30 Dec 2009 | 8:21 pm
    Second semester I will be teaching a new high school course for the first time titled "Digital Journalism." It is an English elective for juniors and seniors inspired by and based on Howard Rheingold's Stanford course of the same title.I have been working on my syllabus for a while and have just completed a draft of my syllabus for the first quarter. It is a work in progress and definitely will change once the course starts.I would welcome and encourage your suggestions, questions and ideas! (In particular I am looking for two more short videos for the end of the quarter.)Thanks in advance!

  • Facing my Fears in 2009!

    Liz Davis
    21 Dec 2009 | 9:12 am
    First of all, thanks to everyone who voted for me in the Edublog Awards. I didn't win, but a lot of really great bloggers did. You can see all the winners here.On Friday last week I got up in front of my entire school community, 440 teen age boys and about 60 teachers, and sang a song. It was part of a Faculty Holiday concert that we do every year. I have never sung a solo in front of a large audience. The first time I did Karaoke was this summer on vacation and there were only about 50 people there. That was a huge accomplishment for me and this Friday was even bigger.I am a performer, I…
 
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    eduStyle Blog

  • EDU Checkup: Saint Michael’s College, University of Notre Dame, Northwestern College

    Nick DeNardis
    7 Mar 2010 | 2:37 pm
    What a great week, the first site Saint Michael’s College really felt dated. The site was designed for an 800px wide screen which makes it feel constricted. There is some movement on the homepage right as the page loads which is really distracting. The second site University of Notre Dame – College of Arts and Letters really hit it out of the park, almost a perfect score. The design was straight forward, everything had it’s place and is easy to scan. They were the first site I have seen that included an iPhone/iPod icon in addition to a mobile style sheet dedicated to a…

  • EDU Checkup: Southwest Minnesota State, Saginaw Valley State, Carl Sandburg College

    Nick DeNardis
    14 Feb 2010 | 12:25 pm
    This week’s sites were all rated high overall. The first, Southwest Minnesota State University noteworthy this month did really well. The use of color, spacing focusing on the calls to action really drive the success of this site. The second, Saginaw Valley State University got right to the point, they remove all the unnecessary links on their homepage to focus on their primary audience. They do a great job pulling in photos of students, smiling faces and different colors. The path to information was quick and painless. Lastly, Carl Sandburg College did something I have never seen…

  • EDU Checkup: LaGuardia Community College, Scripps College, Monash University

    Nick DeNardis
    6 Feb 2010 | 9:29 am
    It was a week of firsts. LaGuardia Community College had by far the brightest colors I have seen on an institution’s Web site. The site looked like a teacher’s store, especially with the apple in the top right corner. Beyond the graphics the larger problem was finding program information, it was mildly difficult, but just a few tweaks can make a world of difference. And not to mention there was no consistency of voice on the menu items. The code of the site was at the same level as the visuals and information, it didn’t fail completely but didn’t knock it out of…

  • EDU Checkup: Royal Roads University, Freed-Hardeman University, Lutheran Theological Seminary

    Nick DeNardis
    30 Jan 2010 | 1:45 pm
    Three sites this week, starting out pretty good was Royal Roads University. The site had an amazing use of white space and positioning. Everything had it’s place and it was easy to scan. But diving deeper the right and left columns stay static no matter which page you are on. This is great to get information on each page but takes precious real estate away from related information. Free-Hardeman University almost hit it out of the park. The visuals and use of photography was awesome but they had a bit of an issue with lack of information for each major. Getting to each major was…

  • EDU Checkup: Deeside College, Carnegie Mellon University

    Nick DeNardis
    23 Jan 2010 | 6:49 am
    Both sites this week did a great job! Their scores would have been higher but the code category pulled them down. The first, Deeside College had by far the most calls to action I have seen on a college site. Every page had at least one or two buttons for next steps and multiple options for a student to get a hold of an actual person. Phone, Email, Text and even live chat. The visuals and colors were vibrant and exciting. The site would have totally got an A if the code was more optimized. Something very simple but can potentially make the world of different for users. The second site,…
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    The Hall Monitor

  • Sleepy Hollow students picked for art show

    Noreen O'Donnell
    11 Mar 2010 | 12:11 pm
    Deanna Melillo, Kelly Pereira and Marta Baran have been selected to represent Sleepy Hollow High School in The Rye Arts Center’s annual exhibition, Student Studio: Emerging High School Talent. Their artwork will be on display in The Rye Arts Center’s gallery, along with pieces from other talented high school art students from Westchester and Lower Fairfield [...]

  • Iona appoints new president

    Noreen O'Donnell
    11 Mar 2010 | 12:04 pm
    Iona Preparatory School announced the appointment of Brother Thomas R. Leto of the Congregation of Christian Brothers as its new president effective July 1. He will succeed the interim president Brother James A. Liguori, CFC. The news was announced to the school’s faculty and staff at the beginning of the month. “We are thrilled to have Brother Leto [...]

  • A morning with the National Wildlife Federation

    Noreen O'Donnell
    11 Mar 2010 | 10:56 am
    A Morning with the National Wildlife Federation will take place at Westchester Community College’s Native Plant Center on April 10. The Saturday event is scheduled from 10 a.m. until to 1 p.m. and will promote the federation’s mission of inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future. Naturalist David Mizejewski, a federation spokesman, will present [...]

  • Legislators call for repeal of Wicks Law

    Noreen O'Donnell
    11 Mar 2010 | 10:44 am
    Assemblywomen Amy Paulin and Sandra Galef will join members from the the Westchester Putnam School Board Association and local school board members tomorrow morning to call for the repeal of the Wicks Law—a nearly 90-year-old law requiring public construction projects to issue not just one, but four or more contracts to separate contractors for plumbing, [...]

  • Turning colleges green

    Noreen O'Donnell
    10 Mar 2010 | 12:38 pm
    The Environmental Consortium of Hudson Valley Colleges and Universities meets tomorrow to hear from Louis Vetrone, deputy commissioner of Westchester County’s Department of Environmental Facilities. Vetrone will speak about “Recycling Old Myths: What You Need to Know about Recycling and Waste Management in Westchester.” The meeting begins at noon with check-in and a light lunch. Vetrone speaks [...]
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    Clear Admit: MBA Admissions Consultants Blog

  • Fridays From the Frontline

    Clear Admit
    12 Mar 2010 | 12:00 am
    Welcome to the freshest Fridays From the Frontlines! Each week the Clear Admit team takes a ’spin’ around the MBA blogosphere, searching out the newest perspectives and stories. This week, applicants had a few final words about their round two results, and current students shared all sorts of stories and information with their readers. Nistha expressed an appreciation for a few strong women. Rocky felt that he had three ’strikes’ during his Anderson interview. Dream Chaser reviewed his experience at his Day at Kellogg weekend, and went into detail about his fellow…

  • Twitter Thursdays: News from MBA Programs

    Clear Admit
    11 Mar 2010 | 12:41 pm
    Welcome to another installment of Twitter Thursdays, a weekly column in which we highlight the updates of the top MBA programs on Twitter!  If you’re not following Clear Admit already, be sure to check us out on Twitter for updates, special prizes, admissions tips and breaking news.   We’ve also created a list of MBA programs to ease your daily access to breaking news from the top MBA programs, as reported by admissions committee members themselves. Though applicants are eager for news, The Assistant Dean of UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions & Financial Aid, Mae Jennifer Shores, noted…

  • More Europeans Taking GMAT, Having Scores Sent to European Business Schools

    Clear Admit
    11 Mar 2010 | 10:00 am
    The number of European citizens taking the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) rising rapidly and a growing number of these test takers are having their scores sent to management education programs in Europe, according to recent research from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which owns the GMAT. According to GMAC, increased test taking activity in Europe is part of surge in interest in MBA and other graduate management education programs worldwide. During the 2009 testing year, which runs from July 1st to June 30th, global GMAT testing volume reached an all-time high…

  • Campus Chronicles: Cornell Business

    Clear Admit
    11 Mar 2010 | 12:00 am
    Welcome back to Campus Chronicles!  This week we’ll take a look at Cornell Johnson’s student newspaper, the Cornell Business, to see what’s been going on for b-school students at the Johnson campus. Sixteen Johnson students recently returned from the 2009-2010 India Trek, in which they were tasked with completing a consulting project alongside local MBA students from Somaiya’s Institute of Management Studies and Research in Mumbai.  Students divided into groups and worked on different projects, including consulting with a bio-diesel company, a university on its strategic plan, and…

  • GMAT Tip: The Importance of Prime Factorization on the GMAT

    Clear Admit
    10 Mar 2010 | 5:00 pm
    Today’s GMAT tip comes from our friends at test prep firm Knewton. Today, they offer some advice on prime factorization: Rich Zwelling is a stellar teacher in Knewton’s GMAT course. And it’s true: He really does love prime factorization. Prime Factorization:  My single favorite topic on the GMAT.  No contest. My passionate (some would say evangelical!) advocacy of prime factorization results not only from my finding prime numbers so inherently fascinating in and of themselves, but also from the plain and simple truth that prime factorization proves surprisingly useful on questions…
 
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    Moving at the Speed of Creativity

  • Oklahoma City Podcasting Club – March 2010 Meeting Notes

    Wesley Fryer
    10 Mar 2010 | 6:12 pm
    These are my notes from the March 10, 2010 Oklahoma City Podcasting Club meeting, led by Chad Henderson. Chad's podcast is Elmocast. The OKC Podcasting Club started in January 2010, tonight is the third meeting. It meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm at the The Oklahoma City Coworking Collaborative (OKCCoCo.) Check the OKC CoCo Google calendar for other OKC area tech/geek clubs and meetings. MY THOUGHTS ARE IN ALL CAPS. The website for our podcasting club (note I'm just attending for the first time and I'm already calling this "our") is www.okcpodcasting.com. Everyone at our…

  • A professor who takes laptop banning too far

    Wesley Fryer
    10 Mar 2010 | 3:34 pm
    Are students in your school allowed to bring their own laptops? Some teachers not only oppose the idea of students working on laptops, they also stage dramatic in-class performances to intimidate students (even at college) from bringing their laptops to class. Hat tip to Berlin Fang for sharing this video. Berlin gave a great presentation yesterday at the Heartland eLearning Conference here in Oklahoma, on the mobile learning and technology integration work of faculty, staff and students at Oklahoma Christian University. My notes from his session with Luke Hartman are available. I'd like to…

  • The Race to Nowhere – A New Educational Documentary

    Wesley Fryer
    10 Mar 2010 | 2:56 pm
    Thanks to Matt Montagne, I learned about the recently released documentary film, "The Race to Nowhere, The Darkside of America's Achievement Culture." This three minute trailer on YouTube gives an overview of the film's primary themes. We need to stop pressuring our kids to achieve at everything simultaneously, focus on students as individuals with unique needs as well as skills, and make drastic changes in the ridiculous amounts of homework assigned to children in our schools-- especially at the elementary level where research fails to show a correlation to increased student achievement.

  • Imagineering iPad Educational Apps

    Wesley Fryer
    10 Mar 2010 | 6:14 am
    The folks at Penguin books have been doing some imagineering, inspired by the soon-to-be released iPad: The imminent launch of the iPad has galvanized our children's publishing teams to think about how the work they publish can be reinvented for devices where touch and sound and movement can enhance stories and provide a rich engaging experience for children raised as digital natives. The video below doesn't show real working applications, or even prototypes - more they are imaginings of the things we think we might be able to do and perhaps will be doing. Look out for them in an app store…

  • PSAs to stop texting and driving

    Wesley Fryer
    9 Mar 2010 | 7:26 pm
    Texting and driving is a big problem with teens as well as adults. According to PEW's November 2009 report, "Teens and Distracted Driving:" One in three (34%) texting teens ages 16-17 say they have texted while driving. That translates into 26% of all American teens ages 16-17. 48% of all teens ages 12-17 say they have been in a car when the driver was texting. 40% say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put themselves or others in danger. These statistics should get our attention, but in many cases they don't. Different organizations are attempting to…
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    The Thinking Stick

  • The Next Phase of Technology at ISB

    Jeff Utecht
    4 Mar 2010 | 5:47 am
    ISB 1:1 Timeline Last week our IT Director, Chad Bates, gave a presentation to the ISB School Board outlining the next phase of technology use at ISB. The phase includes a plan to go 1:1 starting next year with grade 6 students. It’s an exciting time to be at ISB and I for one am looking forward to rolling out the 1:1 program over the next couple years. As part of his presentation Chad went over the history of technology implementation at ISB over the past 10 years. As I sat there reflecting on how far we’ve come with technology in just the past 10 years, it amazed me how fast…

  • Facebook, Privacy, and Cyber bullying

    Jeff Utecht
    20 Feb 2010 | 4:04 am
    Just returning from a full day of thinking and teaching starting with Saturday school and talking to some students who got in trouble for cyber bullying on Facebook. I love getting the opportunity to talk to students about their social world and continue to find it fascinating on their views of what they consider “their world”. My wife, being the school counselor, had the job of teaching Saturday school today and together we came up with a plan that we hoped was A) Educational B) Not so fun….after all this is Saturday school. I only had the opportunity to spend an hour with…

  • My Google Chrome Extensions

    Jeff Utecht
    18 Feb 2010 | 6:54 am
    Last week Google Chrome updated itself on my MacBook and now allows Chrome extensions. I’ve almost completely moved over to Chrome as the speed of the browser just blows both Firefox and Safari away in my experience…and the way it handles gmail, gdocs, gwave, and the rest of G is just smooth. What’s been holding me back from making the full switch were the Firefox extensions that I have come to rely on. But now that I have most of them, I use Chrome 90% of the time. Extensions slow a browser down as it’s extra code that needs to be loaded, extra things sometimes…

  • Bring Buzz to Edu Apps

    Jeff Utecht
    17 Feb 2010 | 6:10 am
    Google Buzz has been out for a while now and has been slowly making its mark on the social-networking scene. As I’ve been investigating Buzz (a.k.a. playing with it…but investigating sounds so much more important!) and how it changes social-networking, it hit me the other day how this might just be the communication tool I’ve been looking for in schools ever sense Twitter came out. I’m hoping that Google brings Buzz to the Education Apps soon. There are a lot of schools (including mine) that are embracing Google Apps and taking a serious look at using the set of tools…

  • Proper typing out, thumb typing in

    Jeff Utecht
    12 Feb 2010 | 3:54 am
    Flickr ID: ArabCrunch Just as I’m having conversations again around why we should or shouldn’t teach typing in our schools technology has once again moved us into another typing realm. The thumb typing. I’ve watched more videos than I care to count about the iPad (my thoughts here) and in a recent survey to our students here at ISB revealed that almost 70% of middle school and high school students have either a Blackberry or iPhone. Second hand iPhones are being sold on the cheap at the moment at our school, as high school students trade them in for Blackberries and the…
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    Alfred Thompson

  • Turning on a Paradigm

    Alfred Thompson
    10 Mar 2010 | 8:34 pm
    I’m in Milwaukee for SIGCSE this week. I love this conference most for the informal conversations that take place. having been coming to SIGCSE for at least 10 years now I have a lot of friends who I often see only once a year at this conference. We talk a lot of small talk of course but as you might expect when you get a bunch of computer science researchers, faculty and industry people the talk gets to computer science pretty quickly and pretty often. A lot of it may not sound all that exciting to outsiders but for those of us really interested in computer science and especially computer…

  • Arrays of Controls

    Alfred Thompson
    9 Mar 2010 | 6:11 am
    Over the weekend for the second time in about three weeks a teacher asked my about creating arrays of controls in Visual basic .NET. Interestingly enough both teachers were interested in doing this to create a Jeopardy style game program.  And why not? Clearly an array is the way to go. Now in Visual Basic 6.0 and earlier this was ridiculously easy to set up. In fact as a teacher teaching VB 6 I had  students creating control arrays accidently at all the wrong times. With the advent of the .NET platform and the changes that went into making Visual Basic .NET a real honest to…

  • Interesting Links 8 March 2010

    Alfred Thompson
    8 Mar 2010 | 8:09 am
    Well last week was another interesting week for me. I finished it off with a short trip to Houston TX for the annual HP Code Wars high school programming competition. The people at HP did an amazing job hosting some 600 student competitors on a Saturday morning.  You have to hand it to the teachers and other chaperones who got the students there. Some of them drove van loads of kids to Houston from all over Texas the day before. It was a great time though and I am glad I had the chance to be there and too talk to so many great teachers. During the course of the week I collected and…

  • 10 things likely to be overheard from a Klingon Programmer

    Alfred Thompson
    5 Mar 2010 | 3:20 am
    I have no idea where this came from originally but it showed up on the AP CS mailing list this week. On one level it is very funny especially if you know the Star Trek universe and the nature of Klingons. But on a deeper level I think it is an opening for discussion. Why are these things funny? Is it because they are a ridiculous way to do software development? Yep, let’s talk about it. Specifications are for the weak and timid! You question the worthiness of my code? I should kill you where you stand! Indentation?! - I will show you how to indent when I indent your skull! What is this talk…

  • Upcoming Microsoft Teacher Leader Training Events

    Alfred Thompson
    4 Mar 2010 | 9:58 am
    Are you an educator responsible for providing technology training to colleagues? Do you frequently lead teachers with best practices on how to integrate technology in the classroom? Then this event is for you! The Microsoft Institute now offers workshops dedicated for teachers and teacher leaders. The project-based workshop curriculum is designed for educators who are charged—either formally or informally—with leading technology professional development for classroom teachers. The Teacher Leader Program was created for teacher trainers, curriculum integration specialists, master teachers,…
 
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    Edspresso

  • Daily News Clips for March 12, 2010

    Daily News
    12 Mar 2010 | 6:09 am
    NATIONAL Obama School Plan Strives to Make GradeCBS News, March 11, 2010The Department of Education says Locke’s changes are exactly what their new Race to the Top program is encouraging. The administration will dole out $4.3 billion next month to states that have the best school reform plans. Forty states have been competing for the money. Just 15 of them are now finalists. Biting the Hand That Bites Unions BackDaily Caller, DC, March 12, 2010Rigid contracts, uniform pay schedules, and teacher-union dues ultimately protect poor teachers and mediocre performance. When even…

  • Daily News Clips for March 11, 2010

    Daily News
    11 Mar 2010 | 8:00 am
    NATIONAL Panel Proposes Single Standard for All SchoolsNew York Times, NY, March 11, 2010A panel of educators convened by the nation’s governors and state school superintendents proposed a uniform set of academic standards on Wednesday, laying out their vision for what all the nation’s public school children should learn in math and English, year by year, from kindergarten to high school graduation. Finalists Cram for Race to Top PresentationsEducation Week, MD, March 10, 2010With millions of grant dollars on the line, representatives of the 16 state finalists for federal Race to…

  • Daily News Clips for March 10, 2010

    Daily News
    10 Mar 2010 | 8:14 am
    NATIONAL One Small Program for Kids, One Big Step for MankindDaily Caller, DC, March 10, 2010A small D.C. program increases reading scores for the poorest children in Washington, ensures safety and increases parental satisfaction and thus their involvement in their child’s education. Many Nations Passing U.S. in Education, Expert SaysNew York Times, NY, March 10, 2010One of the world’s foremost experts on comparing national school systems told lawmakers on Tuesday that many other countries were surpassing the United States in educational attainment, including Canada, where he said…

  • Daily Press Clips for March 9, 2010

    Daily News
    9 Mar 2010 | 9:07 am
    NATIONAL Congress Can Store Bipartisan Success: School Reform Dickenson Press, March 9, 2010Congress has a chance - a narrowing one, given the calendar - to prove it can do something important on a bipartisan basis: recommit the country to school reform. FROM THE STATES District of Columbia Independent Evaluation of School Reform BeginsWashington Post Blog, DC, March 8, 2010The four principal figures in D.C. school reform were on their best behavior Monday when they visited with the National Research Council (NRC) committee that will conduct an independent evaluation of their efforts.

  • Daily News Clips for March 8, 2010

    Daily News
    8 Mar 2010 | 7:21 am
    NATIONAL Criticisms, Praise Welcome Shortlist For $4 Billion “Race To The Top” Program  All News Headlines, March 5, 2010The Obama administration has announced its shortlist for the $4.3 billion “Race to the Top” program, prompting critics to renew arguments against reforms schools need to make to qualify for grants. The administration’s intent to reform schools is also being questioned because of the number of finalists. The List of Race To The Top Finalists Needs Some WhittlingWashington Post, DC, March 8, 2010 THE LIST of finalists for coveted Race to the…
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    Topix: Education News

  • 1 dead, 2 wounded in shooting

    12 Mar 2010 | 4:51 am
    One person is dead and two others wounded following a shooting in the usually quiet bedroom community near a South Carolina coastal city.

  • Get A Free High School Education Online Through Oklahoma Virtual Academy

    12 Mar 2010 | 12:32 am
    For those seeking an alternative high school education, representatives of the Oklahoma Virtual Academy were in Tulsa today answering questions about their online program.

  • Compromise Would Expand SD Scholarship Program

    11 Mar 2010 | 8:08 pm
    A state-funded college scholarship program would be expanded in three years to include home-schooled students under a compromise offered in the South Dakota Legislature.

  • Key committee OKs two education bills

    11 Mar 2010 | 3:53 pm
    Georgia's first- and second-graders are one step closer to not having to take standardized tests and school districts in the state are a step closer to more flexibility in class sizes.

  • Panel pushes uniform education standards

    11 Mar 2010 | 11:32 am
    A panel of educators convened by the nation's governors and state school superintendents proposed a uniform set of academic standards on Wednesday, laying out their vision for what all the nation's public school children should learn in math and English, year by year, from kindergarten to high school graduation.
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    Kathy Schrock's Kaffeeklatsch

  • Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro Mobile for iPhone

    Kathy Schrock
    11 Mar 2010 | 11:05 am
    I am an Adobe Education Leader and use Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro a lot to present, showcase it to other districts and schools, and to attend Adobe meetings. Today I downloaded Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro Mobile for the iPhone and tried it out. It worked perfectly and is easy-to-use. I opened a Connect meeting on the laptop, and then joined the meeting as another user via the iPhone. The interface on the iPhone is easy to use since you only have three choices-- watch the presentation, watch the presenter, or chat. The sound on the mobile app was good and only a tiny bit laggy. (I was using it…

  • Educators' Use of Twitter Survey

    Kathy Schrock
    10 Mar 2010 | 10:38 am
    I recently came across some interesting data compiled by Emily Embury of C. Blohm & Associates from the results of a survey administered to the educators on the pre-registration list of COSN 2010. Her pool of survey-takers were the people in the session, and I asked her for permission to send out the survey to my personal learning network to gather more data. She graciously agreed, so here it is! Make sure to send the link to the survey page (http://linkyy.com/twittersurvey) to others to complete the survey! We need info from Twitter and non-Twitter users alike! Take the survey!Visit…

  • NCTIES Conference

    Kathy Schrock
    6 Mar 2010 | 6:43 pm
    The NCTIES Conference was awesome, and I was able to spend some quality time with Leslie Fisher and Gail Lovely. We were such geeks as Leslie introduced us to Gowalla, which we now describe as a cross between geo-caching, FourSquare, and Where's George? You get to add new places, check-in, and pick-up, drop, and trade items at these spots. In addition, you can see the history of where the item you have picked up has been, hence the "Where's George" similarity. Interestingly enough, although we were all at one dinner table, my iPhone GPS had my location as across the street, so I could not…

  • This blog has a new address!

    Kathy Schrock
    5 Mar 2010 | 7:02 am
    Note this blog now has a new address! Please change any direct links you have to the old URL of http://kathyschrock.net/blog to the new URL of http://blog.kathyschrock.net/ The RSS feed remains the same: http://feeds.feedburner.com/kathyschrock If you used the old regular URL to subscribe to the site in a newsreader, you may have to change that subscription address to http://blog.kathyschrock.net/Visit Kathy's Web pages: Kathy Schrock's Home Page Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators

  • Migrating to the 27" iMac

    Kathy Schrock
    20 Jan 2010 | 8:00 am
    I do not usually post information that is extremely timely in nature, but I cannot cover all of this in 140 characters in Twitter, so I figured a blog post was in order!I am a Bootcamp user for running Windows on the Mac, and have been since day 1. The types of applications I want to use really do need the "whole" machine, and, although I have tried all of the virtual machine choices, Bootcamp is the best solution for me. I run things like Adobe Premiere Pro and other graphic and RAM-intensive apps, and do not need to move back and forth between the two operating systems. (I am a recent Mac…
 
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    Inside Higher Ed

  • Fault Lines

    12 Mar 2010 | 12:00 am
    Budget cuts are taking their toll on San Francisco City College, where limited course offerings bar student access and unfilled vacancies leave jobs undone.

  • Power Struggle at North Texas

    12 Mar 2010 | 12:00 am
    tk

  • Too Golden a Parachute

    12 Mar 2010 | 12:00 am
    When a faculty member makes outrageous demands, and an institution wants to encourage more retirements, what's an administrator to do? C.K. Gunsalus weighs the options.

  • Higher Ed Groups Benefit From Obama Donations

    12 Mar 2010 | 12:00 am
    President Obama announced Thursday the charities to which he is donating the $1.4 million he received as winner of the Nobel Peace Prize -- and several of the organizations support efforts to help more students go to college. Among the recipients: College Summit, the Posse Foundation, the United Negro College Fund, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the Appalachian Leadership and Education Foundation and the American Indian College Fund.

  • Translation of the Last Department Meeting

    12 Mar 2010 | 12:00 am
    What they said, and what they really meant: David Galef channels a faculty gathering.
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    PrincipalsPage The Blog

  • Read.

    Michael Smith
    11 Mar 2010 | 2:17 pm
    Sometimes I think we make education too complicated. State tests.  Federal tests.  Special programs.  Increasing graduation requirements.  Spending insane amounts of money on Professional Development (the cost of name tags alone must be in the thousands of dollars). We come up with new ideas.  We reinvent old ideas. We work in large groups.  In small groups.  One on one. We change our curriculum and schedules. We throw money at our problems, then complain it’s not enough (a little known secret… there will never be enough money). Now we are looking at…

  • Google Teacher Academy for Administrators. Time to Review.

    Michael Smith
    10 Mar 2010 | 6:40 pm
       I survived my trip to San Antonio. Sadly (for blogging purposes), nothing out of the ordinary happened. I don’t mind saying, I felt a little jipped. No drama.  No “incidents” on the plane.  No random stranger doing something stupid. Just a Google Conference. I say just, but it was so much more. A 12 hour conference (sounds long, but it’s not really that long once you figure in snack time… and I do love my snack time). The conference was many things.  Mainly it was an overload of information.  But in a good way. Now that I’ve had a few days to…

  • Am I Weird?

    Michael Smith
    7 Mar 2010 | 6:39 am
    Easy.  Read the blog before you answer. This may be my shortest entry of all-time (# 351 if you are scoring at home).  It’s really a question disguised as a blog (so much for disguise). Do you think it’s weird to eat out when you are alone? I’m not talking about fast food.  I’m talking about sitting down, ordering, and eating in a restaurant. Would you do it? Have you done it? Or do you just find this uncomfortably creepy. Maybe your preference would be to simply starve to death? Or are you like me and eating alone with all of your friends (aka…my creepy uncomfortable…

  • Good Presenters Are…

    Michael Smith
    6 Mar 2010 | 7:45 pm
      I know nothing about a lot of things. One of these is my limited understanding of giving a presentation. But lack of knowledge doesn’t mean I can’t have an opinion (my blog after all). A great presentation requires many things. A nice room.  Comfortable seating.  Air conditioning, but not too much air conditioning (I get cold now that I’m old).  A PowerPoint that doesn’t have a bazillion words on each slide.  An internet connection that isn’t slower than dial-up.  Free stuff (you can buy an audience’s love with food, pens, letter openers, umbrella…

  • Flying is Cool.

    Michael Smith
    4 Mar 2010 | 5:21 am
    As I type, I’m on my way to San Antonio, Texas.  You know it’s the home of The Alamo (which I’m sorry to say is on my ever-growing list of disappointing national landmarks). The good news is I’m not walking.  Or taking a canoe (which is good because I’m only on swim/not drown lesson #3).  Or riding a horse.  Or going by train.  Or even driving. I’m flying. In a giant metal tube with tiny little wheels thousands of feet above the earth (it might be Kentucky or maybe Georgia… hard to tell… all clouds look alike to me). As a proud member of the human…
 
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    Child Day Care Centers & Pre Schools Rated By Real Parents - FREE

  • Preschool of America: Times Square, NYC

    Stacy Jai
    26 Feb 2010 | 8:24 am
    Location: 345 42nd street, New York, NY 10036 Ages 3 months to 6 year olds Phone (212) 262-4545

  • Parental Separation Anxiety

    Stacy Jai
    18 Feb 2010 | 11:37 am
    Photo Courtesy limaoscarjuliet As the school year closes, parents often think about what’s next for their children. For many, that next step is Nursery School, 2 day Toddler classes, or Step Up Classes. This can be a nerve wracking decision as you wonder, is my child ready? How will my young child, who has never been left, cope? What should I do? The first thing to know is that separation is a normal process that every child goes through. Children express their anxiety about being away from their parents and caregivers in many different ways. Some cry, cling, act out in class and at home,…

  • Last Minute Shopping for your Kids in a Tough Economy

    mbeharry
    18 Dec 2009 | 8:04 am
    Image via Wikipedia Here are some quick shopping tips when prices are high and the budget is low For Infants, Babies and Toddlers: Please remember toddlers have no concept of price and what they want! You could give them a shopping bag and they would play for hours! It does not make you any less of a parent because they own no leap frog toys! Try sticking with old fashioned toys like shape rings, wooden clocks, spinning wheels, board books, large puzzles, shape sorters, anything that has cause and effect sounds or lights! For Preschool and School age Children: Science experiments, Leggos,…

  • Christmas Gift Ideas For Toddlers & Nursery Schoolers

    Editor
    30 Nov 2009 | 4:13 pm
    At a time when toys are full of lead paint and may contain date rape drug like chemicals having any idea of what Santa should bring for your little one may be difficult. Here are a few time saving gift ideas that may help: Game systems such as V Tech, Hooked on Phonics, L-MAX and leap pads by Leapster are wonderful educational gifts. They promote learning and still have a”video game appeal” that is non violent and fun. Children can learn to write, count, create art, and even do mathematics. These systems also usually provides age levels on the game boxes to help parents choose…

  • Horizon Child Development Center: Fairfax, VA

    mbeharry
    22 Aug 2009 | 11:22 pm
    4600 Holly Ave Fairfax, VA 22030-5631 (703) 222-0900 horizonchilddevelopment.com View Larger Map
 
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    Graham Wegner - Open Educator

  • An Observation For What It’s Worth

    Graham
    1 Mar 2010 | 4:11 am
    So today I heard John Hattie today going through his list of factors that make a difference (or don’t) for students in our schools. A few sacred cows get a little trampled on in this process but here’s what popped into my head as he (eloquently) spoke this morning. His research is based on thousands of research studies conducted over the past fifteen years, so reflects what has been happening in schools. So essentially his research can only be used to change schools as we currently know them.  I know that all research is based on past events but how do his findings ensure that we…

  • John Hattie – Visible Learning

    Graham
    1 Mar 2010 | 3:07 am
    Here are my raw and at times possibly inaccurate notes from this morning’s presentation by Professor John Hattie. His meta-analysis of educational research in his book “Visible Learning” has provoked a lot of interest and some indignation from the education community. I will say that he is a very engaging speaker able to show off his findings while weaving a narrative and context for his audience to come to terms with his findings. He spoke for about two hours today – we were lucky enough to have six of our staff attend – and my attention waned a bit at times so…

  • Promises, Promises

    Graham
    23 Feb 2010 | 3:37 am
    So, we will be getting the first look at the new National Curriculum on March 1. This has been a while in the making but hopefully will be met with much less controversy than the heralded-and-maligned-at-the-same-time My School website. The government even have a website ready and waiting for every educator to (socially) bookmark. Says it all, really.

  • Network Payoff

    Graham
    22 Feb 2010 | 3:26 am
    I work three days a week in a primary classroom. So, theoretically, I am in a good position for putting edtech and Web 2.0 idealism into a realistic roadtest situation. I don’t stand behind podiums at conferences berating and exhorting the masses to bring their classroom into the digital world. I don’t have influential push (or pull) within my own system – and I’m not sure what I’d be suggesting even if I did. But I have invested an enormous amount of my life over the past four years into this networked learning thing. If anything, I have a lot of digital runs on…

  • There’s Always A Workaround

    Graham
    13 Feb 2010 | 3:32 am
    [Some of my students] [were designing their] [covers for their High Flyer folders] … when I noticed that they were on a number of free font websites. I thought that I would warn them that while I had no problem with them browsing fonts, they would be unable to download their choice onto the school laptops as they would be locked out by admin privileges on our network. Then I realised that fact was irrelevant – they were using the preview pane to create their own text samples, grabbing them as partial screen grabs and then inserting them into their design. Yet another example of…
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    Terence Online

  • Will the Bloom Box become the "Google" of Green Energy?

    22 Feb 2010 | 5:35 am
    Google took the information age by storm. Could this be the black swan, the "google" if you will, of the green energy age? What do you think? Check out this video.Watch CBS News Videos Onlineoriginal source - http://mashable.com/2010/02/21/bloom-box/

  • Google Vs. Apple - Who is better for the internet?

    1 Feb 2010 | 12:01 pm
    I was tweeting these thoughts but it's too complex for a series of tweets/sound bites so here is a blog post to elaborate. First the facts. Both Apple and Google are Corporations and therefore have the goal of making profit for their shareholders. Both are doing everything possible to make their shareholders money so there is no good guy/bad guy scenario, it's just economics. However, there is

  • Did You Know 4.0

    6 Jan 2010 | 10:24 am
    This is another official update to the original "Shift Happens" video. This completely new Fall 2009 version includes facts and stats focusing on the changing media landscape, including convergence and technology, and was developed in partnership with The Economist. For more information, or to join the conversation, please visit http://mediaconvergence.economist.com and http://

  • Google's New Real-Time Search Streams Breaking News and Live Twitter Updates

    7 Dec 2009 | 12:52 pm
    From lifehacker, "It's really amazing to see live updates in search results, but there's plenty of people that don't give a hoot about what the folks on Twitter or Facebook are talking about. It will also be interesting to see how Google keeps the signal-to-noise ratio down when huge news breaks and people everywhere are blogging, posting, and sometimes unintentionally spreading false

  • How does distance learning, social networking, and other new media enrich your life?

    3 Dec 2009 | 5:51 am
    I was recently asked the question, "How does distance learning, social networking, and other new media enrich your life … your career?" and here was my reply:I define distance learning as any method of teaching and learning that is not dependent on a geographic location. Therefore, most of our world is falling into this category and enriching our lives in one way or another. Online banking,
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    Artichoke

  • Is educational research asking the wrong questions about the enacted curriculum?

    Artichoke
    6 Mar 2010 | 7:19 pm
    I have been lost for a while, reading and re-reading Jaron Lanier’s book You Are Not a Gadget: A Manifesto Lanier’s book explores the unintended consequences of digital design on human culture, identity and what it is to be human This is a mind altering book, a provocative and powerful book, a book to interrogate, a book that ought to be on every teacher’s professional reading list, especially those of us who pretend to understand and interpret educational technology.   I am not ready to blog about Lanier’s thinking yet but and as a consequence of reading Lanier I am adopting…

  • Gawande’s Checklists: "I know what to do and why thinking".

    Artichoke
    23 Jan 2010 | 2:03 am
    I cannot remember a time when I haven’t been thinking and or reading about models of learning and designing for learning – it is a personal Pythonesque search for the educational holy grail – I am looking for a deeper logic or better understanding of the assumptions that sit underneath the models and processes we use in education – I can sense what I am after – but it remains tantalisingly out of my grasp. I have been seeking connections by mapping intentional design processes across many contexts – I started with models for learning and learning outcomes (Biggs and Tang 2007)…

  • Acting like a kite, witnessing the future and marshalling resources.

    Artichoke
    3 Aug 2009 | 5:03 am
    Asking how we identify the future – and how we bring the future into the present form a large part of current educational discourse – especially those edu_conference keynote conversations.   Jensen (Witnessing the Future pdf) cites Serres and Latour and suggests that “assemblage”, “design”, “finish” and “slickness of advertising” all play a role in how we identify the future .   "What are things contemporary? Consider a late-model car. It is a disparate aggregate of scientific and technical solutions dating from different periods. One can date it component…

  • On Creating A Wasn’t Good, Wasn’t Bad School for Every Child.

    Artichoke
    28 Jul 2009 | 5:46 pm
    I didn’t buy Cyril Taylor’s newly released “A Good School for Every Child – How to improve our schools” because I wanted to read another book on how to do school better.  At the moment I drift towards thinking and reading about museums rather than schools – probably because I am feeling burdened by the narrow perspective of what is written by people telling us what to do (and not to do) in school. In truth when you work in a school it often feels like a big part of the problem is that there are too many people "telling" and not enough people "doing".

  • “I am haunted by you” flowers and impossible cream cakes.

    Artichoke
    23 Jul 2009 | 1:19 am
    I had an unexpected escape from the day job today – and I used it to push off from the screen and drift into the ordinary.  I used it to bump up against the stuff that had not been digitised – to see, hear, smell, touch and taste in a way not mediated through a screen - to nudge up against the real. Escape is best shared.  I persuaded another to cut loose from what life expected of her for the day and we explored the local as if we were seeing it for the first time. Along the way we visited the dementia centre, delivering impossible cream cakes and an exuberance of flowers;…
 
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    Weblogg-ed

  • The New National Ed Tech Plan…Pinch Me

    Will Richardson
    10 Mar 2010 | 4:25 am
    The first thing I want to say to the authors of the new National Ed Tech Plan (pdf) is this: DON’T TEASE ME. Please. I’m trying not to get overly optimistic here, but suffice to say, if the rhetoric is any indication of the direction, we may have actually turned a corner. Personalized learning Learning that is “lifelong and life-wide and available on demand.” A device and ubiquitous access for every student and teacher. Professional development that focuses on “connected teaching” in “online learning communities” (Sounds familiar.) Professional…

  • TedxNYED: Amazing…So What?

    Will Richardson
    7 Mar 2010 | 3:47 am
    So here’s a 5:30 am brain dump because I woke up thinking about all of the minds on fire at TEDxNYED yesterday and there’s no way I’m going back to sleep, not with the brilliant voices the likes of Andy Carvin teaching me how social media can save people’s lives, saying “voluteerism has been redefined, and we’re the ones redefining it;” and Michael Wesch, saying “there is no opting out of new media,” making the point that we’re going to be living in a world of almost ubiquitous networks, almost ubiquitous computing, almost ubiquitous…

  • Time for Action: The Big Questions

    Will Richardson
    2 Mar 2010 | 8:36 am
    Apologies for not getting back to this last week as promised. As sometimes happens, life got in the way of blogging. Not regretting it at all, btw. ;0) So, whaddaya say we actually try to do something with these Big Questions, as in turn them into a document that schools can use to frame their own conversations around change? Based on your comments and conversations, I threw together a wiki with a plan of action. Rather than bore you with the details here, why not go and check it out and start contributing your ideas? Looking forward to learning along with you.

  • Teachers as Master Learners

    Will Richardson
    24 Feb 2010 | 5:45 am
    As we continue to have conversations around change with the 800 or so practitioners were working with in PLP, I continue to be struck by the frustration I’m feeling at the seeming separation between teaching and learning. I know that this isn’t new; I’ve been writing about teachers’ difficulties with being learners first here for a long time. When presented with the concept of building learning networks for themselves through the use of social learning tools, of making connections with other learners around the world who share their passions, many just cannot seem to…

  • The Big Questions: Next Steps

    Will Richardson
    18 Feb 2010 | 5:50 am
    First of all, thanks to all of you who chimed in as to how to go about crowdsourcing this idea. Some great ideas that I’m going to try to navigate here in an attempt to offer a consensus plan. And just for the record, I’m struggling a bit with what the role of “Manager of a Crowdsourced Project” is since I don’t want to be the final arbiter or any of the decisions made by the participants but also feel like we’ll be spinning our wheels without some attempt and creating a process. There is also the danger of taking an eternity to agree on a process. So, with…
 
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    Education Futures

  • Five secrets futurists don’t want you to know

    John Moravec
    9 Mar 2010 | 4:33 am
    Professional futurists continue to make outstanding contributions toward the development of understandings of the future, but is futures thought limited to this select group? Definitely not! With a do-it-yourself attitude, and leverage of the right resources, anybody can become an effective futurist. Here’s why: Nobody knows the future – don’t trust anybody who says otherwise. The world is changing at an accelerating pace, and it’s simply getting harder and harder to imagine what will happen next, let alone 20 years from now. We are all white belts when it comes to…

  • Hyper Island in a nutshell

    John Moravec
    24 Feb 2010 | 1:27 pm
    A Swedish approach to Invisible Learning: More at Hyper Island… (Thanks to @nickygrunfeld for sharing this video.)

  • The value of invisible learning

    John Moravec
    9 Feb 2010 | 12:27 pm
    In the past two months since the announcement of the Invisible Learning project, we have received a tremendous response in Twitter and the blogosphere. (Interestingly, most of the discussion originates from Latin America and Spain — and less from the United States and Canada.) Much of the recent conversation has been on defining what is invisible learning, and whether we need invisible learning in an already crowded ecosystem of ideas. For example, in a comment posted at Blog Nodes Ele, Juan M. Fernández wrote: Están bien todas estas propuestas pero por momentos tengo la sensación de…

  • Fab Lab: Build ‘almost anything’

    John Moravec
    3 Feb 2010 | 6:32 am
    “The Fab Lab program has strong connections with the technical outreach activities of a number of partner organizations, around the emerging possibility for ordinary people to not just learn about science and engineering but actually design machines and make measurements that are relevant to improving the quality of their lives.” [MIT Center for Bits and Atoms] Moreover, each Fab Lab is connected with others around the world, sharing ideas and experiences. Every Fab Lab user is required to document how they created products so that their inventions may be replicated anywhere…

  • Noel Sharkey on the inexorable rise of robots

    John Moravec
    15 Jan 2010 | 1:30 am
    From Silicon.com: In this video interview, Noel Sharkey, professor of robotics and AI at the University of Sheffield, discusses developments in robotics – from the proliferation of robots in Japan’s automotive industry to the stair-climbing dexterity of Honda’s Asimo robot and beyond. He also discusses ethical issues, and in which countries we can find the most robots … and some implications. Read the original article…
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    dy/dan

  • Easy. Fun. Free.

    Dan Meyer
    11 Mar 2010 | 2:43 pm
    Here is one of my private assumptions about education innovation that could use some public criticism: If [x] is going to change teaching practice at scale, then [x] needs to be easy, fun, and free for both the teacher and her students. [x] needs to be all three of those things at the same time. Realize that if you're a teacher and you're reading a blog post, you're automatically seeded in the top 10% of innovative educators. You'll try anything once. Let's also go with Jack Welch and assume that 10% of educators are hopelessly and/or willfully incompetent. Convince yourself, then, that 80%…

  • TEDxNYED Metadata

    Dan Meyer
    9 Mar 2010 | 8:44 pm
    I'm obliged to David Bill, et al., for their meticulous planning and execution, for sponsoring my first trip to New York (where I also got to meet up with my twin sister in her East Village environs), and for the opportunity to meet a bunch of cool educators I had only previously known online. Three Remarks On Meeting Internet People You're all a lot shorter than I expected. Chris Lehmann = Jonathan Lipnicki. I wish I had met more of you. Not for nothing, I identify quite a lot with Jay Rosen's description of "introverts who have learned to fake conviviality." Co-Presenters A lot of my…

  • TEDxNYED

    Dan Meyer
    5 Mar 2010 | 12:15 pm
    I'm taking my first trip to New York City today and speaking at TEDxNYED tomorrow. Rumor has it they'll feature a live feed on the website and the schedule indicates I'll be speaking somewhere around 17h00 EST, if you're interested. Some of these other people might have something to say also.

  • Won A Battle. Still Losing The War.

    Dan Meyer
    3 Mar 2010 | 4:02 pm
    Kyle, re OK Go's latest: "Somebody has too much time on their hands." Laronn: "Shut up, Kyle. What do you do? You go home and play Counter-Strike all day."

  • Highly Recommended: Think Thank Thunk

    Dan Meyer
    28 Feb 2010 | 10:32 am
    Shawn Cornally: So the question I ask myself before I give any calculus lesson is: “Why on Earth would anyone actually go through the trouble of doing it this way?” There really is a rich set of useful problems that can only be solved using differential calculus, so why not present them (or, God forbid, let the kids think of them) to students and work your way out? My rhetoric here is getting a bit lofty, and I hope my actual lessons don’t end up being a let down, but they sometimes are for me, too. It turns out that it’s hard to come up with real things for math to do when you’ve…
 
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    NYC Educator

  • Good Teachers Are No Joke

    NYC Educator
    12 Mar 2010 | 1:50 am
    I know very few jokes in Spanish. But I learned this one yesterday, seriously expanding my repertoire. It's not a pun like the others--so I'll give it to you in English: How can you tell a good lawyer? Well, there are tests.  First, throw a cat at him.  If the cat runs away, that means he's a dog. The next day, throw another cat at him.  If the cat attacks him, that means he's a rat. So if he's a dog and a rat, that means he's a good lawyer, and you should hire him immediately. I'm not altogether certain that's a good lawyer, but the tabloids seem to adore those qualities in a…

  • But the Data Says I'm Awesome

    Miss Eyre
    10 Mar 2010 | 9:00 pm
    The other day, I got my teacher data report. Last year I didn't see mine. (My former principal was a bit of an odd duck about things like that.) This year, I imagine that Principal X will expect me to have seen mine at some point, so I figured I ought to familiarize myself with it. For whatever reason, I braced myself for the worst.Well! As it happens, I am an awesome teacher. AWESOME. I mean REALLY awesome. I mean, it's really hard to be much awesomer than I am. Go ME. [/sarcasm]Now, here's the silliness of these reports. I know I'm not, actually, this awesome teacher. On a good day, I'm…

  • I Love You

    NYC Educator
    10 Mar 2010 | 2:21 am
    It's beyond insidious.  There are things all over the floor, the remnants of some project or other, and where is that kid?  Out with a friend?  They walk through the door, you ask where all that stuff comes from, and she gives you a lovely smile and announces, "I love you." Or you ask her to do homework, but notice she's downstairs watching American Idol.  When you ask why she's doing that before homework, it's, "I love you" all over again. Your mind flashes back to pre-K, when she wanted something or other and gave you this pouty face that looked like one of those awful…

  • A Chicken in Every Pot and a Spa in Every Teachers' Lounge

    Miss Eyre
    8 Mar 2010 | 9:00 pm
    It should come as no surprise to you that friend of this blog Mr. Talk wrote a hilarious send-up of Mayor Bloomberg's non-demands. If you haven't read this piece already, do it now. You'll chuckle. I'll wait.[waits]He's being facetious, obviously. But the substance of what he's saying makes a lot of sense. I often think about jobs that are comparable to teaching in terms of their demands, experience and education required low pay, and low prestige, and usually the only one I come up with is social workers. But even social workers, I imagine, can at least get the basic supplies they need. (If…

  • Magic Bull

    NYC Educator
    8 Mar 2010 | 1:32 am
    Have you read the Times Magazine article by Elizabeth Green?  I think it's interesting--perhaps the techniques described in "Lemov's Taxonomy," which much of the article focused on, work.  Who knows?  I've never heard of it before.  Nor has most any teacher on the planet. But there have been good teachers for a long time.  I've had many.   A lot of my college teachers were smart, impressively so.  That was enough to get my attention.  It's trickier, of course, to deal with adolescents.  I know a few teachers I find particularly…
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    LA Times: Education

  • Minneapolis schools on lockdown for 2nd day

    11 Mar 2010 | 1:10 pm
    Minneapolis Public Schools is on lockdown for the second day after a threat was made on a social networking site. Minneapolis Public Schools is on lockdown for the second day after a threat was made on a social networking site.

  • Homeowner fights final battle to save his home

    11 Mar 2010 | 12:00 am
    James Schneider, 77 and ailing, faces foreclosure. He had fought the L.A. school district to keep his house, which he bought in 1963, from being razed and several more battles to relocate it. James Schneider says that when he dies, he hopes it will be in his sleep, inside his beloved Spanish-style home.

  • L.A. college board to name inspector general

    10 Mar 2010 | 9:52 pm
    The decision is reached after the disclosure of misspending on the district's $5.7-billion bond construction program. A whistle-blower complaint program also will be established. Trustees of the Los Angeles Community College District voted Wednesday to name an inspector general to guard against waste and corruption in its $5.7-billion bond construction program.

  • New national math, English standards drafted

    10 Mar 2010 | 9:10 am
    Math and English instruction in the United States moved a step closer to uniform -- and more rigorous -- standards Wednesday as draft new national guidelines were released. Math and English instruction in the United States moved a step closer to uniform -- and more rigorous -- standards Wednesday as draft new national guidelines were released.

  • Federal agency to investigate L.A. schools

    10 Mar 2010 | 12:00 am
    The focus of the Education Department probe will be the district's services for students learning English. The federal government has singled out the Los Angeles Unified School District for its first major investigation under a reinvigorated Office for Civil Rights, officials said Tuesday.
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    The Fischbowl

  • Sometimes This Stuff Still Amazes Me

    Karl Fisch
    7 Mar 2010 | 3:11 pm
    Just a quick post to note that I still find my own personal networked world to be pretty fascinating and amazing. Yesterday I was talking with my wife about a homework assignment Abby had in math where she needed to gather some data. So I threw together a quick Google Form, posted on my blog, and tweeted it out.Very quickly the responses started coming in, mostly from Twitter I suspect because I doubt that many folks had seen the post at that point. (Next time I may add a question about where they found out about the survey just to confirm that.) About a day later we now have 299 responses…

  • Open Letter on Behalf of the NWP

    Karl Fisch
    7 Mar 2010 | 7:59 am
    (Note: This is not my post, but rather a re-post of Zac Chase's post. Feel free to repost or send to your representative.)The Gist: The current draft of the federal budget cuts direct funding for the National Writing Project.The NWP has been one of the few extremely successful examples of a nationally-networked effort to improve K-12 writing for 36 years.We must communicate with Congress to change the budget. The Whole Story: Dear Rep. Fattah, Sen. Casey and Sen. Specter: I write to you on behalf of the National Writing Project. More precisely, I write to you on behalf of the hundreds of…

  • Trivia Survey for a 4th Grade Math Lesson

    Karl Fisch
    6 Mar 2010 | 1:42 pm
    If you have a moment, please take this short survey (also embedded below). It should take about 2-3 minutes. It's a little contrived as you will only answer some of the questions as there are age requirements in order to manipulate the results to have a different number of responses for each question (this is going to be an intro to percents).Feel free to take this whenever you read this, but Abby needs her results by Tuesday, March 9th. Thanks in advance.Loading...Results

  • Conversation with Jason Schellen

    Karl Fisch
    23 Feb 2010 | 5:59 am
    In the fall some of our Business students had the opportunity to talk with Jason Shellen about entrepreneurship, starting a business, and the high-tech field. Jason is currently CEO of Thing Labs, makers of the Twitter/Facebook app Brizzly. Previously he was an employee of Pyra Labs and worked on Blogger as it was acquired by Google, and he was the founding product manager of Google Reader. Jason has graciously agreed to talk with students this semester as well, and he’ll be Skyping in this Thursday for about fifty minutes. If all goes well with the technology, we’ll be ustreaming it as…

  • Google Apps for Education: Is It the Right Choice for Our Students?

    Karl Fisch
    22 Feb 2010 | 2:14 pm
    I went to Learning 2.0: A Colorado Conversation (2010 Edition) on Saturday. Scott Elias, Deanna Dykstra and team (with a special shout out to the students that did the streaming) did a great job putting on a worthwhile event.I think I was a little distracted during the morning sessions for some reason and didn’t contribute much, but settled in during the afternoon. The day ended with some round table discussions, and I participated in one centered on Google Apps for Education. This allowed me to continue a conversation I had been sporadically having with Bud Hunt via email and I brought up…
 
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    CNN: Education

  • Why subsidize wealthy college kids?

    9 Mar 2010 | 11:50 am
    I mentor a student who is a senior in a low-performing high school. About 50 percent of the students at his school drop out, while less than 25 percent go to college. His parents didn't graduate from high school, and his father earns about $14,000 a year. His grade point average is good enough to qualify him for admission at a few University of California schools.

  • Why we protest education cuts

    5 Mar 2010 | 11:15 am
    Today, in California and other states across the nation, students, teachers, faculty and workers have been protesting, striking, walking out of classes and staging sit-ins and teach-ins. They are protesting budget cuts, tuition hikes, compensation reductions, layoffs and privatizations affecting public K-12 schools and universities.

  • CNN Fact Check: How do California's hikes in college costs stack up?

    4 Mar 2010 | 6:52 pm
    Students and college professors in California and around the country protested Thursday over the drastic cuts imposed on cash-strapped state colleges and universities.

  • Contest win fuels fierce debate over race

    2 Mar 2010 | 5:34 pm
    What does it mean when a white sorority wins a competition that African-American fraternities and sororities not only created but also consider an essential part of their cultural expression? It means an uncomfortable discussion about race, history, culture and inclusivity that is not black and white.

  • Obama highlights federal funds to lower high school dropout rate

    1 Mar 2010 | 2:49 pm
    President Obama highlighted stronger federal efforts Monday to help lower a high school dropout rate that, according to the president, is undermining America's future economic potential.
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    ASCD: In Service

  • Creativity: Don't Stop It in Its Tracks

    ASCD Bloggers
    12 Mar 2010 | 7:00 am
    Post submitted by Educational Leadership editor, Amy Azzam. In his special feature titled "Creative Leadership: Skills that Drive Change," Gerard Puccio showed the audience a sketch of a wheelbarrow that looked a little off. (Think of it as a "new...

  • How to Make Group Work Productive

    ASCD Bloggers
    12 Mar 2010 | 7:00 am
    Post submitted by SmartBrief Education Editor Amy Dominello If you want to make group work productive for your students, don’t be Julie from The Love Boat, education professor and ASCD author Douglas Fisher advised his audience at a Monday morning...

  • Goodbye, School Reform

    Laura Varlas
    11 Mar 2010 | 8:00 am
    If we can do powerful networking as instructional leaders, why can't we powerfully network students for learning? That was the question Tom Welch posed in his Sunday Annual Conference session, "Goodbye, School Reform: Hello, New Worldwide Communities for Learning." Welch...

  • 21st Century Bullying

    ASCD Bloggers
    11 Mar 2010 | 7:00 am
    Post submitted by SmartBrief Education Editor Amy Dominello Cyber bullying is a problem that schools and courts have only begun to grapple with. But how do school administrators deal with nasty messages posted from students' home computers or cell phones...

  • Merrow Reports on Need for Teacher Supports

    Laura Varlas
    10 Mar 2010 | 8:00 am
    We need to give teachers the opportunity and tools to be accountable because most educators want to make a difference, John Merrow told his audience at the ASCD Annual Conference's Closing General Session. In one video clip (available at www.learningmatters.tv),...
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    Scholastic: This Week In Education

  • Innovation: What SES Was Supposed To Look Like?

    Alexander Russo
    10 Mar 2010 | 9:49 am
    A few years ago at a conference a NYC DOE guy named Joel Rose came up and said hello and told me that he'd gotten hooked on The Wire via my early and incessant blogging about it.  It was and is still one of the nicest things that anyone's ever said to me about the blog.  But it turns out that Rose isn't just all about high quality HBO drama.  He's also got this thing called School of One that's been profiled in the Times and in TIME.  (I know, I know.  Computerized instruction.  New York City.) It's a hybrid program that uses a mix of instructional…

  • Media: Team-Based National AP Coverage

    Alexander Russo
    10 Mar 2010 | 6:15 am
    Used to be that you could look for pretty much one byline if you wanted to follow AP's national education coverage. Feller, Sack, Toppo, Quaid -- I'm sure I'm missing a few.  But that all seems to be gone now.  Quaid is gone (or soon will be) on maternity leave (congrats and best wishes, Libby!).  National education stories are getting posted by all sorts of different reporters in all different parts of the country - not all of them fulltime education reporters.  Ray Allen wrote this one about Central Falls, for example.  It's a similar approach being used by AP on…

  • Thompson: The Science of Teaching

    john thompson
    8 Mar 2010 | 8:14 am
    Elizabeth Green’s excellent "Building a Better Teacher" addresses the three (or four-legged) stool required for improving instruction. Green recounts Doug Lemov’s "content-neutral" taxonomy for instruction, and Deborah Ball’s subject-specific tactics. (The Comer Project was not mentioned, but it has been equally scientific in teaching the same strategies since 1968.)Given the excellence that already exists in many systems for teaching classroom management, Why do we need a third (or fourth) leg for improving instruction?  Why do we need special efforts to attract…

  • Turnarounds: Central Falls Not The Only Drama

    Alexander Russo
    8 Mar 2010 | 8:01 am
    Central Falls teachers aren't alone in already facing layoffs in response to low performance, notes the Facebook group Teachers Letters To Obama.  Other examples that are being tracked include LA's Fremont HS (here) and Philadelphia's Vaux (here).  There are probably others -- or will be soon.  Let us know. 

  • USDE: Civil Rights Reviews For 30+ Districts

    Alexander Russo
    8 Mar 2010 | 7:19 am
    Is this the much-delayed return of the USDE's Office of Civil Rights Enforcement or just a little distraction to help get us through the day? Officials Step Up Enforcement of Rights Laws in Education NYT:  As part of that effort, the department intends to open investigations known as compliance reviews in about 32 school districts nationwide, seeking to verify that students of both sexes and all races are getting equal access to college preparatory curriculums and to advanced placement courses. The department plans to open similar civil rights investigations at half a dozen colleges.Ed…
 
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    Ask-Dr-Kirk

  • Dear Dr. Kirk: How To Handle Unhappy Students?

    Dr. Delaney Kirk
    12 Mar 2010 | 5:59 am
    Dear Dr. Kirk: I had a self-appointed student representative inform me that students in my Business Communication course were unhappy with their grades and the fact that I returned homework without going over it and telling them what they did wrong. Please know that I ‘actually’ graded the papers and made edits as needed.   To say the least, I am disappointed. I was enjoying this class and the students until this happened. I admit that I have thin skin!   Do you have a response/wisdom you can share on this subject? I would be grateful.   Disappointed Teacher   Dear…

  • Blogs As A Knowledge Management Tool In The Classroom

    Dr. Delaney Kirk
    10 Mar 2010 | 1:06 pm
    For those of you who are interested in using blogs in the classroom, here's a paper I recently presented in Dallas at the Southwest Academy of Management meeting. My co-author, Timothy Johnson, has included a rubric for grading blogs. Download Kirk & Johnson SWAM 2010 Proceedings-1    

  • Teaching Teachers In Dallas

    Dr. Delaney Kirk
    3 Mar 2010 | 4:32 am
    I'm flying to Dallas today to talk about teaching at the Southwest Academy of Management Doctoral Student Consortium. One of the participants will get a free copy of my book, Taking Back the Classroom: Tips for the College Professor on Becoming a More Effective Teacher!

  • An 18-Minute A Day Plan To Manage Your Time

    Dr. Delaney Kirk
    1 Mar 2010 | 5:28 am
    Does this sound familiar? Peter Bregman, author and CEO, writes: “Yesterday started with the best of intentions. I walked into my office in the morning with a vague sense of what I wanted to accomplish. Then I sat down, turned on my computer, and checked my email. Two hours later, after fighting several fires, solving other people's problems, and dealing with whatever happened to be thrown at me through my computer and phone, I could hardly remember what I had set out to accomplish when I first turned on my computer.” Bregman suggests using 18 minutes a day to manage your day: STEP 1…

  • Tips To Preventing Plagiarism

    Dr. Delaney Kirk
    26 Feb 2010 | 5:47 am
    Nathan Grimm just shared this great list of resources on how to handle plagiarism in the classroom including sample policies, a list of online tutorials to help students understand what plagiarism is, and tips for discouraging plagiarism. As he notes: Plagiarism is one of academia's most common problems and a constant concern for teachers. While the Web may have made plagiarism as easy as a few simple clicks, it's also made detecting plagiarism just as easy. If a student can find the essay in seconds, so can you—if you know where to look.
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    Learning is Change.

  • Question 70 of 365: How far will serious take us?

    Ben Wilkoff
    11 Mar 2010 | 6:00 am
    Image via Wikipedia When I look at what goes viral, what memes consist of, or even what I happen to click on within my twitter stream; there is always an element of humor found within. Not all of them are laugh out loud funny, but in the way that they tickle my brain or make me think differently, they are funny. They are novel and different, incongruent with the rest of my day. That is why I am drawn to them on a regular basis. That is why OKGO’s new video has seen 7 million views. It is the reason why the word FAIL has come to prominence. It is why Four Square is starting to matter for…

  • Question 69 of 365: Why is action such a surprise?

    Ben Wilkoff
    10 Mar 2010 | 3:21 pm
    I have had a number of conversations recently that have resulted in someone saying that they were surprised that things were getting done. They were surprised at action. While I was somewhat baffled by the reaction, it made me think about what the root of this surprise might be. Getting things done has traditionally been hard. It has required labor, huge amounts of time, or many people who were highly skilled in the areas that needed attention. Action has required a level of organization and planning that almost insurmountable considering everything else that needs to go on. It also has…

  • Question 68 of 365: What does it mean to be a breadwinner?

    Ben Wilkoff
    9 Mar 2010 | 12:51 pm
    Image via Wikipedia While I do not particularly like the designation or the baggage that goes along with it, being a breadwinner is something that is very important to me. I am not interested in being the sole breadwinner or someone who does only that, but there is most definitely a part of me that has to bring an income into my family and provide the things that we need and want. While this need is definite, it needs to be redefined. In fact, I think that bread needs to be redefined. If it is the staple that sustains us over all others (carbohydrates in general, I would argue), then the…

  • Question 67 of 365: Why is time theft so seductive, and in many cases, productive?

    Ben Wilkoff
    8 Mar 2010 | 10:21 pm
    I am a time thief. I take away time from my current employer in order to work on things that are not in my job description. I will admit that freely, even to the people I work for. But, up until recently, I have been able to keep it under control. Until recently, I have kept my Twitter habits down to asking questions and sharing resources. I have kept my blogging to a few times a month. And until very recently, I have not tried to create brand new communities on the fly. In other words: I used to be an undercover time thief. I was able to couch everything that I was doing in the guise that I…

  • Open Letter on Behalf of the National Writing Project (cross posted)

    Ben Wilkoff
    8 Mar 2010 | 2:06 pm
    This post is cross-posted here and was written by Mr. Chase. The Gist: The current draft of the federal budget cuts direct funding for the National Writing Project. The NWP has been one of the few extremely successful examples of a nationally-networked effort to improve K-12 writing for 36 years. We must communicate with Congress to change the budget. The Whole Story: Dear Rep. Fattah, Sen. Casey and Sen. Specter: I write to you on behalf of the National Writing Project. More precisely, I write to you on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of students and teachers the program has transformed…
 
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    Practical Theory

  • Save the National Writing Project

    9 Mar 2010 | 8:48 pm
    As a former English teacher, and as someone who believes that programs that work should continue, I'm very deeply dismayed by the Department of Education's decision not to fund the National Writing Project. NWP has, for many, many years been an unequivocal good in education. There are few pure wins in education, but NWP is one of them. If you need more convincing, SLA teacher Zac Chase has made the argument in a much more compelling fashion. Go read what he wrote. Here's a sample: Were this simply an impassioned plea, I would have hesitated to write. The data speaks for itself, the National…

  • What is the agenda?

    25 Feb 2010 | 9:44 pm
    At some point in time, I think we have to start asking ourselves what is going on at the US Department of Education. Just this week, Secretary Duncan (and his PR people via twitter) said ""We have to stop lying to children," in reference to the levels of achievement students reach. And then he supported a school district's decision to fire all its teachers at a high school. This is after he slammed teacher prep programs back in the fall. (He did take time to praise a charter school organization recently, though.) So what is the end game? What is the point of attacking educators as liars,…
 
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    Remote Access

  • The Wonder Wheel

    The Wonder Wheel isn’t new, but it has become a bit of a phenomena in my classroom lately so I thought it was worthy of a post. First, if you aren’t familiar with this Google display option, here’s a quick overview. Each time you search Google, you have many options about the results that you get [...]

  • Feedback and Support

    I picked this up off of twitter this morning and it made me think about classrooms where students are using technology. Are they novices or experts with the tool or skill you are having them work with? How does that change the feedback and support that you offer them on an ongoing basis in the [...]

  • Dispute Finder

    I’ve been fighting the browser wars pretty hard for the past month or so. While I have a Mac, I just have never been much of a Safari fan. Really no reason, I was just not comfortable with it. I had been a huge fan of Flock since it was only out in beta. A few [...]

  • What the World Needs Now

    I like the idea of this video. It has to do with Education (with a capital “E”) and not with schooling. This is what happens when the John Lennon Bus shows up at TED. Share this on del.icio.us Digg this! Post this on Diigo Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Share this on Reddit Share this on Technorati Share this on [...]

  • From Creating to Chatting

    First, take a minute to look at this infographic: I think this is similar to what many people in the edtechosphere have seen. There have been a lot of comments in the past year about the “death of blogging.” While I think this is taking it too far, the fact is true that we have seen [...]
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    Borderland

  • The Right Kind of Education

    Doug Noon
    1 Mar 2010 | 12:11 am
    The title of this post is taken from Chapter 2 of Krishnamurti’s Education and the Significance of Life, which I was reminded of while reading Larry Cuban’s blog about Great Teachers: For the past quarter-century, however, policymakers and politicians have chopped, grated, and mixed together the goals of schooling into a concoction seeking to make education an arm of the economy. They scan international test scores, focus on achievement gaps, and boost teacher pay-for-performance plans. This policy direction has shoved the notion of “great” teaching into one corner of the…

  • Central Falls – could be ANYWHERE

    Doug Noon
    26 Feb 2010 | 9:27 pm
    “Teaching really is not a job. I don’t teach; I’m a teacher. I’m a teacher. That’s who I am.” … but, obviously, it’s a hell of a long way from Wall Street: Mr. Dimon said he did not know whether he would have taken the $25 billion that the government lent to JPMorgan during the 2008 financial crisis to bolster its capital if he knew then how troublesome the TARP money would be for the bank. “The mistake was we let the government and the politicians not differentiate between irresponsible companies and prudent companies, from irresponsible,…

  • Millot: Sound Decision or Censorship at TWIE (V)

    Marc Dean Millot
    25 Feb 2010 | 1:38 pm
    -Marc Dean Millot: This last post is not about This Week in Education editor Alexander Russo’s decision to pull “Three Data Points. Unconnected Dots or a Warning” because Andrew Rotherham suggested a colleague at Scholastic should make it so. It’s simply a list of my reflections on reactions to this series. Thank You. I must thank five independent educator-bloggers who offered their hands in friendship for open debate. My posts can be found at Jim Horn’s Schools Matter, Norm Scott’s EdNotes Online, The Frustrated Teacher, Tom Hoffman’s Tuttle SVC, and here at Borderland. The…

  • Visited

    Doug Noon
    17 Feb 2010 | 6:19 pm
    Visit length: 4 hours 21 mins 20 secs. Go figure. Let’s hear from Diane Ravitch: When someday we trace back how large segments of our public school system were privatized and how so many millions of public dollars ended up in the pockets of high-flying speculators instead of being used to reduce class size, repair buildings, and improve teacher quality, we will look to the origins of the Race to the Top and to the interlocking group of foundations, politicians, and entrepreneurs who created it.

  • This is Not A Test

    Doug Noon
    13 Feb 2010 | 10:40 pm
    After noting the disappearance of Marc Dean Millot’s post from Alexander Russo’s TWIE (Scholastic Inc) blog, I got an email from Millot asking if I’d be interested in providing him with some blog space to explain what happened. I said OK, and he says he’ll submit something here in the next few days. In the meantime, he’s putting the story online in various places, serial fashion. To follow the thread thus far, visit Schools Matter and Education Notes Online. It gets more interesting by the day. In the Schools Matter post, Millot challenged Andrew…
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    Drape's Takes

  • I'm so thankful to be in a profession that actually matters!

    Darren Draper
    10 Mar 2010 | 3:53 pm
    In fact, I'm not sure how other - normal - people do it. I'm grateful to be in IT and know that the things that I do on a daily basis affect kids and the kind of learning they're able to experience. I'm grateful to be able to help teachers. Teachers work sooooo hard and it's such an emotionally draining profession; I'm grateful to be in a position to suggest methods and procedures that really can make their load lighter. I'm grateful to know that we're impacting our future. Kids matter. Learning matters. And how we support teachers in making learning better. faster. easier: matters. As far as…

  • Might educhatroulette legitimately serve as a viable tool in our PD arsenal?

    Darren Draper
    1 Mar 2010 | 5:48 am
    Wikipedia: Chatroulette is a website which pairs random strangers for webcam based conversations. Visitors to the website randomly begin an online stranger chat (video and text) with another visitor. At any point, either user may leave the current chat and initiate another random connection... The site was launched in November 2009 by Andrey Ternovskiy, a 17-year-old high school student in Moscow,[1] and gained popularity in February 2010 after being featured on “Good Morning America,"[2] the New York Times[1] and New York Magazine.[3] The site receives about 500,000 unique visitors per day…

  • I don't think blocking networked learning in our schools is an option. #ut-tcc

    Darren Draper
    25 Feb 2010 | 2:35 pm
    Today I heard far too many IT Directors from within our state brag about how locked down their school networks are. What follows is a portion of my response: Because there is so much learning occuring outside our schools with networked technologies, what can we - as institutions of learning - offer students when we choose to block the avenues for learning with which they're already so familiar? A "better" way to learn? A "more significant and accurate" manner in which their learning is assessed? A first-hand view of the same educational experiece their parents once shared? Yawn. I think many…

  • Simply Stated: HB292 Is Unconstitutional

    Darren Draper
    23 Feb 2010 | 5:34 pm
    Dave Doty (audio here), on HB292, a newly proposed Utah bill that aims to "equalize" funds between Canyons and Jordan school districts by making Canyons hand over an additional $15 million:To run a bill to undo the arbitration ruling is unconscionable. We have a legal process, let's respect it.Personally, I couldn't agree more.To even propose such a bill acutely questions the abilities and judgment of an arbitration committee once tasked with ruling on this matter, and sadly feels like the legislative equivalent to spitting in the face of law yet established.Is it not our duty to uphold and…

  • Dissertation Topic Change(?): The Creation of the Canyons School District

    Darren Draper
    19 Feb 2010 | 7:35 pm
    Several months later, and I'm ready to shift dissertation gears back in to high, but have felt - for some time now - that a change in topic is most likely imminent.It's not that I've lost interest in the the topic of open professional development, but rather that because the creation of a new school district doesn't happen every day, I feel strongly compelled to evaluate what has taken place as we've experienced the birth of the Canyons School District. The ride has been wild, affected a large number of people, and remains a highly charged, politically vibrant, emotionally taxing controversy…
 
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    Blue Skunk Blog

  • My TEDxASB Talk

    Doug Johnson
    11 Mar 2010 | 1:56 pm
    I never care if I am filmed so long as I never have to watch it. These TED talks are tougher to do than one might think, but here is mine from TEDxASB last month: I was in the company of some genuinely outstanding thinkers/presenters at TEDxASB. I was humbled to be in their company. Scott McLeod <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yA6oTU1emM> Scott Klososky <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkpLfkUHNr0> Helen Barrett <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckcSegrwjkA> Bruce Dixon <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFG6O3hgT7w> The tech staff at the American School of Bombay did a…

  • Where do you keep your valuables?

    Doug Johnson
    9 Mar 2010 | 5:58 pm
    From "Google Now Covers All Apps With Advanced Backup," PC World, March 4, 2010. Google recently extended what it describes as highly advanced and sophisticated data backup and recovery to all components of its Apps communication and collaboration suite. The level of protection, both in terms of the amount of data preserved and of service restoration time, is typically only affordable to very large companies and cloud computing vendors, according to Google.At the core is real-time, synchronous replication in multiple servers and data centers of every morsel of data entered into or modified in…

  • With apologies to Shelley

    Doug Johnson
    9 Mar 2010 | 4:42 am
    This lovely little parody came as a response to my entry yesterday on impermanance. Bob (no last name or e-mail address) has a gift... Techymandias I met a traveler from an antique land Who said: Two shiny and powerless laptops Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered USB lies, whose cap, And cracked plug, and sneer of old folders, Tell that its user well those documents read Which don’t survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that used them, and the CPU that fed; And on the side these words appear: “My name is Techymandias, king of info:…

  • Impermanence

    Doug Johnson
    7 Mar 2010 | 5:39 pm
    Of Sophocles 123 plays, only seven have survived. The melting snow this weekend led to thoughts of the transience of life. This morning's walk showed shrinking drifts uncovering a winter's worth of detritus -  beer cans, cigarette butts and disintegrating prophylactics (making me somewhat wistful for a misspent youth that seemed only few years ago). Doing my taxes yesterday only emphasized the fleeting nature of income. Watching the Oscar previews reminded me of how damn old some actors are getting with a lot of white in a lot of beards. Karl Fisch's concern about links to students work…

  • Guest post by Gary Hartzell: Naming our profession

    Doug Johnson
    3 Mar 2010 | 10:45 am
    As readers of the Blue Skunk know, I am great admirer of the work of Gary Hartzell. As a former principal and ed ad professor, he brings an outsider's objective perspective to the library profession, telling us sometimes, not what we may wish to hear, but what we need to hear. Below is another perceptive post... This thing about what to call school librarians is – from my point of view – counter productive. Terms like “school library media specialist” don’t exactly dance on your tongue and there is a danger in using a metaphor like “Information…
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    open thinking

  • Universal Design & Technology with Ira Socol

    Alec
    5 Mar 2010 | 6:59 pm
    I am pleased to announce the Ira Socol will be giving a publicly available presentation on Universal Design on Monday March 8/10, at 6:30 p.m. CST. This session is directed at our preservice teachers who are taking Disability Studies, but the presentation will be available to all interested attendees via this Elluminate link. Ira is a fantastic presenter and a guru in the field. I am really looking forward to this presentation, and I hope that many of you reading this can make it. Please pass on this information to others that may be interested. Update: The Elluminate recording of Ira’s…

  • Session with Jon Mott & David Wiley

    Alec
    28 Feb 2010 | 9:50 pm
    The Faculty of Education’s new open access journal, in education, is sponsoring a free webinar with two of our authors, Jon Mott & David Wiley. The webinar is scheduled for March 3rd, 2010 at 11 a.m. (CST). The event will be facilitated using Elluminate, a web conferencing tool. You can listen and/or participate using the following link: http://moourl.com/openteaching . It is advisable to join 10-15 minutes early in the case that your computer needs to install software (which, if necessary, is usually an easy process). Mott & Wiley will be discussing their recent paper,…

  • A Conversation With Severn Cullis-Suzuki

    Alec
    27 Feb 2010 | 4:33 pm
    Severn Cullis-Suzuki will be our guest at the Faculty of Education, University of Regina this March 4th, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. CST. The title of the talk is “Education for Sustainability: Touching All Of Our Lives”. I will be live streaming the event at my Open Thinking Ustream Channel. We invite you to attend face-to-face or virtually. Some of you may know Cullis-Suzuki from this viral video titled “The Girl Who Silenced the World for 5 Minutes”, filmed in 1992 when she was 12 years old. More information about the event can be found here. Related posts:Girl Who Silenced…

  • Power of the Positive

    Alec
    4 Feb 2010 | 7:37 pm
    I am fascinated by PSAs. I am especially interested in what I believe to be a false assumption that the more graphic the ad, the more effective it will be in delivering its intended message to viewers. I can think of recent ads from the UK regarding txting while driving, and ads from Ontario on workplace safety that received much attention due to virality and mainstream media coverage. However, I wonder what effect such videos actually have in the end. Can anyone point to a decent study on the possible correlations? Aside: The PSA I remember most from the 90’s was about Methamphetamine.

  • No Child Left Thinking – Dr. Joel Westheimer

    Alec
    22 Jan 2010 | 9:41 am
    Dr. Joel Westheimer is presenting a public lecture at the University of Regina on Monday, January 25th, 3:30-4:45 (CST). I will doing my best to stream the event live via this Ustream channel. Details of the session are found below. “No Child Left Thinking: Democracy at Risk in Canadian Schools” Dr. Joel Westheimer from the University of Ottawa will be delivering a free public lecture to the university and broader community on Monday, January 25th, 2010 3:30pm-4:45pm Education Auditorium (U of R) on the topic of social justice, citizenship, and democracy. His talk is provocatively…
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    Bud the Teacher

  • US Dept of Education Press Office Won’t Talk to (Bud the) Teacher

    bud@budtheteacher.com (Bud Hunt bud@budtheteacher.com)
    11 Mar 2010 | 5:43 am
    I continue to ask of everyone I can speak with in Washington and in Congressional and government offices alike: What is the rationale for eliminating funding for the National Writing Project? It is a simple question, or it seems to be. But I can’t get anyone to answer it beyond broad strokes of “local and state redundancy” and “no significant impact” on students. Since I don’t understand how a national network can exist at the local or state level, and I have evidence to the contrary on impact on students and teachers, I’ll keep asking. It just…

  • The Week in Tweets for 2010-03-08

    bud@budtheteacher.com (Bud Hunt bud@budtheteacher.com)
    8 Mar 2010 | 5:15 am
    So begins the end of my leave. With my kids and Dr. Seuss. That's about right. # @techsavvyed I'm a twelve monther. So this has been double special. in reply to techsavvyed # @jennamcjenna Say more. in reply to jennamcjenna # The Department of Defense chooses behavior over blacklists; maybe that's okay for schools, too. http://j.mp/dzEfMF # _Fox in Socks_ and two and a half year olds. Not a bad way to start the day. # .@edlabordems The honorable chairman of your committee supports the National Writing Project. Why doesn't the Dept. of Ed.? @edpresssec #nwp in reply to…

  • An Open Letter to my Elected Congressfolk: Please Support the NWP

    Bud Hunt
    7 Mar 2010 | 2:53 pm
    I sent slightly different versions of this letter to my legislators this afternoon. (I didn’t ask my senators to sign on to a House letter, for example. Nothing substantive.) If you support the National Writing Project, I hope you have done, or will do, the same. I would have written sooner – but this all happened as I was getting acquainted with Quinn. This is one of the first times I’ve been able to put fingers to keys in order to compose more than a few tweets. (Again – the iPhone is NOT the right long form writing device.) Speaking of tweets, I should talk a bit…

  • The Podcast: Purposeful Transparency

    Bud Hunt
    4 Mar 2010 | 2:52 pm
    In today’s podcast, recorded on my way into town this morning, I talk about some of my learning and thinking from Learning 2.0: A Colorado Conversation.  Specifically, it’s a chance to respond to a question Zac sent my way regarding just what I meant when I said in my presentation on show and tell that you can choose how much is enough when it comes to transparency, or words to that effect.  Yeah.  It bothered me, too, when I said it, but not because I’m wrong.  I think.  Listen to the podcast and let me know what you think. Direct Link to the Audio If you get a chance,…

  • The Week in Tweets for 2010-03-01

    Bud Hunt
    1 Mar 2010 | 5:15 am
    I'm not sure where @nancywhite is, but she's speaking my language this morning. # I get why babies are so cute. How could that little bundle of joy ever be responsible for all of that noise and frustration last night? # Camoflauge. # @NancyWhite I can't get "dancing with duality" out of my head. That's just it. Any chance the talk you were tweeting is recorded? in reply to NancyWhite # @NancyWhite Excellent. Were you tweeting from your talk? As you spoke? in reply to NancyWhite # @NancyWhite Wow. in reply to NancyWhite # @NancyWhite Thanks much! Looking forward to…
 
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    Learning In a Flat World

  • Next Generation Faculty

    Britt
    12 Mar 2010 | 8:07 am
    My colleagues at the Center for Teaching Excellence, Jeff Nugent and Zach Goodell, have been co-teaching a graduate course this semester here at VCU.  Teaching, Learning and Technology in Higher Education (GRAD-602) is designed to provide students in the Preparing Future Faculty Program with an introduction to contemporary instructional practices and exploration of relevant issues that can serve as both a foundation, and a process for continued growth and development.   I joined Jeff last night as he took their 25 graduate students on an exploration of the changing landscape of learning.

  • Old School, New School

    Britt
    3 Mar 2010 | 6:36 pm
    I had the opportunity to attend the virtual ELI Spring Focus Session today on Mobile Learning 2.0. As the program noted: “Although mobile learning has different meanings for different communities, we know that learning is deepened and enriched when students have options for their learning for multiple paths through course content. Mobile technology not only enables students to take their learning with them beyond the physical walls of the classroom, but it also makes possible a new array of interactions in the classroom as well. Mobile learning encompasses participating in learning…

  • I Am The So-Called Professor

    Britt
    11 Feb 2010 | 1:58 pm
    Jim Groom pushes the envelope all the time, which is why we love him!  The person who coined the phrase “edupunk” is back as Rorschach from the Watchmen with a warning for “so-called professors” – you cannot, as Jon Mott suggested at ELI, have corporate learning management systems like Blackboard and edupunk style learning co-exist.  To be free, you must let go of walled garden systems and embrace open education. Check out Rorschach’s EdTech Journal below: We need people like Jim to push us out of our comfort zone, but I am not sure we need to totally…

  • CTE Teaching and Learning Podcast – Making the Transition to Online Teaching

    Britt
    3 Feb 2010 | 7:57 am
    Last December, I had the opportunity to participate in a podcast in the VCU Center for Teaching Excellence’s Teaching and Learning podcast series with Dr. Lynda Gillespie, Director of Technology for Chesterfield County Public Schools and adjunct professor for the VCU School of Education.  The original podcast was posted here, but I thought I should co-post it here in this blog.  Lynda and I co-taught an online graduate course called “Educational Technology for School Leaders” this past Fall semester, and in this podcast, we reflect on that experience. This was a course…

  • Web Conferencing as Wireless Projection

    Britt
    29 Jan 2010 | 7:26 am
    It has been a while since I blogged, partly due to semester start-up and partly due to spending a lot of time in Twitter and Facebook.  However, yesterday we did something rather neat that takes more than 140 characters to share. There has been a lot of buzz this week about the iPad and tablet PC’s.  Tablets have been around for  awhile and they give you the ability to use s tyllus for drawing or inking on documents and virtual whiteboards.  Here at VCU, Jeff Nugent has run a faculty development project for several years that equips faculty participants with Lenova ThinkPads to use…
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    Once Upon a School

  • #279 Target 100%

    John Joseph
    Our planAll student should solve basic elementary math . Period!(addition/subtraction/multipl/division/fraction) no excuses... Can it be done? ............68% of Detroit , Michigan, 4th graders can't solved 507-289 regrouping subtraction just recently. Is it possible to teach these kids? How? go to youtube... lionking4277.... and see me my videos on how to solve our problems in elementary math. 100% All students should know how to solve basic math. It's free ... go and check all my videos...uploaded 2 months ago...ignore my live music playing....What we didI did the same thing in one…

  • #278 Toda la historia del colegio

    Lola Pedrosa Luna
    Our planHay una tesis doctoral presentada por el profesor Luis Pumares, que estuvo los últimos años en el colegio,disponible en Internet (Google);pero la historia es mucho más que eso y me gustaría,como profesora-iniciadora de este centro en el que trabajé durante 18 años (ahora ya estoy retirada),que contactaran con ellos,para ver si es posible una experiencia similar a 826 Valencia en Leganés.Es una localidad con muchas posibilidades.El colegio tiene página web.What we didEl primer paso es éste, el de escribirles.En el Colegio aún no saben…

  • #277 The Shine Centre, Cape Town, South Africa

    Kathryn Torres
    Our planWhile working in a voluntary capacity, offering remedial support to second language learners at Observatory Junior School, Maurita Weissenberg, an experienced primary school remedial teacher, saw that the school would benefit greatly from a structured, early intervention, educational support programme. She recognised the following issues needed to be addressed: ∗ The average class in South Africa contains forty learners of greatly varying reading ages. ∗ A significant percentage of learners are two to three years below the class average in reading. ∗ The language of…

  • #276 Applying Hands-On Experience

    Elliott Whitton
    Our planI wanted to increase the interest and knowledge of marine geology by creating a learning experience for students.What we didPreviously, marine geology was confined to the classroom I planned and implemented a marine field trip to the course. Specifically, I added a trip to an offshore island off the Gulf of Mexico, utilizing student boats. The 35 students studied geology and marine life formation on the island as well as what the students secured as a result of diving and recovering from the sea. Each student had the opportunity to review both island and shallow sea environment.. Our…

  • #275 A Middle School Gambit

    Joe Peters
    Our planWith the curriculum in Washington DC so focused on basic instruction, we decided to think outside the box and bring chess instruction to an area middle school. Our hope was to use a game to get the students to use their minds in a way that diverged from their standard school day. We hoped to get them to slow down and think ahead about their moves in the hope that this would change how they think about the world.What we didWith a friend we started an after-school chess program and started with about 5 school children, but the enthusiasm seemed to grow. By the end we had about 10 kids…
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    HeyJude

  • The Digital and Literacy World of Young Children

    Judy O'Connell
    7 Mar 2010 | 2:25 pm
    A new report from the Pearson Foundation examines how digital media is affecting early literacy around the globe. How is digital media changing the way young children learn? Could the way young children learn be evolving to meet a new, dynamic digital media format? Authors Jay Blanchard, a professor at Arizona State University, and Terry Moore ask these and other questions in their new report: “The Digital World of Young Children: Emergent Literacy” (PDF), out this week from the Pearson Foundation. The white paper was released at the annual Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)…

  • A new look to your Second Life

    Judy O'Connell
    7 Mar 2010 | 3:36 am
    Second Life Viewer 2, now in beta, is the next generation of Second Life viewers that makes it easy to explore and socialize in Second Life with a familiar, browser-like experience, enhanced search, and fully integrated web-based media capabilities. Test Drive Second Life Viewer 2, Now in Beta by downloading here. Filed under: 3D Worlds, Virtual Worlds Tagged: Second Life

  • Did you know what’s happening to the Internet?

    Judy O'Connell
    28 Feb 2010 | 2:46 am
    This is another official update to the original “Shift Happens” video. This completely new September 2009 version includes facts and statistics focusing on the changing media landscape, including convergence and technology, and was developed in partnership with The Economist. Thanks to Wes Fryer for the tip-off in his post Can you Imagine So Much Global Sharing?  My answer is – I never could, even though I’m an avid reader of SciFi. Dreaming and doing are quite different things! Also in the same post – a peek at the state of the Internet.  2010 is one amazing…

  • Tsunami – in the classroom?

    Judy O'Connell
    27 Feb 2010 | 3:36 pm
    I wonder how many classrooms in Australia will spend time this week talking about, reviewing and learning about the impact of earthquakes and tsunami  on countries and people? This weekend saw the earthquake in Chile and the tsunami it created affecting many parts of the world.  The Chilean president declared a state of catastrophe after a deadly quake of magnitude 8.8. Subsequently warnings of tidal waves were issued in 53 other countries. In the Guardian’s Report Chile Earthquake: Pacific nations brace for Tsunami we have a good lead article to set the scene for discussion. The…

  • Library of the Future in Plain English

    Judy O'Connell
    23 Feb 2010 | 4:50 am
    (via Tame the Web) Filed under: Future Directions, Library 2.0, Productivity
 
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    Top School Fundraisers

  • School Carnival Guide, On Sale Til End of February

    Sandra Sims
    24 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am
    Whether your school is gearing up for a spring carnival or looking ahead to fall, the School Carnival Guide will help your event to be a great success. This is a book authored by Jim Berigan, who for over a year wrote for the Top School Fundraisers blog.  Now he’s on his own and focusing on helping schools fundraise with carnivals. This guide contains many practical tips on how to make your next carnival a success. Jim provides advice based on his own experience and from those of other school volunteers like you. Besides just planning the carnival, the book helps you reach the goal of…

  • Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Offers Grants to Public Schools

    Sandra Sims
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:11 pm
    Over the past four years the Lowe’s Toolbox for Education program has provided more than $17 million to almost 4,000 schools across the country. They don’t just choose a few schools either. Lowe’s will provide grants to public schools and public school parent teacher groups – at more than 1,000 different schools earch school year. Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation (LCEF) knows how hard you work for your kids and your community and we’re dedicated to helping your parent-teacher group achieve even more for your school. Apply for our Toolbox for Education…

  • 8 Tips from an Experienced School Carnival Organizer

    Jim Berigan
    10 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am
    Recently, I had a wonderful conversation with Barbara Rypkema, who is the organizer of the PTO Carnival for the Tomahawk Elementary School in Lynchburg, Virginia. We spoke for over an hour, and I learned a great deal from her. Below, I have listed eight of the best tips she shared with me for running a carnival that makes a lot of money. If you would like to see an excellent example of a website set up just for a school carnival, check out their site here. Here are a few of the ideas I picked up from our interview: 1. Use older students in the school to promote the carnival to younger…

  • How to boost the sales of your cookie dough fundraiser sale

    Angela Costas
    8 Oct 2009 | 8:15 am
    Let your sellers and supporters know ahead of time about the sale. Make sure they know how much their support is appreciated. Create specific goals for the fundraiser. How much money needs to be raised? How many tubs per person will need to be sold to reach this goal? Set a reasonable time limit for getting all the orders in from participants. Offer prizes for participants who sell the minimum amount. Create a “challenge” to motivate your sellers. Take the catalogs to work. If your organization is short the minimum order, the group can fund the difference and sell them later. Use…

  • Discounted Magazine Subscriptions as a Fundraiser

    Angela Costas
    5 Oct 2009 | 9:00 am
    Offer discounted magazine subscriptions to people who would like to support your school or other group. Parents, families and students just go online to order their favorite magazines and 40% goes to the school. These magazines are all offered at discounted prices – up to 95% off newsstand prices – so it’s a great deal for everyone. Parents or students simply enter email addresses of friends and family into the online system.  A personalized email is then automatically sent out inviting them to order magazines through your group’s customized website. The magazine…
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    the Sam Jackson College Experience

  • A Semester Returned, Part 3: You are HOW you eat (in China)

    Sam Jackson
    28 Feb 2010 | 6:29 pm
    My dedicated readers will no doubt already be aware, but for those who missed a beat: I am currently writing a biweekly column for the Yale Herald about reflections from my return from studying in China last semester. The last column was about the way institutional controls on electricity and dorms affect the lives of students. This week we continue that theme by addressing mealtimes in PKU, though only briefly. Unfortunately, this is not the comprehensive account of all the gustatory delights China has to offer – that’s a post for another time. Follow all the posts in this series…

  • A Semester Returned, Part 2: When the lights go out, Beijing style

    Sam Jackson
    15 Feb 2010 | 6:53 pm
    My dedicated readers will no doubt already be aware, but for those who missed a beat: I am currently writing a biweekly column for the Yale Herald about reflections from my return from studying in China last semester. The last column was about cats and other cute animals, and the dearth thereof here at Yale. This week we begin to turn towards more serious matters. Follow all the posts by looking for the tag “a semester returned.” Original Publication: February 12, 2010, in the Yale Herald. Having electricity in your room after midnight is a luxury most Yalies take for granted. But…

  • Reflections on a Semester Abroad, a Semester Returned

    Sam Jackson
    30 Jan 2010 | 7:36 pm
    I decided to try to write a column for the Yale Herald this spring semester about my time in China, since it didn’t end up working out that I would write one while there. It’s been a strange experience readjusting to Yale, and I’ve come to appreciate many things about it that I once took for granted. At the same time, there are certainly lessons learned from China that are worth applying here, and there is plenty worth missing about Beida. This first article falls more into the latter camp, and is reposted below. Original Publication: January 29, 2010, in the Yale Herald.

  • That’s Why I Chose Yale – THE MUSICAL

    Sam Jackson
    16 Jan 2010 | 2:31 pm
    I will keep this short and focus on the content here, folks, because it’s amazing. A few years back I wrote an angry letter to Yale Dean of Admissions Jeff Brenzel for not being forward-looking enough with the admissions office. I will soon have to draft him a letter of congratulations for his support of this great  student-led, student-created effort to create a fantastic Yale admissions music video. Much of what I’ve ever said on the blog about engaging branding and effective marketing comes together here in one fell swoop. More analysis of this later, and praise for the…

  • The Best Yale Course Review I’ve Ever Read

    Sam Jackson
    13 Jan 2010 | 11:36 am
    After each semester, we have an opportunity to review classes before we receive our grades. These evaluations are multipart and one aspect is to provide a summary for other students to read in future semesters. As I search for classes to shop this semester, the evaluations of past students are very helpful. One course I was looking at (principally in order to fulfill a Quantitative Reasoning requirement [QR credit, more on that later]) was Electrical Engineering 201, Intro to Computer Engineering. This course was generally favorably reviewed but there was one person whose comment was so…
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    FactCheckED.org

  • Term Of The Week: Franking

    11 Mar 2010 | 4:00 pm
    Franking is the privilege that allows members of Congress to send official mail for free, using their signature instead of normal postage.

  • New Lesson: Oil Exaggerations

    19 Aug 2009 | 2:05 am
    Ever notice how political speeches and ads always mention “the worst,” “the best,” “the largest,” “the most”? It’s effective to use superlatives, but it isn’t always accurate. For instance, President Barack Obama has said that “we import more oil today than ever before” – but do we? How can you find out? What do the numbers really mean? And why would he say it if it wasn’t true? In this lesson, students will weigh Obama’s superlative claim against the facts.

  • Topical Lesson: Oil Exaggerations

    19 Aug 2009 | 2:05 am
    Ever notice how political speeches and ads always mention “the worst,” “the best,” “the largest,” “the most”? It’s effective to use superlatives, but it isn’t always accurate. For instance, President Barack Obama has said that “we import more oil today than ever before” – but do we? How can you find out? What do the numbers really mean? And why would he say it if it wasn’t true? In this lesson, students will weigh Obama’s superlative claim against the facts.

  • New Lesson: Seeing is Believing

    21 Apr 2009 | 11:30 pm
    You’ve heard that a picture is worth a thousand words, but which words? What are the images we see daily – in magazines, on billboards, on TV – really trying to tell us? Pictures and other visual elements can pack a lot of rhetorical punch, enhancing verbal arguments or making arguments of their own. This lesson gives students some tools for unpacking visual rhetoric in advertising and politics.

  • New Lesson: Building a Better Argument

    24 Nov 2008 | 3:41 am
    Whether it’s an ad for burger chains, the closing scene of a “Law & Order” spinoff, a discussion with the parents about your social life or a coach disputing a close call, arguments are an inescapable part of our lives. In this lesson, students will learn to create good arguments by getting a handle on the basic structure. The lesson will provide useful tips for picking out premises and conclusions and for analyzing the effectiveness of arguments.
 
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    CollegeBlender - Blogwire - Popular Posts

  • Made it to Germany [Jisk.ca]

    CollegeBlender - College Social Media
    Got here safe and sound! I’m staying with my Sweetie until we can find me a place in the city. Hopefully we’ll get this done soon. Not that I don’t enjoy spending time with him, but it’s much more convenient for me to be in the city since my

  • Getting Really Ready [Jisk.ca]

    CollegeBlender - College Social Media
    Blahhh. I just changed some Canadian dollars to Euros at a whopping rate of 1.65. Oh well, had to be done. Guess not enough people listened to Goldman Sachs’ advice to buy the Canadian dollar! Hopefully I won’t have to pay a 2-3 month rent deposi

  • Favourite Christmas Gifts [Jisk.ca]

    CollegeBlender - College Social Media
    My favourites are the gifts I bought for the 2 bubs I used to babysit. This daisy sandwich cutter for the 6 year old girl: And the train sandwich cutter for the 2 year old boy! Both from Williams-Sonoma. I want to encourage them to eat healthy and t

  • Exchage rate hopeful [Jisk.ca]

    CollegeBlender - College Social Media
    Goldman Sachs is urging people to buy the Canadian dollar! Reasons: there is room for growth, our government carries a surplus, and our economy is not as bad compared to other first world countries. Hmm, and I’m going to Europe? lol. It’s okay. I

  • One of the best years of my life [Jisk.ca]

    CollegeBlender - College Social Media
    Eeeee, I’ve been meaning to do a recap of 2008, but have been super busy with work and family and friends. Still am but I really want to write an entry! 2008 was a GREAT year. I rang in the new year with the Cute Boy in Berlin. We watched the fir
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    EQ Library

  • Loneliness is Contagious…

    josh@6seconds.org (Joshua Freedman)
    11 Mar 2010 | 9:27 pm
    http://news.uchicago.edu/news.php?asset_id=1796 We’ve talked before about emotions being contagious. Well, here’s a study that was done at the University of Chicago about social networks  that discovered that lonely people actually spread that loneliness to others around them – friends, neighbors, anyone they come into contact with. The most interesting thing about this study for me is that they talk about the mechanism for the spread – they reference a gradual ‘fraying’ at the edges of society. They also showed that this phenomenon was more pronounced…

  • Fight or Flow in Avatar

    josh@6seconds.org (Joshua Freedman)
    11 Mar 2010 | 8:20 pm
    One of the fundamental choices we each make in each moment is to live in that state of fight or in the state of flow.  As I’ve written before (in this article and in At the Heart of Leadership): FIGHT is characterized by power where the goal is the be right OVER another; emotions such as anger are signals of power and sorrow are signals of weakness. In FLOW being right or wrong are less important; the goal is to connect in a purposeful, significant way. The film Avatar illustrates this choice on several levels.  Perhaps the most vivid moment is when protagonists Jake Sully and Neytiri…

  • Relational Power for Women Leaders

    josh@6seconds.org (Joshua Freedman)
    10 Mar 2010 | 8:47 pm
    Deborah Williams Havert, one of Six Seconds team members, presented at at the Columbus State University’s Women’s Leadership Development Conference last month.  Deborah’s session on “Leading With Relational Power” explored the power of the Six Seconds’ EQ Model in leadership — connecting participants with tools to move themselves and others to put purpose in action. On March 2 & 3 the Cunningham Center for Leadership Development hosted the Fifth Annual Women’s Leadership Conference in Columbus, Georgia. Its Leadership Institute has as its…

  • More From ‘Race to Nowhere’

    josh@6seconds.org (Joshua Freedman)
    10 Mar 2010 | 5:56 pm
    Here’s a posting from the ‘Race to Nowhere’ Facebook site today: “This week I was struck by a comment at a faculty in-service day recognizing the packed schedule left little time for reflection and processing. This is our kids experience every day, and they come home to more work. Do our young people have adequate time to process what they are learning each day?” Yes!! Such a relevant point. Adding a portion of time in any cycle, (even life?), for reflection and processing is SO important. This is a recurring theme in Six Seconds trainings, especially the courses…

  • Artificial Emotional Intelligence?

    josh@6seconds.org (Joshua Freedman)
    6 Mar 2010 | 12:13 pm
    Make Magazine has an interesting piece on emotionally interacting with a digitally created piece of art in their January 2010 issue. The two links below are the creator’s own website showing the ‘creature’ and then the link to the Make Magazine blurb titled ‘Emotional Aquatics’. The article goes into a little bit of depth about how the interactive process actually works – namely a person comes to observe the piece, the ‘creature’ detects that someone is watching and has one of two reactions – ‘shy but playfully curious, or totally terrified.’ Apparently the viewers tend…
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    Facing History and Ourselves

  • Facing History Students from Rwanda to Travel to Boston and Washington, D.C.

    EmmaSamler
    11 Mar 2010 | 6:06 am
    press_type:  Press Release March 10, 2010 Facing History and Ourselves Students... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Hundreds Killed in Nigeria’s Religious and Ethnic Violence

    IlanaKlarman
    10 Mar 2010 | 12:40 pm
    March 10, 2010 The New York Times reports that “a weekend of vicious ethnic violence” left as many as 500 members of a Christian ethnic group murdered and thousands injured in... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Remembering the Past in Chile

    IlanaKlarman
    8 Mar 2010 | 1:55 pm
    March 8, 2010 In the aftermath of the earthquake in Chile, the Chilean military is back on the streets for the first time since Pinochet’s military dictatorship in the 1970s and... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Armenian Genocide Vote Irks Turkey

    IlanaKlarman
    5 Mar 2010 | 1:07 pm
    March 5, 2010 Going against the Obama administration, “a U.S. congressional committee approved a resolution condemning the 1915 slaughter of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Nazi Film Still Pains Relatives

    IlanaKlarman
    3 Mar 2010 | 1:35 pm
    March 3, 2010 German film director Veit Harlan wrote and directed “Jew Süss,” a 1940 box office success in Nazi Germany that, according to a New York Times article by Larry Rohter,... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
 
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    EdTechTalk

  • Teachers Teaching Teachers #191 - Katherine Schulten and the Learning Network AND "...making the case for the NWP - 03.10.10

    Paul Allison
    11 Mar 2010 | 7:06 pm
    n the first half of this weeks episode of Teachers Teaching Teachers, we had an inspiring conversation with Katherine Schulten editor of The Learning Network at the New York Times.  Our theme for this week's Teachers Teaching Teachers was about increasing teacher voice in public debates. Katherine suggested how we might use The Learning Network for that. In addition, we were joined by: Elyse Eidman-Aadahl, director of National Programs and Site Development at the National Writing Project, University of California, Berkeley and Andrea Zellner a leader at the Red Cedar Writing Project,…

  • Conversations Episode 66 - Will You Pay?

    LParisi
    10 Mar 2010 | 4:20 pm
      This week, Sheila Adams, Lisa Parisi, and Maria Knee were joined by Ginger Lewman for a conversation about free tools.  How much are we willing to pay if the tools don't stay free?    This week, Sheila Adams, Lisa Parisi, and Maria Knee were joined by Ginger Lewman for a conversation about free tools.  How much are we willing to pay if the tools don't stay free?     Chat Archive: 64:22 minutes (29.47 MB)read more

  • EdTechWeekly #156

    JenM
    7 Mar 2010 | 6:27 pm
    Week 1 without Jeff ... In a special EdTechWeekly, guests Bud Hunt and Zac Chase share their perspectives on two events impacting the education community this week, including the recent TEDxNYED conference and the funding crisis facing the National Writing Project. Dave and John kept the conversation moving while Jen just struggled to remember the passwords to post the audio. Join us next week for the "Dave and Jen Show" to discuss Dave's research ideas.  EdTechWeekly #156 March 7, 2010 This Week's Delicious Links Chat Log Below     48:18 minutes (22.11 MB)read…

  • Teachers Teaching Teachers #189 - Reading and Writing in Kentuckiana: Paul Hankins and student talk about their Ning - 02.24.10

    Paul Allison
    7 Mar 2010 | 1:07 pm
    On this episode of Teachers Teaching Teachers, you will learn more about RAW INcK: Reading and Writing in Kentuckiana. Our guests were one site’s student managers, Tyler, along with their teacher, Paul W. Hankins, an English Teacher and Creator of RAW INcK. (Another student-manager of the Ning, Jin joined us in the chat room.) On this episode of Teachers Teaching Teachers, you will learn more about RAW INcK: Reading and Writing in Kentuckiana. Our guests were one site’s student managers, Tyler, along with their teacher, Paul W. Hankins, an English Teacher and Creator of RAW INcK.

  • K12 Online Echo: Kelly Hines

    susanvg
    5 Mar 2010 | 1:29 pm
    We were very fortunate to have Kelly Hines as a guest on the Echo. Her K12 Online 2009 presentation, Little Kids - Big Possibilities was streamed. She elaborated on the work she does with her students. It was a lively discussion. Kelly Hines joined us for a lively chat and discussion. We streamed her k12 Online 2009 presentation, Little Kids- Big Possibilities. Kelly discussed the work she does with her students. Chat Log   62:48 minutes (28.75 MB)read more
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    Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

  • Academic Vocabulary

    Larry Ferlazzo
    12 Mar 2010 | 5:51 am
    I’ve just updated The Best Websites For Developing Academic English Skills & Vocabulary. Please check it out, and feel free to suggest additional resources.

  • Some Things I’ll Be Doing The Rest Of The Year…

    Larry Ferlazzo
    11 Mar 2010 | 9:45 pm
    I thought readers might find it interesting to hear about some things I’ll be doing (or will be happening in my professional life) during the rest of 2010… * My second book, English Language Learners: Teaching Strategies That Work, will be published in April by Linworth Publishing. * I’ll be finishing the manuscript for my third book — geared to all teachers and focusing on classroom management and instructional strategies — by the end of the summer. It will be published by Eye On Education in early 2011. I might reduce the number of posts I write here during a…

  • What Are The Oldest Living Things On Earth?

    Larry Ferlazzo
    11 Mar 2010 | 9:33 pm
    When You Were Just A Twinkle In A Cro-Magnon’s Eye is a neat interactive about the oldest living things on our planet. Here is what it says in its introduction: So you think you’ve seen it all? Well, in the grand scheme of things, you’re just a baby. There are some creatures on this planet that have lived through many a rise and fall of empires. Some whales alive today were gliding through the ocean’s waters during the U.S. Civil War, and the world’s oldest tree was photosynthesizing while the pyramids were being built. Take a look at six of the oldest living…

  • Chile Update

    Larry Ferlazzo
    11 Mar 2010 | 9:22 pm
    Here are two new additions to The Best Sites To Learn About The Earthquake In Chile (& Possible Tsunami): Chile, nine days later is a series of images from the Boston Globe’s Big Picture. Living In The Aftermath is a Wall Street Journal slideshow.

  • “When You Expect Rapid Feedback, the Fire to Perform Gets Hotter”

    Larry Ferlazzo
    11 Mar 2010 | 9:17 pm
    When You Expect Rapid Feedback, the Fire to Perform Gets Hotter is the title of an article reporting on an interesting study. It basically says that you’ll do better on a project if you have been led to believe you’ll be receiving prompt feedback on its quality. I suspect that I’m not the only teacher out there who has procrastinated on getting feedback to students on their work. In the world as we’d like it to be, of course, all of us should want to do our best work all the time. However, since we actually live in the world as it is, it sounds like letting students…
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    Millard Fillmore's Bathtub

  • Birthers claim Obama born in Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub in 1853

    Ed Darrell
    12 Mar 2010 | 5:03 am
    With Henry Louis Mencken as his father. No, that’s not really what they claim (I think; sometimes it’s difficult to tell). But what happened, and how it spread virally through websites of birthers and Obama haters, should provide a moral to someone’s story. To demonstrate how easy it is to create hoax claims about Obama and birth certificates, somebody created a false MySpace page, and a story of an office supply store employee who helped the Obama campaign generate a false birth certificate. Birthers jumped on the story as proof that the Obama birth certificate is false. …

  • Texas standards for social studies — where to find them

    Ed Darrell
    11 Mar 2010 | 12:52 pm
    Texas Tribune quickly establishes itself as a Really Useful journal on Texas politics, especially with features like this summary of the proposed Texas social studies standards, with comments on changes and the history of the changes. For example, explaining an insulting cut of Texas and African American heroes, Texas Tribune explains: Tuskegee Airman Commander dumped: Board member McLeroy made the motion to pull Oveta Culp Hobby and Benjamin O. Davis from this standard. Hobby — a Houston newspaper publisher, the director the federal health department in the 1950s, and the wife of Texas…

  • Science bloggers doing it wrong?

    Ed Darrell
    10 Mar 2010 | 5:58 am
    A new paper in the Journal of Science Communication offers a critique of the workings and effectiveness of science bloggers. Happily for us, the paper is open access, freely available. The article appears to be from some research for a Ph.D.: Inna Kouper is a doctoral candidate in the School of Library and Information Science, Indiana University Bloomington. Her current research interests lie broadly in the areas of language and information; the role of science in society; and the evolution of information and communication technologies generally described as social or participatory media…

  • Sour grapes of wrath at the Texas State Board of Education

    Ed Darrell
    10 Mar 2010 | 3:26 am
    A couple of months can make a big difference.  Can. A difference which way? Two months ago the Texas State Board of Education suspended its revamping of social studies standards — the efforts to grind the standards into a right-wing crutch were so controversial that hearings, discussion and amending proposed standards took up more time than allotted.  SBOE delayed final votes until March 10. Today. Last week Texas voted in primary elections.  Several board members’ terms are up.  Two incumbents lost primary challenges, Don McLeroy, the Boss Tweed of the right wing cultural war…

  • For sage grouse, not a nickel’s difference between Bush and Obama

    Ed Darrell
    9 Mar 2010 | 5:46 am
    Sage grouse don’t vote. If they did vote, they’d have a difficult time picking between Democrats and Republicans on their own life and death issues. Of course, there aren’t enough sage grouse to make much of a difference on election day. That’s the problem. Courting sage grouse - Photo from Gail Patricelli, University of California - Davis Last week the U.S. Department of the Interior released a decision on the fate of the sage grouse:  Near enough to extinction to merit protection under the Endangered Species Act, but too far down the list of endangered plants and…
 
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    Around the Corner-MGuhlin.org

  • DiigoNotes - The New Writing Pedagogy

    12 Mar 2010 | 7:06 am
    The New Writing Pedagogy The New Writing Pedagogy Using social networking tools to keep up with student interests. By Angela Pascopella and Will Richardson November 2009 Because Cory was in a class that used social networking tools for writing—specifically Elgg, an open source media platform—other students, teachers, family members and even the general public were able to comment on his story. A fifth-grade class at the Saugus (Calif.) Union School District is working on a writing assignment using social networking. The district is leading an ambitious plan to rethink writing…

  • DiigoNotes - Microsoft Ends War on Macintosh with Office 2011 - Yahoo! News

    12 Mar 2010 | 4:03 am
    This has to be one of the many reasons Microsoft has been chastised for the games it plays.... Microsoft Ends War on Macintosh with Office 2011 - Yahoo! News Microsoft Ends War on Macintosh with Office 2011 David Coursey David Coursey – Thu Feb 11, 8:47 pm ET The long war between Microsoft and Macintosh is almost over. It will end when Microsoft ships Office for Mac 2011, the release that ends Redmond's decade-long attack on Apple computers in business. Office 2011, due before the holidays, replaces the much-despised Entourage e-mail client and information manager…

  • DiigoNotes - The Digital Writing Workshop - Part 2

    11 Mar 2010 | 12:33 pm
    Considering that Troy Hicks not only left me out of his book (smile), but then had the temerity to not even send me a review copy (sniff...tears rolling down my cheek), I'm continuing my expose of the great ideas he has shared in it and that I want to remember when I give the book back to its owner. Review Part 1. New media needs to be informed by what writing teachers know, precisely because writing teachers focus specifically on texts and how situated people (learn how to) use them to make things happen (Anne Wysocki) MAPS = Mode, Audience, Purpose and Situation...add a second M for media.

  • Skype in Schools - Adjust Your Sails!

    11 Mar 2010 | 6:47 am
    A short two weeks ago, if that, Christian Long, Brian Lamb and I were trying to get a better understanding of Skype use in schools. One of the primary issues that was difficult to explain was, "If Skype is free for use, what school district would choose to NOT allow teachers to use it in their classrooms with students?" Why would districts pay for service they can get for free? The only real objection would be if such usage would place the District or its users in a position of liability. You know, with so many wonderful tools, it's easy to focus on the 2-3 that are banned. But are the…

  • DiigoNotes - The Digital Writing Workshop

    10 Mar 2010 | 6:16 pm
    Image Source: http://www.heinemann.com/products/E02674.aspx Update: There's a Part 2 to this blog entry. The following are my notes on Troy Hicks' The Digital Writing Workshop, an engaging book about revamping the writing workshop with digital tools. Earlier this month, I shared my thoughts about revamping the Writing Workshop but, obviously, I had not seen Troy's book.  And, reading it was a who's who of folks I've interacted with via the blogosphere (whatever that is) over the last few years. Fascinating. I have to admit, though, I feel a bit left out. The fault is mine no doubt.
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    Steve Hargadon

  • Two Great Global Education Webinars Tonight Live in Elluminate

    Steve Hargadon
    11 Mar 2010 | 2:50 pm
    Tonight we've got two great live and interactive events later today as part of an ongoing focus on Global Education.  All of our events are, of course, free and you're welcome to publicize them to any individuals or groups you think might find them of interest.First, at 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern (1am next day GMT / international times I'll be talking with Sharon Peters and Noble Kelly on "Education Without Borders." Education Beyond Borders is a non-profit NGO devoted to closing the education divide through teacher professional development and community…

  • Live in Elluminate Thursday with Sharon Peters and Noble Kelly on "Education Beyond Borders"

    Steve Hargadon
    10 Mar 2010 | 7:38 am
    Date: Thursday, March 11th, 2010Time: 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern / 1am (next day) GMT (international times here)Duration: 1 hourLocation: In Elluminate. Log in at http://tr.im/futureofed. The Elluminate room will be open up to 30 minutes before the event if you want to come in early. To make sure that your computer is configured for Elluminate, please visit http://www.elluminate.com/support. Recordings of the session will be posted within a day of the event at the event page.Event and Recording Page:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/60485Join me on Thursday evening as I…

  • Live Interview Tonight with the Authors of Total Recall

    Steve Hargadon
    10 Mar 2010 | 6:00 am
    Date: Wednesday, March 10th, 2010Time: 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern / 1am (next day) GMT (international times here)Duration: 1 hourLocation: In Elluminate. Log in at http://tr.im/futureofed. The Elluminate room will be open up to 30 minutes before the event if you want to come in early. To make sure that your computer is configured for Elluminate, please visit http://www.elluminate.com/support. Recordings of the session will be posted within a day of the event at the event page.Event and Recording Page:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/60484"What if you could remember…

  • This Week's Exciting Live and Interactive Events

    Steve Hargadon
    9 Mar 2010 | 12:27 pm
    Below are this week's public, free, and interactive webinars through LearnCentral.org, the social learning network for education that I work on for Elluminate.The time of the events below will show up automatically in your own time zone when you are registered in LearnCentral and when you have chosen your time zone in your profile. Event recordings are posted and available after the events if you aren't able to attend them live. Be on the lookout for Australia-time-friendly events as part of the new Australia Series!I also hope you'll consider hosting your own public webinars using the…

  • Bernard Robin Live Tonight on Ditigal Storytelling

    Steve Hargadon
    9 Mar 2010 | 11:15 am
    Date:  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010Time:  5:00pm Pacific / 8:00pm Eastern / 1:00am (next day) GMT (int'l times here)Location: In Elluminate. Log in at http://tr.im/futureofed.The Elluminate room will be open up to 30 minutes before the event if you want to come in early. To make sure that your computer is configured for Elluminate, please visit http://www.elluminate.com/support. Recordings of the session will be posted within a day of the event at the event page. The good folks at MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resources for Learning and Online Teaching) and and I are coordinating a…
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    Sue Waters Blog

  • Free to good home!

    Sue Waters
    16 Feb 2010 | 8:34 pm
    Any takers? I’ve had enough of the work involved with dealing with spammers on Ning sites. So decided to reduce the workload by getting rid of eTools and Tips for Educators. It’s a cool name and URL – http://etools.ning.com/ If Ning is like blog sites once a URL has been deleted no-one including the original user can create the site again with that URL. Let me know if you would like to take it over (and use how you want) otherwise I’m deleting in 48 hours. PS  Unlike my husband who I’ve tried to give away (occasionally) it doesn’t come with an inbuilt…

  • Always Push Those Boundaries

    Sue Waters
    21 Jan 2010 | 9:09 pm
    It’s amazing how a blast from the past can be such a powerful reminder! I created Animoto video below over 2 years ago! It was unusual because as I said in the description: Had to push the boundaries of using Animoto by adding words and voice. Not because it was a good idea, it probably wasn’t, but the challenge was there so had to try! Today David N. left me the timely reminder in a comment: Happy to say I continue to push those boundaries and are learning new things every day. My motto– The only bad ideas are never trying or giving up too quickly Since Animoto allows you…

  • Relaxing Is?

    Sue Waters
    29 Dec 2009 | 1:57 am
    I’m currently enjoying a leisurely few days family holiday visiting my friend. Obviously I forgot to tell her dog I’m definitely NOT a dog person!  And balancing a MacBook and dog on lap while working on an iPhone isn’t easy Send back the cat! Hope you’re all having a great holiday break and here’s looking forward to an exciting 2010!

  • Edublog Awards – Thanks For Nominating My Sites

    Sue Waters
    13 Dec 2009 | 5:44 am
    This is a tough one, which Larry hinted at here… But I think it is important to take the time to thank those who nominated me and my different websites (Sue Waters Blog, The Edublogger and PLN Yourself) in several categories of the 2009 Edublogs Awards. Thanks Sue Wyatt, Jan Smith, Lesley Edwards, Burcu Akyol, Mike Sansone, David Truss, Gail Desler, Rliberni, Darcy Moore, and Shelly Terrell. I’m honored to have been nominated by you all (and apologies if I’ve missed anyone from the list — please let me know if I did as it defnitely isn’t deliberate!) As Larry…

  • Using Public Google Waves For Personal Learning

    Sue Waters
    30 Nov 2009 | 5:13 am
    There’s always a shiny new toy– and with it the stampede to use. Yes that was also me once too   Nowadays I’ve learnt very slow, steady saves time and my sanity. So I’m incredibly proud of the fact that I’ve never watched ANY Google Wave videos, read ANY tutorials and avoided every invite until I stumbled across a reason for investigating. My motivation was I discovered you can set up public waves that any one can join. I decided this was a good way for me and other educators to learn how to use Wave, by working together with each other, while also seeing how…
 
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    History Is Elementary

  • Pactomania, Brinkmanship, and Covert Ops...Oh My!

    Elementaryhistoryteacher
    11 Mar 2010 | 2:02 pm
    When I was a little girl my mother always shopped for the week’s groceries at the same location – the Kroger grocery store located in the Jamestown Shopping Center in College Park, Georgia. Mother was a slow and methodical shopper and inevitably she’d see someone she knew and would stand in the middle of the aisle talking for what seemed to me to be forever. The topics didn’t interest me at the time…..who was sick, who was well, who had divorced, the next impending PTA project, a church social….blah, blah, blah.I hated those trips….I was always attempting to find something to…

  • The Value of Historical Racism

    Elementaryhistoryteacher
    3 Mar 2010 | 3:38 pm
    It’s true that I have used this blog in the past to wish happy birthday to my children or my husband…..I’ve used this blog to mention my anniversary…..my mother’s death…..and a few other milestones in my personal life, but I’ve never really discussed my children and their academic life.That’s really not my purpose here.However, recently Dear Daughter brought home an assignment she received from her literature teacher, and it caught my attention. The smidgen of literature teacher that really IS hidden away somewhere in the darkest places of my being instantly noticed a great…

  • Cult of Personality

    Elementaryhistoryteacher
    24 Feb 2010 | 9:05 pm
    At first glance the song Cult of Personality by the band Living Color seems like a wonderful addition to lessons for Black History Month or a Civil Rights unit. The song begins with quotation from Malcom X…..a snippet from his Message to the Grass Roots….a speech that was given to unify African Americans on November 10, 1963. The quotation inserted in the lyrics is: “and during the few moments we have left…we want to talk right down to earth in a language that everybody here can easily understand.” The quotation is a little altered from the actual speech, but it’s easy to see how…

  • 13 Quick Facts Regarding "The Federalist"

    Elementaryhistoryteacher
    4 Feb 2010 | 4:37 am
    At some point during your high school government class or college Political Science course you had to read The Federalist. Jacob Cooke in the forward section for the collection of essays writes….the authoritative exposition of the Constitution [and] occupies an unrivaled place in our national political literature. 1. There are actually 85 articles regarding the ratification of the United States Constitution. They were originally published with the titles "The Federalist, No. 1”, The Federalist, No. 2”, etc.2. Originally only 84 essays were written – not 85. The extra essay came about…

  • Sometimes a Little Seizure Is Necessary

    Elementaryhistoryteacher
    3 Feb 2010 | 7:45 am
    I have this pair of magnets on my fridge. They don’t really belong to me. I confiscated them years ago from a student. He was throwing them up in the air, and as they whizzed past each other they bumped against each other making clicking and zinging noises as they fell back towards his outstretched hands. Over and over he threw them up in the air. The young man throwing them was a very intelligent student. It was possible for him to comprehend every word I said during those few precious minutes of instructional time, BUT there were students around him that weren’t as fortunate. They were…
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    Infinite Thinking Machine

  • Live in Elluminate Thursday with Sharon Peters and Noble Kelly on "Education Beyond Borders"

    10 Mar 2010 | 7:39 am
    Date: Thursday, March 11th, 2010Time: 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern / 1am (next day) GMT (international times here)Duration: 1 hourLocation: In Elluminate. Log in at http://tr.im/futureofed. The Elluminate room will be open up to 30 minutes before the event if you want to come in early. To make sure that your computer is configured for Elluminate, please visit http://www.elluminate.com/support. Recordings of the session will be posted within a day of the event at the event page.Event and Recording Page:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/60485Join me on Thursday evening as I…

  • Live Interview Tonight with the Authors of Total Recall

    10 Mar 2010 | 6:00 am
    Date: Wednesday, March 10th, 2010Time: 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern / 1am (next day) GMT (international times here)Duration: 1 hourLocation: In Elluminate. Log in at http://tr.im/futureofed. The Elluminate room will be open up to 30 minutes before the event if you want to come in early. To make sure that your computer is configured for Elluminate, please visit http://www.elluminate.com/support. Recordings of the session will be posted within a day of the event at the event page.Event and Recording Page:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/60484"What if you could remember…

  • This Week's Exciting Live and Interactive Events

    9 Mar 2010 | 12:30 pm
    Below are this week's public, free, and interactive webinars through LearnCentral.org, the social learning network for education that I work on for Elluminate.The time of the events below will show up automatically in your own time zone when you are registered in LearnCentral and when you have chosen your time zone in your profile. Event recordings are posted and available after the events if you aren't able to attend them live. Be on the lookout for Australia-time-friendly events as part of the new Australia Series!I also hope you'll consider hosting your own public webinars using the…

  • Bernard Robin Live Tonight on Ditigal Storytelling

    9 Mar 2010 | 11:16 am
    Date:  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010Time:  5:00pm Pacific / 8:00pm Eastern / 1:00am (next day) GMT (int'l times here)Location: In Elluminate. Log in at http://tr.im/futureofed.The Elluminate room will be open up to 30 minutes before the event if you want to come in early. To make sure that your computer is configured for Elluminate, please visit http://www.elluminate.com/support. Recordings of the session will be posted within a day of the event at the event page. The good folks at MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resources for Learning and Online Teaching) and and I are coordinating a…

  • This Week's Live and Interactive Events at LearnCentral

    1 Mar 2010 | 6:39 am
    Below are this week's public, free, and interactive webinars through LearnCentral.org, the social learning network for education that I work on for Elluminate.The time of the events below will show up automatically in your own time zone when you are registered in LearnCentral and when you have chosen your time zone in your profile. Event recordings are posted and available after the events if you aren't able to attend them live. Be on the lookout for Australia-time-friendly events as part of the new Australia Series!I also hope you'll consider hosting your own public webinars using the…
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    AssortedStuff

  • I Guess I Must Be Crazy

    Tim
    9 Mar 2010 | 5:03 pm
    In his discussion of Diane Ravitch’s new book, Jay Mathews inserts several declarative statements of what he believes to be truth, including the assertion that I must be nuts. And by his definition, I am. Many education reforms have gone badly in the last 20 years, but there never has been a golden age of school improvement. No Child Left Behind had many flaws, but it left us better off than than we were before, with more attention to low-income and learning disabled children, and some gains in lower grades, particularly in math. We bumble along, doing our best, hoping that our next…

  • Watch This

    Tim
    9 Mar 2010 | 3:46 am
    From the TEDxNYED event this past Saturday in New York, one of my favorite big thinkers, Lawrence Lessig with an excellent presentation on openness and the remixing of culture. Although the theme of this great set of talks was supposed to be education, even in the broadest sense Lessig never really makes the connection. So, it’s up to you. Every educator needs to understand how our intellectual property laws are making unwitting criminals out of our most creative students.

  • The Compliance Curriculum

    Tim
    28 Feb 2010 | 5:25 pm
    As often happens, one of Seth Godin’s daily posts this week left me with things to think about days after as well as to connect to other little pieces. His title is “It’s easier to teach compliance than initiative” and, unlike most of his entries, he’s not talking about business. Initiative is very difficult to teach to 28 students in a quiet classroom. It’s difficult to brag about in a school board meeting. And it’s a huge pain in the neck to do reliably. Schools like teaching compliance. They’re pretty good at it. Looking around the schools I…

  • Why Bother?

    Tim
    24 Feb 2010 | 1:57 pm
    When Amazon released the Kindle a couple of years ago, it generated lots of talk about it (or something like it) being the future of educational printed materials. Since then, some colleges have been testing the use of the Kindle DX, the larger, more book-sized version, to replace analog textbooks for some of their classes. One of those schools, Princeton, just released some data about their pilot and most of those participating found the results to be somewhat disappointing. But in spite of the cost savings, some students and professors said they found the technology limiting. The Kindle, a…

  • Fixing Fair Use

    Tim
    20 Feb 2010 | 4:35 pm
    There’s a good reason why most educators don’t understand US copyright law, especially the Fair Use provisions. Current fair use law is hazy by design; instead of laying out specific use cases, the law relies on the famous “four factors” about the purpose of the use, the nature of the copyrighted work, the amount borrowed, and the effect on the value of the original work. This can be maddening in many situations, because it is impossible to know in advance if a particular use qualifies. Clarifying and strengthening fair use is one of the five major goals of Public…
 
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    O'DonnellWeb

  • Wanna get into college? Be interesting.

    COD
    8 Mar 2010 | 1:01 pm
    This is absolutely not news to any reader here, but apparently it is possible to get into a top college without the AP classes, 99th percentile SAT, president of the honor society, and other cookie cutter accomplishments of the typical high achieving high school student. That is good news, because my kids are sort of counting on it

  • Traffic reporter fail in Fredericksburg

    COD
    2 Mar 2010 | 3:26 pm
    95 South was even more of a parking lot than normal today. I heard the traffic report on two local radio station at around 5:15 PM – 5:25 PM. The stations were 93.3 (WFLS) and 104.5. Both traffic reporters reported that all lanes were open on 95 S near Fredericksburg, and the extra slow traffic was just volume mixed with rain. One of the stations also reported that RT 3 was even more of a parking lot than normal. In reality, there was a broken down semi blocking the left and center lanes about 1 mile north of RT 3 on I-95. Once you got by that, traffic moved at the speed limit. RT 3 was…

  • Equal time for the first born

    COD
    1 Mar 2010 | 9:54 am
    Since I mentioned his sister’s birthday last month I should probably point out that he turned 16 yesterday. He spent the day fencing, followed by dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings, and cake and presents at home. He got the board game Axis & Allies (why yes, I did pick it out) and the Angel box set. Nice timing on that as we are close to finishing season 3 of Buffy.

  • The PetSmart overcharge scam

    COD
    27 Feb 2010 | 3:29 pm
    Last night we ran into Petsmart. After I paid (with a check card) I realized that they did not give me the sale price on one of the products that I purchased. I was overcharged by $2. When I pointed this out to the cashier she called for a price check, which confirmed that I was correct. What happened next was astonishing. She pulled out an old school manual credit card imprinting machine and said it would be 30 days before I saw a refund of the $2 overcharge. 30 days? Did I fall into a hot tub and land in 1978? When I asked why, she claimed that to process the credit electronically she would…

  • New Flash: A Killer Whale kills somebody

    COD
    25 Feb 2010 | 6:51 am
    I took this picture back in November on our trip to FL. I think it is Dawn Brancheau, the women that was killed by an Orca at Sea World yesterday. My caption is definitely less funny now than it was 3 months ago – but I have this thing about not changing history so I’m not deleting the caption. She died doing what she loved, which probably beats a lot of the alternatives. Well, it doesn’t beat not dying, but you know what I mean. I’d be quite happy for somebody to prove this isn’t Dawn, but it does look like her. For the record, I’m opposed to putting the…
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    iterating toward openness

  • Open courseware an ‘opportunity’ for education publishers

    david
    8 Mar 2010 | 3:54 pm
    I can hear Stephen now… eSchoolNews reports on a speech given today by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, which they summarize with the byline, “Secretary calls federal investment in open courseware an ‘opportunity’ for education publishers.” From the article: To support technological innovation in learning, President Obama has proposed investing $500 million over ten years in an Online Skills Initiative designed to produce free and open online courses that contribute to post-secondary success, Duncan said. These courses can be used by students, schools, and…

  • My TEDxNYED Talk

    david
    8 Mar 2010 | 10:37 am
    Photo by AntonioViva. I had an absolutely brilliant time at TEDxNYED over the weekend, reconnecting with old friends like Larry Lessig, George Siemens, Neeru Khosla, and Dan Cohen, and making new friends like Michael Wesch, Gina Bianchini, Amy Bruckman, Chris Lehmann, and Dan Meyer. The videos of our talks will be online in a few weeks. In the mean time, I’m posting the final version of the notes I wrote before creating slides for the talk. This is the fifth or sixth version of the notes, and due to time constraints not even all of this version got in – but much of it did. My…

  • The OCWC Value Proposition

    david
    3 Mar 2010 | 11:31 am
    In response to yesterday’s post, OCWC President Steve Carson left a link in the comment section to the organization’s 2010-2011 strategic plan. Reading through the plan provided a number of insights, but let me focus on two here and you can read the rest of the document for yourself. First, the OCWC budget for 2010 is $1,000,000. Second, the document includes a section called “Value Proposition to Members,” which includes the following explanation: OCW Consortium currently offers educational institutions the following benefits: OCWC membership… • Provides an…

  • OCWC Raises $350k – Shouldn’t I Be Happy?

    david
    2 Mar 2010 | 9:01 am
    Yesterday OpenCourseWare Consortium President Steve Carson announceed that the OCWC has received commitments of $350k over the next five years from several of its university members. In a reference to concerns I (and others) have expressed about the sustainability of the OCW movement, Steve writes: “Not only are these universities sustaining their own publications, but they are making meaningful commitments to the global effort to openly publish educational materials.” So why don’t I feel happy at this news? I think it is because I just don’t understand how the OCWC…

  • The Door Keeps Revolving

    david
    25 Feb 2010 | 9:41 am
    Just heard from my friend Bobbi Kurshan, the Executive Director of Curriki, that she will be leaving that post on March 1st. I wish her well. Curriki will be looking for a new ED shortly and will very much continue to stay active in the OER space (much like Hewlett has continued to do after Mike, Cathy, and Phoenix left). So, unless I’m missing someone, the list of OER leaders who have moved on in the last few years now includes: Mike, Cathy, and Phoenix, from the Hewlett Foundation Ira and Chris, from the Mellon Foundation Ahrash, from CC Learn Bobbi, from Curriki Anne, from MIT OCW…
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    Graham Wegner - Open Educator

  • An Observation For What It’s Worth

    Graham
    1 Mar 2010 | 4:11 am
    So today I heard John Hattie today going through his list of factors that make a difference (or don’t) for students in our schools. A few sacred cows get a little trampled on in this process but here’s what popped into my head as he (eloquently) spoke this morning. His research is based on thousands of research studies conducted over the past fifteen years, so reflects what has been happening in schools. So essentially his research can only be used to change schools as we currently know them.  I know that all research is based on past events but how do his findings ensure that we…

  • John Hattie – Visible Learning

    Graham
    1 Mar 2010 | 3:07 am
    Here are my raw and at times possibly inaccurate notes from this morning’s presentation by Professor John Hattie. His meta-analysis of educational research in his book “Visible Learning” has provoked a lot of interest and some indignation from the education community. I will say that he is a very engaging speaker able to show off his findings while weaving a narrative and context for his audience to come to terms with his findings. He spoke for about two hours today – we were lucky enough to have six of our staff attend – and my attention waned a bit at times so…

  • Promises, Promises

    Graham
    23 Feb 2010 | 3:37 am
    So, we will be getting the first look at the new National Curriculum on March 1. This has been a while in the making but hopefully will be met with much less controversy than the heralded-and-maligned-at-the-same-time My School website. The government even have a website ready and waiting for every educator to (socially) bookmark. Says it all, really.

  • Network Payoff

    Graham
    22 Feb 2010 | 3:26 am
    I work three days a week in a primary classroom. So, theoretically, I am in a good position for putting edtech and Web 2.0 idealism into a realistic roadtest situation. I don’t stand behind podiums at conferences berating and exhorting the masses to bring their classroom into the digital world. I don’t have influential push (or pull) within my own system – and I’m not sure what I’d be suggesting even if I did. But I have invested an enormous amount of my life over the past four years into this networked learning thing. If anything, I have a lot of digital runs on…

  • There’s Always A Workaround

    Graham
    13 Feb 2010 | 3:32 am
    [Some of my students] [were designing their] [covers for their High Flyer folders] … when I noticed that they were on a number of free font websites. I thought that I would warn them that while I had no problem with them browsing fonts, they would be unable to download their choice onto the school laptops as they would be locked out by admin privileges on our network. Then I realised that fact was irrelevant – they were using the preview pane to create their own text samples, grabbing them as partial screen grabs and then inserting them into their design. Yet another example of…
 
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    Generation YES Blog

  • Six Myths About Service Learning

    Sylvia Martinez
    11 Mar 2010 | 1:44 pm
    From Principal Leadership magazine: Six Myths About Service Learning by Scott Richardson and Michael Josephson. Service learning is the Rodney Dangerfield of education. Students say that it’s an “annoying requirement.” Parents say, “My kid will learn more in the classroom than in the community.” Teachers say, “It won’t improve test scores.” Principals say, “It’s a feel-good mandate that kids aren’t capable of understanding.” Read this article to find out about the six myths and the real facts about service learning. Done…

  • NAEP 2014 Technology and Engineering Literacy Assessment

    Sylvia Martinez
    10 Mar 2010 | 2:25 am
    For the past year, I’ve been on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Technology Literacy Assessment planning committee. (See my post NAEP Technology Assessment 2012.) The first phase of writing the framework (which is where my committee contributed) is now complete. At the last meeting, we recommended to the NAEP Governing Board that the name be changed to better align the assessment with the common vocabulary and conventions used in K-12. Simply put, calling the assessment “Technology Literacy” didn’t really capture the breadth of the planned assessment,…

  • Student-created video for NCCE closing keynote

    Sylvia Martinez
    9 Mar 2010 | 1:02 am
    Last week over 70 GenYES students from all over Washington were part of the tech crew at NCCE, the Northwest Council of Computer Educators state conference. Students from grades 7-12 helped with video and audio production, technical support for attendees, geocaching events, and support for speakers. (Blog post here: NCCE student tech support at your service) And one more thing. In between all this, the GenYES student crew from the Kent School District put together this video that was shown during the closing keynote. NCCE asked for a video that would capture the spirit of Seattle and the…

  • Edutopia – Students Teach Technology to Teachers

    Sylvia Martinez
    8 Mar 2010 | 9:16 am
    “When middle school students Alison and Nat confer with their teachers, it’s to talk about the lessons the students are preparing for student teachers as part of a new Generation www.Y program. The young people are part of a growing group in schools across the country who are sharing their own expertise to help make prospective teachers more aware of how students learn and the best ways technology can be used to support their learning.” Edutopia, the website of the George Lucas Educational Foundation published this story and video on the GenYES program in Olympia, WA. The…

  • The Youngest Speaker at TED Advocates “Kid’s Eye View”

    Sylvia Martinez
    7 Mar 2010 | 2:54 pm
    During her time on the stage at TED, Adora advocated a sort of “Kid’s Rights” sentiment, arguing that adults should take young people more seriously and be more interested in learning from kids to foster a more reciprocal relationship between age groups. She says that because kids tend to be less constrained by social norms than adults as we get older, young people can often offer a unique and perhaps more creative, out-of-the-box approach to problems. via The Youngest Speaker at TED Advocates “Kid’s Eye View”
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    Special Education Law Blog

  • Seclusion & Restraints Bill Passes House of Representatives

    Jim Gerl
    11 Mar 2010 | 7:53 am
    Image via WikipediaThe seclusion and restraints bill, HR 4247, now known as the Keeping All Students Safe Act, passed the U. S. House of representatives by a vote of 262 - 153. Here is an account by the Policy Insider blog of the Council for Exceptional Children.The bill now moves to the senate where it is sponsored by Senator Dodd and is called S.2860. The bill would make seclusion and restraints a last resort and would require training on the techniques and parental notification. There is also a competitive grant program established to encourage school-wide positive behavior supports. Here…

  • Poll Nearly Deadlocked: What Would You Change About IDEA?

    Jim Gerl
    10 Mar 2010 | 11:08 am
    Image via WikipediaOur ongoing poll is turning out to be a tight race. The question is what should be changed about IDEA. Currently there is only a five vote difference between the top five choices. The poll is on the lefthand side of the blog. Be sure to make your voice heard. Vote!Special education law is a cycle of ever-changing requirements. Reauthorization of IDEA is now overdue. For relative newcomers, the cycle of special ed law is as follows: the law is passed by Congress, OSEP adopts regulations, the states adopt regulations, all of these are interpreted in hearing officer decisions…

  • How Widespread is Discrimination Against Kids on the Basis of Disability?

    Jim Gerl
    8 Mar 2010 | 2:59 pm
    Image via WikipediaI understand that Arne Duncan, the Secretary of Education is going to announce today that the Office of Civil Rights in his Department is about to step up the heat in diminishing discrimination in the schools. At the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, the scene of one of the bloodiest battled in the Civil Rights Movement, Duncan was set to announce that OCR will intensify its efforts to bring enforcement actions against discrimination in schools based on race, gender and disability. Here is a news account from the New York Times. According to the Washington…

  • Should Private Schools Be Covered by the New Seclusion & Restraint Law?

    Jim Gerl
    4 Mar 2010 | 12:10 pm
    Image via WikipediaThe Council For American Private Education, an umbrella group representing a large percentage of private schools in the United States, has written a letter to Congress asking that private schools be exempted from HR 4247, the new Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act.In response, the group called the Alliance to Prevent Restraint and Aversive Intervention and Seclusion, an umbrella group of groups that advocate for parents and children with disabilities, issued their own letter to Congress opposing the CAPE letter. Here is an analysis of the controversy…

  • How much Does the Federal Government Spend on Special Education

    Jim Gerl
    3 Mar 2010 | 12:40 pm
    Image via WikipediaThe Government Accountability Office has released a report on federal education spending. You can review the entire report here. Those of us who crunch numbers enjoy these sorts of reports.Although it is difficult to decipher in parts because special ed funds get disbursed through different programs and the federal budget is a big mess. Nonetheless, these reports are instructive. The main special ed program, the grants to states, makes up about 19% of the total federal education spending. The total of this program for Fiscal Years 2006, 2007 and 2008 was 32.3 billion…
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    Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog » Students

  • Autonomous Underwater Robot Decides on Experiment Options

    curiouscat
    12 Mar 2010 | 6:11 am
    Ocean robot plans experiments the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) used a piece of software called “T rex”, which operates in a similar way to the software used to control Nasa’s Mars Exploration Rovers – helping them to avoid obstacles on the surface of the Red Planet. One main difference between the two pieces of software is that for the Mars rovers, the software ran in the control centre on Earth. With this marine vehicle, it runs onboard the robotic vehicle. … “We tell it, ‘here’s the range of tasks that we want you to perform’, and…

  • IBM Fellow Grady Booch on the Value of Engineering?

    curiouscat
    8 Mar 2010 | 8:19 am
    In this webcast IBM Fellow Grady Booch discusses the critical role engineering plays in moving society forward. And he explores the history of science and engineering. This interesting webcast would be a good video to show children, or anyone, to bring out the desire to study engineering and encourage them to study so they can join the many engineers shaping our world and our future. Related: What is an Engineer? – Engineer Tried to Save His Sister and Invented a Breakthrough Medical Device – The Engineer That Made Your Cat a Photographer – Engineers Should Follow Their…

  • Norway Reduces Infections by Reducing Antibiotic Use

    curiouscat
    27 Feb 2010 | 12:34 pm
    Norway conquers infections by cutting use of antibiotics Twenty-five years ago, Norwegians were also losing their lives to this bacteria. But Norway’s public health system fought back with an aggressive program that made it the most infection-free country in the world. A key part of that program was cutting back severely on the use of antibiotics. Now a spate of new studies from around the world prove that Norway’s model can be replicated with extraordinary success, and public health experts are saying these deaths — 19,000 in the U.S. each year alone, more than from AIDS…

  • Researchers Explain How Rotifers Thrive Despite Forgoing Sex

    curiouscat
    21 Feb 2010 | 4:44 pm
    Bdelloid rotifers haven’t had sex for at least thirty million years. Most asexual animals are doomed to extinction. The excellent show, Science Friday, looks at the extraordinary adaptations that allow rotifers to thrive sex-free. For millions of years, the rotifers have reproduced asexually, flying in the face of an idea known as the Red Queen Hypothesis, which states that without the advantage of sexual reproduction, more-rapidly evolving parasites and predators will eventually doom the asexual species. Now, the researchers studying the tiny organism say that its ability to dry up and…

  • $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Sustainability

    curiouscat
    10 Feb 2010 | 10:15 am
    According to the United Nations, more than 40 percent of Africans live in poverty, subsisting on less than US$1 a day. As co-founder and CEO of the nonprofit social enterprise KickStart, Fisher develops and markets moneymaking tools such as low-cost, human-powered irrigation pumps that improve the lives of small-scale rural farmers – the majority of the poor in sub-Saharan Africa. “These poor rural farmers have one asset: a small plot of land; and one basic skill: farming. The best business they can pursue is irrigated farming,” Fisher explained. “Once they employ…
 
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    Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog » K-12

  • Innovation, America and Engineering: NAE Grand Challenges Summit

    curiouscat
    6 Mar 2010 | 11:34 am
    Innovation, America and Engineering: NAE Grand Challenges Summit in Raleigh, North Carolina: Friday morning in Raleigh, a group of engineers from industry, academia and even government met to discuss the threat of America losing its global lead in innovation. The panel discussion was part of a Summit on the National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges… Jeff Wadsworth, CEO and president of Battelle Memorial Institute, noted that high school graduation rates have fallen from about 86 percent in the Baby Boomer generation to about 72 percent today. He compared that to a 96 percent…

  • Infinity Project: Engineering Education for Today’s Classroom

    curiouscat
    24 Jan 2010 | 4:57 am
    The Infinity Project is a national middle school, high school, and early college engineering curricula. The math and science-based engineering and technology education initiative helps educators deliver a maximum of engineering exposure with a minimum of training, expense and time. Created to help students see the real value of math and science and its varied applications to high tech engineering – The Infinity Project is working with schools all across the country to bring the best of engineering to their students. The Infinity Project curriculum is a complete, year-long course…

  • Presidential Science Teaching and Mentoring Awards

    curiouscat
    10 Jan 2010 | 12:36 pm
    Related: President Obama Speaks on Getting Students Excited About Science and Engineering – Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring – Fund Teacher’s Science Projects – $12.5 Million from NSF For Educating High School Engineering Teachers Remarks by President Obama on the “Educate to Innovate” Campaign and Science Teaching and Mentoring Awards, January 6, 2010 To all the teachers who are here, as President, I am just thrilled to welcome you, teachers and mentors, to the White House, because I believe so strongly…

  • President Obama Speaks on Getting Students Excited About Science and Engineering

    curiouscat
    23 Nov 2009 | 1:59 pm
    The President announces the “Educate to Innovate” initiative, a campaign to get students excited about pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Quotes from President Obama from his speech – (see webcast above): “As President, I believe that robotics can inspire young people to pursue science and engineering.” “Now the hard truth is that for decades we’ve been losing ground. One assessment shows American 15-year-olds now rank 21st in science and 25th in math when compared to their peers around the world.” “And…

  • Learning Design of Experiments with Paper Helicopters

    curiouscat
    11 Oct 2009 | 5:59 am
    Photo showing the helicopter test track by Brad Dr. George E.P. Box wrote a great paper on Teaching Engineers Experimental Design With a Paper Helicopter that can be used to learn principles of experimental design, including – conditions for validity of experimentation, randomization, blocking, the use of factorial and fractional factorial designs and the management of experimentation. I ran across an interesting blog post on a class learning these principles today – Brad’s Hella-Copter: For our statistics class, we have been working hard on a Design of Experiments project…
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    CyberEnglish

  • NETP: Learning Powered by Technology Part II

    Ted Nellen
    12 Mar 2010 | 6:01 am
    This is the conclusion to my observation about the recent plan issued by The Office of Educational Technology called the The National Educational Technology Plan (NETP) 2010. I began the other day with a review of the overview of the plan and the first major area of the plan, Learning. Today, I will conclude with a discussion of the last four major areas of concentration: Assessment, Teaching, Infrastructure, and Productivity.AssessmentThe model of 21st century learning requires new and better ways to measure what matters, diagnose strengths and weaknesses in the course of learning when there…

  • The National Educational Technology Plan 2010

    Ted Nellen
    10 Mar 2010 | 6:08 am
    The Office of Educational Technology has just released a draft of The National Educational Technology Plan (NETP) 2010. The document promotes learning powered by technology by addressing five major areas of concentration: Learning, Assessment, Teaching, Infrastructure, and Productivity. The plan begins with a 12 page Executive Summary followed by a more comprehensive 87 pages, concluding with an 8 page Appendix.The panel acknowledges that transforming American education using technology will be revolutionary and not evolutionary. It further acknowledges that education must catch up to the…

  • Plagiarism

    Ted Nellen
    8 Mar 2010 | 6:02 am
    Be on the lookout for a photocopy of the latest case of plagiarism of a newspaper reporter in your school mailbox or a link to the online article in email from colleagues and/or administration today. Teachers around the world should be prepared to be receiving spam from those plagiarism software companies in the next couple of weeks pointing out the most recent account of plagiarism at the New York Times and how it could have been prevented with their product. Teachers without prompting should be using this latest account in their classes to remind their scholars about the dire affects of…

  • Teaching, the Ignoble Profession

    Ted Nellen
    5 Mar 2010 | 6:08 am
    First the Bad News:There was a time we were called the noble profession. We worked hard, were paid little, had no political power but were compensated by being called the noble profession. Not any more, the times have changed. The luster has faded, we are tarnished and we are getting battered, hammered, slandered, and denigrated from every corner of society. We are to blame for the educational woes of the country. We are easy targets and when the President of the United States takes aim and fires on us we know we are in deep yogurt. This is not the change I was expecting, in fact there is no…

  • The Cybrarian

    Ted Nellen
    3 Mar 2010 | 6:01 am
    I became a Cybrarian in the early 90's after creating CyberEnglish and my cybrary. I chose this name because I was becoming a cybernaut, a cybernut, a teacher who was jacking in and morphing into more than what I was before I became a Cybrarian. I am an etymologist as well and looked for a word that would complement what I was becoming and Cybrarian was the word. A Cybrarian is one who tends to the matters of Cyberspace or things cyber related. I say this because "cyber" was the current word of the realm in which we were playing and I drew a bit on the Greek origin of steersman and govern to…
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    Stop Trying to Inspire Me

  • Dawn of the Dead White Males

    11 Mar 2010 | 3:00 pm
    Well, if Texans still want to secede from the Union they can do it now so they don't screw things up for the rest of us. The latest? Hijacking how history is taught because, apparently, it's too "liberal" ("Texas Conservatives Seek Deeper Stamp on Texts" NYT 3/11/10):Even as a panel of educators laid out a vision Wednesday for national standards for public schools, the Texas school board was going in a different direction, holding hearings on changes to its social studies curriculum that would portray conservatives in a more positive light, emphasize the role of Christianity in American…

  • Pretty soon, we'll all be SOL.

    10 Mar 2010 | 5:26 pm
    As noted in today's Washington Post, the next step has been taken toward making standards common on an inter-state basis ("Governors, state school superintendent propose common academic standards", 3/10/10). Basically, in an initiative that's been spearheaded by the National Governor's Association -- in other words, a collaborative efforts between states instead of a mandate from the federal government -- a list of common standards and curricula have been formulated and are being approved in several states.The Common Core State Standard Initiative says that the basis of their standards are as…

  • Sit down and shut up.

    8 Mar 2010 | 3:10 pm
    For the second time in a couple of weeks, I find myself focused on a post from NPR's Monkey See blog. This time, it's "The Shusher and the Shushed: Why it Matters When You Talk During Movies":In A Serious Man -- and I think I can do this without spoiling too much -- there is a moment when a character is faced with a high-pressure situation and finds that he freezes, because he's been enjoying some marijuana and is addled. He stops. The tension builds. It's not clear that he has any way out. It's not clear what will happen if he doesn't pull it together. It's comedic tension, but it's tension…

  • Stuff That Works: All Quiet on the Western Front

    5 Mar 2010 | 2:55 pm
    "We open the book with a poop joke and now in chapter 10 everyone has the runs!"No, I'm not going to write an entire post about the scatalogical humor in Erich Maria Remarque's novel, even if the "pooping in the field" scene in the opening chapter has to be one of my favorites in all of literature. I was reading the book with my sophomores today and I stopped to make this comment ... and actually got a few laughs, too.That doesn't mean that my lesson necessarily "worked," mind you, considering that they were probably laughing at the fact that I said the word "poop" or that a few minutes…

  • Neil deGrasse Tyson On Literacy, Curiosity, Education, And Being 'In Your Face'

    25 Feb 2010 | 6:02 pm
    LH: And increasingly, standardized testing.NdT: You learn, and they test you, and you need a high score on the test, and the teacher only likes the kids who get the high score and the kids who are quiet while they're teaching, because they're the well-behaved ones. What are we promoting in society? Well-behaved automatons that spew back what they learned in a book. That's not science. You can get a parrot to do that. Give me somebody who sees -- now this could get dangerous, right? Somebody who sees a wall outlet and wants to stick a wire into it to find out what happens. So you don't want…
 
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    Science teacher

  • September light...

    11 Mar 2010 | 5:05 pm
    Location: W074 11, N40 48Daylight March 12: 11 hours, 47 minutesDaylight September 30: 11 hours, 48 minutes.St. Francis and the SowThe budstands for all things,even for those things that don't flower,for everything flowers from within, of self-blessing;though sometimes it is necessaryto reteach a thing its loveliness,to put a hand on the browof the flowerand retell it in words and in touchit is lovelyuntil it flowers again from within, of self-blessing;as Saint Francisput his hand on the creased foreheadof the sow, and told her in words and in touchblessings of the earth on the sow,and the…

  • Time for quahogs

    10 Mar 2010 | 6:20 pm
    The back bay's warming up--the quahogs are feeding again.The sun's rays are no longer just glancing off the Earth around here--we're warming up. Algae grow, fusing carbon dioxide and water into sugars, bound by sunlight. A bed of clams lies just under Richardson Sound, a few of them tossed back by my hand last summer, eating the algae.Eating is a religious act--we eat other creatures, other creatures feed on us. We pretend otherwise at our peril.I teach biology--we use words like adenosine triphosphate synthase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide--and none of my students know how a clam…

  • RttT antithetical to public education

    6 Mar 2010 | 8:54 am
    [W]hen we talk about “Race to the Top,” we’re talking about a principle that is antithetical to the fundamental idea of American education. The fundamental idea, which has been enshrined at least since the Brown decision of 1954, was equal educational opportunity. “Race to the Top” is not equal educational opportunity. It is a race in which one or two or three states race to the top to have more privatized schools, more test-based accountability, more basic skills, no emphasis on a broad curriculum for all kids, and no equal educational opportunity.Diane Ravitchformer Ass't…

  • Proust, meet Bloomingdale's

    6 Mar 2010 | 7:06 am
    When nothing else subsists from the past, after the people are dead, after the things are broken and scattered· the smell and taste of things remain poised a long time, like souls· bearing resiliently, on tiny and almost impalpable drops of their essence, the immense edifice of memory.Marcel Proust, The Remembrance of Things PastA couple of months ago I threw a package of expired basil seeds on a patch of peat moss and vermiculite, borrowed the aquarium light for a few weeks (the fish didn't squawk), and now I have a mess of basil growing in the classroom.We were discussing axils and…

  • Hey, teach....

    5 Mar 2010 | 6:18 pm
    I went to a conference this week--the state wants to teach me how to align my curriculum to the end of course biology exam.It's easy to get lost in what's expected by the Feds, by the state, by the local BOE. It's easy to complain. It's easy to find a chorus of toads croaking about this or that injustice, a chorus that welcomes you to join the noise.Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit....Sean Nash inspires me. Today he challenged his readers to remind others how to see beyond the crocodiles. (Forgive me, Sean, for butchering your metaphor.)You know what I got to do today? I got to talk to young adults…
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    Teacher Lingo

  • Textbooks going green

    Betty
    12 Mar 2010 | 8:29 am
    It is so hard for me to throw anything away.  I still have some of my dad's former textbooks from his days back in the early fifties at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.  For some reason, everything takes on sentimental value for me.  Even as a former math teacher, I saved old textbooks.  During my spring cleaning this year, I think I'm going to gather up books for  www.textbookrecycling.com.  This site will pay money for books and textbooks no longer being used and will also give some of their profits to charity.  Plus, some of the books are actually…

  • Three Strikes...Am I Out?

    Mimi
    12 Mar 2010 | 7:16 am
    So for the last three years, my New Year's Resolution has been to Be More Positive in (insert year here). And for the last three years, I have failed. (As is evidenced in previous years by this post in 2008 , and this one in 2009 .) I had high hopes for Read More......(read more)

  • Last Week to Enter School Spirit Contest

    Teachhub
    12 Mar 2010 | 6:07 am
    Last week to enter the School Spirit Giveaway! In just a few minutes, you can enter to win $100 for one of your school's extracurricular activities. Just email a photo or short story that show off your school spirit. So far, we have photos of class-made Read More......(read more)

  • BBC School Report

    AnnaF
    12 Mar 2010 | 4:50 am
    While watching the news as I munched my cereal yesterday morning, I came across a really interesting annual project that the BBC run - the BBC News School Report . It bills itself as providing an opportunity for 11-14 year-old students in the UK the chance Read More......(read more)

  • 10 Years!

    Sneaker Teacher
    12 Mar 2010 | 3:37 am
    I just found out that some people from my high school class are putting together a 10 year reunion. Although I don't get home to CT that much, I am going for a week this summer and possibly at Thanksgiving to see my new niece or nephew who will be born Read More......(read more)
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    Betty's Blog

  • Textbooks going green

    Betty
    12 Mar 2010 | 8:29 am
    It is so hard for me to throw anything away. I still have some of my dad's former textbooks from his days back in the early fifties at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. For some reason, everything takes on sentimental value for me. Even as a former math teacher, I saved old textbooks. During my spring cleaning this year, I think I'm going to gather up books for www.textbookrecycling.com . This site will pay money for books and textbooks no longer being used and will also give some of their profits to charity. Plus, some of the books are actually donated to countries in need. That way I…

  • That guy who writes books

    Betty
    3 Mar 2010 | 5:42 am
    Yesterday the boys were in the back seat of my car having a conversation. We were driving back from Cici's Pizza after a trip putting quarters in a machine in an attempt to get rare squishy pencil toppers. Those things have become quite the rage around here. Kids collect and trade them, and of course, some are more valuable than others. I was just listening since the boys were happy and really getting along. "You know that guy who writes books?" Kindergarten boy asked his brother. "Sure. Dr. Seuss," Third grade boy replied confidently. "He would be a 106 today if he were still alive, but he…

  • Still recognizable after all these years

    Betty
    27 Feb 2010 | 6:04 am
    Wednesday was an early dismissal day, so while a lot of teachers were busy working, I took my grandsons to a birthday party at Pizza Madness. That's not the real name, but you know what I mean. Kids are running in all directions swiping their cards to play games. Adults have to pay to get in, so they are shoving pizza into their mouths without worrying too much about nutrition. After all, watching the kids is a full time job. The party was well chaperoned with a guard dad at the entrance to ensure that we didn't lose anybody. It was pretty much impossible to watch both boys. They paired with…

  • 30 Ways to go green in the classroom

    Betty
    17 Feb 2010 | 4:29 pm
    If you are looking for some pretty unique ways to go greener in your classroom , check out the creative ideas on this healthy green living blog. I especially like ideas #3 and #4 since they involve art projects and plants. The world has really changed since my childhood. My family did have a green 1949 Mercury that my father treated as a member of the family. He talked to it and let us know how important it was. As a kid, I really felt like we were one with the car as we charged down the road. My sister actually took a saw to the top of it once and did a little damage to the roof. Luckily,…

  • Snow with school

    Betty
    11 Feb 2010 | 7:47 am
    The snow is beautifully coming down in our neck of the suburbs, and the sub system is going nuts with calls. I know we must have a lot of upset kids who want to just pop out of those school doors and enjoy the snow. Most of the surrounding districts canceled school, but I guess we were a little out of the worst weather areas. Since I pick up my grandsons today, I am wondering if we will have early dismissal. At any rate, I have lots of stuff to do with my time. I feel like I am in the middle of a Robert Frost poem as I sit by my window and see the snow falling in front of the fence that…
 
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    Eric Stoller's Blog

  • ACPA + Twitter on the BreakDrink podcast

    Eric Stoller
    17 Feb 2010 | 8:30 pm
    The main topic for today’s BreakDrink podcast was the potential unification of ACPA and NASPA. ACPA President, Dr. Tom Jackson, Jr. was on the podcast to talk about his thought’s regarding the unification process. I had asked a question on the BreakDrink blog in preparation for today’s conversation. Jeff Jackson, host of the show, asked my question about how/if Dr. Jackson had plans for using Twitter at next month’s ACPA Annual Convention. I decided to call in to the show and was able to use the Skype link on Blog Talk Radio to call into the show. [download] I begin…

  • NACADA Region 8 is on Twitter

    Eric Stoller
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:39 pm
    The NACADA Technology Seminar at the NACADA Region 8 Conference resulted in a lot of Twitter activity. As the lead faculty at the technology seminar I was very pleased with the level of professional engagement that occurred on Twitter. Participants used Twitter hashtags (#NACADATech or #NACADAR8) to create a back channel of connectivity. It was inspiring to see so many of the technology seminar participants using their Twitter skills during the conference. Hundreds of NACADA-related tweets were generated! Here are the top contributors: #NACADATECH: @ericstoller (24) @oakvich (23) @UOAdvDir…

  • ACPA wants us to Mingle

    Eric Stoller
    7 Feb 2010 | 9:15 pm
    Slightly hidden, due to a minuscule font size, within the recent ACPA eCommunity email update was an interesting question: “Are You Ready To Mingle?” Intrigued, I read the rest of the “mingle” text: Are You Ready To Mingle? Engage in real life social networking at the Boston 2010 Annual Convention. This new and innovative technology enables attendees to simply ‘click to connect’ at the event and then share their online profiles after the event. With over 4,500 ACPA members expected to attend the Annual Convention in Boston, the MingleStick may provide an…

  • The Student Affairs Collaborative blog

    Eric Stoller
    14 Jan 2010 | 7:05 pm
    The Student Affairs Collaborative blog is a popular multi-author Student Affairs site. The SA Blog, as it’s popularly referred to on Twitter, contains a lot of relevant student affairs reflections, polls and information from a variety of student affairs professionals. Yesterday, I was invited to be a member of the Student Affairs Collaborative blog. From now on, all of my posts that are tagged with “sachat” (short for Student Affairs Chat) will be auto-aggregated via RSS into the SA blog. This will be similar to how my current “higher-education” tagged posts get…

  • eduFire SuperPass giveaway

    Eric Stoller
    3 Jan 2010 | 2:34 pm
    Koichi, the Social Media Marketing Manager at eduFire and WordCamp PDX pal, recently sent me two free things: an eduFire t-shirt and a free month of eduFire SuperPass. While I am definitely going to keep the t-shirt, I have decided to give the free month of eduFire SuperPass to a randomly selected commenter on this post. All you have to do is post a comment. I will enter your name into a fancy random drawing Excel spreadsheet. Please note that commenting more than once will not increase your chance of winning the SuperPass. If you are a current eduFire student/instructor, I would love to read…
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    PTO Today Blog

  • My Tip of the Week: Involve Kids in Middle School PTO Event Planning

    tsullivan
    5 Mar 2010 | 8:58 am
    Being a middle school PTO leader is challenging. The standard tactics to bring parents in — family events and doughnuts with dad — don’t work as well when the kids’ hormones are kicking in and being seen with Mom or Dad becomes a prison sentence. That pressure from the kids not to attend events is very real, and if you want to have success with parents of older kids, you really need to address it. My best advice: Bring those older kids into the process. What kind of events would they find cool? What do they want you to do? Can they help you plan it? Can you even make…

  • Survey – Help us Help Parent Groups

    tsullivan
    3 Mar 2010 | 9:08 am
    Hello All – Would you mind taking 5 minutes to help us help you and other parent group leaders? There’s a link to a quick survey here: Parent Group Leader Survey We haven’t done this in a while, but it’s always helpful to get an update on the latest with parent groups and parent group leaders. What you’re doing. How you’re using the web and technology. What we can do for you? All that good stuff. Really appreciate your taking the time to help us out. Confident that you’ll see the results in the next few months as we plan our next advancements here on the site and beyond.

  • Video Blog: Are you Promoting Your Group’s Good Work?

    Lisa Gundlach
    1 Mar 2010 | 2:15 pm
    Here’s another way to ask that question: are you bragging enough about your PTO or PTA? In this week’s video blog Tim says that groups may not realize it, but not boasting enough can have a negative affect on your ability to recruit more members/volunteers and fundraise successfully. Some of the ways that Tim suggests to promote your group are: newsletters local newspaper articles (write a press release) brass plaques We also hear of many groups using Twitter and Facebook to toot their horn a bit and grow involvement. How does your group get the word out to your school about your…

  • My Tip of the Week: Re-Evaluate how you Communicate

    tsullivan
    26 Feb 2010 | 11:06 am
    I have an assignment for you this week — check out the last four or five PTO emails or notices home and see what kind of message you’re sending about your group’s DNA. We talk a lot about making our groups more welcoming and trying to bring more parents into the volunteering fold. But are your messages home supporting those goals? Funny thing is, I’m talking about little things: Do you start with a welcome? Do you always close with a sincere thank-you? Are you preachy or do you use guilt tactics (”It’s hard to believe that in a school with 400 children, we…

  • Parent Groups in the News: Weekly Round-up 2/19/10

    Lisa Gundlach
    19 Feb 2010 | 6:03 am
    This week’s round-up highlights projects and events that underscore the mission of  school parent groups. Have some fun: Caribbean style Taking pies in the face Do good: Fighting world hunger Organizing a prom dress swap Sharing globally Reinforce school curriculum: Math-a-Mania Multi-Cultural Festival Support our kids: Fabulous after-school programs Educating parents on teen safety Keep doing what you’re doing- you’re doing a great job!
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    Schoolfamily.com blog entries

  • Simple Activities to Improve Your Child's Listening Skills

    11 Mar 2010 | 5:26 pm
    Good listening skills are essential for school success. If your child’s listening skills could use sharpening try these three easy, quick, and fun activities. These games can be played in a 10-20 minute period of time and will help your young child become a better listener! Have your child close their eyes. Start by saying, “Listen carefully.” Make a n Read more...

  • The Arts in Education: Essential or Not?

    10 Mar 2010 | 3:44 pm
    Every time I scan the news I see another article about cutting the arts from education. It saddens me. Deeply. I know that budget cuts are very real and that there are no easy decisions or answers. Here's the thing: to me, the timing could not be worse. School systems are being forced to put more and more emphasis on standardized tests. The result: the creative process is gettin Read more...

  • How to Make an Easy Fine Motor Activity for Your Young Child

    4 Mar 2010 | 3:08 pm
    Here is a great activity for eye-hand coordination, as well as strengthening finger muscles. Make your own lacing cards to help strengthen your child’s finger muscles. You will need: Poster board A hole puncher Some packages of new, long shoelaces Directions: Cut some eight inch squares from the poster board. Use these squares to cut decorative shapes, such as a heart, triangle, simple truck or boat, sun, apple, etc. You can also trace and cut shapes Read more...

  • Preparing for College Applications – As Early as Middle School and Younger

    3 Mar 2010 | 5:33 pm
    Pleased to introduce a guest blogger this week: Janis Daly. Janis is our director of sponsorship sales, and mom to 2 teen boys. Her oldest is nearing the end of his college admissions process. Janis has some insight, that they gained during the college application journey, to share with families that are just beginning th Read more...

  • Let's Talk About Homework Hassles

    1 Mar 2010 | 10:46 am
    Homework. Amazing how one word can enduce so much stress for parents and kids alike, isn't it?  We get many questions from parents on the topic of homework. How do I get my child to do their homework without tears?  My son won't let me quiz him on his spelling and vocabulary words, what do I do? What's the best way to encourage good study habits? How much Read more...
 
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    Education for Well-being

  • Bone Chairs

    admin
    11 Mar 2010 | 5:00 pm
    Okay. It’s obvious this guy has had some amazing teachers–one of them being nature. If you’ve spent any time on this blog, you know that I consider nature the most impressive teacher around. And I’m not talking about prancing-ponies-playing-around-in-green-meadows kind of amazing teacher. I’m talking about billions of years of research and design. I’m talking about the most stringent design criteria around; the kind that mean death and extinction when executed poorly. I’m talking about the most efficient uses of energy and materials ever witnessed…

  • Always on Task!

    admin
    18 Feb 2010 | 2:44 pm
    I recently finished Seth Godin’s book, Linchpin, a book about the whys and hows of becoming indispensable. What I like about this book is that Godin, a business writer, doesn’t ignore the 17+ years that make up an employee’s educational history and the blunt-force trauma that it causes. Most business writers simply pick up their story at the cubicle, the boardroom, ignoring the changes wrought by an institution exquisitely tuned to turn curious, self-directed beings, into compliant “map readers” stuck in a permanent mondaze. The author is a sharp critic of…

  • The Single Most Important Book On Education

    admin
    17 Feb 2010 | 12:56 pm
    I would have to agree with the title J.W.K. selected for the review he wrote of David Orr’s book, Earth in Mind , found at Amazon: The Single Most Important Book On Education. It’s an amazing book. Below is J.W.K.’s excellent review. That the world we now live in is unsustainable goes without saying. Our skyrocketing population puts enormous pressure on the productive and absorptive capacities of the land, outstripping the natural carrying capacity of the planet by some twenty percent. As ever more fisheries collapse, forests shrink, rangelands deteriorate, soils erode,…

  • What’s Your Learning Attitude?

    admin
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:13 pm
    I’m going to look at two ways people learn, or think they learn–what many now commonly refer to as learning styles, but which should probably be called learning attitudes. Why do some people seem to know so much more than others? Why do some students figure things out while others get stumped and quickly throw in the towel? Why do some employees get better at their craft while others seem to plateau after a few years? I’d argue, in large part, it has to do with the fact that we’ve confused learning styles with learning attitudes. Pop-ed has led us to believe that we…

  • The Impossible Hamster

    admin
    2 Feb 2010 | 10:31 pm
    “Too big to fail.” That’s what we say these days when institutions, driven by myopia, greed, hubris, ignorance, and wishful thinking, become unsustainable. We bail them out for fear of making matters worse. “It’s a bad situation, but the alternative is worse”, goes the lament. Those that didn’t make bad decisions end up sharing in the loss. Failures are socialized. Profits are capitalized. Despite the complaints from many–especially those on the right– and a lot of press (and a recent book), this too big to fail concept seems to have no…
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    Recorded Books K-12 Blog

  • Read Across America

    recordedbooks
    1 Mar 2010 | 6:54 am
    Tomorrow, March 2, is Read Across America day this year. Celebrated each year on the birthday of Dr. Seuss, the aim is to create lifelong readers by having every child in America read to. Teachers, parents, and volunteers take part every year to bring fun books to kids around the country. What is your school doing to celebrate? Recorded Books has several books that have been honored by the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award—AKA the Dr. Seuss Award. The award, started in 2006, is given annually by the ALA to the best book for beginning readers. Each of the Recorded Books titles that have won the…

  • Audie® Awards Finalists

    recordedbooks
    18 Feb 2010 | 9:02 am
    Among several nominations for the 2010 Audie® Awards—the audiobook industry’s equivalent of the Grammys—you’ll find an offering from The Modern Scholar (published by Recorded Books). A Way with Words IV: Understanding Poetry, written and narrated by Professor Michael D.C. Drout of Wheaton College, has been nominated in the Original Work category. The Audie® Award winners will be announced May 25, 2010. Wish us luck! And we at Recorded Books extend congratulations to all the nominees.

  • January Blog Contest Winner

    recordedbooks
    1 Feb 2010 | 12:16 pm
    Congratulations to the January blog contest winner, Kurt Johnson! If you haven’t yet, be sure to go back and read his comment, about a weekend where he and his son enjoyed Washington D.C. institution Ben’s Chili Bowl and got a civil rights lesson along with their half-smokes. We didn’t have our usual number of entries last month—we hope it’s because you’re still recovering from the holidays! We’re taking some time off from the blog contest this month because we’re working on the 2010 annual catalog. Stay tuned to the blog and the twitter feed for…

  • Katherine Paterson: “Read out loud!”

    recordedbooks
    26 Jan 2010 | 4:16 am
    After reading the New York Times piece “New Envoy’s Old Advice for Children—Read More” this morning, I was glad to see that the newly named and soon-to-be-crowned National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Katherine Paterson encourages parents to read aloud to their children. Long-touted as a tool for reading readiness, reading aloud to children at least three times a week has been shown to help children identify letter-sound relationships, have sight-word recognition, and understand words in context (Denton and West, 2002). The 1985 Report of the Commission…

  • Send us your audiobook tips and you could be featured!

    recordedbooks
    8 Jan 2010 | 4:08 am
    First of all, don’t forget to enter our January contest to win a free audiobook! We’re currently hard at work on the 2010 Recorded Books K-12 catalog, and we love including stories and testimonials from our customers. If you use audiobooks in your classroom or school, send us a quick statement telling us what you think of them. We don’t need anything too fancy—just jot down your experiences with audiobooks and send them our way via email, blog comment, or twitter. Some ideas: 1. Share a story about a particular student who has shown improvement since being introduced to…
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    Clear Admit: MBA Admissions Consultants Blog

  • Fridays From the Frontline

    Clear Admit
    12 Mar 2010 | 12:00 am
    Welcome to the freshest Fridays From the Frontlines! Each week the Clear Admit team takes a ’spin’ around the MBA blogosphere, searching out the newest perspectives and stories. This week, applicants had a few final words about their round two results, and current students shared all sorts of stories and information with their readers. Nistha expressed an appreciation for a few strong women. Rocky felt that he had three ’strikes’ during his Anderson interview. Dream Chaser reviewed his experience at his Day at Kellogg weekend, and went into detail about his fellow…

  • Twitter Thursdays: News from MBA Programs

    Clear Admit
    11 Mar 2010 | 12:41 pm
    Welcome to another installment of Twitter Thursdays, a weekly column in which we highlight the updates of the top MBA programs on Twitter!  If you’re not following Clear Admit already, be sure to check us out on Twitter for updates, special prizes, admissions tips and breaking news.   We’ve also created a list of MBA programs to ease your daily access to breaking news from the top MBA programs, as reported by admissions committee members themselves. Though applicants are eager for news, The Assistant Dean of UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions & Financial Aid, Mae Jennifer Shores, noted…

  • More Europeans Taking GMAT, Having Scores Sent to European Business Schools

    Clear Admit
    11 Mar 2010 | 10:00 am
    The number of European citizens taking the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) rising rapidly and a growing number of these test takers are having their scores sent to management education programs in Europe, according to recent research from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which owns the GMAT. According to GMAC, increased test taking activity in Europe is part of surge in interest in MBA and other graduate management education programs worldwide. During the 2009 testing year, which runs from July 1st to June 30th, global GMAT testing volume reached an all-time high…

  • Campus Chronicles: Cornell Business

    Clear Admit
    11 Mar 2010 | 12:00 am
    Welcome back to Campus Chronicles!  This week we’ll take a look at Cornell Johnson’s student newspaper, the Cornell Business, to see what’s been going on for b-school students at the Johnson campus. Sixteen Johnson students recently returned from the 2009-2010 India Trek, in which they were tasked with completing a consulting project alongside local MBA students from Somaiya’s Institute of Management Studies and Research in Mumbai.  Students divided into groups and worked on different projects, including consulting with a bio-diesel company, a university on its strategic plan, and…

  • GMAT Tip: The Importance of Prime Factorization on the GMAT

    Clear Admit
    10 Mar 2010 | 5:00 pm
    Today’s GMAT tip comes from our friends at test prep firm Knewton. Today, they offer some advice on prime factorization: Rich Zwelling is a stellar teacher in Knewton’s GMAT course. And it’s true: He really does love prime factorization. Prime Factorization:  My single favorite topic on the GMAT.  No contest. My passionate (some would say evangelical!) advocacy of prime factorization results not only from my finding prime numbers so inherently fascinating in and of themselves, but also from the plain and simple truth that prime factorization proves surprisingly useful on questions…
 
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    ABCTE Blog

  • Teach & Inspire Scholarship Application Deadline Approaching

    mholden
    4 Mar 2010 | 11:38 am
    The next deadline to apply for ABCTE's Teach & Inspire Scholarship Program is fast approaching. If you're interested in teaching in a high-need school and subject in Florida, Mississippi or South Carolina, Teach & Inspire provides accepted participants with a full scholarship and materials needed to become certified teachers through the ABCTE program. Once ABCTE certification is obtained, candidates are eligible for an additional $1,000 stipend for completing classroom observations.read more

  • Introducing ABCTE One-Day Sales

    mholden
    1 Mar 2010 | 12:30 pm
    If you subscribe to the monthly ABCTE Circular email, then you may have read about this in the edition that came out last week. We receive a huge response anytime we offer a discount on the ABCTE program and we’ve decided to try something new—-we will now hold special one-day sales, during which you can save $150 on an ABCTE enrollment. Here's how the ABCTE one-day sales will work...read more

  • ABCTE Blog and Social Media

    mholden
    26 Feb 2010 | 11:23 am
    The blog has undergone a couple of changes but, before I write anything else about that, I want to take a minute to recognize Dave Saba, our former CEO who has been blogging here in this space for the last few years. Among the many things Dave accomplished at ABCTE was growing this blog into a great communication tool for our organization. He posted here regularly, keeping people informed about education news and helping to get out the message about what we're working to accomplish.read more

  • Moving on

    Dave Saba
    17 Feb 2010 | 12:24 pm
    As many of you know, I will be moving on next week to the American College of Education. For those that I have followed this blog, please continue to follow as the ABCTE team will keep you informed on education reform. For those that wish to continue to follow me, please go to my new blog on Virtual Learning. I have moved over and will keep you posted on our progress to increase educational access for all!! Thanks! Dave Saba

  • Math Anxiety Epidemic

    Dave Saba
    26 Jan 2010 | 8:44 am
    What spreads faster then H1N1 in elementary schools now? According to an article in Business Week entitled Female Teachers Pass on Math Anxieties it is a fear of math. read more
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    nashworld

  • On Crocodiles and Professional Vision

    nashworld
    5 Mar 2010 | 11:27 am
    This quote… …(which is unattributed as far as I can tell) is one that caused pause the first time it crossed my brain.  My initial reaction to this was in regard to what happens to the early-service teacher upon logging that first real week as leader of their own classroom.  Let’s start by making the assumption that even the least-excited first year public school teacher comes to the profession with a measurable amount of idealism.  I don’t think there is any doubt about what happens to this focus once the new car smell of the school year wears off. Characterize…

  • The Extended Value of Classroom Networks

    nashworld
    5 Feb 2010 | 1:19 pm
    Connected An interesting thing happened on the way home from Educon 2.2 last Sunday night.  Walking through the terminal and against my exhaustion, I reflexively checked my mail.  Lazy eyes lifted open, I flicked my thumb scrolling… trolling for a demand of action.   I’m hyper-connected.  I pay for it.  And yet, I’m a better teacher and leader because of it.  Cutting to the chase, here is the simple, yet interesting email I received: Background Here are the things you must know/appreciate/love about the aforementioned interaction… Principles of Biology is the…

  • Is This a Sluggish Strategy?

    nashworld
    18 Jan 2010 | 12:18 pm
    The following verse was created in response to and in reflection on the following mass-media story:  Sea Slug Surprise: It’s half-plant, half-animal.  Overall, this post starts with a bit of participation and play, continues with the story of how the “Sci-Po” fun began, how I gave it a shot in the classroom, and why this sort of thinking matters.  It then ends with a few specific resources for biology teachers. Is this a sluggish strategy? Thieving genes seems crazy to me When seeking food in the mighty sea. It doesn’t take a Phd To locate a parcel of green algae. And…

  • Making Friends With Failure

    nashworld
    10 Jan 2010 | 9:33 pm
    Expectations So here’s the setup… today’s Daily Shoot challenge was to capture a silhouette of some sort.  My plan from the warm confines of my living room this afternoon? =>  Turn it around a bit.  Grab that copper likeness of the sun from a nearby wall, take it to the river with me and my little girl, and have her hold it out at arm’s length, directly in front of the sun… thereby creating a silhouette of the sun… by the sun. I’m here to tell you that it didn’t work out as smoothly as I had thought it might.  My near-three-year old…

  • Decisions: The Currency of Educational Action

    nashworld
    31 Dec 2009 | 2:29 pm
    Choices… decisions… education. Three simple words deeply embedded within my world. For years I have been amazed while reflecting on the cascade of decisions a teacher makes in even one class period with a typical group of 20 or so students. I felt compelled to ponder this subject a bit more after reading Dr. Dial’s recent blog post “Making choices through an educational lens” Teacher Decisions The number of seemingly-small choices and decisions a teacher makes -in planning and on the fly- would melt the minds of many. I would further suggest that the more a…
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    Teaching College English

  • Should we think about the way we present visual information?

    Dr Davis
    12 Mar 2010 | 5:51 am
    Discussion of Powerpoints and simultaneity versus seriality. Interesting discussion.

  • CFP for Rhetoric Students

    Dr Davis
    11 Mar 2010 | 5:43 am
    For undergraduates: Xchanges online journal UG Issue 7.1 (6/28/10) Call for Papers: The Xchanges online journal is a refereed interdisciplinary Technical Communication, Rhetoric/Writing, and WAC journal published by New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech). Xchanges is seeking submissions of major research projects or Senior theses completed by TC, TW, or Composition/Rhetoric students during the 2009-2010 academic year. Undergraduate theses/research projects may be submitted in either traditional print or multimodal web formats. Theses or research projects must present…

  • In the last fifteen months…

    Dr Davis
    10 Mar 2010 | 5:18 am
    I have taught seventeen college writing courses and one literature course. I have presented nineteen papers at conferences. I have written a book and twenty reviews, articles, poetry, and chapters that have been or are being published. In that time I have also spent over 1,200 hours with my parents, since my father’s stroke. That’s out of 13,400 possible hours. Writing all that down, I can’t believe I have managed to do all that. But I did.

  • Discuss:

    Dr Davis
    9 Mar 2010 | 6:07 am
    Reading made Don Quixote a gentleman. Believing what he read made him mad. - George Bernard Shaw

  • The Worst Offenders?

    Dr Davis
    9 Mar 2010 | 5:09 am
    The auguries are not particularly good if it is also true, as it is in my experience, that professors of literature are among the worst offenders. If those who teach youth are unable to control themselves, and to keep their disagreement within the bounds of common civility, what can we expect of youth itself? The quote, in context, is exactly on this topic, though in a less pointed way. In fact, if you have read the length of the work, you may miss these two quiet sentences towards the end of the discussion. The work is interesting and thought provoking. It is also a bit painful for college…
 
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    EurakAlert!: Education

  • Marketing guru to speak at inaugural Chua Thian Poh Distinguished Lecture

    10 Mar 2010 | 9:00 pm
    (Nanyang Technological University) Distinguished speaker, Professor Jean-Pierre Jeannet, the F.W. Olin Distinguished Professor of Global Business at Babson College in Wellesley, United States, and Professor of Global Marketing and Strategy at the IMD Institute in Lausanne, Switzerland, will deliver the inaugural Chua Thian Poh Distinguished Lecture at Nanyang Technological University on March 11 at 4 p.m.

  • National license for Springer eBooks signed in Germany

    10 Mar 2010 | 9:00 pm
    (Springer) The German National Library of Science and Technology and the German National Library of Medicine have signed an extensive and ground-breaking agreement for access to Springer eBooks on SpringerLink.

  • Get up, get out and go: NC State research tackles childhood obesity

    10 Mar 2010 | 9:00 pm
    (North Carolina State University) Getting children involved in finding ways to become more physically active can not only make them more aware of local recreational opportunities, but can even help increase their own physical activity. That's the result of a study examining the role of seven national parks in contributing to the health of today's youth. The study was conducted by researchers from a variety of disciplines at North Carolina State University and other US universities and funded by the National Park Service.

  • Moderate use of video games can be a very useful educational tool for teaching children

    10 Mar 2010 | 9:00 pm
    (University of Granada) Contrary to what many parents think, video games are not a determining factor in obtaining a good academic result, according to a research carried out at the Department of Didactics of Musical, Plastic and Corporal Expression at the UGR. Its author analyzed a sample of 266 participants aged between 11 and 16, together with their corresponding parents.

  • Largest physics meeting of the year convenes

    10 Mar 2010 | 9:00 pm
    (American Institute of Physics) The March Meeting of the American Physical Society (APS) -- the largest physics meeting of the year -- will take place from March 15-19, 2010 in Portland, Ore., at the Oregon Convention Center and the Hilton Portland and Executive Tower Hotel.
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    International Higher Education Consulting

  • New Book of Interest – “The Twenty-first Century University: Developing Faculty Engagement in Internationalization”

    11 Mar 2010 | 10:18 am
    I want to highlight a new book by Lisa Childress that I think many IHEC Blog readers may be interested in checking out. Published in 2010 by Peter Lang Publishers, The Twenty-first Century University: Developing Faculty Engagement in Internationalization "identifies what successful institutions have done to overcome endogenous challenges and successfully engage faculty in the internationalization process. Examining two exemplary cases of internationalization, this book extrapolates strategies for colleges and universities to adapt to their unique institutional cultures, histories, and…

  • Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE®) now offers online training, E-Learning!

    10 Mar 2010 | 10:52 am
    Back in the fall of 2000 the Office of International Affairs at the University of Chicago took a chance and hired me as an Assistant Director. I was immediately thrust into one of my primary roles as the Fulbright Program Adviser for the U.S. Student Program and three weeks after I started my position the campus application deadline was upon me! While the Fulbright was (and continues to be) a significant part of my work at Chicago I was also charged with issuing visa eligibility documents to all international students admitted to the University and evaluating all academic credentials for…

  • Two New Publications by The Forum on Education Abroad

    9 Mar 2010 | 10:25 am
    The Forum on Education Abroad has made available two new publications for download in their Standards Toolbox. The two new publications are:Alignment and Accountability in Education Abroad: A Handbook for the Effective Design and Implementation of Qualitative Assessment Based on Student Evaluations (2010) was developed and written by Lilli Engle and Patricia C. Martin.Strategies for Education Abroad Advocacy on Campuses (2010) was prepared by the Forum on Education Abroad Advocacy Committee.I have read most of these two new publications and think they are excellent contributions to the field.

  • IHEC Blog's Facebook Page

    8 Mar 2010 | 10:19 am
    The other night I figured out how to add a PDF tab on IHEC Blog's Facebook page (however, can't remember how I did it).  What's nice about this feature (in addition to being able to add docments in PDF format to my Facebook page) is that you can get code to embed into any webpage you want.  So, this is my first attempt to embed a PDF document in an IHEC Blog post.  I imagine that I will imbed more documents into IHEC Blog in the future assuming this attempt is successful.  The following document is a simple one page flyer on my services through International Higher…

  • Capacity Building for Undergraduate Study Abroad - “One-time Competitive Grants Program“ by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

    5 Mar 2010 | 12:54 pm
    I was alerted to the following Request for Grant Proposals (RFPG) from the March 5, 2010 HEI e-News by Education USA. This “One-time Competitive Grants Program – Competition A –Academic Programs” includes a component on “Capacity Building for Undergraduate Study Abroad.” I have generously copied and pasted the relevant information from the HEI e-News announcement below:The purpose of this component of the competition is to build the capacity of U.S. institutions of higher education and of potential host institutions abroad to provide study abroad opportunities for U.S.
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    Copy / Paste by Peter Pappas

  • ASCD Conference 2010 - The Prezi Updates - Final Installment

    Peter Pappas
    8 Mar 2010 | 3:01 pm
    This is my final Prezi report on the San Antonio ASCD 2010 conference. hanks to ASCD for inviting me to be a guest blogger at the conference. They are great people and gracious hosts. I met so many wonderful educators at the conference. Thanks for all you do!

  • ASCD Conference 2010 - Prezi Report 5

    Peter Pappas
    7 Mar 2010 | 3:46 pm
    Here's my latest Prezi documenting Sunday afternoon at the 2010 ASCD conference in San Antonio. Click the arrow, give it moment to load, then click to advance and navigate. Direct link to this Prezi ASCD 2010 on Prezi For all...

  • ASCD Conference 2010 - Prezi Report 4

    Peter Pappas
    7 Mar 2010 | 9:14 am
    Here's my latest Prezi documenting the 2010 ASCD conference in San Antonio. Click the arrow, give it moment to load, then click to advance and navigate. Direct link to this Prezi ASCD 2010 - Sunday AM on Prezi For all...

  • ASCD Conference 2010 - Prezi Report 3

    Peter Pappas
    6 Mar 2010 | 8:35 pm
    Here's my latest Prezi documenting the 2010 ASCD conference in San Antonio. Click the arrow, give it moment to load, then click to advance and navigate. Direct link to this Prezi ASCD 2010 Saturday PM on Prezi For all my...

  • Using Prezi to Cover the ACSD Conference: Part 2

    Peter Pappas
    6 Mar 2010 | 8:50 am
    It's Saturday morning at the ASCD conference in San Antonio. I'm on my mid morning break and thought I post my next installment of my Prezi coverage. Click the arrow, give it moment to load, then click to advance and...
 
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    School Climate Blog

  • Help Make March National Whole Child Month

    lnaefe@csee.net
    9 Mar 2010 | 1:33 pm
    “Practice and policy must work in concert; together we must make the whole child approach to education a national priority so that each child is ready for meaningful employment, continuing education, and active participation in our global society.” - ASCD Executive Director Gene R. Carter Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) recently introduced H. Res. 1093 to make March “National Whole Child Month”. This bill is the first step toward making the whole child approach to education a national priority and ensuring that all children are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged in our…

  • Investing in Innovation (i3) Pre-Application Workshops and Webinars

    lnaefe@csee.net
    8 Mar 2010 | 9:46 am
    The final rules for the i3 Innovation Fund were released today. Pick up the details and application package here. Registration is now open for pre-application workshops and webinars. As per the i3 registration site, be sure to only register for one of the workshops OR a webinar. (If you’re not in Baltimore, Denver or Atlanta, be sure to secure your spot now at one of the webinars today — capacity is 200 applications.) Investing in Innovation (i3) Pre-Application Workshops: Session Date Time (Eastern ) Registration March 19, 2010 - Baltimore, MD 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Register March…

  • Honor an Educator

    lnaefe@csee.net
    5 Mar 2010 | 6:52 am
    National Middle School Association is recognizing educators at the middle school level who make a difference. Know a dedicated educator who has made a significant difference in the lives of young children? Recognize an individual or team for the following awards:  Distinguished Educator AwardDeadline for nominations: March 15, 2010Sponsored by the NMSA Foundation, this award recognizes outstanding practitioners in middle level education—those who have made a significant impact on the lives of young adolescents through leadership, vision, and advocacy. Teams That Make a…

  • Links of the Week: 3/1-3/5

    lnaefe@csee.net
    5 Mar 2010 | 6:40 am
    Another week has gone by, ushering in the month of March! We at CSEE are busy with exciting new projects, such as ongoing professional development, school climate assessment projects, and the planning of our 13th Annual Summer Institute.  Here are some interesting links we’ve been passing around the office: The New York Times had an illuminating article on studies that show how subtle touches convey rich emotions: “Students who received a supportive touch on the back or arm from a teacher were nearly twice as likely to volunteer in class as those who did not, studies have found.”…

  • America’s Teachers on America’s Schools

    lnaefe@csee.net
    4 Mar 2010 | 8:08 am
    The national statistics about teacher retention are still troubling: one-third of all new teachers leave after three years, while 46% are gone within five years. Attrition has grown by 50% over the past 15 years. What will keep teachers in our schools? The question is not new. Research and insight from experts in the field have long offered a variety of explanations for teacher to-and-fro, such as: salaries and compensation models; level of education, training and mentoring; NCLB mandates; low funding; perceived level of success in the classroom; and working conditions and support, etc.
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    New Globals

  • Uruguay Farm Photo #27: Coffee Tease

    Maya
    11 Mar 2010 | 10:57 am
    One day, when Tom and I were wandering through Nueva Helvecia, the former Swiss colony near our farm, we spied this promising-looking espresso machine.  COFFEE!  We were thrilled. We went in and ordered a cup each.  Of course, the coffee machine was just a tease, an antique simply adding a touch of class to a very basic storefront restaurant serving chivito and other typical Uruguayan fare.   We had our sad little cup of bland Uruguayan coffee, sighed, and left. But don’t feel too bad for me.  Tom and I are spending a few days in Buenos Aires this week, and I am back to my…

  • Uruguay Farm Photo #26: Backyard Tarantula

    Maya
    8 Mar 2010 | 12:52 pm
    For those who prefer a still shot to the video of the tarantula I nearly stepped on in our backyard recently, I offer this photo.   This was taken before we put the camera on the grass and let him crawl over it to show everyone how big he is. I hope I never see him again.  I am now very, very careful when I walk outside with an armload of laundry to hang on the line.

  • Uruguay Farm Photo #25: Pigface

    Maya
    8 Mar 2010 | 12:39 pm
    This is Pigface.  He is the lone bull in a sea of Holstein cows that sometimes graze in the lifeless field next door to ours.  Usually, they get to stand in shoulder-high corn and munch happily all day, but sometimes, they get stuck in the dead zone, and come to the fence to get the greener grass on our side. Pigface terrorizes the poor cows.  He’s really quite amorous, sometimes sending a desperate cow crashing into our fence just to get away from him.   When I scold him, he just glares at me.  He gives me the creeps.

  • Uruguay Farm Photo #24: Living Room (As Is)

    Maya
    4 Mar 2010 | 7:02 am
    This is where we spend most of our time when we’re not outside.  We picked up the couch and two chairs for $75 from Julio, the guy in Nueva Helvecia who sells old furniture from his garage.  We’ve been waiting for the remate (auction) season to start–that’s where people buy furniture here in Uruguay.  Our first local auction is this weekend.  In the meantime, we make do.  Note the backseat of the Mehari put to use as a coffee table.  The House Hunters International people would have been truly horrified.

  • Uruguay Farm Photo #23: Daily Driver

    Maya
    4 Mar 2010 | 6:55 am
    I have no idea what kind of truck this is or how old it is.  It passed us while we were walking in Nueva Helvecia (the old Swiss colony) and when we saw it parked a couple of blocks away, Tom had to take a picture of it.  Sterling example of the kind of daily drivers you see on the roads in Uruguay.  They make things last a long, long time here.
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    Spinning A Learning Web

  • Quote of the day: on reality and possibly, endurance

    Kate Foy
    9 Mar 2010 | 3:00 pm
    Read the whole post by Travis Bedard from Cambiare Productions in Austin in the US.  It was focussed on writers, but holds equally for all artists and creatives in the theatre … or elsewhere. Everyone wants a comfortable job at a comfortable salary at a nurturing artistic home.  And a unicorn.  Too bad. Quick Thoughts on Outrageous Fortune

  • Indie Theatre: how can you tell?

    Kate Foy
    8 Mar 2010 | 7:18 pm
    Photo: @nickkeenan http://tweetphoto.com/13738117 Icons, branding, labels … the medium as message, but what’s the message or meaning when it comes to theatre labels?  There are lots around, and I’m curious about one in particular – independent. I see it and its diminutive and the very buzzy word indie everywhere.  I’m sufficiently that way inclined – too much of the academic life perhaps – to think it important to understand the meaning behind labels, and so it is that I’ve been mulling over this one again. Labels can be worn as a badge of…

  • Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-07

    Kate Foy
    6 Mar 2010 | 6:04 am
    @thetowncrier Garrett’s sounds like the average Sunday morning get-up to me. in reply to thetowncrier # @flloydpk Kill the reviewer you mean? in reply to flloydpk # @djackmanson @iankath Actress to the very tall bishop or is that very tall actress to the bishop? O get out of my head! #clem7 # @djackmanson Stanislavski trained, obviously. in reply to djackmanson # One month to #WTD10 @pilot_theatre (York UK) @MarcusRomer (in Argentina) looking forward to hearing from you on how you’ll celebrate. # @djackmanson ‘Sense memory’, ‘the magic if’… work every…
 
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    Free Technology for Teachers

  • The Week in Rap

    12 Mar 2010 | 4:11 am
    I've written a couple of posts about The Week in Rap in the past. There are roughly 4,000 more readers now than the last time I posted The Week in Rap so I thought it would be worth sharing again for those who haven't seen it before. Every Friday The Week In Rap posts a weekly news summary in the form of a rap music video. The videos cover stories from national and international politics as well as sports and entertainment news. I've embedded this week's video below.Week in Rap 3.12.10 from Week in Rap on Vimeo.

  • Nine Tools for Collaboratively Creating Mind Maps

    11 Mar 2010 | 5:07 pm
    Mind maps or graphic organizers can be invaluable tools for visual thinkers and visual learners. The process of creating a mind map can help students gain an overview perspective on complex, multifaceted concepts. Mind maps can also help students outline an essay or story they're planning to write. The following list contains nine tools that can be used by students to create mind maps independently or collaboratively. Wise Mapping is a free collaborative mind mapping tool. Wise Mapping has fairly easy to use editing and sharing functions. Each cell created in a Wise Mapping mind map can be…

  • How to Add Aviary to Your Google Apps Services

    11 Mar 2010 | 10:29 am
    Earlier this week the Google Apps Marketplace opened to everyone. Thanks to Fred Delventhal, one of the first apps that I learned was in the Marketplace is Aviary. Aviary offers free, web-based, image editing services and sound editing services. You can find some of my previous posts about Aviary's services here, here, and here.By offering their services for free in the Google Apps Marketplace, Aviary is allowing anyone using Google Apps for Domains (either education or enterprise editions) to integrate Aviary services into the Google services they're already using. When added to your Apps,…

  • Creative Exercises for Artists and Art Students

    11 Mar 2010 | 5:47 am
    I recently learned about a blog for artists called My French Easel. The author of My French Easel, Benoit Philippe, recently published an ebook (available in SlideShare format) titled Creative Exercises for Artists and Everyone Else. Creative Exercises for Artists and Everyone Else contains seventeen specific exercises for artists and aspiring artists. The exercises cover a range of drawing and painting techniques that almost anyone can do regardless of your current skill level. Included with the publication are templates on which you can try the exercises. Philippe also included some…

  • A Letter from Upton Sinclair to Theodore Roosevelt

    11 Mar 2010 | 4:03 am
    Yesterday's document of the day from the National Archives was a letter sent by Upton Sinclair to President Theodore Roosevelt. In the letter Sinclair advises Roosevelt to have the federal inspectors of meat-packing houses wear disguises in order to see the true conditions of the facilities they visit.In case you need a copy of The Jungle, it is available for free in its entirety on Google Books.Applications for EducationA couple of the literature teachers in my school have students read The Jungle every year. I'm sure there are many other literature teachers around the country that do the…
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    doug - off the record

  • Just Cool Artsy Things

    dougpete
    12 Mar 2010 | 3:24 am
    It’s been a long week and as I sit and unwind, I come across the Textorizer.  I know that I get overly interested when I play with something over and over.  This was the case here.  The online version is at the link referred to previously and there’s a downloadable application available here. The concept is not new.    We’ve been using alternative ways to express art for a long time.  I recall when I was a Business Education head that our keyboarding teachers did something along this line.  Turns out – the concept goes back AT LEAST to 1948. I’m a real sucker for…

  • links for 2010-03-11

    dougpete
    11 Mar 2010 | 9:04 pm
    textorizer Textorizer is a program that allows you to make pictures formed with text. It is best described by the sample images below. Although there are many versions around, the only one that is continuing to supported is this one. (tags: tools graphics textorizer generator software design typography photography) BonzoBox – It's Your Homepage Visual bookmarking service (tags: socialbookmarking tools bookmarking bonzobox web2.0 social websites) Essential add-ons for Twitter and Facebook – IT articles, Hardware Here are some add-ons for Facebook and Twitter, which can solve common…

  • Internet Safety

    dougpete
    11 Mar 2010 | 2:05 am
    I was in an internet meeting yesterday and brought up the Windsor Star to make a point and this story was leading the headlines. http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Windsor+nabbed+porn+bust/2666566/story.html This morning, on the site, a news report from Global National appears. Global National video: Child porn bust, Windsor man among the dozens charged. Sometimes, the regular teaching in the classroom robs time, and use of technology can be so seamless that there may seem to be a sense that all is right with the world.  Unfortunately, this is a real sense of false security.  This news report…

  • links for 2010-03-10

    dougpete
    10 Mar 2010 | 9:07 pm
    The Readability Test Tool The Readability Test Tool provides a quick and easy way to test the readability of your work. It is the most flexible readability software for assessing readability formulas. (tags: readability test web tool) Juicy Studio: Readability Test Gunning Fog, Flesch Reading Ease, and Flesch-Kincaid are reading level algorithms that can be helpful in determining how readable your content is. Reading level algorithms only provide a rough guide, as they tend to reward short sentences made up of short words. Whilst they're rough guides, they can give a useful indication as…

  • Environmental Stewardship and Really Good Things

    dougpete
    10 Mar 2010 | 4:44 am
    Last night was the first opportunity to meet up with my university students after their second practice teaching placement.  Just like the return from their first placement, I devoted almost an hour for them to decompress and share their insights from their time out in the “real world”.  It’s amazing to see the difference in their perspective of our profession.  After the first time, they noted that they were inwardly concerned about their position within the classroom.  They saw a real disconnect between their thoughts and the day to day realities of the classroom.  After all,…
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    Recess Duty

  • Up Next 3d Cities: The Future of Mobile Maps

    recessduty
    11 Mar 2010 | 4:58 am
    Description: All apologies to the people on the playground for the lack of a supervisor, however, TWITTER has really become a more efficient way to share helpful resources to the educational community that have been successfully incorporated in my classroom. Putting that excuse aside for not fulfilling my Recess Duty on an consistent basis, I have found a tech tool that is a “Must Have” piece of equipment for a classroom, especially if you have iPod touches/iPhones. Up Next 3d Cities is an amazing app that lets a person explore cities (albeit only three cities at this time) in…

  • Wonderground

    recessduty
    12 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am
    Description: Free, Funky, and Fun music provided by Minnesota Public Radio.  I love their motto, “Non Commercial Music for Kids and Their Grown Ups!”  With 30 iPod touches in our classroom, I am always looking for mobile version, yeah, Wonderground has that too! And if that weren’t enough, and don’t you think it should be, Johnny Cash’s song “One and One Make Two” is playing right now!  SWEET!  Thank you GarrisonSites for the find. Implementation: As some of the playground members know, “Fun Music Friday” is a staple in my classroom.

  • Free App A Day

    recessduty
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:26 am
    Description: Free App A Day is a website that sponsors ONE app each day on the iTunes store to become FREE in price. Implementation: As most of the apps are games, I have accumulated some, SPRING FLING  and  COMPRESSION , that will be used on incentive days for students who are done with all their work.  Some of these games really are thought provoking and makes kids react to tasks that need to be accomplished. There NEVER seems to be enough money in education, I feel that this website allows for some FREE relative apps that can be useful in the correct setting! View Live Site …

  • Proportion Solver

    recessduty
    7 Feb 2010 | 8:03 am
    Description: A simplistic app that allows for students to “enter three” to “get one”.  The interface is simple, the typing of the data is simple, and the result is simple. Price: FREE Implementation: I used this app as a COMPLETION task AFTER students mastered the cross multiplication and solving of a one step algebraic equation.  As you can guess, the students said, “Why didn’t you show us this earlier?”  Very reason, so that the process is learned and then a more efficient way (the app) can by used. View Live Site goPLay!

  • Appshopper

    recessduty
    25 Jan 2010 | 8:13 pm
    Description: Appshopper has been on the playground for a little over a week.  It has become a valuable resource in the endless pursuit of the app.  Appshopper “keeps tabs” on all of the apps in the iTunes app store.  How does it do that?  It provides up to the minute “price checks”.  Think of it this way, “Your sitting at your computer and all of a sudden you here, ‘Attention Apple iTune shoppers there’s a blue light special in aisle 9.  The “x” app has dropped from $2.99 to Free for today only!”  Yee Haw, let’s jump on…
 
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    ToddlerScholar.com

  • Parents: Is Your Child Engaged Online?

    Staff
    18 Feb 2010 | 9:02 pm
    Parents with children under 12, are invited to take part in the  Read Write Web & Latitude survey. This collaborative effort hopes to better understand how child(ren) perceives the web. Kids On The Web Survey In this survey, your child  will be asked to draw their response to a question. Read Write Web & Latitude also want to gather some general information about the child’s computer use.  (They also ask that your child be present while  the survey is completed). Update: Survey results will be available at http://www.life-connected.com/privacy-policy/ Click here to take the…

  • Elmo Says Have a Flu Plan

    Staff
    29 Oct 2009 | 4:48 pm

  • Sid the Science Kid Gets a Flu Shot

    Staff
    29 Oct 2009 | 4:46 pm

  • Happy Mother’s Day 2009

    Staff
    10 May 2009 | 12:38 pm
    Happy Mother’s Day! To every mother, father, grandmother – -anyone… who assumes a mother’s role. Thanks for loving and teaching our children…through thick and thin.

  • First Lady Michelle Obama Visits Sesame Street

    Staff
    8 May 2009 | 5:37 am
    Our First Lady, Michelle Obama visits Elmo to encourage starting healthy habits early! Elmo and Mrs. Obama chat about eating healthy meals and reading–two as our favorites things!
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    Veritas Prep Blog

  • GMAT Tip of the Week - Cause and Effect

    Brian
    12 Mar 2010 | 8:00 am
    Welcome back to Hip Hop Month in the GMAT Tip of the Week corner. One of the most underrated themes that one can find in 90s rap lyrics is the often-laughable unintentional use of cause-and-effect that rappers draw in their songs, using "(be)cause" as a connector of ideas with hilarious results. Take a line from the refrain of one of Biggie's biggest hits, Big Poppa:...You got a gun up in your waist. Please don't shoot up the place. (Why?) 'Cause I've seen some ladies tonight that should be having my baby...baby...Really, Big? The primary reason that someone shouldn't indiscriminately fire a…

  • Law School Applicants: You Can Learn From Rappers

    Adam Hoff
    11 Mar 2010 | 10:10 am
    If you have been reading our excellent GMAT Tip of the Week series (penned by Veritas Prep's GMAT guru, lesson booklets co-author, and Director of Academic Research Brian Galvin), then you know one thing: it is "Hip Hop Month" here at Veritas Prep. The esteemed Mr. Galvin has been coming up with interesting and nostalgic ways to use rap music examples in order to better understand complex GMAT problems and solutions. Today, it is our prospective JD readers who get to experience the joyful fusion of hip hop and graduate school admissions. This only makes sense, considering we once ran a blog…

  • Six Terrific Professors at Michigan (Ross)

    Scott
    10 Mar 2010 | 8:35 am
    Continuing our series of admissions insights clipped from Veritas Prep's Annual Reports, our in-depth insider's guides to 15 of the world's top business schools, this week we look at six of the Ross School of Business' most popular professors. (Our Annual reports are absolutely free with registration, but we thought we'd share some snippets here to help get you started in your Ross research.)The Ross faculty is populated with many prominent business leaders, researchers, and teachers. Among Ross students, there are a handful of professors who are considered a "must" to have for a class, due…

  • Chicago Booth to Eliminate PowerPoint Essay Question

    Scott
    9 Mar 2010 | 8:43 am
    A new BusinessWeek article titled Business Schools Revamp the Application investigates how some schools are breaking with tradition and exploring new approaches to the MBA admissions process. In some cases it's a matter of moving deadlines earlier or accepting the GRE in addition to the GMAT, while in others cases some schools are replacing traditional written essays with audio and video responses.All interesting stuff, but what we actually found most intriguing was the fact that Chicago Booth will drop its PowerPoint question this coming admission season (2010-2011). This questions had been…

  • GMAT Prep Classes Start Worldwide Tonight!

    Scott
    8 Mar 2010 | 8:32 am
    Today is one of those extra exciting days at Veritas Prep HQ, when GMAT prep classes start in dozens of cities worldwide (and in a few other cities, where they start tomorrow night). We try to only sparingly use this space for blatant promotion of our products and services. However, for some of our newer readers who plan to apply to business school this coming fall, now is the ideal time to start preparing for the GMAT. Taking a class now enables you to take the GMAT before summer, so that you can get that stressful part of the application out of the way. Or, you can retake our class for…
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    Certification Map

  • How To Build A Better Teacher

    alexjmann
    12 Mar 2010 | 7:00 am
    The New York Times Magazine has an excellent piece profiling Doug Lemov, previously a teacher, charter school founder and currently an educational consultant to help teachers become more effective. With so many failed attempts in the past by the government, Lemov took it upon himself to make a change: Lemov himself pushed for data-driven programs that would diagnose individual students’ strengths and weaknesses. But as he went from school to school that winter, he was getting the sinking feeling that there was something deeper he wasn’t reaching. On that particular day, he made a…

  • Stemming The Dropout Rate

    alexjmann
    10 Mar 2010 | 7:00 am
    During the last election one of the major issues relevant to my peers and I was Obama’s plan for education. As current students we realized that any projects Obama planned to fund and execute would have little to no affect on our college experience. However, it was still important to us as students to see progress in any area we felt so strongly about. A recent piece in E School News analyzed Obama’s latest plan thoroughly: The Obama administration is offering a $900 million carrot to the nation’s school systems to tackle what many view as an abysmal dropout rate that threatens…

  • The 21st Century Skillset

    alexjmann
    8 Mar 2010 | 7:00 am
    The Buck Institute for Education analyzed various educational frameworks relevant to the 21st Century. Why the 21st Century? I believe the digital age presents a unique opportunity for students to leverage their career in new ways, specifically by accessing online resources. I found the data visualization curated by the Buck Institute for Education proved helpful for understanding the connection between the new skill sets and how they can be used. See below for more information: In 2008, BIE analyzed selected frameworks for 21st Century Outcomes. The columns represent the different…

  • Expanding Your Instructional Strategies

    alexjmann
    5 Mar 2010 | 7:00 am
    The internet’s expanding collection of useful materials for education has just become richer. Take a look at Instructional Strategies Online that includes information across: Direct Instruction Interactive Instruction Indirect Instruction Independent Study Experiential Learning Instructional Skills The sections are instructional, helpful and include actionable classroom insight. For example, see below for a snippet from the page on narratives: What are Narratives? Narrative essays are told from a defined point of view, often the author’s, so there is feeling as well as specific…

  • Should You Go To Grad School?

    alexjmann
    3 Mar 2010 | 7:00 am
    Graduating in 2009, as I did, was a difficult time for many of my peers. The rough, volatile economic conditions forced many graduates to reevaluate their post-college plans. Without a job, what would they do? Find an internship? Start a company? Job hunt? Sit at home? Go to law school or grad school? I’d argue that the additional education argument, such as law school or grad school, felt the most productive my peers because they are safe options (at least temporarily). You’ll pay a large sum of money to continue and hopefully advance your undergraduate studies. A piece from…
 
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    Dr. Stephen Jones

  • How to Succeed with Your Career - Mar 15,2010

    Dr Stephen Jones
    15 Mar 2010 | 3:30 pm
    Tai Goodwin will be our special guest. Tai is a career coach and expert on how to achieve your career aspirations. You will learn how to expand your career options and expand your employment options.Career | Career Planning | Education | News | Employment

  • Woman in Medical Professions (Anesthesiology) - Mar 08,2010

    Dr Stephen Jones
    8 Mar 2010 | 3:30 pm
    Our guest will be Ms. Toni Ford. Today we will discuss unique aspects of women in medical professions. It will be an enlightening discussion that will offer relevant medical tips and anesthesiology. Join us for a great discussion about your health.Woman | Health education | anesthesiology | Education | careers

  • Women in Information Technology - Mar 01,2010

    Dr Stephen Jones
    1 Mar 2010 | 3:30 pm
    This program will highlight how women are succeeding in information technology careers. We will explore some of the current trends and how to stay on the cutting edge of the technology. IInformation Technology | Computer Science | Education | News | Women

  • Black History and the Importance of Education - Feb 08,2010

    Dr Stephen Jones
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:30 pm
    Dr. James Peterson will be our special guest. We will discuss the significance of Black History and the value of education at all levels. During the discussion we plan to highlight all of the accomplishments of black americans. We will also discuss activities that promote the value of education in our community.Black History | Education | African American Studies | Community | Students

  • Dental Heath Equals Total Health - Feb 01,2010

    Dr Stephen Jones
    1 Feb 2010 | 3:30 pm
    Too many people neglect their teeth and suffer from various problems. Dr. Babara Peterson Demiranda will share her dental expertise. Her specialty is braces. She will explore all aspects of dental health. This is a program to kick off Black History Monthdentist | education | health | students | parents
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    MBA Admissions Blog by MBA Game Plan

  • No More PowerPoint Presentation for Chicago Booth Applicants?

    mbagameplan
    9 Mar 2010 | 6:44 pm
    A new BusinessWeek article investigates how some schools are breaking with tradition and exploring new approaches to the MBA admissions process. Some business schools now accept the GRE in addition to the GMAT, while others are replacing traditional written essays with audio and video responses. The whole article is interestig, but what we actually found most intriguing was the tidbit that Chicago Booth will drop its PowerPoint question this coming admission season (2010-2011). This questions had been a staple of Booth’s application for the past couple of years, but apparently it…

  • HBS 2+2 Program Application Deadline is June 15, 2010

    mbagameplan
    4 Mar 2010 | 7:26 pm
    Earlier this week Harvard Business School has announced this year’s application deadline for the HBS 2+2 Program: June 15, 2010. Note that this is a couple of week’s earlier than last year’s deadline. On the HBS Admissions blog, Dee Leopold wrote: This is a special message to college students who have been waiting to see the essay questions for the upcoming 2+2 application season. Surprise: They are the same as last year’s!! Before we get to being creative and tinkering with them, we decided to have three years of the same questions so we can do a little bit of…

  • Business School Get More Aggressive in Helping Grads Find Jobs

    mbagameplan
    1 Mar 2010 | 7:16 pm
    Recently the Yale Daily News featured an article titled “SOM Alumni Network Matures,” which discusses how Yale SOM students today benefit from the wide variety of Yale alumni across industries. This is not insignificant, since the school has only been around since 1976. What’s most impressive in the article is the fact that the school’s own administration — all the way up to Dean Sharon Oster — has make a point of making personal appeals to the school’s alumni and supporters, in the name of helping students find jobs in a tough economy. According to…

  • Additional Things to Think About in Round 3

    mbagameplan
    23 Feb 2010 | 6:09 pm
    Last week we wrote about some important things to consider when deciding whether or not to apply to business school in Round Three, today we look at a couple of other factors to consider when planning your Round Three admissions strategy. Another key consideration is that not all MBA programs are the same. Schools vary greatly in how they approach Round Three. While some are upfront about the fact that seats go fast and there aren’t many left in Round Three, others (such as UCLA Anderson) make a point of holding seats for the last round, knowing that there will still be many great…

  • Navigating Financial Aid for Business School

    mbagameplan
    16 Feb 2010 | 6:15 pm
    Maybe the only thing more challenging than getting into business school is figure out how you will pay for the experience. Many say that borrowing money to pay for school is an “investment,” and not debt, but try telling that to the loan services when they send out the monthly bill. In order to help students make the best possible choice, adhere to the following tips: Know the true cost of the education. Pay very close attention to not only the current tuition, but also the inflation rate at that school. Some universities are seeing tuition go up more rapidly than others, so it…
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    Boarding School Blog - onBoarding Schools

  • 10,000 Hours to Greatness: Unique Boarding School Programs Teach Every Student Skills for the Future

    Cory Awde
    11 Mar 2010 | 7:58 am
    It has been argued that in order to excel at something or become an expert in a particular discipline, it takes 10,000 hours of work and practice. That is no doubt a great deal of time, which at 2 hours per day would take 13 years to reach. But for high school students at many Canadian boarding schools, the unique programs that are offered at these schools, teach every student about the dedication and discipline that is required to complete such a task. An example of this took place on the Sedbergh School’s campus during the weekend of February 12th and 13th. The Canadian Ski Marathon…

  • Prep School Admission & Financial Aid Decisions Arrive in the Next Few Days

    Brian Fisher
    9 Mar 2010 | 10:50 am
    In prep school admission and financial aid, it’s good to be ready for anything. With first round admission and financial aid letters due to arrive to families in the next few days, it’s time think about perspectives, plans, and responses depending on the offers you receive from schools. It’s always best to have one’s ducks in a row and plan, or have a series of plans, based on all the outcomes. Of course everyone wants to be accepted by their first choice school with a full-award financial aid package. Schools balance and spread their financial aid to the best of their…

  • Fountain Valley School Builds Global Perspectives into Curriculum

    Brian Fisher
    9 Mar 2010 | 8:21 am
    Fountain Valley School recently affirmed and expanded the school’s commitment to diversity and global experiences through the creation of the Global Scholar Diploma Program (GSD). Program Chair, Dr. Susan Carrese describes the program this way: “Globalization is a 21st century reality…At FVS we believe it is essential to embrace the world beyond our campus, our borders and our mindset. Our goal is to move beyond mere tolerance of diversity, to genuine engagement as school and world citizens.” (FVS Announces New Global Scholar Program, FVS) The GSD program experience is…

  • A Laugh Out Loud Olympic Parody

    Brian Fisher
    8 Mar 2010 | 2:00 pm
    Don’t miss the two part parody “Ribbon: The Thin Red Line Pts 1 & 2″ done by Pete Hodgin, Kents Hill School history teacher. These videos are Saturday Night Live worthy. Hodgin hits all the right notes and skewers the seriousness with which some of the more odd sports are presented and brings laughable absurdity to the non-stop stream of human interest stories that accompanies athletes throughout the games. You will laugh out loud at this fictitious- but, ‘oh, so real’- presentation of Ribbon Dancing. Ribbon: The Thin Red Line pt1 Ribbon: The Thin Red Line…

  • Private School A Special Opportunity- Not A Signifier of Social Status

    Boarding School Mom
    5 Mar 2010 | 11:21 am
    Peter Baron of AdmissionsQuest forwarded an e-mail to me today from a woman wondering how open her children should be with their peers about their prep school applications and asking whether I thought the parents academic credentials carried any weight in the admissions process. The question of how open to be is a sensitive one. Some children who are already in private schools are often surrounded by other kids who are also applying. The chatter about who is applying where, what one’s scores were, and class rank can add pressure to what is already an anxious situation. Other children are in…
 
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    Patrick Malley

  • Is Moodle 2 Out Yet?

    Patrick Malley
    12 Mar 2010 | 3:36 am
    Is Moodle 2 Out Yet? An informative single serving webpage from yours truly.

  • Making Moodle Boring

    Patrick Malley
    27 Feb 2010 | 9:48 am
    Making Moodle Boring Tomaz Lasic has moved into a full-time position at Moodle HQ as an “Educational Researcher.” Part of his role, he says, is to look for new and better ways to make Moodle work for educators as a simple and effortless tool. Man, I hope he’s successful. In writing about his vision for usable technology in the classroom, he mentions existing technologies that changed teaching and learning that are now considered boring: pencils, paper, white boards, overheads, etc. While I think commonplace is a more appropriate word for his meaning, his provocation makes…

  • Curling Explained

    Patrick Malley
    23 Feb 2010 | 7:23 pm
    Curling Explained It’s amazing how much of this sport I’ve watched this Olympic season without really knowing much about it. Quick and easy infographic.

  • Student Suspended for Facebook Page Can Sue

    Patrick Malley
    17 Feb 2010 | 3:41 am
    Student is suing school over suspension for a Facebook page she created to criticize her teacher School officials suspended her for three days, saying she had been “cyberbullying” the teacher[.]

  • Dan Meyer is a Badass

    Patrick Malley
    15 Feb 2010 | 6:24 pm
    Dan Meyer is a Badass Here’s why: Throughout 2009, I recorded several dozen statistics about a) the pop culture I consumed, b) the people I talked to, c) the beer I drank, d) the places I visited, e) the vehicles I took to those places, and f) the amount of sleep I enjoyed each day. Those statistics spread across several thousand cells of a spreadsheet, which I then condensed and animated into [a] 2.5-minute video clip … [t]hat process took about a month, all told, which isn’t a ratio I’m proud of, even if I’m happy with the result. I’ve linked to the Vimeo…
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    Dear Librarian

  • Who is David Schwartz?

    Dear Librarian
    8 Mar 2010 | 7:42 pm
    David Schwartz is a very mathematically and scientifically inclined author. He takes complicated mathematical facts and turns them into a fascinating story making the information easy to understand.  He also takes information that he’s always wondered about–even since from childhood–and turns it into something understandable for his readers.  For example in his very famous book, How Much is a Million? the reader receives an accurate and visual explanation of exactly what a million looks like.  Being able to visualize mathematical concepts helps to understand the facts.

  • Who is Poetry Alive!?

    Dear Librarian
    24 Feb 2010 | 11:53 pm
    Poetry Alive! is a group that brings poems to life for children.  The organization is comprised of many skilled orators who then travel to schools and share a joy of poetry.  Through engaging lessons, the Poetry Alive! cast strive to increase student literacy and offer thoughtful approaches for teaching poetry. The International School of Beijing will be lucky to have two members visit their school from March 1-19.  Each school, the elementary, middle, and high school, will be able to benefit from assemblies and follow-up sessions.  Parents and teachers too will receive an opportunity to…

  • What is Chinese New Year?

    Dear Librarian
    11 Feb 2010 | 10:48 pm
    Chinese New Year has possibly been celebrated for more than 4000 year–if you use the Chinese calendar which would be in the year 4700. The timing of this festival is determined from the Chinese lunar calendar. Chinese New Year usually falls between January 21st and February 19th because it occurs after the second new moon after the winter solstice. This new year festival is very important and popular among the Chinese. It’s a time to clear away any bad luck of the previous year and make amends for the new year by paying off any debts. The new year offers a fresh, clean slate for…

  • What’s a “Google Jockey?”

    Dear Librarian
    19 Jan 2010 | 6:25 pm
    A “google jockey” is the person who finds information–usually from the web–to help support a lesson, lecture, or event. Say a fact is needed to help support understanding–the google jockey hops on to the Internet and finds a fact.  Take these three examples: Example #1: The teacher is describing lunar eclipses to a classroom of students. The google jockey might venture out to search the web to find when the next eclipse will be. This site from NASA might provide the information for when the class would be able to see a lunar eclipse. Example #2: A group of…

  • How are biographies ordered in the library?

    Dear Librarian
    17 Jan 2010 | 6:53 pm
    Most books are commonly ordered by their Dewey number plus the first three letters of the author’s last name. Individual biographies on the other hand are ordered differently. General biographies–usually about a group of similar people–are categorized under 920 in the usual way by the author’s last name. However more specific biographies about individuals and their areas of interest are given the 921-928 call numbers.  At our library at ISB we limit all our individual biographies to 921. To mix it up, the person the biography is about is the name listed on the spine…
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    WeboWord-Vocabulary Visually!

  • Recede – To go back or down from a certain point; To become less

    weboword
    11 Mar 2010 | 9:01 pm
    Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it. Pronounced as Ree + Seed (emphasized) {Listen to it here} Comes from Latin Recedere which means to go back. It is based on the Latin cedere meaning to give way, which is the root for: Cede – Surrender something Concede – Grant rights to Precede – To come before Excess – More than enough How many other words do you think are based on the root ‘cede‘? Situational Uses / Sentences: Fish became stranded in the hull of the vessel during receding tides. The most common cause…

  • Euphemism – A less offensive synonym

    weboword
    10 Mar 2010 | 8:50 pm
    Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it. Euphemism is pronounced as U (as You) [emphasized] + F or Ph (from Phone) + Mism {Listen to it here} It is derived from Greek Euphemismos [ = Eu (good) + Pheme (speech)] meaning to speak with pleasing words. Situational Uses: In his effort to be extremely polite, he chose to be euphemistic too. The phrase “collateral damage” is a euphemism for injury to civilians during a military operation. Post from: WeboWord Unable to follow the daily updates? Subscribe to WeboWord Express today @…

  • Satiate – Satisfy hunger or desire

    weboword
    9 Mar 2010 | 8:39 pm
    Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it. Pronounced as Say (emphasized) + Shee + Ate{Listen to it here} Based on the Latin root Satis meaning enough which is also the root for Satisfy. Situational Uses / Sentences: She satiated herself at dinner. “The novel left him well satiated for the night. Tomorrow shall be another day.” Post from: WeboWord Unable to follow the daily updates? Subscribe to WeboWord Express today @ http://www.weboword.com/express and give your vocab building a boost!  

  • Trepidation – Apprehension; Trembling

    weboword
    8 Mar 2010 | 8:37 pm
    Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it. Pronounced as Trep + Uh + Day (emphasized) + Shun {Listen to it here} Origin: Latin root Trepidare meaning to startle or to be agitated. Situational Uses / Sentences: The students are looking forward to the experiment with great excitement and trepidation. WeboWord helps eliminate the trepidation that one associates with building their vocab. Hope you agree! Post from: WeboWord Unable to follow the daily updates? Subscribe to WeboWord Express today @ http://www.weboword.com/express and give your vocab…

  • Dissent – To disagree or withhold approval

    weboword
    7 Mar 2010 | 8:35 pm
    Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it. Pronounced as Dis + Sent (emphasized) {Listen to it here} It comes from Latin Dissentire meaning to feel differently. Dissentire = Dis + Sentire (to feel) Situational Uses / Sentences: The crowd displayed their dissent before the law enforcers by openly flouting rules. Chinese government censors are scouring the internet for signs of dissent. Source: The Economist Post from: WeboWord Unable to follow the daily updates? Subscribe to WeboWord Express today @ http://www.weboword.com/express and give your vocab…
 
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    YouTube: Education

  • An Education Trailer (german)

    wrestlemania92
    23 Feb 2010 | 9:38 am
    An Education Trailer (german) Freigegeben ab 0 Jahre | Länge: 95 Min | Kinostart: 18.02.2010 Darsteller:Peter Sarsgaard, Carey Mulligan, Alfred Molina, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike, Olivia Williams, Emma Thompson Die Story:1961. In einer eintönigen Londoner Vorstadt wächst die fleißige Schülerin Jenny (CAREY MULLIGAN) auf. Ihr größter Wunsch ist es, nach der Schule einen Studienplatz in Oxford zu ergattern und später als Lehrerin ein selbstbestimmtes Leben zu führen. Doch eines Tages lernt Jenny den mondänen Mittdreißiger David (PETER…

  • Oscars 2010 - An Education trailer

    totallycrapcom
    2 Feb 2010 | 2:28 am
    Oscars 2010 - An Education trailer Oscars 2010 Best Picture nomination An Education more at www.totallycrap.com From: totallycrapcom Views: 10861 9 ratings Time: 01:55 More in Film & Animation

  • Carey Mulligan gets An Education

    itn
    31 Oct 2009 | 1:06 am
    Carey Mulligan gets An Education Carey Mulligan, Emma Thompson and Dominic Cooper star in a coming-of-age drama set in the 1960s. . Follow us on twitter at twitter.com From: itn Views: 5675 9 ratings Time: 03:03 More in Entertainment

  • An Education Review: Rotten Tomatoes Show

    Current
    16 Oct 2009 | 10:20 am
    An Education Review: Rotten Tomatoes Show Brett Erlich and Ellen Fox join forces with bloggers, comedians, students and citizen critics to review "An Education." For more from the Rotten Tomatoes Show: rottentomatoesshow.com For more about movies from Current current.com From: Current Views: 5561 34 ratings Time: 03:09 More in Entertainment

  • An Education Trailer HD

    AllMovieHD
    9 Oct 2009 | 4:26 pm
    An Education Trailer HD An Education From: AllMovieHD Views: 99465 117 ratings Time: 02:23 More in Entertainment
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    Pairadimes for Your Thoughts

  • Teachers as Lead Learners

    Dave Truss
    10 Mar 2010 | 1:39 pm
    One of my favourite sayings these days is: ‘Teachers should be the lead learners in the classroom.’ I think that if a teacher goes into a class believing first and foremost that they are ‘model learners’ and that they will learn with their students, then that teacher will create a meaningful and engaging learning environment for their students. I’ve always been a fan of Kevin Honeycutt, I think he is creative and his podcasts are great. Well now he shares this video that tells the tale about why we need teachers to learn. Enjoy!

  • Warning! We Filter Websites at School

    Dave Truss
    5 Mar 2010 | 9:03 am
    I’m at a Canadian School in China. At a staff meeting I shared a thoughtful blog post by a student reporter for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. It’s a great post by a student that went and visited ‘Tent City’, built to house the city’s homeless during the Olympics: Olympic Games Side Effects on Vancouver. My Grade 9 teacher asked for the Students Live website and a link to this post. (I mentioned the Students Live bloggers here.) The Students Live website provides a number of different ways to connect and interact with the Olympic reporter student bloggers. However,…

  • Google Buzz and George Costanza – Worlds Collide

    Dave Truss
    21 Feb 2010 | 7:38 pm
    In his weekly email newsletter, George Siemens wrote/quoted: This is one of the more insightful statements I’ve come across recently – What Google Could Learning From Goffman: “When we merge social groups together, we are challenged to manage our disclosures across these groups, which have different norms of propriety.” The social software I use regularly – Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin – allows me to form different social groups. I have different interactions with different people in each…. Google, however, smashed together different social groups with…

  • The Trap

    Dave Truss
    7 Feb 2010 | 8:11 am
    Being the edu-nerd that I am, I often look at parallels between my experiences inside and outside the world of schools and education, (see Bubble Wrap for another example). Now, two-and-a-half weeks into my Thailand & Vietnam holiday, such parallels are jumping out at me, and I think of them as ‘traps’. It seems that everywhere we go on this holiday there are tours being offered and trinkets to buy. The packages and prices are all designed to steer you to the ‘deluxe’ version, “…for just a little bit more, you can also get…”. Then on the way…

  • Olympic and Blogging Fever

    Dave Truss
    6 Feb 2010 | 9:13 am
    For me it is a little bit difficult to think about the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics right now… I’m in a car outside of Hanoi, Vietnam heading to Ha Long Bay for an overnight boat cruise. The car ride is about 3.5 hours long and so I thought I’d use this time to plug a great project happening on the other side of the globe. If, (unlike me), you are at a school that is in session during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, be sure to share this link with your students. Chris Kennedy, Assistant Superintendent of West Vancouver School District, has helped to organize 12 student…
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    Teaching That Sticks

  • PBS Activity Packs

    10 Mar 2010 | 7:28 pm
    PBS, that trusted acronym that brought us Sesame Street, continues to provide cutting edge learning tools with their embeddable activity packs. If you're a teacher with your own web site, web page, blog, or other media platform, read on!What's an activity pack? According to the site, "An activity pack is a set of educational resources focused on a theme and packaged in a widget-format that you can embed in your own class or social media web page. Each pack includes links to PBS websites and a set of activities by grade level."In other words, it's a stand-alone app that you can…

  • Save the Words!

    9 Mar 2010 | 4:56 pm
    In a recent post (There's a Word for That) I discussed how English language is a dynamic language, with new additions daily. It's only natural, then, as new words enter the language, old words will fade away, right? Not if Save the Words can help it!Save the Words is a neat site dedicated to saving rare and lesser-known words from extinction. The site offers Word-a-Day for those who love language, the option to Adopt-a-Word, and suggestions to Spread the Word (such as the tattoo idea pictured here).Students will enjoy using words that sound made-up, even though they're 100% authentic. Most…

  • Rock and Roll Science

    27 Feb 2010 | 7:24 am
    Apparently I am the last teacher on Earth to learn of They Might Be Giants, a really cool band whose song "Science is Real" is featured below. Lots of other great, more topic-related videos by that same group can be found on YouTube. (If you double-click the video below, it will open in the YouTube page, and additional vids by this group will appear to the right).

  • Good Enough!

    20 Feb 2010 | 4:48 pm
    Good enough! I usually cringe at that expression, since it's typically an excuse for substandard work. But in the case of Alternative To, it's high praise!Alternative To is a site where you can enter the name of any popular desktop program or mobile app, and the site search will return a list of free applications which are close alternatives.For example, my daughter recently informed me that a trial version of Microsoft Office had expired on her computer and she wanted me to purchase the whole program. It is, after all, a great program (my attempt to avoid being sued). Enter Alternative…

  • Chess Rumble: Life Lessons from Chess

    15 Feb 2010 | 12:52 pm
    The English language is peppered with chess idioms: stalemate (a position of impasse), gambit (a risky tactic, often involving a sacrifice), checkmate (a measured response, leaving your opponent with no way out), rank and file (literally, the rows and columns on a chess board; often used to name the "lesser players" in an organization), pawns in a game (bit players), and endgame (the final phase of an operation or story). Movies, television shows, theater, literature, and even video games widely use chess as a metaphor for human interactions. In The Lord Of The Rings, for example,…
 
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    Teach with Picture Books

  • Read an E-Book Week

    10 Mar 2010 | 4:51 pm
    This week is National Read an E-Book Week. I feel a bit like a traitor for announcing that, but there; it's done. Why should you care? Because this is your chance to visit several online publishers to check out their absolutely free (or deeply discounted) e-books titles. You'll find an extensive listing of partner sites, publishers, authors, and booksellers at the official site.For lovers of picture books (yay! he's back! pluckin' that old one stringed banjo!) you'll find some terrific titles over at Sylvan Dell, including a free full-access look at Pandas' Earthquake Escape (doesn't…

  • That's a Good Question! Encouraging Inquiry through Nonfiction Texts

    5 Mar 2010 | 6:50 pm
    Students are naturally curious. How can we channel that curiosity into learning? By simply feeding it, of course, with books that not only provide answers, but ask more questions! The first step of our time-proven scientific method is, after all, to pose a question. What better way to open our minds to new ideas?That's why I love books that encourage questions. One treasure I just recently discovered (which I wish I had owned when teaching third grade) is Does It Really Take Seven Years to Digest Swallowed Gum? and Other Questions You've Always Wanted to Ask. In this…

  • Ten Not-to-Be-Missed Picture Book Reference Sites

    2 Mar 2010 | 8:55 pm
    Almost daily I receive an email asking for a list of books on a certain topic, or genre, or time period, or skill. Many readers of this blog first came here from Google seeking just that.Fortunately there are some terrific sites out there that can provide teachers with basic lists of picture books, categorized in almost any way imaginable. The ten sites I've listed below will help you locate "the good stuff." Also be sure to take advantage of the expertise available through your local librarian or media center specialist.Know of a site that should be here? Email me and let me…

  • Recommended Picture Books for Black History, Part II

    27 Feb 2010 | 6:52 pm
    This post is way overdue! But the fact is, the books I'm about to share are great for any time of the year, and certainly need not be limited to Black History Month.George Crum and the Saratoga Chips, written by Gaylia Taylor and illustrated by Frank Morrison, is a terrific tale of invention. Having always felt like an outsider because of the color of his skin, George Crum thinks he's finally found in his place as chef at a prestigious Saratoga Springs restaurant. But when a customer's complaint makes him feel inferior, his inventiveness helps to create one of America's finest…

  • Focus on a Skill: Elaboration

    25 Feb 2010 | 5:24 am
    So often student writing efforts are what I call "bare bones." Student writing lacks muscle and flesh and features, due to a paucity of specific verbs, adverbs, and adjectives. Students often have also not had instruction in showing versus telling.The best remedy for this, of course, is for students to examine excellent writing. As students read exempary passages, they need to ask:What's happening here that's not happening in my own writing?What choices has the author made?What has been included to provide me with a picture of what's happening?What has the author deliberately left out for the…
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    SensoryEdge Educational Toys and Kids Furniture

  • Personalized Kids Furniture

    SensoryEdge
    11 Mar 2010 | 11:56 am
    Children love seeing their own names displayed proudly on their favorite possessions, but there are also lots of fun and practical uses for kids furniture. Not only will your child feel special and more in control of his own belongings, but you may also use personalization to prevent conflict involving kids and to enforce non-confrontational discipline strategies.A smart way of making use of personalized products is to help youngsters with the concept of sharing. It is normal for kids to stake their claim on valued property during play dates. Nevertheless, as we all know, children who don’t…

  • Kids Easels in School. Is one of your Students the Next Picasso?

    SensoryEdge
    8 Mar 2010 | 10:49 am
    Teaching art work is a excellent move in classrooms, no matter the age of the children. Creativity appears to come naturally for many children, and allowing them to express it in a balanced way is a excellent thing. For this reason, kids easels are valuable things to have in a schoolroom, as they can make it easy for kids to paint or draw. Of course, like any other type of schoolroom furnishings, there are a lot of options when it comes to easels.If you have children of different heights and ages in your classroom, such as in a preschool, you might find easels with adjustable heights to be…

  • Easels: Expressing Their Creativity in School

    SensoryEdge
    3 Mar 2010 | 8:27 pm
     Encouraging art is a good move in classrooms, no matter the age of the students. Creativity seems to come naturally for children, and allowing them to express it in a healthy way is a good thing. Kids easels are helpful items to have in a classroom, as they can make it easy for children to paint or draw. Of course, like any other type of classroom furniture, there are plenty of options when it comes to easels.If you have children of different heights and ages in your classroom, such as in a preschool, you might find easels with adjustable heights to be invaluable. In fact, such…

  • Guidecraft Sunflower & Sports USA Furniture Blow Out Sale

    SensoryEdge
    26 Feb 2010 | 8:47 pm
    Take advantage of huge price discounts on the Guidecraft Sunflower & Sports Collection supplies last. While you're in our Clearance section you'll also find great deals on tons of Melissa & Doug Puzzles. Guidecraft makes excellent kids furniture for homes and schools and you won't be disappointed in the quality of their products.Some of the low prices are:Sunflower Kitchen or Refrigerator $99.95 Free ShippingSunflower or Sports USA Table Set $99.95 Free ShippingSunflower or Sports USA Rocking Chair $59.95 Free ShippingCheck out some of our other new items:Baby Brainy Shapes &…

  • Small Footprint Big Fun: Wall Activity Toys

    SensoryEdge
    23 Feb 2010 | 3:42 pm
    Wall panel activity toys are the perfect solution for places of business where lots of children need to be entertained. We've put wall toys in many peditric waiting rooms as well as adult doctors offices, car dealerships, hair salons, check cashing stores, and many therapy clinics. Keeping children happy in your waiting room doesn't have to be an ordeal. With a few simple additions to your toy collection, you can make time fly for every kid in your office. And while there is no official guide to finding the right toys for your office, some are definitely better than others. Wall panel toys,…
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    Empowered High Schools

  • NASSP

    admin
    10 Mar 2010 | 8:07 pm
    We will be presenting at this week’s NASSP Convention in Phoenix. We have a number of readers from around the country. If you’re there, please stop by and say hello. This will likely be our last major presentation for the school year. We have a few more webinars to wrap up and then we can get back to work on attending to our website. We’re working on a multi-day workshop. It has been a regular request. If you’re interested, please email us and let us know. If it comes to fruition, we’ll make sure that we send you an invite. Thanks for reading.

  • Illinois Statewide NCLB Conference

    Charles
    10 Feb 2010 | 5:06 pm
    I started my morning off by giving this morning’s keynote address at the Illinois NCLB Conference. It was a great time and our work earned some wonderfully positive feedback. It is such a blessing to be midst of such a large group of professionals who are so deeply committed to improving education. I’ll try to post a link to my Power Point. In the meantime, for those who want more information, check through the links to our IPA webinar series. There you’ll find a much more detailed version of our model. Thanks for reading. Charles

  • Nine Levels #5 (IPA Webinar)

    Charles
    5 Feb 2010 | 3:14 am
    Empowered High School Model Level 5 from Illinois Principals Association on Vimeo.

  • Nine Levels #3 (IPA Webinar)

    Charles
    5 Feb 2010 | 3:13 am
    Empowered High School Model Level 3 - “Summative Assessments” from Illinois Principals Association on Vimeo.

  • Nine Levels #4 (IPA Webinar)

    Charles
    5 Feb 2010 | 3:10 am
    Empowered High School Model Level 4 - “Formative Assessments” from Illinois Principals Association on Vimeo.
 
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    International Education Blogs & News

  • International Higher Education Consulting Blog (Kindle Edition)

    8 Mar 2010 | 10:30 am
    Yes, you can now get IHEC Blog on the Kindle! I want to thank Penny Schouten (@PennySchouten) for suggesting this a few months ago. I finally found a few minutes this past week to investigate and that’s all that it really took to make it happen.The main concern I have is that Amazon charges a monthly subscription fee. My intent with making IHEC Blog available on the Kindle was accessibility for readers and not pennies in my pocket. Additionally, Amazon set the monthly subscription fee at $0.99 but I would prefer the IHEC Blog Kindle Edition to be free. If you do subscribe I would love to…

  • IHEC Blog nominated for the Top 100 International Exchange and Experience Blogs 2010

    2 Feb 2010 | 12:32 pm
    Yesterday I received news that IHEC Blog was nominated for the Top 100 International Exchange and Experience Blogs 2010 competition held by Lexiophiles and bab.la. Voting is open through February 14th so if you have a few free minutes between now and the end of voting period please take a few (maybe several) to look at the various nominated blogs and cast your vote.

  • International Education Blogs & News Looking for Blog Submissions

    12 Jan 2010 | 10:05 am
    International Education Blogs & News (IEB&N) is seeking blog URL submissions from international education professionals and organizations who are blogging about issues related international and intercultural education to be added to the site.IEB&N is also seeking blog URL submissions from students, faculty and other academics (Fulbright grantees for example) who are blogging from abroad about their experiences. IEB&N is seeking blog URLs from anyone in the world who is studying and/or researching in a foreign country. Interesting blogs, for example, could be from German…

  • IHEC Blog now has a Facebook Fanpage

    22 Oct 2009 | 11:36 am
    This past weekend I created a Facebook fanpage for IHEC Blog. My intent when I first opened a Facebook account was to create a page for IHEC Blog but I experienced a few difficulties in this endeavor so my Facebook account became simply a personal account. Only in the past 2-3 months have I become more active in my Facebook usage and have started to become a fan of and/or joined various groups including:350.orgAcademic Programs International - APIAmerican DiplomacyAsiaLearnAspire by API - High School and Gap Year Study AbroadAustraLearnDAAD North AmericaEducationUSAEuroLearnFoundation for…

  • IHEC Blog will Participate in Blog Action Day 2009 Focusing on Climate Change

    29 Sep 2009 | 10:37 am
    October 15th will be Blog Action Day 2009 and International Higher Education Consulting Blog has registered and will participate. The theme of Blog Action Day 2009 is Climate Change and my plan is to highlight the various efforts and resources in the field of international education that focus on climate change. Examples of what might be included in my Blog Action Day post are:- Social networks/listservs for international educators that focus on sustainability and greening the field- study abroad/exchange programs with significant course content focused on climate change/the environment-…
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    tweenteacher.com

  • “Internet Literacy: The Genre” : CUE 2010

    heather
    5 Mar 2010 | 5:00 pm
    Thank you as well to those of you (wow!  there were a lot of you!) who attended my “Internet Literacy: The Genre” session at CUE. As promised, here is the keynote itself to peruse at your leisure. As with everything on my site, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License . Bottom line: please feel free to use it in the classroom and for educational purposes. It’s my pleasure to share. The worksheets are reprinted with permission from my workbook published by Teacher Created Resources.  If you are interested…

  • “Podcasting with 70 Middle Schoolers”: CUE 2010

    heather
    5 Mar 2010 | 4:53 pm
    Thank you to everyone who attended my session today at CUE on “Podcasting with 70 Middle Schoolers.” As promised, here is the keynote itself to peruse at your leisure. As with everything on my site, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License . Bottom line: please feel free to use it in the classroom and for educational purposes. It’s my pleasure to share. http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4234943/CUE%20podcasting%20FINAL.key.zip -Heather WG aka Tweenteacher © heather for tweenteacher.com, 2010. | Permalink | 2…

  • Part 3 of 3: The Future of Teacher Prep Programs

    heather
    26 Feb 2010 | 8:45 pm
    Well, what began as mere musings, seems to have become a fully fleshed fantasy for what a teacher prep program of the future may look like. It all began in Part 1 of this series of posts. It continued in Part 2, and now it concludes in this, The Final Chapter. In this last installment, I cover the following topics: The Curriculum The Student Teacher Apprenticeship Program Relationships between Districts and Teacher Prep Programs Graduation Requirements …And Beyond They aren’t fully flushed out. There are holes. Perhaps they cause problems even while solving others. But as…

  • Part 2 of 3: The Future of Teacher Prep Programs

    heather
    26 Feb 2010 | 5:26 am
    In yesterday’s post, Part I of 3: The Future of Teacher Prep Programs, I fantasized about what a credential program might look like years down the line. Here is Part II of my post that will address the following points: The Staff Awards Towards a Differentiated Credential Again, I feel the need to reiterate that I do not have the answers. This is my brainstorm, backed up with nothing more than my musings. I don’t know how to fund it. What I do know is that there are problems with our current credential programs, and to solve them first takes dreaming……

  • Part I of 3: The Future of Teacher Prep Programs

    heather
    25 Feb 2010 | 6:05 am
    My credential program was more of a necessary hoop than a valuable preparation program. My Ed Psych professor read his screenplay to us all semester long. My Methods of Math professor hadn’t been in a classroom for 30 years, and before then, it was only for six months. I never had a class in Classroom Management, and in one class I was even asked to work in a small group with an obviously violent, mentally unstable individual who was only one class away from his student teaching. So I’ve clearly spent some time thinking about the future of teacher credential programs and their role in…
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    El Milagro Weblog

  • A RABBLE OF INNOVATORS ON THE FAST COMPANY LAWN

    Kevin W. Riley
    7 Mar 2010 | 11:09 am
    This week, the publication Fast Company released its annual survey it calls the Top 50 Most Innovative Companies in the world. Here is the top 10: #1 Facebook #2 Amazon #3 Apple #4 Google #5 Huawei #6 First Solar #7 PG&E #8 Novartis #9 Walmart #10 HP That’s just the Top 10.  Disney is #20.  Cisco (#17) and Twitter (#50) are on the Top 50 too.  So is Grey New York (#24), the advertising genius that makes the commercials with the E-Trade baby.  Nike (#13) , Netflix (#12), and the Indian Premier League that televises international cricket matches(#22)– all on the list. So how…

  • E-BAY’S LEGACY, AN ACT OF WAR

    Kevin W. Riley
    20 Feb 2010 | 11:35 am
    Meg Whitman once ran E-bay and now she is running for Governor of California. Her platform: she plans on creating jobs, cutting spending and fixing the education system. Her fix for the education system?  More testing, more “accountability”, and converting failing schools into charter schools. E-bay must have gotten her best creative years. I wonder, by the way,  what happens to failing charter schools on the Meg Whitman plan.  I wonder what she thinks charter schools actually are.  I wonder why every candidate running for public office wants to “fix” public…

  • STAMPEDE TO THE TOP: A RACE TO RUIN

    Kevin W. Riley
    30 Jan 2010 | 10:27 pm
    Several things happened this week that gave me pause: First I saw on CNN the story about a little fourth grader in Texas who hung himself in the school restroom.  The child psychologists all attributed his death to depression and the economy and the pressure he likely felt as he made his way through school.  But he was nine.  And while depression may be on the rise (like obesity and diabetes and other childhood illnesses) it hardly explains such an extreme response. I wondered…  what was it about his school that added to his hopelessness?  Or what could have been different for him?

  • ON THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S OATH

    Kevin W. Riley
    19 Jan 2010 | 10:03 pm
    One year ago this morning.  Hope. Today, I am not so sure.  But I haven’t given up yet.  I am still astride the bandwagon.  I have seen signs of the change that history promised.  Then I realize, change is in the eye of the beholder: I had hoped for an end to war. I had hoped for an end to Wall Street’s hammer-hold on our nation’s leaders. I had hoped for jobs and for the arrest of the economy’s free-fall. I had hoped for clean air again. I had hoped for harmony; an end to partisan bickering. I had hoped for health care for our children. I had hoped for a better…

  • ZERO IN-TOLERANCE

    Kevin W. Riley
    6 Jan 2010 | 2:14 pm
    The airport security line at San Diego’s Lindbergh Field was as long as I have ever seen it yesterday.  It stretched from the central hallway of Terminal One, past the baggage claim area, up the escalator, across the footbridge to the southeast parking and halfway down I-5 to National City. Well maybe not that far. But it was the expected overreaction to one Nigerian douchebag who tried to launch a rocket from his briefs to bring down the very airplane he was sitting on, and instead lit himself up like a silvery flare. Overreaction is a political calculation designed to confuse systemic…
 
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    Pensamientos

  • Critical Thinking, Self-Learning, Self-Teaching

    [Marcy Webb]
    2 Mar 2010 | 10:53 pm
    The only kind of learning which significantly influences behavior is self-discovered or self-appropriated learning - truth that has been assimilated in experience. - Carl Rogers I am a confirmed believer in a student's ability to learn independently, teach the self, and use critical thinking skills. However, in a culture which promotes group work at my place of employ, many students lose the ability to think for themselves, and rely on one person - usually the person who is "smart."   Such was the case on Tuesday in my Onesies class.  The students were working on a crossword puzzle,…

  • St. Valentine's Day Fun with Necco Hispanic Sweethearts

    [Marcy Webb]
    21 Feb 2010 | 8:18 am
    For the past several years, I have purchased Necco Hispanic Sweethearts for my Onsies and Twosies.  I can't remember exactly when I began to purchase them, but, I do recall I obtained the idea from a colleague on the FLTEACH listserve. However, it wasn't until last year that I discovered activities that I could use along with the Necco Hispanic Sweethearts, which I purchased from Teachers Pay Teachers.  I have ordered the Necco Hispanic Sweethearts from different sources, but, the one which has bee the most dependable is Homewtown Favorites. I have been told that the Necco Hispanic…

  • I Cannot Do The Learning for Them...

    [Marcy Webb]
    16 Feb 2010 | 2:07 pm
     Give the pupils something to do, not something to learn; and the doing is of such a nature as to demand thinking; learning naturally results.  John Dewey  After all, it's their learning, their process. But, nothing steals my joy more than when students don't do their homework. I take it personally when my students don't do their homework. But, why? More than likely they didn't do another teacher's homework, either. That said, I do believe that there are students who perceive their foreign language studies as tertiary - not even secondary. However, many fail to connect the…

  • What Helps Students To Be Successful?

    [Marcy Webb]
    12 Feb 2010 | 4:40 pm
    Excellence is not an act but a habit. The things you do the most are the things you will do best.  Marva Collins  I had a very engaging conversation via Twitter earlier today with Alice Ayel.  The conversation commenced with Alice posting a link for the Michel Thomas Method for teaching MFL (Modern Foreign Language).  My curiosity piqued, I asked Alice if the Michel Thomas Method is widely embraced in the UK, because it has had little/no traction here in the United States.  According to Alice, the Michel Thomas Method is being embraced more and more by teachers…

  • Fun Resource for Middle School Foreign Language

    [Marcy Webb]
    9 Feb 2010 | 4:45 pm
    As much as I strive to be a firm grammarian with my eighth grade Onsies, there is always room for FUN!   I don't recall exactly how I happened upon this resource, but, in the short time since I downloaded it, I have been able to infuse my classes with speaking, listening, and hands-on activities which not only promote active use of the target language, but which are also high-interest and very engaging. Check it out!
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    Teachers Love SMART Boards

  • SMARTBoards and LITERACY at The Children's University

    James Hollis
    9 Mar 2010 | 11:11 am
    I love when I find interactive resources for Language Arts that work great on the SMART Board. This morning I was looking for some interactive resources for describing adjectives and I came across an activity called the Adjective Detective. This is a wonderful interactive lesson that reviews the different types of adjectives and then allows students to check their understanding by taking a quiz or playing a game. The activity works great on a SMART Board, especially when displayed in full screen mode. Upon further investigation, I found that this activity is part of The Children's University…

  • SMARTBoards and Learn Your Tables

    James Hollis
    8 Mar 2010 | 10:11 am
    This wonderful resource has been making it's way through my Twitter PLN and I thought I should share it here as well since my 9 year old daughter gave it the thumbs up over the weekend. Learn Your Tables is a flash-based resource that helps students learn their multiplication facts. It provides three types of resources: Drag and Drop, Enter the Answer, and Assessment. You can even select a specific table or you can mix it up and have it provide facts from the 1s through 10s table. When using the Enter the Answer resource, they provide a keypad so kids can touch the correct answer on the SMART…

  • SMARTBoards and Every Good Boy Does Fine

    James Hollis
    24 Feb 2010 | 5:22 am
    I'm guessing that if you're a music teacher, you understand the title of this blog post. I learned this mnemonic for remembering the line notes of the Treble Clef and it definitely brings back a lot of memories from my once-a-week music class with Sister Katherine Mary in the 7th grade. Let's F.A.C.E. it, music classes in the 70's tended to be a little boring. I found an incredible resource that uses much more exciting and engaging ways to learn and understand music theory. The site is called, appropriately enough,  MusicTheory.net and it contains a vast amount of interactive music resources…

  • SMARTBoards and an Amazing Notebook Application

    James Hollis
    16 Feb 2010 | 4:28 pm
    I've been anxiously awaiting Notebook 10.6 so I can develop new Professional Development courses for Teacher Online Training. The applications I've developed don't require the new version of Notebook but it helps to develop training materials using the most current software versions. Teacher Online Training is releasing a new course on Wednesday called Notebook Application - The Sentence Builder. This course not only teaches/reinforces skills in using the Smart Notebook software, it also shows you an amazing and simple technique that magically changes items on the Notebook page based on the…

  • SMARTBoards and Ad-free Resources - Volume 3

    James Hollis
    5 Feb 2010 | 5:21 am
    The final installment in my battle against educational resources that contain inappropriate advertisement will focus on interactive resources provided by education publishers. This is a key topic since the educational field is quickly moving away from static textbooks to interactive and customizable media formats.  If the education publishers don't react quickly, they won't be part of the transition. Here are a few education publishers who seem aware of this transition and are already providing exceptional interactive educational content for the classroom: TES iboard Interactive Resources …
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    The Teaching Palette

  • Create Your Own Detail Detective

    Engaging students of all levels though a detail search of an image is a great way to introduce a unit or fill a few minutes of extra time at the end of class. A few of my favorite online sources include: What is it? Carpet Hunt Albright-Knox Art Games Getty Detail Detective Can You Find the Detail? However, you [...]

  • Turn Old Prints Into New Puzzles

    I’m fortunate to have some duplicate copies of fine art prints — most were freebies from conferences and workshops. Originally, I divided a few prints into rectangular sections for grid drawings but after inheriting a felt board I started using them as a puzzle (click image at left to enlarge). When students had free time [...]

  • “Shhh” Noise Control

    I love the buzz and energy of an art room filled with students actively involved in the creative process.  Because of this, I allow my students to talk during art production, as long as they remain on-task and the noise level doesn’t become disruptive.  However, some of my classes have a harder time with this [...]

  • Educational Digital Content With Kitzu

    Searching for great images and content for your classroom? Then you’ll want to look through the unbelievable resources at kitZu created by the Orange County Department of Education. The online collection of digital kits covers numerous subject areas such as science, music, mathematics, history, visual art and more. The content includes free educational and copy [...]

  • Improve Curriculum Delivery with Document Cameras

    If there is only enough money in your budget to splurge on one piece of equipment for the art room then a document camera, in my opinion, is it. A document camera is not a fancy overhead projector but a versatile piece of equipment that can help improve the way you deliver curriculum. The most obvious [...]
 
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    Teaching Social Media Marketing At UCLA Extension

  • Wednesday, March 31, SPRING 2010 Social Media Marketing

    9 Mar 2010 | 8:04 am
    The class is capped at 50 so register now.  Karl Kasca and Beverly Macy team teach the class and invite guest speakers from businesses and industries around Southern California to come share best practices and lessons learned with the class. Social Media Marketing  Over 100 million-plus videos are downloaded from YouTube each day. Technorati tracks over 50 million blogs. Social networking sites, such as MySpace, Facebook, and others, contain millions of user profiles. Is this just hype or have marketing, advertising, and communication changed forever? And how do these…

  • Gravity Summit is Tomorrow 2-22 at UCLA!

    21 Feb 2010 | 3:28 pm
    We have an amazing day planned for attendees - a virtual brain trust of the top brands and minds in the industry.   In addition, the attendees are outstanding - decision makers from all types of businesses across Southern California - financial services, entertainment, healthcare, music, high-tech, non-profits, municipalities, and entrepreneurs. We’ve had a couple of cancellations so register here if you can join us.  Here is the Agenda: 8:00 AM — Registration - Prepare for the day (please be on time)Join us for a scrumptious breakfast and lots of networking. 9:00 AM —…

  • Giant Super Bowl Ad Table

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:26 am
    Gomez is a division of Compuware that does website performance measurement for businesses. Like me, they like to hammer the point that a slow site loses a lot of business. In fact, 78 percent of consumers surveyed told Gomez they have switched to a competitor’s site because the site they wanted was too slow.With that in mind, this past Sunday Gomez studied the websites of every company with a Super Bowl ad as their commercials ran. The company’s resulting rankings are a composite of four stats: USA Today’s Admeter popular ranking, TIME magazine’s expert ranking, plus two Gomez website…

  • SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING FOR BUSINESS

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:14 am
    www.gravitysummit.comDATE: Monday, February 22, 2009 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.REGISTRATION: Standard Price $349, Early Bird Price $249; CEUs AvailableLOCATION: University of California, Los Angeles: Covel CommonsGravity Summit events are committed to educating and informing the business community about how best to leverage and use social media. Highlights of the Gravity Summit 1 Year Anniversary at UCLA: http://pitch.pe/39343 We thank the UCLA Extension for their generous sponsorship as our venue and academic sponsorCEU (continuing education units) will be available for attending the conference…

  • Gary Vee talks about Consumer Expectations

    29 Jan 2010 | 8:54 am
    Love @garyvee - talk about Crush It! all the time in our classes. He is spot on here:
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    More Than a Test Score

  • Regionals Have Begun!

    David Blake
    10 Mar 2010 | 6:36 pm
    Hey Zinchers, Regionals have begun! We want to congratulate all 1,000 students for continuing on to the regionals round.  We also want to remind you that now is when the competition starts to really heat up. Only 58 of the 1,000 students (and the Cinderella 6) will continue to the Final 64 bracket.  So if you didn’t make it to Regionals check out the rules for the Cinderella 6 and start at it! If you did make it, make sure you get out the masses to vote because now is when it counts more then ever! Remember regionals lasts from March 9th to March 16th so get out there and start…

  • Running for Student Office

    April Conyers
    8 Mar 2010 | 4:37 pm
    It’s a known fact that extra-curricular activities definitely make a difference when you’re applying for college. Out of the countless activities you could do, I’d like to focus on running for student government. If you’re interested in change, planning events or have political aspirations, you should consider running for student council. Most high schools hold elections for class representatives as well as associated student body representatives. Whether you’re running for President or Treasurer, here are some steps you should take when putting together your campaign: 1. Make your…

  • First Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship Winner!

    David Blake
    8 Mar 2010 | 3:40 pm
    We were really impressed with all the unique and wonderful essays posted in the first round of the Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship. The competition was fierce, but there can only be one winner and this time around it was Rachel Brooks! Here is Rachel’s Winning Essay: If I ruled the world, fanciful and feasible would join forces. Solutions to practical predicaments would become a form of artistic expression, and the fine arts themselves would find a role in humanity’s resourcefulness. In this environment of cooperation and caring, everyone could find a forte.

  • Build your YouTube hype.

    JeffZ
    5 Mar 2010 | 4:31 pm
    I am a pretty big advocate of using Youtube videos to advertise for your competitive cause because I managed to make one that helped me out a lot. I’ve been scoping out a few March Madnezz Youtube videos lately, and so far, these are my top 5! #5. [Taylor Schutte] I don’t want to give too much away, but there is a banjo, a Denver Broncos banner, and a Seattle Mariners hat. Okay - so, maybe it’s not the most epic thing ever made, but it definitely gets the point across: we all need to save our money for college. Taylor, I have a sneaking suspicion you are spending a lot of…

  • March Madnezz Talent

    David Blake
    3 Mar 2010 | 6:49 pm
    As March Madnezz continues we here at Zinch wanted to highlight some of the fantastic talents and effort that has been put forward by the students participating in this years Sweet Diggity Dawg Scholarship Contest.  The following are some of the exceptional talent that we have noticed. Enjoy! Images Videos by Juan P. by Tiesha M. Writing What Is Poetry by Sara U. Better by Blair W. Confusion by Karim H. Audio Battle’s of Life by Sarah S. Just For Your Love by Keith L. Fantaisie Pastorale Hongroise by Albert Franz Doppler performed by Jenny L. Miscellaneous Daniel O’Connor has…
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    University of Michigan-Dearborn News

  • 'Michigan and the Obama Presidency'

    11 Mar 2010 | 7:34 am
    DEARBORN / March 11, 2010---Bankole Thompson, senior editor of the Michigan Chronicle, will moderate a panel discussion on “Michigan and the Obama Presidency: The First Year” on Wednesday, March 17 at the University of Michigan-Dearborn as part of the campus’s “Issues in Diversity and Social Change” lecture series. The event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by UM-Dearborn’s Office of Multicultural Affairs. The panel discussion will take place from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Room 1500 of the campus’s Social Sciences Building. Panelists are scheduled to include…

  • Campus names CASL dean

    8 Mar 2010 | 12:03 am
    DEARBORN / March 8, 2010---Jerold L. Hale, currently a professor in the Department of Speech Communication at the University of Georgia (UGA), has been named dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters (CASL) at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.  While at UGA, Hale was unanimously elected to three three-year terms as head of the Department of Speech Communication. Hale’s five-year appointment will begin on July 1, 2010, pending the approval of the University Board of Regents.  In addition to his administrative position, he will be a professor of communication in CASL,…

  • Jobs boost 'Innovation Index'

    8 Mar 2010 | 12:01 am
    DEARBORN / March 8, 2010---Some signs of job creation were enough to boost innovative economic activity in Michigan during the third quarter of 2009, according to the “innovation index” compiled by scholars at the University of Michigan-Dearborn College of Business. After a drop to 80 from 96 in the first quarter of 2008, the index showed a third quarter improvement, jumping to 86.9 from 80 during the previous quarter.   “The 6.9 increase for the quarter is the largest since the index was created in 2006,” according to Lee Redding, associate professor of business economics and…

  • Kudos for community service

    7 Mar 2010 | 11:57 pm
    DEARBORN / March 8, 2010---The University of Michigan-Dearborn and its students are leaders in utilizing community service to impact the life, economy and culture of the metropolitan Detroit region.     That’s why the university has been named to the 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.  The award is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service. UM-Dearborn was honored for its…

  • Students will experience engineering

    7 Mar 2010 | 11:56 pm
    DEARBORN / March 8, 2010---Local high school juniors and seniors will get to explore opportunities in the fields of engineering and computer science on Saturday, March 27 at the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s College of Engineering and Computer Science during its 5th annual “Engineering/Computer Science Experience” event. The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. inside the campus’s Institute for Advanced Vehicle Systems building. The highlight of the day will be a competition for scholarships and cash prizes in an engineering, computer programming or Web design competition.
 
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    stickylearning

  • Why do we label learning?

    Michael Eury
    3 Mar 2010 | 4:34 pm
    OK, this is a post written as I'm thinking. I was just reading comments from my post on Autonomous/Formal/Informal Learning and thought I'd put some of my thoughts down in a post as they come! Let's see how it goes?My thinking is this - formal/informal/autonomous/individual - they are all labels, descriptive in their own way. Part of the problem though is that they may all mean slightly different things to different people. And, if you are speaking to an employer and are extolling the benefits of informal learning - one, they want/need a definition - two, they want to know how it works - and…

  • Exploring the learning landscape

    Michael Eury
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:05 pm
    In my previous post I asked the question, 'Is Autonomous Learning the same as Informal Learning?' I'd been reading Daniel Pink's new book Drive and my mind had turned to thinking about autonomy, learning and motivation. The post itself was a fair reflection of this thought, but not the end. Over the last week I've kept being drawn back to questions about, and relationships between, informal/formal/autonomous learning. This led me to doodle a new thought: In my post on autonomous learning I had looked mainly at who was in control of the learning, in fact I defined Autonomous Learning as: "you…

  • Autonomous Learning - is it the same as informal learning?

    Michael Eury
    2 Feb 2010 | 4:18 am
    Formal learning and informal learning. I get the idea here, there is learning that is structured and there is learning that happens outside of structured environments. Marcia Conner's explanation of informal learning is a good starting point in understanding the thinking underlying informal learning. I have also written previously on informal learning in these three posts: Informal/Social Learning - Concertina Style Permission Learning - encouraging the informal Fish are the last to recognise water = informal learning As you can see I've used the term, informal learning myself, however, my…

  • PresentationZen Design - Review

    Michael Eury
    13 Jan 2010 | 8:49 pm
    Garr Reynolds' new book, PresentationZen Design, is his follow-up to his first book, PresentationZen of 2008. His first book was in many ways a summary of Garr's presentation style, looking at presentation preparation, design and delivery. I suppose it is no surprise that his second book expands on one key area from his first book, slide design - I say it is no surprise because it is Garr's design style that most defines him. If you already have his first book, this new book is really chapters 5, 6 & 7 expanded, however don't take this as a negative, what Garr has done here is to write a…

  • 10 Best (Learning) Books of 2009

    Michael Eury
    11 Jan 2010 | 8:43 pm
    After my longest break away from the stickylearning blog I thought a good place to begin was by reviewing the 10 books that I got the most from during 2009. When writing blog posts I draw ideas from a pretty wide range of areas and my reading over the last year has been equally wide. If you haven't seen or read all the books in the list, I can highly recommend all of them! 1 The Designful Company A clear winner for my best 2009 book! Marty Neumeier's book has had me coming back to re-read bits of it time and time again and has definitely influenced how I view design in learning. I think this…
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    Teaching with Contests.com

  • THINK >>>!

    Ed Conti
    11 Mar 2010 | 7:27 pm
    Mini boats Build a boat with water wheel with these materials — then, see how much weight it will hold before sinking (be sure to send pictures of the boat holding weight — use whatever you’d like): a ruler 4 pencils 2 feet of aluminum foil a cereal box 24 inches of tape 4 spoons 4 index cards 4 paperclips buttons or brads string You must use all of the materials. More ideas, click here ShareThis

  • Breakthrough Schools

    Ed Conti
    10 Mar 2010 | 4:33 pm
    The MetLife-NASSP Breakthrough Schools project, initiated in 2007, is sponsored by MetLife Foundation. The goal of the project is to identify, recognize, and showcase middle level and high schools that serve large numbers of students living in poverty and are high achieving or dramatically improving student achievement. (deadline May 15; $5,000 for high-achieving K-12 schools with 40% or more students eligible for reduced-price meals) ShareThis

  • P L A S T I K I T I M E

    Ed Conti
    10 Mar 2010 | 4:26 pm
    Full details Click here ShareThis

  • America’a “Safest Teacher” - 2010

    Ed Conti
    9 Mar 2010 | 9:45 am
    Explain why you are America’s “safest teacher” and win a $10,000 classroom makeover! The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Honeywell will recognize teachers who have shown an exceptional commitment to child safety in the fifth annual Got 2B Safe! Awards program.CLICK HERE to tell us your ideas on how to keep kids safer using the Got 2B Safe! Four Rules by March 26, 2010. Teachers who enter the contest earn a chance to receive: • $10,000 Classroom Makeover (Five Grand Prize winners) • $500 School Supply Gift Certificate (100 winners) ShareThis

  • Let’s Fly Away Airplane Dodecahedron - Freebie K-4

    Ed Conti
    8 Mar 2010 | 6:03 pm
    A regular dodecahedron is made of 12 pentagons. Students learn about NASA aircraft as they build a geometric form to hang from the ceiling or place on a shelf. http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Lets_Fly_Away.html ShareThis
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    Network Video + Education

  • Inside a School Safety Drill

    12 Mar 2010 | 6:27 am
    Since safety and security drills continue to spark news stories concerning both K-12 and higher education schools, it would be interesting to understand what happens when a drill takes place. Recently, Navajo Preparatory School (NPS), a college prep high school in New Mexico, conducted a safety drill (Source: THE Journal, March 8, 2010, Safety Drill! Critical Response in Action). Here’s what occurred. - Disturbing note found: A student found a disturbing note with a picture of a gun and a message saying, “There is no tomorrow.” The student gave the note to a teacher who passed it along…

  • Clery Act Changes Require Drills

    5 Mar 2010 | 2:16 pm
    Higher education institutions have done a good job of developing emergency plans to prepare effectively for security and safety incidents. This summer new amendments to the Jeanne Clery Act, “a federal law requiring colleges to release campus crime statistics and security policies to their current and prospective students and employees,” should help those colleges be prepared even better for emergencies (Source: Security Directory News, February 9, 2010, Changes to Clery Act impact emergency plans, require drills). The Clery Act’s new amendments focus on three main changes. 1. Emergency…

  • School Security Drills Help Improve Emergency Preparedness

    25 Feb 2010 | 1:47 pm
    Last December the New Jersey State Senate passed a bill requiring schools to conduct security drills. Conversely, earlier this month Colorado lawmakers voted down a bill that supported mandatory safety school drills (Source: 9News.com Denver, February 12, 2010, Lawmakers toss out bill requiring school safety drills). While normally this news would be shocking, especially given Colorado’s tragic history regarding the 1999 Columbine shootings, the bill failed mainly because of expert testimony explaining that most school districts already have safety drills in place. Overall, schools…

  • Broken Security = Poor Security

    19 Feb 2010 | 9:30 am
    Does your school district have difficulty maintaining its security equipment? Are broken cameras not fixed for months? How fast do you repair broken panic alarms (Source: KTRK-TV Houston, February 16, 2010, What good is security equipment that doesn’t work?)? Recently, the local ABC-affiliate in Houston, Texas, reported that several Houston Independent School District (HISD) schools had inoperable security systems. Certainly, any large (or small) district would expect to find broken security equipment from time to time, but it’s the amount of time that these systems remained broken that…

  • Explain School Security Program

    12 Feb 2010 | 6:58 am
    Earlier this month a borough in Greencastle, PA, rejected a state grant to fund a school resource officer (SRO) position. The main reason for the rejection, however, was that the local school board did not like the idea of adding an SRO (Source: The Herald-Mail, February 1, 2010, Borough says no to school safety officer). Citing “peer-reviewed articles on the efficacy of resource officers,” the research showed that SROs did not “make a significant difference in the amount of criminal activity in America’s schools.” Unfortunately, the choice to reject the additional SRO position is…
 
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    EducationGrant.com

  • Common FAFSA Form Mistakes – For Parents

    ttopor
    12 Mar 2010 | 7:00 am
    Many parents fill out the FAFSA for their children. According to The College Solution blog, here are some common mistakes that parents make when filling it out: 1. Don’t leave answers blank. Leaving blanks on your form can cause miscalculations, and the application could possibly be rejected. If your intended answer is zero, write “0”. 2. Double check your Social Security and driver’s license numbers. Make sure you have written the correct numbers – even one wrong digit can mess up the entire application. 3. Don’t enter the wrong income tax information. Make sure you enter the…

  • Increased Enforcement of Civil Rights Laws in Education

    ttopor
    10 Mar 2010 | 7:00 am
    The U.S Department of Education says that as part of its plan to increase enforcement of civil rights laws, it will be sending out letters in the coming weeks to thousands of colleges and school districts, which will outline their responsibilities to provide equal opportunities for students. The letters will touch upon areas of civil rights concern including possible racial discrimination in student assignments and admissions, and in access to resources which includes having qualified teachers. Another part of the civil rights effort will have the Department of Education open compliance…

  • Financial Aid in the News

    ttopor
    8 Mar 2010 | 7:00 am
    Here are some of today’s financial aid news stories: Students in race for state’s college financial aid funds The Chicago Sun Times reports that financial aid applications are being filled out quickly, since students are afraid of  being shut out from state aid. More than 180,000 Illinois students filled out financial aid forms in January and February, which is 21 percent more than those two months last year. Last year, Illinois ended up denying financial aid applications that were submitted after May 15, which was the earliest cutoff date in history. Because of this, more…

  • Need Help with the FAFSA? Use These 4 Resources!

    ttopor
    5 Mar 2010 | 7:00 am
    Do you need help filling out the FAFSA, or have questions regarding the financial aid application process? Here are 4 financial aid resources which should help make filling out the FAFSA easier for you! FAFSA on the Web The U.S. Department of Education’s FAFSA on the Web site has live online representatives who are available to help when you’re filling out the FAFSA, by hitting the “Live Help” button. Also, you have the option of speaking to a customer service representative by calling the FAFSA phone number: (800)-433-3243. FAFSA on the Web Worksheet By downloading the FAFSA on the…

  • 2010 Tylenol Scholarship Program

    ttopor
    3 Mar 2010 | 7:00 am
    If you are in the healthcare field, then you know what it is like to take care of people – now is your chance to be taken care of! In its 18th year, the Tylenol Scholarship program will give students in the healthcare field scholarship money towards their education. Tylenol is giving out $250,000 in scholarships to forty students, based on their leadership qualities and performance. Ten students will be awarded $10K scholarships Thirty students will receive $5K grants Applications must be received by May 14, 2010 – so apply today! Visit Tylenol’s website for more details and to…
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    NurtureShock

  • Best of NurtureShock / Research Blogging Awards Nominee

    Ashley Merryman and Po Bronson
    26 Feb 2010 | 9:27 am
     We're having a great week: on Monday, NurtureShock won the "Best Parenting/Childcare Book" Award for Books for Better Life.Today, we are delighted to learn that we've just been nominated for "Best Psychology Blog" for 2010 Research Bloggers Awards. We wrote over 90 posts about peer-reviewed science in 2009 and we're delighted to see that they are still having some impact.Thank you very much to all of the judges, and congratulations to the other nominees (We're fans of yours!).If you are new to our work, there is a list of some of our favorite posts on this page (in the lower right…

  • Dear Readers /NurtureShock Last Post For Newsweek

    Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman
    31 Dec 2009 | 6:02 am
    Dear Readers:This is our last NurtureShock post for Newsweek.com.We have been thrilled to have this opportunity—to share the science of child development and parenting with you. However, what we love the most about this topic is diving headlong into new research, meeting with the scientists, and then really taking the time to develop all that into a great, compelling read. So we are turning our focus back onto writing longer, more substantive pieces. We have plans for what's next, but we don't want to say anything specific at this point. For now, we just promise that we have much more…

  • Some Kids Are Never Spanked - Do They Turn Out Better?

    Po Bronson
    30 Dec 2009 | 8:00 am
    For decades, research on spanking was challenged by the lack of a control group to compare against - almost all kids (90+%) had been spanked at least once, at some time in their early lives. New research shows that now up to 25% of kids are never spanked, so it's a fair question: How are they turning out? Are they turning out better? Surprisingly, they're not.  In NurtureShock, we described some extensive cross-ethnic and international research on spanking by Drs. Jennifer Lansford and Ken Dodge. Their data suggested that if a culture views spanking as the normal consequence for bad…

  • The Sorry State of In-Home Day Care

    Ashley Merryman
    29 Dec 2009 | 12:50 pm
    Today, we are proud to present a guest post written by our intern, Julia M. Smith.  When parents head off to work each day, millions of children go to child care centers, but another 1.9 million children are dropped off for day care in a less formal program based out of someone's house. The US Census reports that these kids spend an average of 31 hours per week in this home-based day care – about 6 hours a day during the workweek.  Yet where there’s an abundance of research covering kids’ experiences in preschool and institutional day care centers, there’s only a…

  • The Truth About Lie-Detection – What Works And What Doesn't

    Ashley Merryman and Po Bronson
    28 Dec 2009 | 9:08 am
    During a trip to Dr. Victoria Talwar's lab at McGill University, Po and I took part in one of her experiments. Talwar investigates why and when kids lie, so she asked us to watch videos of children describing a bullying incident. Our job was to decide if each child was talking about a real event or just making up a story. Po was only able to correctly identify four of the eight, but I'd done even worse: just three right answers, making Po's 50 percent look stellar by comparison.    Now, I'm enough of a perfectionist that I'd study for a dental exam, if I could. So friends have been…
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    Smart Classroom Management

  • How To Turn Around Difficult Students (Part 2)

    Michael Linsin
    6 Mar 2010 | 11:11 am
    In How To Turn Around Difficult Students (Part 1), I made the case that teachers struggle with difficult students because their compassion overrides doing what is best for the student. If you haven’t read the article, I encourage you to read it before continuing with this one. In this week’s article, I’m going to going to show [...]

  • How To Turn Around Difficult Students (Part 1)

    Michael Linsin
    27 Feb 2010 | 11:34 am
    At the start of every school year you drag your finger down your roster, hopeful you won’t see one of the few names that can send shivers down your spine. Every year, it seems, there are a handful of students that have the potential to make your life miserable. Having one of these beauties on your roster [...]

  • How To Make Classroom Management Sticky

    Michael Linsin
    20 Feb 2010 | 12:20 pm
    In their book, Made To Stick, authors Chip and Dan Heath describe the story of Jane Elliott. Jane was a third-grade teacher on April 4, 1968, the day Martin Luther King was assassinated. Struggling to explain the tragedy to her students, Jane decided to try something unusual. She separated her class by eye color. She placed the brown-eyed [...]

  • How To Get Students To Raise Their Hand

    Michael Linsin
    13 Feb 2010 | 11:40 am
    Calling out is a momentum killer of the highest order and can turn a well-planned lesson into a halting mess. But that isn’t the only reason why you should require your students to raise their hand. Here are a few more: Calling out is unfair Every student has a right to participate, not just those who are more assertive. [...]

  • Why Having Fun Makes Classroom Management Easier

    Michael Linsin
    6 Feb 2010 | 11:42 am
    Years ago I was asked to teach a summer school science class to a group of eighth graders. Because many had failed a similar course during the school year, more than sixty students signed up. Another teacher was brought in to help. His name was John Dugan, and we hit it off right away. John was hilarious. After a test, [...]
 
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    Al Jamiat Magazine

  • US College & University Fair to the Middle East

    aljamiat
    15 Feb 2010 | 9:18 am
    US Educational Group is heading to the following countries in MARCH 2010 with a number of US Colleges, Universities, and English Language Centers. We encourage you to register and attend the events where you will meet with international student admissions officials and speak to them about your interest in studying in the USA. Learn about the American higher education application process, I-20 issues, university costs, housing, and more. Speak with representatives about admissions tests and test preparation including TOEFL®, SAT®, GRE®, and GMAT®. A face to face meeting is the best time to…

  • Colleges & Universities on USEG College Fair in March

    aljamiat
    15 Feb 2010 | 8:39 am
    US Colleges and Universities confirmed for the Al Jamiat/USEG (US Educational Group) Middle East college fair in March 2010. See the dates that you will be able to speak with the representatives of these schools and REGISTER to receive a newsletter and information before the fair! Learn more and read short profiles on the schools attending in our guide (coming soon!). Embry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityPrescott, AZ & Daytona Beach, FL – Contact Everett Community College Everett, Washington – Contact Fairleigh Dickinson University – Multiple Campuses – Contact Michigan State…

  • Worst College Mascots

    aljamiat
    21 Jan 2010 | 1:33 pm
    Source: www.toptenz.net

  • Kazakhstan to Arizona State University

    aljamiat
    11 Jan 2010 | 12:21 pm
    My first experience with skateboarding Hi! My name is Zhandos Orazalin. Today, I’m going to tell you about my first experience with skateboarding. I’m from Kazakhstan, which is a fascinating country located between Europe and Asia.  It’s a size of whole of the Western Europe, it has stable government and it’s becoming a very attractive place for investments. [Watch Zhandos Orazalin talk about his experience at ASU & learning to skateboard] The President of our country has established a scholarship named “Bolashak” which allows the best students from Kazakhstan to study in…

  • What University Life Used to Look Like

    aljamiat
    6 Jan 2010 | 9:49 am
    These great photos made their way to us this morning, and we thought our international readers would enjoy seeing them. Looking through them I don’t see a big difference – people are having fun, groups of students are enjoying their college time together. Granted, everyone is dressed nicely and for some reason appear to be well over the age of 18, but looking through them I see student life as it is today. College life may look different today, with Uggs, sweatpants, and phones glued to everyone’s ears, but at the end its still about education, friendships, networks, and…
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    Non-Traditional Students

  • Non-traditional Students and Trouble with Algebra

    28 Feb 2010 | 12:45 pm
    Like most non-traditional college students, I really struggled and had trouble with college algebra. One of the issues I had was that it had not just been too long since taking algebra in high school, it had been too long since I had used much math at all. I discussed this with the introductory algebra teacher, and eventually tried to make the same case for my own students who were having math issues, but the main problem is that colleges will not go back into basic math to help students get to the point that algebra makes sense. Fortunately, I had homeschooled my son through high school.

  • Untraditional Students: Beyond the Comfort Zone

    24 Feb 2010 | 4:39 pm
    Every five weeks, I see a new group of students beginning their college careers. Some of these students are traditional students, but most fit into the nontraditional or even untraditional categories. Nontraditional students are usually defined as anyone who has been out of high school for more than six months, or has a family. Untraditional students are usually older adults (meaning out of high school for five or more years), and can be adults returning for second career training. Some untraditional students may have had college courses before, may even have completed college degrees before,…

  • Scheduling is Everything for Non-Traditional Students

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:10 am
    Guest Blog by Susan ElliottNon-Traditional Student on CampusStepping onto a campus, of any size, after several years absence, or for the first time ever, can be a bit overwhelming. Fear is normal. It is also normal to feel like all the younger students are staring at you, and that you will never fit in. Don’t worry. You don’t have to fit in or be popular, this is not high school. You are in college to learn, fulfill your dreams and start anew. Relax, the chances are you will excel in your new environment.Scheduling is EverythingBefore you ever begin a class you have to create your…

  • Windows 7 Video Training

    6 Jan 2010 | 7:41 pm
    Wow, it's been a while since I posted here. With teaching at two colleges and attending graduate school full time, I have been stretched a bit thin lately. I promise to do my best to do better in this new year. This post is about the new Windows 7 computers available now.One of the schools where I teach is now using my Student Again web site to help their students learn computer basics. Today, I added a link to Windows 7 video tutorials collected from YouTube.com and embedded into a web page to make it easier for learners who are buying new computers for school to learn how to use them.

  • Which Textbooks Do I Need?

    11 Sep 2009 | 12:28 am
    How to Find TextbooksCollege students, both traditional and nontraditional, often ask how to find out which textbooks are needed for class. Basically, this depends on the college you are attending. In some colleges, textbooks are paid for with your tuition and are provided to you before classes start. Other colleges have a bookstore where your textbooks will be sold. College bookstore employees can help you locate your textbooks if you have the course number and name of the class, as well as the instructor's name. Different instructors may have a different textbook selected, even if they are…
 
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    Imagination Soup

  • Are you a fiction or non-fiction reader?

    admin
    9 Mar 2010 | 7:54 pm
    There are two kinds of people in this world.  Fiction and non-fiction. Think about it.  Some of us naturally prefer reading fiction (me) while others naturally prefer non-fiction (husband, eldest... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Video Games and Learning

    admin
    7 Mar 2010 | 9:39 pm
    Video games can make kids better problem solvers.   In fact, video games can promote thinking skills as well as improve spacial and fine motor skills.  (That is, the good video games – the... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Parent Child Book Clubs

    admin
    7 Mar 2010 | 7:05 am
    One chilly fall morning last year, my neighbor and I stumbled upon the idea of having a neighborhood mother-daughter book club.  It was one of the best ideas of my life. Why?  Well, I look forward to... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Imagination Soup Update

    admin
    5 Mar 2010 | 10:02 pm
    Well, readers, I love how supportive you all are, thank you. Don’t worry, I’m not going to make any major changes.   However, I’ve decided to focus more on literacy and books and... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Literacy Blog Tour March 8 through 14

    admin
    5 Mar 2010 | 9:33 pm
    Get ready for the Literacy Blog Tour:  It Takes a Village to Raise a Reader coming the week of March 8 2010 Day1 – The Many Faces of Reading CHANGE Host: Terry Doherty @Scrub-a-Dub-Tub Topics... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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    Faculty Focus » » Articles

  • Ethical Frameworks for Academic Decision-Making

    Jennifer Patterson Lorenzetti
    12 Mar 2010 | 4:13 am
    Ethical action and decision-making has always undergirded higher education practice. For example, issues such as academic freedom and how to balance financial realities with the need for quality both have an ethical dimension. “Ethics comes out in small decisions as well as big ones,” says Nancy Matchett, director of the Institute of Professional Ethics at the University of Northern Colorado. Matchett works with applied ethics, and she seeks to educate her colleagues in education about three main ethical frameworks that people use to make decisions. Understanding these frameworks…

  • Do Faculty Give up on Students?

    Maryellen Weimer
    11 Mar 2010 | 5:33 am
    Most faculty (especially those reading a publication like this) do care about students. We wouldn’t be doing all that we do if we didn’t. However, some semesters are long, some students are difficult, we get behind, we have too much on our plates, and we get stressed and tired. When that’s how we’re feeling we don’t always show that concern in tangible ways. The article referenced below provides a wealth of reminders and good advice. The authors surveyed students asking them four simple questions: Have you ever had the feeling that a faculty member or instructor had “given up”…

  • Going Beyond Office Hours to Improve Student Learning

    Elizabeth Delaney
    10 Mar 2010 | 4:12 am
    Two of the big buzzwords in higher education are “student engagement” and “teacher effectiveness.” One way to address these intertwined issues is to improve the quality of student-teacher interactions both inside and outside the classroom. The research indicating interaction outside the classroom as key to promoting student academic success and personal growth is voluminous. I’d like to share with you how I’ve moved beyond office hours to create a more productive learning experience for my students. Last year, I started meeting informally with small groups of students for one hour…

  • The Teacher as General Practitioner

    Ike Shibley
    9 Mar 2010 | 4:15 am
    I recently read two wonderful books on the medical profession, one by Jerome Groopman (How Doctors Think) and the other by Atul Gawande (Better). I’ve been thinking about how closely the tasks of teachers and doctors are aligned. Teachers have patients, although we generally call them students. Our “patients” also come to us with problems of one kind or another, usually a deficiency of knowledge or trouble with learning. Whether it’s in the classroom or in the office, we must try to diagnose learning difficulties that range from cognitive to emotional to physiological. The most…

  • Recognizing and Managing Student Aggression

    Mary Bart
    8 Mar 2010 | 4:11 am
    Consider the following scenario: A student, clearly upset about receiving a failing grade on the midterm, comes up to you after class and says he wants to retake it. You reply that, as stated in the syllabus, there are no make-up exams. You also remind him of his spotty attendance record. He becomes angry, knocks your papers off the front table, and yells “You’re a terrible professor! The whole class hates you!” How would you handle it? In the recent online seminar Identifying and Managing Classroom Aggression and Violence, Brian Van Brunt, Ed.D., director of Counseling and Testing at…
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    Projects, Dissertation, Thesis

  • Multiplayer Games in Mobile Terminals

    admin
    7 Mar 2010 | 4:41 am
    Today’s mobile terminals have many similarities with personal computers, for example, the possibility to add new applications. The Java programming language is known for its mobility between platforms and it is available for mobile terminals. TeliaSonera have a mobile network that can be used for data services. However, it has different characteristics than the high-speed [...]

  • Communication structure and information distribution in an Indian NGO-network A case study of the YRSHR-network

    admin
    7 Mar 2010 | 4:40 am
    The aim of this masters thesis is to examine how communication structures within an inter-organisational network affect the network activities. Questions posed are: who communicates with whom; how does the communication structure affect information distribution; does the structure support the intended function of the network; are the participants satisfied with the information received; and how [...]

  • Accounting, Stock Markets and Everyday Life

    admin
    7 Mar 2010 | 4:35 am
    The backdrop of this dissertation is one ubiquitous element of everyday life: the stock market. Traditionally, accounting and stock markets are logically coordinate entities and this thesis analyzes how accounting supports private investors in their role as shareholders – as investors in shares and owners of companies. This analysis is carried out in four independent [...]

  • Islamic banks in the United Kingdom: Growth in the 21st century

    admin
    7 Mar 2010 | 4:31 am
    Islamic finance is growing across the globe. At an estimated 15% increase in assets every year, it outpaced the growth of traditional banks. And yet Islamic finance is still in its infancy – suffering from difficulties integrating into western economy as well as developing new instruments to compete with old – assets of Islamic financial [...]

  • A Novel Approach to Teaching Emotional Expression in Music Performance

    admin
    7 Mar 2010 | 4:27 am
    One of the most important aspects of music performance is the expression of emotions, yet research has suggested that this skill is neglected in music education. The aim of this thesis was thus to develop and test a novel and empirically-based approach to teaching emotional expression in music performance. Study I explored the nature of instrumental [...]
 
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    Want to Know it? Answers to life's questions

  • Reese Witherspoon Movies List

    Want to know it
    11 Mar 2010 | 6:45 pm
    Reese Witherspoon was born on March 22, 1976 and is a Hollywood celebrity actress and producer. She had a breakout year in 1998 starring in 3 bigger roles, but it was in 2001 her big breakthrough came with the release of the comedy Legally Blonde. She won an Oscar in 2006 for her role in the move “Walk The Line” and her career has continued to blossom (she was considered 7th place in A-List actors in 2009 for “bankable” talent). The following is a list of movies that Reese Withersoon had been involved with over her career: Actor Water for Elephants (2011) Marlena This…

  • How do you find the mode

    Want to know it
    11 Mar 2010 | 3:48 pm
    In statistics, you may have come across the term ‘mode’ or ‘modal score’. But what does this mean? How do you find the mode? This post will answer those questions and give you some examples of how to calculate the mode. What is the ‘mode’? The mode is simply the value that most frequently occurs. It is best illustrated in the examples below. How do you find the mode? Here is a step-by-step approach. See below for 2 examples of this. List the numbers in numerical order Write down the number of times each value occurs The number (or numbers- you can have more…

  • How do you calculate percentages

    Want to know it
    10 Mar 2010 | 11:27 pm
    In math, a percentage is a way of writing a number as a fraction of 100 (per cent means per hundred). For example, if you hear that 40% of people own a pet this means that 40 out of 100 people own a pet. Many people ask ‘how do you calculate percentages’? This post will answer that question and give you a few examples to help you along. How do you calculate percentage Example 1: Converting Decimals Many basic percentage problem require you to convert a decimal to a percentage. To do this, simply multiply the decimal by 100. This moves the decimal point two places to the right.

  • Where Do Olive Trees Grow

    Want to know it
    10 Mar 2010 | 9:23 pm
    The olive tree is an evergreen tree that produces fruit that bears the same name (olives). It is a short, yet stout, tree that does not commonly grow past 15m trall. The olive tree has been a significant plant within Mediterranean culture and history and is listed in many historical texts such as the bible. But, where do olive trees grow? This article will answer this question and take a look at some interesting facts about olives. Where do olive trees grow? Olive trees are native to the Mediterranean, Asia and Africa. It is believed that the tree originated in the Mediterranean region and…

  • How do you get kidney stones

    Want to know it
    10 Mar 2010 | 8:30 pm
    A kidney stone is a build up of dissolved urinary minerals that forms crystal aggregations. These usually pass through the body without causing any problems or symptoms, but if the stones becomes large enough they can start to cause problems. But, how do you get kidney stones? This article will answer this question and take a look at the symptoms of this condition. How do you get kidney stones? There are two main types of kidney stones. The first type of stone is comprised of calcium oxalate crystals and makes up 80% of cases. This type of kidney stone was thought to be caused by high calcium…
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    Accepted Admissions Almanac

  • From Example to Exemplary # 5: Revise and Polish Your Essays

    Judy Gruen
    12 Mar 2010 | 8:00 am
    Lesson #5 of a five-part series for drafting exemplary essays. You've got your first draft ready -- this is a great milestone! Now it's time to revise and edit; outstanding essays are not sprung into the world on the first draft. Here’s how to edit and polish until your essay shines: First, let your essay sit for a day or two, particularly after an intensive writing session. You’ll return to your document with fresh eyes, and undoubtedly find ways to strengthen it immediately. One of the most common problems plaguing these types of essays is bland, forgettable writing. When you…

  • Melbourne Business School Visit

    Linda Abraham
    11 Mar 2010 | 2:00 pm
    Everything is backwards. The seasons. The side of the road people drive on. The weather.  I am down-under in Melbourne Australia for our son’s wedding this week. Last Friday I took a couple of hours off from site-seeing and wedding festivities to visit the Melbourne Business School. Wendy Hill, Admissions Manager, and Jane Prior, Director, Academic Programs, graciously took time from their busy schedules to answer my questions. Naturally I asked about the qualities MBS seeks in MBA applicants, beyond the obvious academic qualifications. In a nutshell: Diversity. MBS is not merely…

  • Dare to be Different. Stand Out in the Application Process!

    Linda Abraham
    11 Mar 2010 | 12:00 pm
    There are far too many “cookie cutter” applicants who all look the same on paper and in black interview suits. You need to set yourself apart from all the other applicants. Figure out what is special about you and what you have to offer the field of medicine that sets you apart from all the other applicants. Get involved in a variety of quality activities and when you find something that you love, stick with it. Participate in activities because you really want to and because you enjoy them, not because they will look good on your resume. You will easily be able to convey your…

  • MBA Program Selection: Reaches, On-Pars, and Safeties

    Cindy Tokumitsu
    11 Mar 2010 | 8:00 am
    NOTE: This is #5 in a series of blog posts on the topic, “How to Select the Right MBA Programs.” To see previous segments, link to the following: Post #1, Introducing the Series Post #4, Weighting Your Needs and Wants  It’s now time to determine what types and levels of MBA programs you’re competitive and qualified for, and what if any are out of reasonable reach.   I use the following categories:  Reasonable reach: acceptance is not likely but with a great application is within reach. On-par: with a great app you’ll have a solid chance of…

  • From Example to Exemplary #4: Let’s Get Drafted!

    Judy Gruen
    11 Mar 2010 | 8:00 am
    Lesson #4 of a five-part series for drafting exemplary essays. Now that you have a clear sense of what makes an essay effective, and have reflected on the questions that have helped you develop your theme, it’s time to start writing.  Before you begin, write an outline, even if it’s only a very informal list of the main points you want to cover. Using the answers to the questions posed in Lesson 2, you should have a list of experiences, anecdotes, and ideas that you want to include in your essay. Now let’s break the job down further to keep the task manageable. First,…
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    SAGrader Blog

  • Weekly Round Up

    Good morning and happy Friday! Here are some good reads we found this week. Enjoy! 10 Youngest College Graduates in U.S. History (and Where They Are Today) Why is it that people are so fascinated by child prodigies? Who knows! But I admit, I find them interesting. Here is a post [...]

  • Women’s History Month

    In celebration of Women’s History Month in March, we want to remember some influential women from the history of education and recognize the inspirational leaders in education today. These women have paved the way, and continue to do so, for the women leaders and educators of today and tomorrow. Emma Hart Willard (1787-1870) – Willard started [...]

  • Weekly Round Up

    50 Social Media Innovators in Higher Education A list of the top social media innovators among the nation’s colleges and universities. It covers everything from active Twitter feeds to Facebook fan pages to videos and blogs. 2 Emerging Technologies That Will Impact College Campuses If you work on a college campus, this is a good article [...]

  • 10 People in #highered Worth Following

    Interested in higher education? If you tweet, these people (and organizations) are worth following. @WomenInHigherEd – The only national monthly practitioner’s newsjournal dedicated to enlightening, encouraging, empowering and enraging women on campus. @ProfHacker – Tips, tutorials, and commentary on pedagogy, productivity, and technology in higher education @chronicle – The leading news source for higher education. @markgr – Higher [...]

  • Weekly Round Up

    Happy Friday! We hope you had a productive week. Here are a few interesting reads we found this week – enjoy! How to Teach with Google Wave Though it’s an older article, it’s full of good stuff about using Google Wave in your classroom. One of Wave’s biggest advantages? Allowing classes from different colleges [...]
 
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    School Security Blog

  • Emergency Management Agencies: Hidden Treasures for School Preparedness – Part 2

    Ken Trump
    11 Mar 2010 | 10:35 pm
    Part 1 of my interview with Joe Wainscott, Executive Director of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS), addressed school preparedness and emergency management agency relationships.  Today, the conversation continues with a look at potential school transportation needs during a community disaster. We also discuss partnering benefits including pre-planning and pre-training activities. During tough financial times, a good partnership can be mutually beneficial. Emergency management agencies are, from a school perspective, still hidden treasures in many communities.  While a…

  • Emergency Management Agencies: Hidden Treasures for School Preparedness – Part 1

    Ken Trump
    11 Mar 2010 | 8:28 pm
    When I ask many school administrators if they are working with their county emergency management agency on their school crisis planning, I often get a common response:  “Who? What do they do?” We also like to ask school transportation directors if their district’s school buses are part of the county emergency management agency’s plan for mass transportation in a community-wide emergency.  Most directors do not know.  In fact, our interaction is often the first time they have heard of this process, often later to find out their buses had long been written into the…

  • School Athletic Event Security: Are You Prepared?

    Ken Trump
    10 Mar 2010 | 8:52 pm
    High school basketball game rivalries used to be fun and safe for students, parents, and other spectators.  Most of them still are safe and enjoyable today. But many of today’s school athletic event games also require a new level of security planning by school administrators and safety officials. In the latest of video-captured basketball game brawls, Newsday reports that the Long Island Class B title game between Malverne and Wyandanch was delayed for about 20 minutes with 1.03 minutes left in the game when a fight among spectators spilled over into the court: The video shows what…

  • School Crisis: Chaos or Communication?

    Ken Trump
    9 Mar 2010 | 8:37 pm
    The news headline: “Adults’ missteps detailed in S. Phila. High violence” The story goes on to read: “On Dec. 3, as Asian students endured a daylong series of attacks at South Philadelphia High, the adults responsible for their safety were often confused or unsure how to respond. The principal ordered a midmorning lockdown – designed to restrict student movement and move staffers to security posts – but some teachers weren’t notified.” I have experienced more than my fair share of school crisis situations in over 25-years in the school safety…

  • School Safety Leader: Asia Jones

    Ken Trump
    8 Mar 2010 | 8:39 pm
    Asia Jones, Executive Director for Student Services, Roanoke City Public Schools You would not expect to find a school administrator responsible for the challenging areas of school safety, student health, discipline, truancy prevention/intervention, and alternative education to be smiling and upbeat every day. Of course, it is also not every day you meet someone like Asia Jones. Asia is the Executive Director for Student Services in Roanoke City Public Schools in Roanoke, Virginia. She has served in this position for three years. Asia also has eight years experience as an elementary…
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    Free Online Degree

  • Fort Cherry releases Act 93 agreement

    admin
    12 Mar 2010 | 1:56 am
    Fort Cherry releases Act 93 agreement This article has been read 0 times. Business Manager Paul Sroka gave the newspaper the newly passed Act 93 agreement for administrators, his new contract and the teachers’ contract. Read more on Observer-Reporter Possibly related posts: (automatically generated) Related posts on Agreement cara Standard Anti-virus 100 Users with 1 Yr Service Agreement cara Premium Anti-virus 25 Users with 1 Yr Service Agreement Related posts on Cherry Corelle Cherry Blossom 10-Piece Tabletop Placemat/Hot pad Set … Cherry Blossom Swallow Tattoos, Nautical Stars,…

  • The Princeton Review Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Financial Results

    admin
    11 Mar 2010 | 11:12 pm
    The Princeton Review Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Financial Results The Princeton Review, Inc. , a leading provider of test preparation, online learning and career education services, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter 2009 and full year, ending December 31, 2009. Read more on PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance Possibly related posts: (automatically generated) Related posts on 2009 isuppli in 2009 computer market grew Related posts on Financial Birnbach Communications Signs Two New Clients; Financial Software … Geithner accuses the EU of protectionism in…

  • Jobs@kbc

    admin
    11 Mar 2010 | 10:42 pm
    Jobs@kbc Degree preferably in Marketing from a reputable University. Masters in Business Administration (Marketing Option/strategic planning) or any other relevant Post Graduate qualification will be an added advantage Read more on Kenya Broadcasting Corporation Related posts:CareerBuilder: 10 Top-Paying Jobs Without A Degree CareerBuilder: 10 Top-Paying Jobs Without A Degree Job-posting siteCareerBuilder recently... Legit Online Jobs. One Of The Top Work At Home Sites For... Think About Obtaining An International Business Degree The growing international market of companies have become very…

  • Bryant Group Chairman Dale Cammon to Lead Business Advisory Board at Webster University

    admin
    11 Mar 2010 | 8:42 pm
    Bryant Group Chairman Dale Cammon to Lead Business Advisory Board at Webster University ST. LOUIS, March 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Webster University’s School of Business & Technology today announced that Dale L. Cammon, Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Bryant Group, Inc., has been named the new chair of the school’s advisory board. Read more on PR Newswire via Yahoo! News Possibly related posts: (automatically generated) Related posts on Advisory Advisory: Updates on US Stocks Citi & Aig « Spyfrat's Call Media Advisory: Government of Canada…

  • Leaders in Pharmaceuticals, Business and Arts to be Honored at 27th Annual UNH Alumni Scholarship Ball

    admin
    11 Mar 2010 | 4:42 pm
    Leaders in Pharmaceuticals, Business and Arts to be Honored at 27th Annual UNH Alumni Scholarship Ball West Haven , Conn. , March 10, 2010—The University of New Haven (UNH) Alumni Association will host its 27th Annual Scholarship Ball on Saturday, April 17, at 6 p.m. at the David A. Beckerman Recreation Center on the UNH Main Campus. Proceeds will fund scholarships for students with financial need. Read more on dBusinessNews.com Possibly related posts: (automatically generated) Related posts on 27th rockonkrui.com – music in my country » Blog Archive » For the love … Video news »…
 
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    BreakDrink

  • Daily Dose of Student Affairs (March 11)

    Jeff Jackson
    11 Mar 2010 | 6:31 pm
    The end is near; one more day till the weekend. FDL Launches “Students, Not Banks” Campaign 20/20 – Day 18: 20 things you unintentionally let get in your way Crunch Time for 2-Year Colleges ABC News Explores “Helicopter Parents” How Not to Complain About March 4 University Rejects Gay Student Organization to Promote Inclusivity

  • Seeking Justice For Campus Rapes

    Jeff Jackson
    11 Mar 2010 | 8:07 am
    Ever since Erin Weed joined us on the podcast , I have had an increased awareness of news stories that involve violence on campuses.  I wanted to point you to a series of stories titled Seeking Justice For Campus Rapes, that aired on NPR in collaboration with the Center for Public Integrity. Based on research from the U.S. Department of Justice, they estimate 1 in 5 female students will be sexually assaulted, leading them to the conclusion, “…colleges and universities have failed to protect women from this epidemic of sexual assault.” We need to change the campus culture…

  • NASPA Halts Unification With ACPA

    Jeff Jackson
    10 Mar 2010 | 7:51 am
    Around 6:00 pm yesterday (March 9th) a message went out over twitter stating the Resolution to halt the unification process passes at the NASPA business meeting. Below is the resolution; read it and share your thoughts. Resolution Discussion of the Possible Unification between NASPA and ACPA Presented Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at the Annual Business Meeting of the Association in Chicago, Illinois Whereas, the current discussion about a possible consolidation is important to the future of NASPA; and Whereas, any discussion of a possible unification must take into consideration the tremendous…

  • Daily Dose of Student Affairs (March 9)

    Jeff Jackson
    9 Mar 2010 | 3:50 pm
    Happy Tuesday. I only have 6 links, but if you read one of them twice it will feel like 7. A Higher Education Model for the 21st Century 20/20 – Day 17: 20 ways to improve induction Summer Internship Opportunity for Campus Kitchens at the Washington Youth Garden SAFRA Wars: Student Aid Reform Showdown Coming Soon Job Posting: Emotionally Fragile Campus Counselor Student Government Pays for Rally to Kill Student Government

  • Shooting at Ohio State University

    Jeff Jackson
    9 Mar 2010 | 12:11 pm
    Earlier today there was a shooting at Ohio State University involving a custodial employee. A new Ohio State University custodial employee who received a bad job evaluation shot two co-workers in a campus maintenance building, killing one of them, and then fatally shot himself, officials said Tuesday. You can read more about the incident on MCNBC
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    the missing teacher

  • mr. angry

    9 Mar 2010 | 6:46 am
    At the time it seemed like a good idea kind of like impulse shopping or polishing off the whole pint of Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food. Regret is not a strong enough word. Self-disgust comes close.I walked into the worst relationship I would ever have. I guess I needed to get burned, in a cauterizing way, crispy on all sides, so I would never ever let a man treat me this way again.Both of us were lonely which is always the proper way to start off a relationship. It started off with innocent phone calls but it became serious very quickly. He lived in Florida and I was in Oregon but we talked,…

  • a word about memoirs

    2 Mar 2010 | 6:00 am
    Memoirs have gotten a bad reputation.Ever since I decided that I want to be a big recognized writer I have stumbled upon the misfortune that falls upon memoirs. I’ve learned that memoirists are by far the greatest types of writers at conferences trying to pitch their work. I’ve learned agents and publishers are not interested, unless you are, of course, famous. Or have had some outrageous experience like giving birth alone in a coal mine after escaping your murderous in-laws.And I have learned that agents are super busy and important people and hopeful writers get rejected many, many,…

  • show that you care

    23 Feb 2010 | 6:38 am
    At the end of my first year, a parent meeting was called by Mrs. Blue jay (who never showed up) because four families were pulling their children out of my class. The fourth one was #17. Her mother was the defender of gossip, if you recall.This meeting was one of those dark stains, a memory that I have tried to blot out, like much of my time as a teacher. This was one of those rare moments when I couldn’t hold back my feelings any longer. Because when a person tries too hard to be strong and perfect sooner or later, she will snap.Fifteen people attended: Mr. Worm, Mrs. Rabbit, parents from…

  • keitha and the girl

    15 Feb 2010 | 8:49 pm
    My two close friends during my freshman year in high school were Keitha and Lynn. Keitha was a bit of a nerd who used to watch me put my makeup on in English class. She wore thick plastic glasses and cringe-worthy clothes. I recall with fascination a pink sweatshirt she had with a fuzzy animal on the front. It was a cat, I think, and it was made out of carpet-like hair. She may have been a late bloomer or fashionably challenged but we got along, she was nice and I ended up helping to ‘make her over’. We got her new glasses (big help), and went shopping for clothing that a teenager might…

  • old money

    8 Feb 2010 | 8:10 pm
    Mrs. Rabbit peeked her head in my class after school, “Knock, knock. Do you mind if I come in?”I was wiping down the desks it’s amazing how you need to clean the classroom every day. Is amazing the right word?“Sure, c’mon on in.”“Wanted to let you know, that I’ll be sitting in observing your class tomorrow.”“Oh, okay.”Then I said, “Why?”She shrugged, “The faculty thought it would be a good idea. Especially since I taught first grade last year. I’ll help you out, give you some pointers.”I perked up, “Okay, see you then.”***Since there were only four of us,…
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    teach mama

  • computer games for the little guys

    teachmama
    11 Mar 2010 | 6:21 pm
    I remember being way pregnant with Owen (with very little lap left), when Maddy--then a curious, bouncing 18-month old--was seasoned at banging away at the keyboard on Sesame Street's Peek-A-Boo.And why not? It wasn't like I planted her in front of the computer while I painted my nails and ate ice-cream (though some days I might have wanted to). We were together, the games were meaningful, and she was interested.I put a teeny-tiny star sticker on the left side of the mouse to remind her on which side she should click, and she was ready to roll. She's still very much interested in the…

  • an everyday nonfiction: newspaper reading

    teachmama
    9 Mar 2010 | 11:20 am
    Just like many families who incorporate book-reading into bedtime routines, my kiddos find breakfast time is a time for newspaper reading.Newspaper reading is a natural, easy way to incorporate a little bit of nonfiction reading into our day. Some days the articles we read lead to simple internet research later in the afternoon, and sometimes what we read in the morning paper gives us a starting point for our library book searches or dinnertime chats.Other times, the articles (especially the Ever Wonder. . . column which answers questions like 'Why We Burp?; Pass Gas?; Cough?; or Blow Our…

  • getting a little sneaky with literacy

    teachmama
    8 Mar 2010 | 9:41 am
    Too many times, parents think that in order to support their children's developing literacy skills, they have to sit down with a book on their laps, read through the entire book, and then drill their kid with basic comprehension questions when they're finished reading.No, no, and no way, Jose.Sure, I am all for quality book-reading time together, and I am a serious proponent of making homes literate environments. But I am also a queen of sneaking a little learning in at any point in the day.So I've compiled a few of my favorite ways of incorporating literacy into the every day: the teachmama…

  • children count too: census 2010

    teachmama
    6 Mar 2010 | 6:10 pm
    Every child loves a good game of hide and seek. There are the fun butterflies they get in their tummies when they're waiting to be discovered and the pride they feel when they're able to count to ten and then yelling, "Ready or not, here I come!"But children who are hidden from the U.S. Census counts (taken only once every 10 years) are not a laughing matter. So, ready or not, here comes 2010 Census ... and you have an important role to play!Many parents may not realize the importance of accurately reporting the number of children in their family, including newborns. The truth is that the…

  • boot camp and backyard learning

    teachmama
    6 Mar 2010 | 3:40 am
    Today, I will be enjoying a day away at Baltimore Bloggy Boot Camp, learning a bit about SEO, PR, and Social Media while meeting some new local bloggers and hanging with some of my old pals. I'm very much looking forward to it, but I know I will be missing one of our first warm and sunny weekend days here. So I'm hoping (and crossing my fingers!) that while I'm in a conference room with other cool-cat bloggers, that my husband and kids spend some quality time outside, having fun cleaning up after our nutty squirrels.I'm thinking bike riding, scooting, soccer, and baseball, with a little…
 
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    Math Games and Activities

  • Math Homework and Parents

    Bonnie
    11 Mar 2010 | 4:34 pm
    You get home from work and begin the nightly battle of helping your child get organized to do his/her homework. Bedlam ensues. He/She throws a snizzy (snit + tizzy = snizzy) of impotent frustration. Sound familiar? Homework (math homework, in particular) often leads to conflict between parents and their children. Homework is then seen in a negative light and often creates a daily battlefield between parent and child. Most education experts will tell you that it’s best to be engaged in your kids’ homework assignments but not actually do the work for them. Of course, you have to…

  • Parents Help Their Children with Math!

    Bonnie
    4 Mar 2010 | 10:53 am
    We live in a world of numbers. In fact, we use numbers constantly as a way of describing our lives. And yet, some will say that learnig mathematics is difficult, and some will even say that they are not interested in learning it. However, mathematics is more than just learning about numbers. It is also about learning to think strategically and solve problems. We want students to view mathematics as an enjoyable experience and to value mathematics. To do so, they must find it in places that they least expect it, such as in real-life situations that are non-threatening and fun. Games provide…

  • Parents Ask About Playing Games in Math Class

    Bonnie
    3 Mar 2010 | 8:03 pm
    Not too long ago a parent said to me, “My child tells me that he plays games during math class. How will games help my child become better at math?” It was a legitimate question and one that teachers need to be prepared to address. I’ve been teaching math to children for many years, and I’ve found that math games are, from a teacher’s point of view, wonderfully useful and very effective. Games provide an enjoyable venue for the repeated practice necessary for mastering many basic skills. When carefully selected, games can highlight specific mathematics concepts, activate…

  • Place Value Activities and Games

    Bonnie
    2 Mar 2010 | 4:31 pm
    Once children have developed a basic number sense for numbers up to ten, a strong “sense of ten” needs to be developed as a foundation for both place value and mental calculations. Ten is, of course, the building block of our Base Ten numeration system. Young children can usually “read” two-digit numbers long before they understand the effect the placement of each digit has on its numerical value. For example, a five-year-old might be able to correctly read 62 as sixty-two and 26 as twenty-six, and even know which number is larger, without understanding why the numbers are of…

  • Encouraging Mathematical Reasoning in the Classroom

    Bonnie
    1 Mar 2010 | 3:01 pm
    In this standards-based assessment world in which we educators find ourselves, little thought is given to the development of mathematical reasoning skills. Instead, the focus has become test performance. No longer do we ask students to think. This lack of thinking skills has caused a lessening of enthusiasm in teachers’ and students’ attitudes – about school in general and mathematics specifically. I think there needs to be a shift in the school culture toward promoting engagement through inquiry-based learning opportunities. I do not think any teacher needs convincing on…
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    MT Tools Online

  • Upcoming Webinar: I Need Your Help

    Kathy
    11 Mar 2010 | 11:14 am
    I have been invited by the Online Association of AHDI to do a webinar for them and wanted to be sure you all were included in the invite. The webinar will be on April 8, 2010, and you can register here. The registration fee is $11 if you are a member and $15 for nonmembers. The [...]

  • HIPAA and HITECH: What’s a Medical Transcriptionist to do?

    Kathy
    9 Mar 2010 | 5:11 pm
    Medical transcriptionists have been dealing with HIPAA rules for quite some time now. Long before HIPAA, we understood the need for confidentiality when it came to the records we transcribe. HIPAA came in with much less of a bang than anticipated for many of us as we found that the things we now were “supposed” [...]

  • Are You Preparing for Certification as a Medical Transcriptionist?

    Kathy
    28 Feb 2010 | 12:45 pm
    Over the last few weeks, we have had discussions about goals, and for some of you, one of those goals has been to become certified as a medical transcriptionist. Some plan to take the RMT exam, and some plan to take the CMT. As a result of your responses to our recent survey, we are [...]

  • Medical Transcription: H is for the HITECH Act

    Kathy
    24 Feb 2010 | 3:12 pm
    Before anyone is kind enough to point it out, I do realize that our ABC series is taking a letter out of order on this one, but I thought it was important to do it. The past week I have been working a lot on the revision of my book, “Stedman’s Guide to the HIPAA [...]

  • Medical Transcription: E is for Embracing Change

    Kathy
    18 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am
    Change, that word we all love to hate, right? When you think about the world of medical transcription, you realize it has always been about change. For me, I think that’s part of what attracted me to the profession. Medicine changes every single day and there is always something new to learn. That makes it [...]
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    Medical Transcription Training Alliance

  • 8 Reasons Why Online Medical Transcription Training May be for You

    Admin
    18 Feb 2010 | 6:05 pm
    Deciding to go back to school is a tough decision. After you have decided that going back to school is the right decision for you, you get to make another decision–Should I go to school online or not? Right now over 4 million students are enrolled in an online program and [...]

  • 11 Questions to Ask a Medical Transcription Training Program

    Admin
    5 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am
    It’s hard to know how to select the right training program when you are considering taking a medical transcription course. Take notes, ask questions, and find the one that works for you. Here are some questions you should consider asking as you evaluate what is available. How long does your program take? You want to know [...]

  • 5 Reasons Medical Transcription is a Good Career Choice

    Admin
    2 Feb 2010 | 4:59 am
    If you are looking for options for a new career, medical transcription may be a good choice for you. Here are 5 reasons why medical transcription is a great career choice. • It is a growing profession. The US Department of Labor projects an 11% increase in the need for medical transcriptionists (MTs) for the years [...]

  • Is Medical Transcription a Good Choice for the Military Spouse?

    Admin
    26 Jan 2010 | 7:00 am
    I grew up in a military family. My father was a career Navy man. That meant we moved–a LOT! The longest we ever stayed in one place was four years, a time when he was fortunate enough to have shore duty and serve as an instructor in the nuclear program in Norfolk. We thought we [...]

  • 7 Characteristics of a Good Medical Transcriptionist

    Admin
    20 Jan 2010 | 10:48 am
    If you are considering a career change, medical transcription may be something you are considering. There are seven characteristics that people tend to have who make good medical transcriptionists. A love of language. If you are a person who loves words and language, then this might [...]
 
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