The National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM)
was first advocated in the Smith Report (2003), and much has been discussed about its potential impact to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics through improved CPD (continuing professional development), especially by Advisory Committee for Mathematics Education (ACME).
We are pleased to announce that the National Centre is now a reality, and will be formally launched in June 2006. Visit the website
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Educational goals
Here in Australia, outcomes-based assessment has taken a hold and is infiltrating quite successfully. We have yet to combine it with the competitiveness and rewards-based compensation system that seems to be in place already in America. Though I suspect those are on their way. I wish they weren’t, and this blog and its added comments simply reinforce that fear. Outcomes do not take into account inherent capabilities or societal influences, nor do they seem to me to rely on a holistic educational scheme.
“a healthy reminder that man is not primarily made to chase after his own creations. It’s not all about getting ahead, staying competitive, etc., etc. I’m not saying those are not worthwhile goals; just that they’re not the only ones, and perhaps not even the most important”
“a healthy reminder that man is not primarily made to chase after his own creations. It’s not all about getting ahead, staying competitive, etc., etc. I’m not saying those are not worthwhile goals; just that they’re not the only ones, and perhaps not even the most important”
Students exchanging cultures
"Creative Connections" helps students reach out across the world
More than 1,500 classes from around the globe reportedly have participated in this online virtual exchange program that connects students and teachers around the world in efforts to promote a free-flowing cultural exchange of art, history, and modern-day communication.
More than 1,500 classes from around the globe reportedly have participated in this online virtual exchange program that connects students and teachers around the world in efforts to promote a free-flowing cultural exchange of art, history, and modern-day communication.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Starting a book group
Talk it Up!
Starting a bookgroup for kids? This is a great place to start.
Talk it Up! provides information about how to start and run a bookgroup and over 150 discussion guides to use with specific books.
Need more ideas?We've prepared many booklists for kids to help you make your reading selections.
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Students teaching teachers
The concept of a teacher standing in front of a class and imparting knowledge had been modified severely, but never entirely lost. The idea that maybe students can teach peers, particularly in technology subjects, has been around, but it is still challenging. Students teaching teachers? More challenging still, but the possibilities are huge, particularly in all sorts of side alleys of student maturity.
Students teach PowerPoint
By Jill R. Goodman, Independent Newspapers
“Ohh, cool” resounded in a school computer lab — but not from students — as four teachers at Highland Lakes School, 19000 N. 63rd Ave., learned from students how to create a PowerPoint presentation. Article continues
Students teach PowerPoint
By Jill R. Goodman, Independent Newspapers
“Ohh, cool” resounded in a school computer lab — but not from students — as four teachers at Highland Lakes School, 19000 N. 63rd Ave., learned from students how to create a PowerPoint presentation. Article continues
Monday, December 26, 2005
Tying driver's licence to educational outcomes?
From CNW
McGuinty government to give legislative backing to student success
Bill to include mandatory programs for students, new enforcement measures
- New legislation is expected to be introduced
today that would ensure students keep learning to 18 or graduation through creative incentives that realize students' individual potential and unique enforcements to prevent them from dropping out, Education Minister Gerard Kennedy announced today.
"It has been 50 years since Ontario updated the school-leaving age
requirement," said Kennedy. "It's time that our 21st century high schools provide the kind of programs that are relevant to students today and support parents' ambitions for their children."
"There is more at stake than ever before for students to get a high
school education that is high quality, meaningful and prepares them for a variety of postsecondary destinations."
The legislation, if passed, would:
- mandate the government's comprehensive student success programs be made available by all school boards
- increase the school leaving age to 18 or until graduation by keeping students learning either in classrooms or at other approved learning programs
- improve enforcement policies with more effective and practical
measures tied to students' driver's licences
- create hard links between high schools and postsecondary destinations to allow external learning to be recognized for high school credits
McGuinty government to give legislative backing to student success
Bill to include mandatory programs for students, new enforcement measures
- New legislation is expected to be introduced
today that would ensure students keep learning to 18 or graduation through creative incentives that realize students' individual potential and unique enforcements to prevent them from dropping out, Education Minister Gerard Kennedy announced today.
"It has been 50 years since Ontario updated the school-leaving age
requirement," said Kennedy. "It's time that our 21st century high schools provide the kind of programs that are relevant to students today and support parents' ambitions for their children."
"There is more at stake than ever before for students to get a high
school education that is high quality, meaningful and prepares them for a variety of postsecondary destinations."
The legislation, if passed, would:
- mandate the government's comprehensive student success programs be made available by all school boards
- increase the school leaving age to 18 or until graduation by keeping students learning either in classrooms or at other approved learning programs
- improve enforcement policies with more effective and practical
measures tied to students' driver's licences
- create hard links between high schools and postsecondary destinations to allow external learning to be recognized for high school credits
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Communication between devices
CoCo helps diverse devices talk to each other
School pilot aims to improve emergency preparedness
“A Virginia school system has received a grant from the U.S. Justice Department to pilot-test a new communication technology that reportedly enables cross-platform communication across a variety of devices. Federal officials hope the pilot, if successful, will serve as a model for enhancing emergency preparedness on school campuses nationwide.” Read more
Friday, December 23, 2005
After-school programs accountability
Ed-tech makes after-school programs more accountable
Student ID cards track attendance, tie it to school achievement data
“ Jefferson County, Ky., school officials are using ID cards to bring accountability to their before- and after-school programs. The ID cards link student participation in after-school programs to school achievement data to help administrators see if there's a correlation.” Article continues
Student ID cards track attendance, tie it to school achievement data
“ Jefferson County, Ky., school officials are using ID cards to bring accountability to their before- and after-school programs. The ID cards link student participation in after-school programs to school achievement data to help administrators see if there's a correlation.” Article continues
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Life in space
Life's Building Blocks Are Common In Space
“After A team of NASA exobiology researchers revealed today organic chemicals that play a crucial role in the chemistry of life are common in space.
"Our work shows a class of compounds that is critical to biochemistry is prevalent throughout the universe," said Douglas Hudgins, an astronomer at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. He is principal author of a study detailing the team's findings that appears in the Oct. 10 issue of the Astrophysical Journal.” Article continues
“After A team of NASA exobiology researchers revealed today organic chemicals that play a crucial role in the chemistry of life are common in space.
"Our work shows a class of compounds that is critical to biochemistry is prevalent throughout the universe," said Douglas Hudgins, an astronomer at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. He is principal author of a study detailing the team's findings that appears in the Oct. 10 issue of the Astrophysical Journal.” Article continues
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
The Digital Divide and School success
Study: 'Digital divide' affects school success Kids with home computers more likely to graduate Access to a home computer increases the likelihood that children will graduate from high school, but blacks and Latinos are much less likely to have a computer at home than are whites, according to a new study. The study also found that the so-called "digital divide" is even more pronounced among children than adults.
Monday, December 19, 2005
What's the Return on education?
What's the Return on Education? "Schools' costs are easy to gauge. Their economic value is not."
Read the whole article
Read the whole article
Sunday, December 18, 2005
The Interfaith calendar
The interfaith calendar
10 years from 2005-2015 organised by year and by belief system. Includes explanations of the celebrations
Saturday, December 17, 2005
New Childhood Advocacy Website
•National peak advocacy organisation, Early
Childhood Australia, has its new website which
promises to be the most extensive online resource
for the early childhood field.
•National President, Judy Radich, believes that the
website will be a valuable tool in supporting the early
childhood field to provide the best experiences for
young children and their families.
•Early Childhood Australia has developed the new
website to extend its capacity to advocate for young
children.
Check it out at www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au.
•National peak advocacy organisation, Early
Childhood Australia, has its new website which
promises to be the most extensive online resource
for the early childhood field.
•National President, Judy Radich, believes that the
website will be a valuable tool in supporting the early
childhood field to provide the best experiences for
young children and their families.
•Early Childhood Australia has developed the new
website to extend its capacity to advocate for young
children.
Check it out at www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Bloggers' FAQ - Student Blogging
The Bloggers' FAQ on Student Blogging addresses legal issues arising from student blogging. It focuses on blogging by high school (and middle school) students, but also contains information for college students.
The Bloggers' FAQ on Student Blogging addresses legal issues arising from student blogging. It focuses on blogging by high school (and middle school) students, but also contains information for college students.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
The Poetry archive
The Poetry archive – for educators and teachers
Bring poetry to life in your school!
These pages are specially designed to help you and your students to get the most out of the Poetry Archive. There are lesson plans and activities for all key stages and for the inclusive classroom. Poetry can enrich other areas of the curriculum too; there are ideas here for History teachers, and we will be adding material for other subject areas in the coming months.
This is a growing, developing resource, so come back and visit regularly to see what's new. Our plans include a forum for teachers to discuss their experiences, as well as a space where you will be able to create your own teaching materials and share them with colleagues.
Bring poetry to life in your school!
These pages are specially designed to help you and your students to get the most out of the Poetry Archive. There are lesson plans and activities for all key stages and for the inclusive classroom. Poetry can enrich other areas of the curriculum too; there are ideas here for History teachers, and we will be adding material for other subject areas in the coming months.
This is a growing, developing resource, so come back and visit regularly to see what's new. Our plans include a forum for teachers to discuss their experiences, as well as a space where you will be able to create your own teaching materials and share them with colleagues.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Databases in curriculum
Digging into Databases--Using Databases to Inspire Novel Approaches to Creating Curriculum
During the past year, I spent dozens of hours looking at more than 50 subscription databases as part of research for a school's new library. These online publications are a dream for middle and high school English and history teachers in the variety of primary and secondary sources they offer. Databases can inspire novel approaches to creating curriculum. As teachers become familiar with them, their thinking about lesson planning and student research often moves in innovative directions. Below are five projects where librarians can take the lead in helping history and English teachers see the potential of this new world of sources.
During the past year, I spent dozens of hours looking at more than 50 subscription databases as part of research for a school's new library. These online publications are a dream for middle and high school English and history teachers in the variety of primary and secondary sources they offer. Databases can inspire novel approaches to creating curriculum. As teachers become familiar with them, their thinking about lesson planning and student research often moves in innovative directions. Below are five projects where librarians can take the lead in helping history and English teachers see the potential of this new world of sources.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Australian Geography Teachers' conference
Australian Geography Teachers’ Association Conference
(incorporating the 2006 Australasian Conference
for ESRI Education Users)
Geography making the connections – creating futures
(incorporating the 2006 Australasian Conference
for ESRI Education Users)
Geography making the connections – creating futures
Friday, December 09, 2005
English/Literacy national conference
“Voices, Vibes, Visions: Hearing the Voices, Feeling the Vibes, Capturing the Visions”
The Australian Association for the Teaching of English (AATE) and the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA) are pleased to host the next joint national conference to be held at Darwin High School, Northern Territory Australia from Saturday 8th July to Tuesday 11th July, 2006. Voices, Vibes, Visions is the 2006 ALEA/AATE National Conference theme.
The Australian Association for the Teaching of English (AATE) and the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA) are pleased to host the next joint national conference to be held at Darwin High School, Northern Territory Australia from Saturday 8th July to Tuesday 11th July, 2006. Voices, Vibes, Visions is the 2006 ALEA/AATE National Conference theme.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Extra outside school hours care places
Almost 17,000 extra Outside School Hours Care places
Almost 17,000 extra Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) places will be delivered across 900 before school, after school and vacation care services as part of the Howard Government's ongoing commitment to further help families access quality child care. Article continues
Almost 17,000 extra Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) places will be delivered across 900 before school, after school and vacation care services as part of the Howard Government's ongoing commitment to further help families access quality child care. Article continues
World population at a glance
PopulationMondiale.com will give you the world's current population at a glance. Or you can click on the map and receive the data for a particular area.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Online conversion
Online conversionUnits conversion / metric conversion onlineWelcome to Convert Plus! Here you can convert just about anything to anything else. You can easily perform online conversions (e.g. metric conversions) for many measurement systems both commonly used like metric and U.S. Avoirdupois and quite exotic like Ancient Greek and Roman. And the popularity of the Convert Plus has grown such that there now over 30,000 people every week using it.
Top English teaching
Top English teaching.com
“Your source for English teaching resources: games, activities, worksheets, songs, lesson plans, readings, listening and much more.”
“Your source for English teaching resources: games, activities, worksheets, songs, lesson plans, readings, listening and much more.”
New Math Models where computers fail
New Math Models To Pick Up Where Computers Fail
For all the advances in computer power of recent years, many real-world processes are still so complex that they defy the capability of even the most advanced supercomputers to describe them - and to address such problems, mathematicians are being called for help.
As part of that effort, Oregon State University recently received a $647,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. It's one project in a national, $20-million initiative to have advanced mathematics pick up where sheer computing power is inadequate. Article continues
For all the advances in computer power of recent years, many real-world processes are still so complex that they defy the capability of even the most advanced supercomputers to describe them - and to address such problems, mathematicians are being called for help.
As part of that effort, Oregon State University recently received a $647,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. It's one project in a national, $20-million initiative to have advanced mathematics pick up where sheer computing power is inadequate. Article continues
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Getting students to exercise
School fitness center targets tech-savvy students
Minnesota State University officials have hit upon a creative way to get students to exercise: They've outfitted the exercise equipment on their Mankato campus with computers and internet access. Now, students can check their eMail, surf the web, watch TV, or even do their homework while they work out.
Article continues
Minnesota State University officials have hit upon a creative way to get students to exercise: They've outfitted the exercise equipment on their Mankato campus with computers and internet access. Now, students can check their eMail, surf the web, watch TV, or even do their homework while they work out.
Article continues
Gravity tractor
Gravity Tractor as Asteroid Mover
A huge spacecraft could use its gravity to keep an asteroid from hitting Earth. Read more
A huge spacecraft could use its gravity to keep an asteroid from hitting Earth. Read more
Monday, December 05, 2005
Mirror of the world
Mirror of the world
From the Read alert blog …
This Friday, the State Library of Victoria opens Mirror of the World, a new permanent exhibition tracing the history of the written word.
“Most Victorians have no inkling of the treasures their library contains because few, apart from the whitegloved scholars who consult the rarebooks collection during their research, have seen any of them”, Ray Cassin of The Age wrote in descibing the Mirror of the World.
A series of writing workshops and tours are available for school students during 2006. Writers Carole Wilkinson, Kirsty Murray, Trudy White and Gabrielle Wang will help students explore this extraordinary collection, and write imaginative pieces in response. Contact us for details of dates. There are sessions in all four terms of the school year.
From the Read alert blog …
This Friday, the State Library of Victoria opens Mirror of the World, a new permanent exhibition tracing the history of the written word.
“Most Victorians have no inkling of the treasures their library contains because few, apart from the whitegloved scholars who consult the rarebooks collection during their research, have seen any of them”, Ray Cassin of The Age wrote in descibing the Mirror of the World.
A series of writing workshops and tours are available for school students during 2006. Writers Carole Wilkinson, Kirsty Murray, Trudy White and Gabrielle Wang will help students explore this extraordinary collection, and write imaginative pieces in response. Contact us for details of dates. There are sessions in all four terms of the school year.
New test identifies hearing problems
New test identifies classroom hearing problems in children
It is estimated that 2 to 3 per cent of all school-aged children suffer from a hearing deficit called an Auditory Processing Disorder (APD). In spite of having passed standard hearing tests, those affected by an APD have difficulty understanding speech, particularly in noisy environments. Now a test to diagnose the disorder has been developed by recently-graduated Macquarie University PhD Sharon Cameron.
Dr Cameron, whose undergraduate degree was in speech and hearing sciences, is now working as a research scientist for the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL). But her research into APD first began in 2002 as part of her undergraduate honours project.
It is estimated that 2 to 3 per cent of all school-aged children suffer from a hearing deficit called an Auditory Processing Disorder (APD). In spite of having passed standard hearing tests, those affected by an APD have difficulty understanding speech, particularly in noisy environments. Now a test to diagnose the disorder has been developed by recently-graduated Macquarie University PhD Sharon Cameron.
Dr Cameron, whose undergraduate degree was in speech and hearing sciences, is now working as a research scientist for the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL). But her research into APD first began in 2002 as part of her undergraduate honours project.
UN unveils windup laptop
UN unveils wind-up laptop
http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,17274463%5e16123%5e%5enbv%5e,00.htm
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and a leading US IT expert Nicholas Negroponte unveiled the bright green and yellow working prototype of a US$100 ($140) laptop aimed at millions of schoolchildren in poor countries.The robust wind-up laptop with low power consumption is meant to be the backbone of an educational project to distribute the Internet-connected computers at no cost to their future owners.
http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,17274463%5e16123%5e%5enbv%5e,00.htm
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and a leading US IT expert Nicholas Negroponte unveiled the bright green and yellow working prototype of a US$100 ($140) laptop aimed at millions of schoolchildren in poor countries.The robust wind-up laptop with low power consumption is meant to be the backbone of an educational project to distribute the Internet-connected computers at no cost to their future owners.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Online Education community
Learning Times.org
Join the fastest growing online community of education and training professionals!
LearningTimes.org is an open community for education and training professionals. Members have free access to a wide range of opportunities to interact and network with peers from across the globe. Member activities include live webcasts and interviews with industry leaders, online debates and discussions, live coverage of industry conferences, and international working groups.
The LearningTimes.org community also features free group collaboration tools, such as virtual meeting rooms, a site-wide instant messenger, and virtual office suites, making it a vital place on the web for thousands of education professionals to meet and interact at any time.
Join the fastest growing online community of education and training professionals!
LearningTimes.org is an open community for education and training professionals. Members have free access to a wide range of opportunities to interact and network with peers from across the globe. Member activities include live webcasts and interviews with industry leaders, online debates and discussions, live coverage of industry conferences, and international working groups.
The LearningTimes.org community also features free group collaboration tools, such as virtual meeting rooms, a site-wide instant messenger, and virtual office suites, making it a vital place on the web for thousands of education professionals to meet and interact at any time.
Evaluating websites
Evaluating Websites
The Internet contains an immense range of information that is posted by individuals and organisations from around the world. There is no single body or organisation that ensures the quality of this information. Students and teachers need to acquire critical evaluation skills which will enable them to identify and extract quality information that meets their needs.
The Internet contains an immense range of information that is posted by individuals and organisations from around the world. There is no single body or organisation that ensures the quality of this information. Students and teachers need to acquire critical evaluation skills which will enable them to identify and extract quality information that meets their needs.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
The ICT Literacy
The ICT Literacy Assessment is a comprehensive test of Information and Communication Technology proficiency that uses scenario-based tasks to measure both cognitive and technical skills. The assessment provides support for institutional ICT literacy initiatives, guides curricula innovations, informs articulation and progress standings, and assesses individual student proficiency.
Online phys ed catches on in schools
Online phys ed catches on in schools
From eSchool News staff and wire service reports A seemingly incongruous concept that began in Minneapolis public schools is starting to catch on in other school systems, too: taking gym class online.
Minneapolis school officials said they're hearing from school districts around the country that are interested in the program. In Minneapolis, student waiting lists are filling up fast.
"It's like we started the ball rolling, and it started rolling so fast, and now we're trying to catch up," said Jan Braaten, content specialist in physical education for Minneapolis schools. Braaten is making a presentation on the program in January to a national conference of phys-ed teachers. Article continues
From eSchool News staff and wire service reports A seemingly incongruous concept that began in Minneapolis public schools is starting to catch on in other school systems, too: taking gym class online.
Minneapolis school officials said they're hearing from school districts around the country that are interested in the program. In Minneapolis, student waiting lists are filling up fast.
"It's like we started the ball rolling, and it started rolling so fast, and now we're trying to catch up," said Jan Braaten, content specialist in physical education for Minneapolis schools. Braaten is making a presentation on the program in January to a national conference of phys-ed teachers. Article continues
Friday, December 02, 2005
Video gaming in education
Educators take serious look at video gaming Learning to leverage the enormous popularity of video games to help students excel was the core purpose of two events held recently in Washington, D.C.
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) Summit on Video Gaming and McKinley High School's "Be the Game" video-gaming summit were meant to demonstrate the pedagogical value of gaming technology, often viewed with skepticism by generations of educators who did not grow up in the digital age. The FAS event focused on the theory behind using video games in the school curriculum, and the McKinley High School summit looked at how to use gaming curricula to engage students and improve their performance. Article continues
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) Summit on Video Gaming and McKinley High School's "Be the Game" video-gaming summit were meant to demonstrate the pedagogical value of gaming technology, often viewed with skepticism by generations of educators who did not grow up in the digital age. The FAS event focused on the theory behind using video games in the school curriculum, and the McKinley High School summit looked at how to use gaming curricula to engage students and improve their performance. Article continues
Bridge the Gap and Keep children safe
Bridge the Gap and Keep Children Safe
In this high tech society you may get the feeling you are being left behind by your children?
They seem to be speaking a different language, doing things online that you have never heard about and living in their own online world.
Is this normal? Are they in any danger? Am I really doing all I can for my children's safety? Will I ever be able to keep up with what they know?
These are common questions asked by parents. You're not alone.
In this high tech society you may get the feeling you are being left behind by your children?
They seem to be speaking a different language, doing things online that you have never heard about and living in their own online world.
Is this normal? Are they in any danger? Am I really doing all I can for my children's safety? Will I ever be able to keep up with what they know?
These are common questions asked by parents. You're not alone.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
The value of a bookless classroom?
Teacher gleans federal kudos for bookless classroom
TAYLORSVILLE — Jerry Mangus' textbook-less teaching has dazzled the U.S. Department of Education.
Laura Seitz, Deseret Morning News
Jerry Mangus, a 5th and 6th-grade math teacher at Plymouth Elementary School in Taylorsville, received the No Child Left Behind Act Maerican Star of Teaching Award on November 2, 2005.
Mangus, who teaches fifth- and sixth-grade math at Plymouth Elementary, uses only computers to teach fractions and other numerical concepts to kids. He's built computer labs in his school, each of his students has his or her own machine, and their test scores have leaped. Article continues
TAYLORSVILLE — Jerry Mangus' textbook-less teaching has dazzled the U.S. Department of Education.
Laura Seitz, Deseret Morning News
Jerry Mangus, a 5th and 6th-grade math teacher at Plymouth Elementary School in Taylorsville, received the No Child Left Behind Act Maerican Star of Teaching Award on November 2, 2005.
Mangus, who teaches fifth- and sixth-grade math at Plymouth Elementary, uses only computers to teach fractions and other numerical concepts to kids. He's built computer labs in his school, each of his students has his or her own machine, and their test scores have leaped. Article continues
Microsoft Seminar presentations available
Thank you for attending the complimentary Microsoft Education Seminar 2005. We hope you were able to discover new ways to use technology in the classroom to inspire and engage your students, and more importantly learn and share innovative ideas from your peers to improve learning outcomes for students.Download PresentationsAll presentations and resources are now available for download on the Microsoft Education website. Click here to DOWNLOAD.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Smart sheep
Sheep smarter than we think
Armidale sheep put to the test in a complex maze
Sheep are smarter than we think. They can learn and remember according to CSIRO researchers from Armidale in NSW. The team is working to identify and breed smarter sheep as part of their work to improve animal welfare and production. Article continues
Watch the maze test - Video of sheep going through the maze (10 Mb)
Armidale sheep put to the test in a complex maze
Sheep are smarter than we think. They can learn and remember according to CSIRO researchers from Armidale in NSW. The team is working to identify and breed smarter sheep as part of their work to improve animal welfare and production. Article continues
Watch the maze test - Video of sheep going through the maze (10 Mb)
Einstein versus Newton
Einstein versus Newton
Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein are regarded as two of the greatest, if not the greatest, scientists who ever lived. The Royal Society is seeking to find out who scientists and the public think made the bigger contribution to both science and to humankind through a national poll of the general public and a poll of the Fellowship of the Royal Society, representing the UK and Commonwealth's leading scientists.
The results of the polls will be announced on 23 November 2005 at a Royal Society public debate: Einstein vs Newton. Read the background to this issue
Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein are regarded as two of the greatest, if not the greatest, scientists who ever lived. The Royal Society is seeking to find out who scientists and the public think made the bigger contribution to both science and to humankind through a national poll of the general public and a poll of the Fellowship of the Royal Society, representing the UK and Commonwealth's leading scientists.
The results of the polls will be announced on 23 November 2005 at a Royal Society public debate: Einstein vs Newton. Read the background to this issue
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Discovery Health Connection
Discovery Education Announces Discovery Health Connection Updates
Discovery Education has announced a complete update and redesign of Discovery Health Connection—its digital health and prevention education resource that incorporates K-12 classroom curriculum programs covering nine critical topics of youth health and prevention education. Discovery Health Connection now includes 16 curriculum programs, three Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) Model Programs, correlations to every state's educational standards, and more than 100 new literacy lessons, according to the announcement.
Discovery Education has announced a complete update and redesign of Discovery Health Connection—its digital health and prevention education resource that incorporates K-12 classroom curriculum programs covering nine critical topics of youth health and prevention education. Discovery Health Connection now includes 16 curriculum programs, three Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) Model Programs, correlations to every state's educational standards, and more than 100 new literacy lessons, according to the announcement.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Testing technology skills
Learning.com Partners with Districts to Help Test Technology Skills
Learning.com has announced partnerships with key school districts across the country as they pilot TechLiteracy Assessment, its online authentic assessment of the technology proficiency of elementary and middle school students. The pilot programs are designed to help districts demonstrate that both state and national education technology standards are being met. Along with the national mandate stating that every student should be technologically literate by the eighth grade, many states have also aggressively adopted and implemented their own technology standards.
Learning.com has announced partnerships with key school districts across the country as they pilot TechLiteracy Assessment, its online authentic assessment of the technology proficiency of elementary and middle school students. The pilot programs are designed to help districts demonstrate that both state and national education technology standards are being met. Along with the national mandate stating that every student should be technologically literate by the eighth grade, many states have also aggressively adopted and implemented their own technology standards.
Friday, November 25, 2005
Free videos
Free Resources: ScienCentral, Inc. Video Stories
“ScienCentral, Inc. recently contacted us about their videos on the latest research and developments in science and technology. They are currently providing their video stories free to educators who wish to use them as teaching tools or in presentations, and they are working further with educational publishers to provide their science content.
You can get a sense of ScienCentral's content by visiting the site <http://www.sciencentral.com/>, browsing or using various search features to find stories that interest you/your students, and viewing them online. (A sampling from today's home page: Remote Control Flies, Defeating Dyslexia, Spider Silk Strength, Alzheimer's Eye Test, and Living to 100.) There are nearly 1,000 stories archived on the site.
A ScienCentral spokeswoman wrote us: "If a teacher sees our site and wants to use our videos for educational/classroom purposes, they usually contact us by phone or e-mail and we provide the video clips free of charge. We can provide them in QuickTime, Real Media, Windows Media or on VHS/DVCam/Beta. The teacher just signs our license form allowing permission to use."”
“ScienCentral, Inc. recently contacted us about their videos on the latest research and developments in science and technology. They are currently providing their video stories free to educators who wish to use them as teaching tools or in presentations, and they are working further with educational publishers to provide their science content.
You can get a sense of ScienCentral's content by visiting the site <http://www.sciencentral.com/>, browsing or using various search features to find stories that interest you/your students, and viewing them online. (A sampling from today's home page: Remote Control Flies, Defeating Dyslexia, Spider Silk Strength, Alzheimer's Eye Test, and Living to 100.) There are nearly 1,000 stories archived on the site.
A ScienCentral spokeswoman wrote us: "If a teacher sees our site and wants to use our videos for educational/classroom purposes, they usually contact us by phone or e-mail and we provide the video clips free of charge. We can provide them in QuickTime, Real Media, Windows Media or on VHS/DVCam/Beta. The teacher just signs our license form allowing permission to use."”
Multimedia music curriculum
NEA jazzes things up with new multimedia music curriculum "Jazz in the Schools" is a new web-based, multimedia curriculum from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) that explores jazz as an indigenous American art form and as a means to understand American history. The five-unit, web-based curriculum and DVD toolkit are available free of charge to high school teachers of social studies, U.S. history, and music. Article continues
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Video game violence
Punishing video game violence: Does it reduce aggressive behavior?
Carmageddon 2 (source: Gamespot) is a gory racing game where players control drivers with names like “Max Damage” as they tear through city streets mowing down pedestrians and forcing competitors into bloody collisions. The game settings can be adjusted so that running down innocent bystanders actually increases a player’s point total. Surely, if there’s any video game that might raise a parent’s ire, Carmageddon 2 is one of them.
Studies have shown that violent video games are more likely than non-violent games to induce aggressive behavior, even after very short playing sessions. But more recent research (by Dmitri Williams and Marko Skoric) has suggested that violent game play does not always lead to aggression. Article continues
Carmageddon 2 (source: Gamespot) is a gory racing game where players control drivers with names like “Max Damage” as they tear through city streets mowing down pedestrians and forcing competitors into bloody collisions. The game settings can be adjusted so that running down innocent bystanders actually increases a player’s point total. Surely, if there’s any video game that might raise a parent’s ire, Carmageddon 2 is one of them.
Studies have shown that violent video games are more likely than non-violent games to induce aggressive behavior, even after very short playing sessions. But more recent research (by Dmitri Williams and Marko Skoric) has suggested that violent game play does not always lead to aggression. Article continues
Chatrooms
Chatrooms: help needed
Parents are showing an alarming level of ignorance and indifference towards their children's participation in Internet chat rooms, with boys in particular being left to their own devices. Article continues
Parents are showing an alarming level of ignorance and indifference towards their children's participation in Internet chat rooms, with boys in particular being left to their own devices. Article continues
Literacy world wide
Literacy: a right still denied to nearly one-fifth of the world’s adult population
09-11-2005 1:50 pm Governments and donor countries are curtailing progress towards Education for All (EFA) – and broader poverty reduction – by according only marginal attention to the 771 million adults living without basic literacy skills, says the fourth edition of the EFA Global Monitoring Report, “Literacy for life”.* “Literacy is a right and a foundation for further learning that must be tackled through quality schooling for all children, vastly expanded literacy programmes for youth and adults, and policies to enrich the literate environment,” says Nicholas Burnett, the Report’s director. Article continues
09-11-2005 1:50 pm Governments and donor countries are curtailing progress towards Education for All (EFA) – and broader poverty reduction – by according only marginal attention to the 771 million adults living without basic literacy skills, says the fourth edition of the EFA Global Monitoring Report, “Literacy for life”.* “Literacy is a right and a foundation for further learning that must be tackled through quality schooling for all children, vastly expanded literacy programmes for youth and adults, and policies to enrich the literate environment,” says Nicholas Burnett, the Report’s director. Article continues
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Virtual cafeteria for good eating habits
'Virtual cafeteria' teaches good eating habits To improve student health and enhance parent understanding, the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District (ISD) in Carrollton, Texas, has put $95,000 into developing a program to give parents, students, and other community stakeholders a new way to learn about the foods offered in its schools: a virtual cafeteria. Article continues
Free online calendar
Free online calendaring service aims to get parents involved To help bridge the home-school connection and get parents more involved in their children's classes, global children's publishing and media company Scholastic Inc. and Trumba, a provider of digital communication services, have joined together to give America's teachers a new online tool. The companies are providing free access to Trumba's new calendar tool, OneCalendar, for every classroom teacher in the country. Article continues
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Girls doing it tough as boys take up trades
It is harder than ever for teenage girls to find a full-time job once they leave school, but teenage boys are having more success, a report shows.
More boys are taking up trade apprenticeships, or have found full-time work in expanding male-dominated industries such as construction and warehousing.
But girls are going backwards, says the report, How Young People are Faring 2005.Article coninues
It is harder than ever for teenage girls to find a full-time job once they leave school, but teenage boys are having more success, a report shows.
More boys are taking up trade apprenticeships, or have found full-time work in expanding male-dominated industries such as construction and warehousing.
But girls are going backwards, says the report, How Young People are Faring 2005.Article coninues
Can one write love poetry in txt?
This is worth a look. A study at Cambridge has found that young people's writing skills have not, as some continue to say, fallen, in fact they seem to have improved. Read the whole post
This is worth a look. A study at Cambridge has found that young people's writing skills have not, as some continue to say, fallen, in fact they seem to have improved. Read the whole post
Monday, November 21, 2005
Digital Natives Digital immigrants
Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants
It is amazing to me how in all the hoopla and debate these days about the decline of education in the US we ignore the most fundamental of its causes. Our students have changed radically. Today’s students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach.
Today’s students have not just changed incrementally from those of the past, Read the whole article
It is amazing to me how in all the hoopla and debate these days about the decline of education in the US we ignore the most fundamental of its causes. Our students have changed radically. Today’s students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach.
Today’s students have not just changed incrementally from those of the past, Read the whole article
Microsoft IT showcase
UMass first Microsoft IT Showcase School The University of Massachusetts at Amherst has been designated Microsoft Corp.'s first-ever "Information Technology (IT) Showcase School," under a new Microsoft program that aims to highlight IT excellence in higher education. Article continues
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Blummy and information literacy
Blummy and Information Literacy
(From the weblog-Ed blog)
If you want a nifty little tool for teaching basic information literacy in these days of the Read/Write Web, go to Blummy, create a bookmarklet with the links outlined below, and put it on every computer in your school. Why? Because not only can you replicate much of Alan's multi-post bookmarklet (which I'm still keeping, btw,) but you can also add links that will (using my homepage as an example):
automatically look up who owns any website you're on (pick the "Whois" bookmarklet.)
show who is linked to a particlular site (pick the "who's linking" bookmarklet with the Google logo.)
and shows (literally) the page that every link on the site, well, links to, creating a page of active mini-browser windows. (Pick the "linked sites" bookmarklet) This takes a while, but it's worth the wait, and you can even set the size of the screenshot that comes up. Amazing.
As Alan November likes to point out, those are three basic pieces of information that every teacher and student needs to begin to evaluate the authority and accuracy of a particular site. Knowing who owns the site tells you something. If every outgoing link is a link back to the originating site, that tells you something. If every incoming link is a link from some spam blog, that tells you something too.
There's more to talk about here, and I'm sure this isn't any huge programming marvel, but the big news is that I haven't seen an easier way yet to get this crucial information. Very cool.
(From the weblog-Ed blog)
If you want a nifty little tool for teaching basic information literacy in these days of the Read/Write Web, go to Blummy, create a bookmarklet with the links outlined below, and put it on every computer in your school. Why? Because not only can you replicate much of Alan's multi-post bookmarklet (which I'm still keeping, btw,) but you can also add links that will (using my homepage as an example):
automatically look up who owns any website you're on (pick the "Whois" bookmarklet.)
show who is linked to a particlular site (pick the "who's linking" bookmarklet with the Google logo.)
and shows (literally) the page that every link on the site, well, links to, creating a page of active mini-browser windows. (Pick the "linked sites" bookmarklet) This takes a while, but it's worth the wait, and you can even set the size of the screenshot that comes up. Amazing.
As Alan November likes to point out, those are three basic pieces of information that every teacher and student needs to begin to evaluate the authority and accuracy of a particular site. Knowing who owns the site tells you something. If every outgoing link is a link back to the originating site, that tells you something. If every incoming link is a link from some spam blog, that tells you something too.
There's more to talk about here, and I'm sure this isn't any huge programming marvel, but the big news is that I haven't seen an easier way yet to get this crucial information. Very cool.
Teen content creators
Teen Content Creators and Consumers:
More than half of online teens have created content for the internet; and most teen downloaders think that getting free music files is easy to do
American teenagers today are utilizing the interactive capabilities of the internet as they create and share their own media creations. Fully half of all teens and 57% of teens who use the internet could be considered Content Creators. They have created a blog or webpage, posted original artwork, photography, stories or videos online or remixed online content into their own new creations. Read the full Pew/Internet report
More than half of online teens have created content for the internet; and most teen downloaders think that getting free music files is easy to do
American teenagers today are utilizing the interactive capabilities of the internet as they create and share their own media creations. Fully half of all teens and 57% of teens who use the internet could be considered Content Creators. They have created a blog or webpage, posted original artwork, photography, stories or videos online or remixed online content into their own new creations. Read the full Pew/Internet report
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Dynamic PowerTrainer
Dynamic PowerTrainer
"Dynamic PowerTrainer® is a proven eLearning authoring software tool to create, run and manage eLearning content. It's a user-friendly, state-of-the art solution, offering an impressive price/performance ratio."
Download a free trial version
"Dynamic PowerTrainer® is a proven eLearning authoring software tool to create, run and manage eLearning content. It's a user-friendly, state-of-the art solution, offering an impressive price/performance ratio."
Download a free trial version
Friday, November 18, 2005
Statins for learning disorders?
UCLA Scientists Use Statins To Overcome Learning Disabilities In Mice
In a surprise twist that recalls the film classic "Flowers for Algernon," but adds a happy ending, UCLA scientists used statins, a popular class of cholesterol drugs, to reverse the attention deficits linked to the leading genetic cause of learning disabilities. The Nov. 8 issue of Current Biology reports the findings, which were studied in mice bred to develop the disease, called neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1). Article continues
In a surprise twist that recalls the film classic "Flowers for Algernon," but adds a happy ending, UCLA scientists used statins, a popular class of cholesterol drugs, to reverse the attention deficits linked to the leading genetic cause of learning disabilities. The Nov. 8 issue of Current Biology reports the findings, which were studied in mice bred to develop the disease, called neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1). Article continues
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Goodnight Moon
Goodnight Moon – smokeless version
In the great green room, there is a telephone, and a red balloon, but no ashtray. "Goodnight Moon," the children's classic by Margaret Wise Brown, has gone smoke free.
In a newly revised edition of the book, which has lulled children to sleep for nearly 60 years, the publisher, HarperCollins, has digitally altered the photograph of Clement Hurd, the illustrator, to remove a cigarette from his hand. Article continues
In the great green room, there is a telephone, and a red balloon, but no ashtray. "Goodnight Moon," the children's classic by Margaret Wise Brown, has gone smoke free.
In a newly revised edition of the book, which has lulled children to sleep for nearly 60 years, the publisher, HarperCollins, has digitally altered the photograph of Clement Hurd, the illustrator, to remove a cigarette from his hand. Article continues
Teacher standards
Reframing the debate
Letter from SMH today. Now this is 'reframing the debate'Double standards again?Dr Brendan Nelson continues to disparage the literacy of university graduates ("Teachers told: prove you can read and write", November 8). He also frequently criticises numeracy standards among Australian students. At the same time the Government insists that all workers, regardless of education, can readily understand the personal and financial implications of a complex workplace agreement offered by their employer. Am I missing something here?Steve Bright, North Avoca
Letter from SMH today. Now this is 'reframing the debate'Double standards again?Dr Brendan Nelson continues to disparage the literacy of university graduates ("Teachers told: prove you can read and write", November 8). He also frequently criticises numeracy standards among Australian students. At the same time the Government insists that all workers, regardless of education, can readily understand the personal and financial implications of a complex workplace agreement offered by their employer. Am I missing something here?Steve Bright, North Avoca
Filters hinder research
Study: Overzealous filters hinder research
The internet-content filters most commonly used by schools block needed, legitimate content more often than not, according to a study by a university librarian. Her report was presented at the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) conference in Pittsburgh last week. Article continues
The internet-content filters most commonly used by schools block needed, legitimate content more often than not, according to a study by a university librarian. Her report was presented at the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) conference in Pittsburgh last week. Article continues
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
The value of reading to children
Does reading to children help them learn to read?
“Eric Durbrow pointed me to this article in the Globe and Mail. Its lead sentence offers a surprising claim:
Parents take note: Reading to your preschoolers before bedtime doesn’t mean they are likely to learn much about letters, or even how to read words.”
And my comment has to be that they will learn so much more. Visit my page on literacy and find the multitude of sites that prove the value of reading to children.
“Eric Durbrow pointed me to this article in the Globe and Mail. Its lead sentence offers a surprising claim:
Parents take note: Reading to your preschoolers before bedtime doesn’t mean they are likely to learn much about letters, or even how to read words.”
And my comment has to be that they will learn so much more. Visit my page on literacy and find the multitude of sites that prove the value of reading to children.
Monday, November 14, 2005
ITs Now ICTs 2006
IT’s Now ICT’s 2006
Date: 18th April (Pupil-free day for State Schools)
Time: 8.30 am – 3.15 pm.
Venue: Morayfield State High School, Visentin Rd Morayfield.
IT’s Now ICTs! 2006 will happen at Morayfield SHS on Tuesday 18th April 2006. The day will feature a range of ICT activities and workshops for primary and secondary teachers, supported by presentations and trade exhibits promoting the latest in educational hardware and software.
In-service opportunities available on the day include:
Use of Wacom Pen Tablets in the classroom
Digital multimedia applications using Macromedia
New technologies such as digital white board
Flash animation and web page making
Visual Communicator and Movie Maker 2
PowerPoint, Outlook, Microsoft Word
Tools to make school administration tasks easier
Web Mail and searching the web.
Learning Place web pages and tools
Curriculum Exchange and Macquarie Net
Robotics and Technology
Concept Mapping Software
PDA Computing in the curriculum and more…
Activities for all ability levels from beginner to advanced.
Invitation to Present a Session
If you or one of your staff members can present a session on the day, please send a brief synopsis of the topic so it can be added to the program. Session presenters will receive free registration for the day.
Please mark this event in your diaries for 2006. More information will be available closer to the date.
Date: 18th April (Pupil-free day for State Schools)
Time: 8.30 am – 3.15 pm.
Venue: Morayfield State High School, Visentin Rd Morayfield.
IT’s Now ICTs! 2006 will happen at Morayfield SHS on Tuesday 18th April 2006. The day will feature a range of ICT activities and workshops for primary and secondary teachers, supported by presentations and trade exhibits promoting the latest in educational hardware and software.
In-service opportunities available on the day include:
Use of Wacom Pen Tablets in the classroom
Digital multimedia applications using Macromedia
New technologies such as digital white board
Flash animation and web page making
Visual Communicator and Movie Maker 2
PowerPoint, Outlook, Microsoft Word
Tools to make school administration tasks easier
Web Mail and searching the web.
Learning Place web pages and tools
Curriculum Exchange and Macquarie Net
Robotics and Technology
Concept Mapping Software
PDA Computing in the curriculum and more…
Activities for all ability levels from beginner to advanced.
Invitation to Present a Session
If you or one of your staff members can present a session on the day, please send a brief synopsis of the topic so it can be added to the program. Session presenters will receive free registration for the day.
Please mark this event in your diaries for 2006. More information will be available closer to the date.
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Students in a digital age: some implications of ICT for teaching and learning
"...not only have advances in technology changed the way today’s learners communicate and socialise, but have fundamentally impacted the way they approach learning. Already, the fields of technology and education have been all but inextricably linked ..." Read the whole report
"...not only have advances in technology changed the way today’s learners communicate and socialise, but have fundamentally impacted the way they approach learning. Already, the fields of technology and education have been all but inextricably linked ..." Read the whole report
Friday, November 11, 2005
Web universities ranking on the web
Lists the world’s top universities by their web presence – research published and how much it is cited. Top 1000 and top 100 for each country are just 2 of the rankings included.
Lists the world’s top universities by their web presence – research published and how much it is cited. Top 1000 and top 100 for each country are just 2 of the rankings included.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Education Podcast Network
Education Podcast Network
ABOUT EPN
The Education Podcast Network is an effort to bring together into one place, the wide range of podcast programming that may be helpful to teachers looking for content to teach with and about, and to explore issues of teaching and learning in the 21st century
ABOUT EPN
The Education Podcast Network is an effort to bring together into one place, the wide range of podcast programming that may be helpful to teachers looking for content to teach with and about, and to explore issues of teaching and learning in the 21st century
Reading
For years, studies have shown that the most significant therapy for young offenders is not Outward Bound camps, not psychological counselling, not tough love or family healing, but remedial reading. While no one would deny the importance of all those other approaches to troubled, destructive behaviour, many studies for over 30 years have consistently shown that help with literacy has a more profound and lasting impact on the rehabilitation of antisocial kids than anything else. Read the whole article
OAses for open access
Oases, the Open Access Toolbar
OAses, a toolbar for Internet Explorer, is designed to make internet searching easier for students, academicians and scientists. OAses searches many open access resources, free databases, and search engines.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
The real Shakespeare
Focus: Is this an impostor I see before me?
Scholars claim they have finally identified the real Shakespeare. But the drama is not over yet. Richard Woods reports The most enigmatic and mysterious drama ever created by William Shakespeare is about to reach its denouement. Or so certain scholars hope.
This tragi-comedy — let’s call it Where Art Thou, Will? — has for years beguiled and bamboozled audiences with a simple theme: who really wrote the plays attributed to Shakespeare? The answer, say these scholars, will be revealed in a book to be launched on October 19 at the Globe theatre in London, a replica of the playhouse where Shakespeare once trod the stage. Article continues
Scholars claim they have finally identified the real Shakespeare. But the drama is not over yet. Richard Woods reports The most enigmatic and mysterious drama ever created by William Shakespeare is about to reach its denouement. Or so certain scholars hope.
This tragi-comedy — let’s call it Where Art Thou, Will? — has for years beguiled and bamboozled audiences with a simple theme: who really wrote the plays attributed to Shakespeare? The answer, say these scholars, will be revealed in a book to be launched on October 19 at the Globe theatre in London, a replica of the playhouse where Shakespeare once trod the stage. Article continues
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Games in Higher Ed: When Halo 2, Civilization IV, and Xbox 360 Come to Campus
The evolving technologies committee is charged with identifying and monitoring evolving technologies and their impact on higher education institutions. This submission is on gaming in higher education.
UQ is a `hub` for new online teaching facilities
The University of Queensland is one of only seven universities worldwide taking part in an international online collaboration to improve the student learning experience.
The evolving technologies committee is charged with identifying and monitoring evolving technologies and their impact on higher education institutions. This submission is on gaming in higher education.
UQ is a `hub` for new online teaching facilities
The University of Queensland is one of only seven universities worldwide taking part in an international online collaboration to improve the student learning experience.
Monday, November 07, 2005
UMass first Microsoft IT Showcase School
The University of Massachusetts at Amherst has been designated Microsoft Corp.'s first-ever "Information Technology Showcase School," under a new Microsoft program that aims to highlight IT excellence in higher education. Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer made the announcement at the university's W.E.B. Du Bois Library as UMass-Amherst officially opened its new technology center, the Learning Commons....
Article continues
Leigh Blackall critiques how digital literacy, for the use of social software, affects teaching practices in Australian education in Digital literacy: How it affects teaching practices and networked learning futures - a proposal for action research.
The University of Massachusetts at Amherst has been designated Microsoft Corp.'s first-ever "Information Technology Showcase School," under a new Microsoft program that aims to highlight IT excellence in higher education. Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer made the announcement at the university's W.E.B. Du Bois Library as UMass-Amherst officially opened its new technology center, the Learning Commons....
Article continues
Leigh Blackall critiques how digital literacy, for the use of social software, affects teaching practices in Australian education in Digital literacy: How it affects teaching practices and networked learning futures - a proposal for action research.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Teachers Domain
Teachers' Domain
“is a multimedia digital library for the classroom that provides learning experiences in ways no textbook can.”
RSS Quick Start Guide for Educators
Whether you're just starting out with Weblogs and related technologies or you've dug in pretty hard, this RSS Quick Start Guide for Educators (.pdf) will hopefully help you see the potential for RSS feeds in your classroom.
“is a multimedia digital library for the classroom that provides learning experiences in ways no textbook can.”
RSS Quick Start Guide for Educators
Whether you're just starting out with Weblogs and related technologies or you've dug in pretty hard, this RSS Quick Start Guide for Educators (.pdf) will hopefully help you see the potential for RSS feeds in your classroom.
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Playsport
Welcome to PlaySport - an awesome website with all kinds of great activities designed to teach kids games by playing games!
PlaySport allows you to search for activities based on the equipment you have, the skills you want to teach, the complexity of the game or the space you have available.
Teachers, coaches and camp counselors can all benefit from this resource.
PlaySport games encourage fun, free play while helping kids develop the skills needed to participate in all kinds of sports.
PlaySport allows you to search for activities based on the equipment you have, the skills you want to teach, the complexity of the game or the space you have available.
Teachers, coaches and camp counselors can all benefit from this resource.
PlaySport games encourage fun, free play while helping kids develop the skills needed to participate in all kinds of sports.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Yahoo bans teens from chat rooms
YAHOO will ban under-18s from chat rooms as part of an agreement with the US states of New York and Nebraska designed to prevent predators using the online meeting places.
Yahoo's decision, which includes an undertaking to shut down chat rooms used by predators, marked the first time an internet media company has employed system-wide controls over chat rooms, New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and his Nebraska counterpart Jon Bruning said. Article continues
Yahoo's decision, which includes an undertaking to shut down chat rooms used by predators, marked the first time an internet media company has employed system-wide controls over chat rooms, New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and his Nebraska counterpart Jon Bruning said. Article continues
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Want to know more about designing interactivity? Visit Interactivity for design suggestions, evaluations and promotional ideas and much more...
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Facing the Future develops young people’s capacity and commitment to create thriving, sustainable, and peaceful local and global communities. We do this by equipping teachers and schools with the tools and strategies to help students:
• Understand global issues and sustainability in a way that shows the connections between population, environment, consumption, poverty and conflict
• Develop a global perspective
• Learn critical thinking skills Be inspired to take personal action
School orders students to remove blogs
A Roman Catholic high school has ordered its students to remove their online diaries from the internet, citing a threat from cyberpredators. Article continues
• Understand global issues and sustainability in a way that shows the connections between population, environment, consumption, poverty and conflict
• Develop a global perspective
• Learn critical thinking skills Be inspired to take personal action
School orders students to remove blogs
A Roman Catholic high school has ordered its students to remove their online diaries from the internet, citing a threat from cyberpredators. Article continues
Monday, October 31, 2005
Smithsonian Global Sound
We’re very excited to partner with Smithsonian Global Sound to bring this free month of access to libraries and scholarly institutions everywhere. You can start exploring the content immediately; all 35,000 tracks are at your fingertips—simply click and enjoy! Access to this site will remain free through 17:00 GMT on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2005.
Smithsonian Global Sound, produced in partnership with Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, is a virtual encyclopedia of the world's musical and aural traditions. The collection provides educators, students, and interested listeners with an unprecedented variety of online resources that support the creation, continuity, and preservation of diverse musical forms.
We’re very excited to partner with Smithsonian Global Sound to bring this free month of access to libraries and scholarly institutions everywhere. You can start exploring the content immediately; all 35,000 tracks are at your fingertips—simply click and enjoy! Access to this site will remain free through 17:00 GMT on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2005.
Smithsonian Global Sound, produced in partnership with Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, is a virtual encyclopedia of the world's musical and aural traditions. The collection provides educators, students, and interested listeners with an unprecedented variety of online resources that support the creation, continuity, and preservation of diverse musical forms.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Surviving soaring energy costs
Smart technologies and efficient design can prevent budget shock
With a heating oil and natural gas crisis predicted even before multiple hurricanes devastated many production areas in the Gulf Coast region this year, schools are seeing their already overtaxed budgets further threatened by the high cost of regulating their physical environments. Article continues
Smart technologies and efficient design can prevent budget shock
With a heating oil and natural gas crisis predicted even before multiple hurricanes devastated many production areas in the Gulf Coast region this year, schools are seeing their already overtaxed budgets further threatened by the high cost of regulating their physical environments. Article continues
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Games help train kids to pay attention
In what is believed to be the first real evidence to support what is becoming a growing field of inquiry, the use of special computer games to "train" their brains improved the ability of healthy children to pay attention during scientific trials, researchers reported. Article continues
In what is believed to be the first real evidence to support what is becoming a growing field of inquiry, the use of special computer games to "train" their brains improved the ability of healthy children to pay attention during scientific trials, researchers reported. Article continues
Friday, October 28, 2005
Education Law Gets First Test in U.S. Schools
Math scores were up slightly but reading showed a decline. By some measures, students were making greater gains before the law was put into effect.
Math scores were up slightly but reading showed a decline. By some measures, students were making greater gains before the law was put into effect.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
CELEBRATING DEMOCRACY WEEK 2005
… over 300 schools will receive Australian Government grants to help them showcase civics and citizenship education activities in their local communities as part of Celebrating Democracy Week 2005,
… over 300 schools will receive Australian Government grants to help them showcase civics and citizenship education activities in their local communities as part of Celebrating Democracy Week 2005,
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Monday, October 24, 2005
New solution for video: A client-free player
A Libertyville, Ill., company known as Video Furnace has developed a solution for distributing video over an internet-protocol (IP) network that eliminates the need for a desktop media player. Article continues
BLC '06--Register Now!
I know it's still almost nine months away, but I'm already going to put in a plug for what I think is the best educational conference of the year, Alan November's Building Learning Communities. A couple of disclaimers: Alan has become a good friend of mine, and I'm scheduled to do a day-long Read/Write Web workshop as a preconference. But having said that, even if I wasn't involved, I'd already be registered to attend. It's three days of really getting to know educators from around the world, and making connections with people who can become not only good resources but good friends. Read the whole post
9 Planets? 12? What's a Planet, Anyway?
Trolling for definitions in a 21st-century solar system.
Students learn of simple machine power
In the midst of nationwide concerns over high oil and heating costs, Chambersburg Area Senior High School students are getting valuable lessons about energy.
CASHS technology teacher Raymond Setaro is exposing students to various forms of energy and electricity in his power and energy course, offered once each semester in the school's technology education department.
A Libertyville, Ill., company known as Video Furnace has developed a solution for distributing video over an internet-protocol (IP) network that eliminates the need for a desktop media player. Article continues
BLC '06--Register Now!
I know it's still almost nine months away, but I'm already going to put in a plug for what I think is the best educational conference of the year, Alan November's Building Learning Communities. A couple of disclaimers: Alan has become a good friend of mine, and I'm scheduled to do a day-long Read/Write Web workshop as a preconference. But having said that, even if I wasn't involved, I'd already be registered to attend. It's three days of really getting to know educators from around the world, and making connections with people who can become not only good resources but good friends. Read the whole post
9 Planets? 12? What's a Planet, Anyway?
Trolling for definitions in a 21st-century solar system.
Students learn of simple machine power
In the midst of nationwide concerns over high oil and heating costs, Chambersburg Area Senior High School students are getting valuable lessons about energy.
CASHS technology teacher Raymond Setaro is exposing students to various forms of energy and electricity in his power and energy course, offered once each semester in the school's technology education department.
Friday, October 21, 2005
Yahoo Groups – Podcasting - Education
Description Information and discussion regarding podcasting as an educational tool in today's classroom. Teachers, educators and others share how you have used podcasting thus far, how you hope to use it soon, or any special projects that you envision using podcasting in a school setting. Exchange ideas, tech tips, lesson plans, or even your podcast.
Description Information and discussion regarding podcasting as an educational tool in today's classroom. Teachers, educators and others share how you have used podcasting thus far, how you hope to use it soon, or any special projects that you envision using podcasting in a school setting. Exchange ideas, tech tips, lesson plans, or even your podcast.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
The Human Brain
You have been entrusted with the care and feeding of the most extraordinary and complex creation in the universe. Home to your mind and personality, your brain houses your cherished memories and future hopes. It orchestrates the symphony of consciousness that gives you purpose and passion, motion and emotion.
But what do you really know about it?
Here you can get to know your brain – the food it likes, the challenges it craves, the rest it requires, the protection it deserves.
Within these pages you will find the fruit of decades of research. Here you can participate in today's neuroscience renaissance, and learn what you can do for your brain.
You have been entrusted with the care and feeding of the most extraordinary and complex creation in the universe. Home to your mind and personality, your brain houses your cherished memories and future hopes. It orchestrates the symphony of consciousness that gives you purpose and passion, motion and emotion.
But what do you really know about it?
Here you can get to know your brain – the food it likes, the challenges it craves, the rest it requires, the protection it deserves.
Within these pages you will find the fruit of decades of research. Here you can participate in today's neuroscience renaissance, and learn what you can do for your brain.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Mind Over Muscle
If we want to help boys keep up with girls, we have to have an honest discussion about innate differences between the sexes.
If we want to help boys keep up with girls, we have to have an honest discussion about innate differences between the sexes.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Plea for parents to run schools
Parents and teachers should be put in charge of the country's 7000 public schools to stem the drift to private education, according to a radical proposal from the architect of the HSC. Article continues
Parents and teachers should be put in charge of the country's 7000 public schools to stem the drift to private education, according to a radical proposal from the architect of the HSC. Article continues
Friday, October 14, 2005
The vertical farm project
The Problem
By the year 2050, nearly 80% of the earth's population will reside in urban centers. Applying the most conservative estimates to current demographic trends, the human population will increase by about 3 billion people during the interim. An estimated 109 hectares of new land (about 20% more land than is represented by the country of Brazil) will be needed to grow enough food to feed them, if traditional farming practices continue as they are practiced today. At present, throughout the world, over 80% of the land that is suitable for raising crops is in use. Historically, some 15% of that has been laid waste by poor management practices. What can be done to avoid this impending disaster?
A Potential Solution: farm vertically
The concept of indoor farming is not new, since hothouse production of tomatoes, a wide variety of herbs, and other produce has been in vogue for some time. What is new is the urgent need to scale up this technology to accommodate another 3 billion people. An entirely new approach to indoor farming must be invented, employing cutting edge technologies. The Vertical Farm must be efficient (cheap to construct and safe to operate). Vertical farms, many stories high, will be situated in the heart of the world's urban centers.
Read more
The Problem
By the year 2050, nearly 80% of the earth's population will reside in urban centers. Applying the most conservative estimates to current demographic trends, the human population will increase by about 3 billion people during the interim. An estimated 109 hectares of new land (about 20% more land than is represented by the country of Brazil) will be needed to grow enough food to feed them, if traditional farming practices continue as they are practiced today. At present, throughout the world, over 80% of the land that is suitable for raising crops is in use. Historically, some 15% of that has been laid waste by poor management practices. What can be done to avoid this impending disaster?
A Potential Solution: farm vertically
The concept of indoor farming is not new, since hothouse production of tomatoes, a wide variety of herbs, and other produce has been in vogue for some time. What is new is the urgent need to scale up this technology to accommodate another 3 billion people. An entirely new approach to indoor farming must be invented, employing cutting edge technologies. The Vertical Farm must be efficient (cheap to construct and safe to operate). Vertical farms, many stories high, will be situated in the heart of the world's urban centers.
Read more
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Embracing Technology in the Classroom: One Professor's Story
…”For a time, she felt that if she weren’t lecturing, she wasn’t doing her job. But the experimenting paid off with a new level of student engagement and sense of ownership. In the end, Amtower uploaded all of her lecture notes to the class’ Blackboard site and never used them in class…” Read the whole article
…”For a time, she felt that if she weren’t lecturing, she wasn’t doing her job. But the experimenting paid off with a new level of student engagement and sense of ownership. In the end, Amtower uploaded all of her lecture notes to the class’ Blackboard site and never used them in class…” Read the whole article
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Sourcing Content to Teach and Learn With
With so many great resources already out there on the net, why re-invent the wheel? There's stacks of great activities and information waiting for you to link together into a fun learning experience! When sourcing your content, be careful to check the copyright statement of the content before you attempt to use it.
A Shifting Notion of What it Means to Teach“…it's not so much about the tools it's about the information we can connect to using the tools. Provided we have access, we're not the best source of knowledge in our subjects any longer. We're no longer the only teachers our students can have on any particular subject. We're not the only audience for our students' work. We're no longer limited by the four walls of our classrooms. And we're moving toward a time when collaboration will be central to our practice. All of this requires that we cede much of the control over learning to our students, that we act more as connectors to relevant information than distributors of it, that we model the effective consumption and creation of content, and that we focus on the basic skills and ideas of our disciplines in the context of a more individualized, inquiry based model that develops passionate, or as Alan calls them "fearless" learners.” Blog post continues
With so many great resources already out there on the net, why re-invent the wheel? There's stacks of great activities and information waiting for you to link together into a fun learning experience! When sourcing your content, be careful to check the copyright statement of the content before you attempt to use it.
A Shifting Notion of What it Means to Teach“…it's not so much about the tools it's about the information we can connect to using the tools. Provided we have access, we're not the best source of knowledge in our subjects any longer. We're no longer the only teachers our students can have on any particular subject. We're not the only audience for our students' work. We're no longer limited by the four walls of our classrooms. And we're moving toward a time when collaboration will be central to our practice. All of this requires that we cede much of the control over learning to our students, that we act more as connectors to relevant information than distributors of it, that we model the effective consumption and creation of content, and that we focus on the basic skills and ideas of our disciplines in the context of a more individualized, inquiry based model that develops passionate, or as Alan calls them "fearless" learners.” Blog post continues
Monday, October 10, 2005
From Leigh Blackall
DIY Movie or comic, quick and easy
"From A good friend Jude Cooke just sent through this tool! DFilm. DFilm is a web based application where you can create your own little movies based on a range of templates predesigned by DFilm….Another similar tool to DFilm is the French production Gnomz. I've been using Gnomz quite a bit in Blended Learning. Instead of creating movies as DFilm does, it lets you create comic strips."
Bill Gates' Guinea Pigs
The Gates Foundation wants to remake American education, and ground zero for their billion-dollar experiment is Mountlake Terrace High School. Results so far? It's been a learning experience. Read the whole article.
DIY Movie or comic, quick and easy
"From A good friend Jude Cooke just sent through this tool! DFilm. DFilm is a web based application where you can create your own little movies based on a range of templates predesigned by DFilm….Another similar tool to DFilm is the French production Gnomz. I've been using Gnomz quite a bit in Blended Learning. Instead of creating movies as DFilm does, it lets you create comic strips."
Bill Gates' Guinea Pigs
The Gates Foundation wants to remake American education, and ground zero for their billion-dollar experiment is Mountlake Terrace High School. Results so far? It's been a learning experience. Read the whole article.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Parents count kids' calories online
As Garin Hughes picks through his school-lunch burrito and unidentifiable apple-pear dessert, he has a secret. Hidden underneath the eighth-grader's right leg is a chocolate cookie in shrink-wrapped plastic. In the past, his parents had no clue when he bought a treat at school. Now, thanks to a new school-lunch monitoring system, they can check over the internet and learn about that secret cookie....
Article continues
Microsoft Education Seminar 2005 Attend the Microsoft Education Seminar 2005 and discover new ways to use technology in the classroom to inspire and engage your students. Mingle with fellow educators and learn how you can prepare technology rich lesson plans that support the Australian K-12 curriculum. Just spend a single afternoon at one of our venues, and you will come away with all the insights and confidence needed to improve learning outcomes for your students.
As Garin Hughes picks through his school-lunch burrito and unidentifiable apple-pear dessert, he has a secret. Hidden underneath the eighth-grader's right leg is a chocolate cookie in shrink-wrapped plastic. In the past, his parents had no clue when he bought a treat at school. Now, thanks to a new school-lunch monitoring system, they can check over the internet and learn about that secret cookie....
Article continues
Microsoft Education Seminar 2005 Attend the Microsoft Education Seminar 2005 and discover new ways to use technology in the classroom to inspire and engage your students. Mingle with fellow educators and learn how you can prepare technology rich lesson plans that support the Australian K-12 curriculum. Just spend a single afternoon at one of our venues, and you will come away with all the insights and confidence needed to improve learning outcomes for your students.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
More on e-Portfolios
... It is argued that insufficient attention has been paid to the pedagogy of e-portfolio development and that existing applications and implementations tend to be overly dominated by the requirements of assessment. The paper looks at the different pedagogic processes involved in the development of an e-portfolio. It considers the competences required for developing and maintaining an e-portfolio. The final section considers the challenges in developing e-portfolio applications. Read the paper
Ministerial Round Table on Education for All (7 - 8 October 2005)
More than 50 education ministers and high-ranking officials responsible for education will meet during UNESCO's General Conference in October to explore practical ways to address Education for All challenges by building on positive examples from different parts of the world.
... It is argued that insufficient attention has been paid to the pedagogy of e-portfolio development and that existing applications and implementations tend to be overly dominated by the requirements of assessment. The paper looks at the different pedagogic processes involved in the development of an e-portfolio. It considers the competences required for developing and maintaining an e-portfolio. The final section considers the challenges in developing e-portfolio applications. Read the paper
Ministerial Round Table on Education for All (7 - 8 October 2005)
More than 50 education ministers and high-ranking officials responsible for education will meet during UNESCO's General Conference in October to explore practical ways to address Education for All challenges by building on positive examples from different parts of the world.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Removing barriers: a ‘can-do’ attitude published by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) today, looks at how the private and voluntary childcare sectors cater for children with special needs
A ‘can-do’ attitude is vital to ensuring that children with special needs are fully included in childcare settings
New report from Ofsted aims to spread good practice across the childcare sector for children with special needs
'Intelligent' tools lead to smarter searches
Is your search engine getting smarter? Thanks to an emerging concept known as "intelligent searching," teachers and students soon might have at their disposal a variety of online tools designed to help them more effectively navigate the vast amount of information on the internet....
Article continues
A ‘can-do’ attitude is vital to ensuring that children with special needs are fully included in childcare settings
New report from Ofsted aims to spread good practice across the childcare sector for children with special needs
'Intelligent' tools lead to smarter searches
Is your search engine getting smarter? Thanks to an emerging concept known as "intelligent searching," teachers and students soon might have at their disposal a variety of online tools designed to help them more effectively navigate the vast amount of information on the internet....
Article continues
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Schooling Issues Digest - Students with Learning Difficulties in Relation to Literacy and Numeracy
The Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST)'s Schools Issues Digests summarise existing research material on selected topics relevant to schooling in Australia. This edition reports on the recent international and national research on students with learning difficulties in relation to literacy and numeracy. It outlines key findings, issues with literacy and numeracy, the role of parents, further research directions and useful websites.
Preserving Australia's cultural and historical assets
In a unique collaboration, Canberra's cultural institutions are using new technology to create digital, 100% replicas of Australia's most important assets, including Captain Cook's Endeavour journal and the diaries of Burke and Wills. That means anyone who can log onto the Internet can have free access to these important documents. Read the whole article
The Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST)'s Schools Issues Digests summarise existing research material on selected topics relevant to schooling in Australia. This edition reports on the recent international and national research on students with learning difficulties in relation to literacy and numeracy. It outlines key findings, issues with literacy and numeracy, the role of parents, further research directions and useful websites.
Preserving Australia's cultural and historical assets
In a unique collaboration, Canberra's cultural institutions are using new technology to create digital, 100% replicas of Australia's most important assets, including Captain Cook's Endeavour journal and the diaries of Burke and Wills. That means anyone who can log onto the Internet can have free access to these important documents. Read the whole article
Monday, October 03, 2005
A classroom revolution unfolds
It is one of the biggest changes to schools in England and Wales for many years.
Yet, as the new academic year begins, the government is hoping that few parents and pupils will notice that anything has changed.
From this week, for the first time ever, all teachers are entitled by law to 10% of the timetable free from teaching in the classroom so they can get on with what is called PPA, or "planning, preparation and assessment". Article continues
Preparing E-Learners for Online Success
By Ryan Watkins
These advances in e-learning technology have, however, created new demands on both learners and instructors. The time-tested learning strategies and study skills that most of us developed through 12 or more years of a traditional classroom education can only assist us to a limited degree when courses are moved to e-learning formats. In response, instructors, instructional designers, and curriculum developers have been building an inventory of contemporary skills and techniques for generating useful learning experiences for today’s high-tech learners. At the same time, learners have been informally developing updated study skills and learning strategies in a relatively ad hoc manner. Read the whole article
It is one of the biggest changes to schools in England and Wales for many years.
Yet, as the new academic year begins, the government is hoping that few parents and pupils will notice that anything has changed.
From this week, for the first time ever, all teachers are entitled by law to 10% of the timetable free from teaching in the classroom so they can get on with what is called PPA, or "planning, preparation and assessment". Article continues
Preparing E-Learners for Online Success
By Ryan Watkins
These advances in e-learning technology have, however, created new demands on both learners and instructors. The time-tested learning strategies and study skills that most of us developed through 12 or more years of a traditional classroom education can only assist us to a limited degree when courses are moved to e-learning formats. In response, instructors, instructional designers, and curriculum developers have been building an inventory of contemporary skills and techniques for generating useful learning experiences for today’s high-tech learners. At the same time, learners have been informally developing updated study skills and learning strategies in a relatively ad hoc manner. Read the whole article
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Call for Applications - 2006 Microsoft ICT Teacher Scholarships Microsoft has committed U.S. $253ml to an initiative called the Partners in Learning (PiL) Program. Microsoft's aim with the PiLs program is to 'provide government and education leaders with the local resources to deliver information and communication technology (ICT) skills training and curriculum leadership to primary and secondary teachers, school leaders, and students within their countries'. As part of the PiL initiative, Microsoft Australia has partnered with CSU to develop a postgraduate distance learning course that would give teachers the skills to implement the PiL curriculum back into their schools. Microsoft has committed to support the launch of the new course by the provision of 40 scholarships.
Electronic Environmental Resources Library
eERL's mission is to be the best possible online collection of environmental and sustainability resources for community college educators and for their students.
Electronic Environmental Resources Library
eERL's mission is to be the best possible online collection of environmental and sustainability resources for community college educators and for their students.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Fall 2005 Symposium on the “Social Costs of Inadequate Education”
October 24th and 25th at Alfred Lerner Hall, Columbia University
On October 24 and 25, 2005 Teachers College will sponsor a two-day symposium on the “Social Costs of Inadequate Education.” The symposium is part of the College's broader mission of working to close the nation's gap in educational equity – the growing difference in educational expectations, opportunities and outcomes that separates wealthier students from their poorer, chiefly non-white peers. Teachers College was founded more than a century ago to improve the education of New York City 's poor. The current focus on equity reinforces the founding mission of the College and draws upon the extensive teaching, research, and service of faculty in behalf of improving educational equity.
The Australian International Education Conference
October 11 to 14 2005
Gold coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
October 24th and 25th at Alfred Lerner Hall, Columbia University
On October 24 and 25, 2005 Teachers College will sponsor a two-day symposium on the “Social Costs of Inadequate Education.” The symposium is part of the College's broader mission of working to close the nation's gap in educational equity – the growing difference in educational expectations, opportunities and outcomes that separates wealthier students from their poorer, chiefly non-white peers. Teachers College was founded more than a century ago to improve the education of New York City 's poor. The current focus on equity reinforces the founding mission of the College and draws upon the extensive teaching, research, and service of faculty in behalf of improving educational equity.
The Australian International Education Conference
October 11 to 14 2005
Gold coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
Friday, September 30, 2005
Wikibooks takes on textbook industry
By Daniel Terdiman
If you found yourself needing an old biology textbook and couldn't locate your battered copy from college, you'd have a few options.
You could go to a university bookstore and snag a used copy; you could drop a few dollars on a new one at Amazon.com; or you could track down some old college chums and ask for their copies.
But if Jimmy Wales and his colleagues at the Wikimedia Foundation have anything to say about it, you could have another way to go--the Wikibooks project. It's their attempt to create a comprehensive, kindergarten-to-college curriculum of textbooks that are free and freely distributable, based on an open-source development model.
Supporting Student Success
A Governor’s Guide to Extra Learning Opportunities
Extra learning opportunities (ELOs) help to ensure that children are successful in school and in life.
Although before- and after-school programs have been around for decades, we are learning more about how the hours outside of school can be critical determinants of student achievement. With many forms and purposes, extra learning opportunities are a key part of many state policy efforts to support the long-term success of children, families, and communities. State policymakers increasingly recognize the important contributions that high-quality extralearning opportunities can make toward education, youth development, workforce, and prevention priorities.
By Daniel Terdiman
If you found yourself needing an old biology textbook and couldn't locate your battered copy from college, you'd have a few options.
You could go to a university bookstore and snag a used copy; you could drop a few dollars on a new one at Amazon.com; or you could track down some old college chums and ask for their copies.
But if Jimmy Wales and his colleagues at the Wikimedia Foundation have anything to say about it, you could have another way to go--the Wikibooks project. It's their attempt to create a comprehensive, kindergarten-to-college curriculum of textbooks that are free and freely distributable, based on an open-source development model.
Supporting Student Success
A Governor’s Guide to Extra Learning Opportunities
Extra learning opportunities (ELOs) help to ensure that children are successful in school and in life.
Although before- and after-school programs have been around for decades, we are learning more about how the hours outside of school can be critical determinants of student achievement. With many forms and purposes, extra learning opportunities are a key part of many state policy efforts to support the long-term success of children, families, and communities. State policymakers increasingly recognize the important contributions that high-quality extralearning opportunities can make toward education, youth development, workforce, and prevention priorities.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Enviropedia
300+ topics about the Environment
It's not what it is, it's what it enables
The role of blogs, wikis, and RSS
Let me state the obvious: the real value of blogs and wikis is not the tool itself. It's what the tool enables. Sadly, many advocates overlook this simple fact.
To continue the over-simplification, it's the equivalent of viewing a hammer as only a means to hit nails. Obviously that is the task at its most basic. But what does it mean? In the case of the hammer, it means we can build a doghouse, a bookshelf, or a house. Until we look past the task and functionality of a tool - to what the tool enables - we largely miss the beauty of why it's so useful.
300+ topics about the Environment
It's not what it is, it's what it enables
The role of blogs, wikis, and RSS
Let me state the obvious: the real value of blogs and wikis is not the tool itself. It's what the tool enables. Sadly, many advocates overlook this simple fact.
To continue the over-simplification, it's the equivalent of viewing a hammer as only a means to hit nails. Obviously that is the task at its most basic. But what does it mean? In the case of the hammer, it means we can build a doghouse, a bookshelf, or a house. Until we look past the task and functionality of a tool - to what the tool enables - we largely miss the beauty of why it's so useful.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Primary pathways: an integrated approach to drug education
Written by a Primary School teacher, this easy-to-use education resource offers many quality learning activities for early, middle and later primary school drug education, integrating drug education with issues such as self-esteem, identity, problem solving and responsibility.
Interactive Whiteboards
“Colleagues, I am looking for evidence of the use of interactive whiteboards in classroom or school in K-12: lesson plans, tips how to use them in learning and/or teaching situations, software that works well on a whiteboard, whitepapers from suppliers, contact with teachers that use them regurally. In return this blog will keep you updated.”
His first contribution is a well researched overview.
Info Literacy Class Guide
Michael Stephens shares his lesson on Information Literacy
Written by a Primary School teacher, this easy-to-use education resource offers many quality learning activities for early, middle and later primary school drug education, integrating drug education with issues such as self-esteem, identity, problem solving and responsibility.
Interactive Whiteboards
“Colleagues, I am looking for evidence of the use of interactive whiteboards in classroom or school in K-12: lesson plans, tips how to use them in learning and/or teaching situations, software that works well on a whiteboard, whitepapers from suppliers, contact with teachers that use them regurally. In return this blog will keep you updated.”
His first contribution is a well researched overview.
Info Literacy Class Guide
Michael Stephens shares his lesson on Information Literacy
Saturday, September 24, 2005
School district revisits at what age to teach 'keyboarding' to students
"When will they learn to type? On the first day of school, I had the fifth-graders open up Microsoft Word and write me a message. You could tell that some kids were ready to write a novel, and some were barely able to finish one sentence." Read the whole article
What Does It Mean To Be an Educated Person?
What does it mean to be an educated person? What should a high school graduate be able to do upon graduation? The answer guides instruction. The art of teaching is to challenge and encourage students toward this vision. Read the whole speech
"When will they learn to type? On the first day of school, I had the fifth-graders open up Microsoft Word and write me a message. You could tell that some kids were ready to write a novel, and some were barely able to finish one sentence." Read the whole article
What Does It Mean To Be an Educated Person?
What does it mean to be an educated person? What should a high school graduate be able to do upon graduation? The answer guides instruction. The art of teaching is to challenge and encourage students toward this vision. Read the whole speech
New tool aims to ease academic file sharing
Researchers at Penn State and other universities have developed a tool to help educators and researchers search for and exchange large academic or scientific files more easily--using the principles most associated with trading music and movies illegally....Article continues
Researchers at Penn State and other universities have developed a tool to help educators and researchers search for and exchange large academic or scientific files more easily--using the principles most associated with trading music and movies illegally....Article continues
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