2007 is...

2007 ...
United Nations Environment Programme: Billion Tree Campaign
http://www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/

The billion tree campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of trees
in all cultures and how forests provide environmental protection.

Chinese Year of the Boar
http://www.new-year.co.uk/chinese/calendar/boar.htm

International Heliophysical year
http://ihy2007.org/

International Year of Rumi
http://www.poetseers.org/the_poetseers/rumi

2007 International decade of...

International decade for action - water for life, 2005 - 2015
http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/

United Nations International decade for the culture of peace
and non-violence for the children of the world 2001-2010
http://www.unac.org/peacecp/decade/background.html

United Nations literacy decade 2003-2012
http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=5000&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

United Nations decade for education for sustainable development
http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=23279&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

United Nations decade to roll back malaria 2001-2010
http://www.rollbackmalaria.org/

Homework, the tip of the iceberg

[Via Stephen Downes]

Witnessing the effects of six hours of homework after a six hour school day has had my mind churning so much that I cannot sleep. Consider this an open letter to the New Brunswick Department of Education and all educators.

Read on ...

Boosting intelligence among poor is child's play

Giving pre-school children toys to play with boosts their mental development even if they suffer from malnutrition, a report said on Friday.

The report, published in the Lancet medical journal, said several studies had found a clear link between intelligence and child's play
Read on ...

Embracing Technology in the Classroom: One Professor's Story

By Chris Procello

Laurel Amtower, professor of English and comparative literature, was becoming concerned about how to reach her students. Each semester her classes became larger, and, correspondingly, students were banking on their anonymity. Class attendance had become more sporadic and a good portion of her students sat in the back of her classes, not engaged. Assigned papers were seen as hurdles where students saw no connection between what they were being asked to do and what skills they are supposed to gain as a result of the class.

Read on ...

Targeted teaching of civics and citizenship needed

Formal education in civics and citizenship is urgently required if Australian students are to increase their familiarity with key historical civic events...

Read on ...

Schools to face national standard

PARENTS can expect a national school curriculum regardless of which party wins this year's federal election after the Labor leader, Kevin Rudd, joined the Coalition in pushing states and territories to set common standards.

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Gaming advances as a learning tool

This article from America gives teachers ideas on how to capture the interest of
'digital natives' by using games in the classroom.

Read on ...

Sharing the enthusiasm

From Harold Jarche

As a learning professional, it’s time to take a stance. Enabling learning is no longer about disseminating good content. Enabling learning is about being a learner yourself, sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm and then taking a
back
seat

Read the whole article

BBC Plans Online Children's World

A "safe, secure" virtual world which children can inhabit and interact with is being planned by the BBC in England.
Read on ...

Some thoughts about school 2.0

From Chris Lehmann

It's really not about the computers. School 2.0 is older than that. School 2.0 is the tradition of Dewey. School 2.0 is born out of the idea that active, engaged, constructivist learning will lead to active, engaged students and people.It's about the pedagogy.Too much educational software just attempts to turn these really powerful devices into the next version of the workbook. That's criminal.Computers and internet technology should allow us create, to communicate and to research.

Read on ...

International Polar year

International Polar Year

During International Polar Year (IPY), from March 2007 to March 2009, interdisciplinary research will be undertaken into climate change and the interactions of climate, oceans, ice, land, ecosystems and human society in the Arctic and Antarctic.

Teaching activities

Antarctic Dad (MP)
Getting to know the polar regions (LS)
Melting ice (UP)
Sea level rising in South Pacific (U/Sec)

More resources on Polar Regions and Antarctica

Rand McNally delivers fee-based geography content online

Rand McNally recently launched a new web-based service to deliver comprehensive geography content, interactive games and activities, and skills-based lesson plans for teachers.

Read more ...

One hundred years of surf lifesaving in Australia

I tend to take the surf lifesavers for granted. I surf = I swim between the flags - no question. So I'm so glad to be able to celebrate with the surf lifesavers.

Here is the website -
http://www.slsa.com.au/default.aspx?s=yearofthesurflifesaver

And for the classroom
Between the Flags education kit
To celebrate the 2007 International Year of Surf Lifesaving in Australia, the National Museum of Australia has developed an education package