The essence of the demand for freedom is the need of conditions which will enable an individual to make his own special contribution to a group interest, and to partake of its activities in such ways that social guidance shall be a matter of his own mental attitude, and not a mere authoritative dictation of […]
On wrapping it up with a meme: reflecting on the semester
May 9, 2018 by 3 Comments
Each semester I ask my Search and the Information Landscape sections to reflect on their learning by thinking about it figuratively and metaphorically, visualizing the landscape and their place in it. This year, I added the option of a meme to the visualization menu. I wonder what would happen if you asked your students to wrap […]
Favorite Portals for Pedagogical Planning (and a new curation tool)
September 9, 2016 by 3 Comments
In prepping for my on-campus course this semester I felt the need to freshen up my face-to-face discussion strategies. Digging around, I discovered some fabulous pedagogical portals well worth visiting for educators, both newbie and veteran. Take a look if you and your partner teachers seek a little inspiration for engaging learners in meaningful conversations […]
ISTE Launches Refreshed Standards for Students
July 1, 2016 by Leave a Comment
At ISTE 2016, this week in Denver, we saw the official release of a refreshed and aspirational set of Standards for Students focused on empowering student voice. We’ve come a long way from 1998 when our students exposure technology was largely limited to a weekly computer lab visit. ISTE describes the nearly twenty year progression of their standards as […]
MOOCs for kids too
December 2, 2012 by 2 Comments
When SLJ recently asked me to reflect on the edtech trends of the year, one of the trends that first came to mind was the emergence of the MOOC. MOOCs (massive open online courses) are about open, participatory, distributed, networked learning. They are sandboxes for independent, lifelong learners. Folks have been talking about and testing […]
Infotention and digital citizenship
July 8, 2012 by 8 Comments
Confessions: I used to be smarter. I used to be a better friend. I used to be able to get more done. I think the same may be true of my students. Sherry Turkle, MIT professor and author of Alone Together: Why We Expect More From Technology and Less From Each Other, describes the research […]
CCSS and us
April 22, 2012 by 5 Comments
The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success […]
Discussing the future of the textbook. Add your voice!
March 18, 2012 by 6 Comments
Despite a stupid broken knee, I’ve found a way to get down to Silver Spring, MD tomorrow for Discovery Education’s Beyond the Textbook Forum. I am honored to be among a small group of teachers and thinkers I truly admire, but I am conscious of the fact that Karen (my dear generous friend and driver) […]
Above and Beyond: The Story of the 4Cs
July 30, 2011 by 2 Comments
Communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, a national organization that advocates for 21st century readiness for every student, advises that we inspire learners to achieve and that we teach well beyond the bubble test: In an increasingly complex, demanding and competitive 21st century, students need to learn more than the […]
Kathy’s bloomin’ iPad
July 26, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Thank you, Kathy Schrock, for creating this lovely new chart of free, content neutral apps aligned with levels and verbs suggested by the revised Bloom’s Taxonomy. So much to explore! Kathy’s work is inspired by Andrew Churches’ Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy blog and Leslie Owen Wilson’s Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy. To recommend additional apps, visit the form […]
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