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Here you’ll find thoughts on change, learning, 21st Century teaching, and all the latest updates on Powerful Learning Practice and what we’re doing. Dive in. Subscribe via RSS | Subscribe via Email
What My Connected Students Taught Me about Motivation
When we read about engaging students in the classroom using technology and social media, authors often leave us with the impression that this work will flow gentle as a stream. When talking about motivation and learning in school, grit is most often left out of the conversation. Yet Dan Pink tells us the best predictor of success is grit, defined as perseverance and passion for long term goals. When we found the right authentic project, my 9th grade English learners showed they had the grit to write a 200pp collaborative book!
read moreHS Student Team Writes How-To Guide for Connected Learning
Written by a team of 27 students at Norway’s Sandvika High School (Oslo, Norway), Connected Learners is a 220-page compendium of stories, advice and how-to articles designed to help high school teachers and their students around the globe shift from classrooms that are isolated and teacher-centered to digitally rich environments where learning is student-driven and constantly connected to the global internet.
read moreHale@home: Easing Student Transitions via Online Learning
In this fascinating account of online learning, Michael Valentine, the director of Hale@home, describes a 21st century solution to a traditional dilemma – how to prepare rural boys for transition to a large urban independent school in Perth, Australia.
read moreKathy Cassidy’s Digital Portfolios Webinar: Standing Room Only!
Our May 16th webinar with PL Press author Kathy Cassidy was a sellout! Thanks to all the educators in the diverse international audience for the great questions and lively chat stream as Kathy talked about her blogging and digital portfolio strategies with primary-aged students. The 100 available seats in Blackboard Collaborate were quickly filled (and refilled each time someone dropped off or had to leave early). In the audience were teachers and other educators from across the grade spectrum. We heard from folks in Australia, the Far East,...
read moreScaffolding Quadratics: 2 Things My 8th Graders Taught Me
We’re studying quadratics in my 8th grade class. Even the name can strike fear in the heart of the most competent adult. I didn’t want it to be that way for my math kids. I wrote a good lesson plan and then I let students help me modify it. Essentially, they “taught” me how to teach them better through the interaction and feedback we gave to each other during the learning process. We built the scaffold together.
read more8 keys to do-it-yourself professional development
The school year is wrapping up soon. You may be thinking toward the summer, and other than soaking up the sun and getting some much needed vacation time, maybe you’re considering professional learning and how to advance your teaching practice for next year. At Powerful Learning Practice, we know professional development for teachers. Over 7,000 educators around the globe have changed their teaching practice through our approach. But we’re letting the secret out – you can do it yourself. We’ve discovered the 8-step...
read moreReflections on Virtual Integrity
Integrity is a key virtue for today’s culture, says Sister Geralyn Schmidt, education technology coordinator for the Diocese of Harrisburg (PA). “In today’s world, each of us who has a digital footprint makes two impressions: one in the real world and one in the virtual world. The words and attitudes that we use in both arenas must match. When we achieve this, we become someone whom others can truly rely upon.”
read moreFree webinar: Digital portfolios for students
Hundreds of educators have purchased Kathy Cassidy’s new interactive book Connected from the Start since its release April 10th. A dozen of those readers have posted 5-star reviews at our book site. We are so excited that the book has been met with such enthusiasm! To keep that momentum going, and to celebrate the Kathy’s book, we are hosting a free webinar and virtual Book Launch Party on Thursday, May 16th at 7pm EDT. Join author Kathy Cassidy along with PLPress leaders Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach and John Norton for a free webinar...
read moreConnected Coaching – Starts June 10!
A connected coach uses techniques like appreciative inquiry, essential questions, and other cognitive coaching and deep thinking methods to help individuals and teams self-actualize in online spaces. Connected coaches are the social artists that help people think deeply about the learning that is taking place in the shared online environment.
read moreDigital Literacy: Find Free (and Legal) Images for Your Classroom
There’s a lot of confusion among educators about how images and other content published online can be used. Teacher Jen Carey tells how she and her students are avoiding copyright violations, learning digital literacy and accessing millions of free and legal-to-use images.
read moreAbout
Powerful Learning Practice is the world leader in professional development for teachers. We are all about building networks, connecting educators to one another, and relearning what we think we know. Learn more Free Connected Learner Webinar
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