Here at PLP, we are all about Connected Learning Communities – which embody our three-pronged approach to professional development. This is what our Connected Learner Experience is all about – building networks, connecting educators to one another, and relearning what we think we know. It’s no surprise that we were involved and instrumental in Connected Educator Month during August of last year. This week, the USDOE released a report all about Connected Educator Month – including the goals, numbers, impact, and recommendations for going forward. We wanted to highlight a few things from the report and encourage you to download and read it yourself.

Last week, we asked, “What’s your favorite first day of school activity?” Here are eight great ideas to break the ice, get students to warm up to one another, and establish rapport on the first day of school. Carol VanHook uses Stand Up, Sit Down! to get to know her students If you have a dog, stand up. If someone other than you took the dog out to the bathroom this morning, sit down. If you have a cat, stand up. If someone,...

The first day of school will be here before we know it. Breaking the ice with new students can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! We know that our readers are some of the smartest and most creative connected educators around. So we’re posing this question: What is your favorite first day of school activity? How do you break the ice, get your students to warm up to one another, and establish rapport? Is it important for...

Are you a PLPeep that is going to ISTE? Volunteer for one hour at Powerful Learning Practice’s booth #2044 and get a free t-shirt! Volunteer for two or more hours and get an extra gift!

One of our main goals at Powerful Learning Practice is to turn educators into 21st Century educators. That is, teach them how to use social media and other powerful Web 2.0 tools to transform their classrooms into learning environments that are ready for today’s iGeneration students. One of the most common questions we get is, “But where do we find the time to use all this new technology?” To answer that question, we developed...

My friend and collaborator Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach is eminently interviewable. Whether she’s talking about passion-based teaching and learning, the secrets of successful online communities of practice, or her ideas about integrating new technologies and social media into everyday teacher and student life, her transformative vision comes through and what she has to say always has valuable take-aways for listeners.