Voices | Powerful Learning Practice

Show and Tell PD for Teachers

by Susan Lucille Davis | Feb 28, 2013 | Local Professional Collaboration, Passion Based Learning, The Teaching Life, Voices

As professional educators, how can we re-awaken the desire and capacity for learning on our own? Teacher leader Susan Lucille Davis suggests we revive a much beloved learning tool from childhood: Show and Tell.

How to Learn New Tech

by Jennifer Carey | Feb 25, 2013 | Making The Shift, Voices, Web Tools That Deepen Learning

Many educators feel overwhelmed by new technology and may feel apprehensive when it comes to adopting it in the classroom. But I’m here to make the case that learning to use technology and employing it as part of your curriculum is actually easier than ever. Way easier.

Student-Driven Common Core Classrooms

by Marsha Ratzel | Feb 14, 2013 | Connecting with the Common Core, Voices

I wasnâ€™t sure, when I first heard about the Common Core standards, if the CCSS approach would support my inquiry-driven, communication-heavy, student-voice kind of classroom culture. But the more Iâ€™ve delved into it, the more Iâ€™ve seen that the practices and overarching standards align quite well.

PBL Experts Are All Around Us!

by Brenda Sherry | Feb 8, 2013 | Less Teacher, More Student, Making The Shift, The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices

Our arts education teachers quietly go about their work, often marginalized to the ‘extras’ or the ‘fluff’ of the school program, writes Canadian teacher educator Brenda Sherry. “And yet, I would argue that they are the PBL experts that we seek!” Sherry describes several attributes of student-centered pedagogy that are common among teachers of drama, music, painting, dance and artistic crafts.

The Truth about Digital Porfolios & College Admissions

by Jennifer Carey | Feb 5, 2013 | Less Teacher, More Student, Student Life, Voices, Web Tools That Deepen Learning

It appears that while schools and software companies are gearing up for students to start creating and curating a digital portfolio, the reality is that colleges and their admissions directors are more conservative on the current and future role of this medium. Right now, few colleges and universities will consider additional application materials and do not see this changing in the near future.

Our US History Student Film Festival

by Margaret Haviland | Jan 31, 2013 | The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices

In mid-December, 33 tenth grade students, three teachers, assorted parents, and four guest judges gathered to watch the first ever Constitutional Amendments Film Festival at our school. The film festival was the largest and most complex research-based project of the three we’d done since school began this year. My colleagues and I had committed our students to two and one-half weeks of research, film creation, and film editing.