Powerful Learning Practice Blog

PB Writing: Teaching as We Learn Together

“This year I’ve decided to teach solely through a Project-Based Writing approach,” wrote Heather Wolpert-Gawron last September. “I’m defining PBW as a series of constructed units built around authentic assessment, authentic audience, and authentic learning that incorporates the multiple writing genres. It’s all about blurring the lines between school life and the real world.” That happened in a big way when her 8th graders were invited to present at the 100-Year Starship Symposium. The best part? “Finding out I don’t always have to be the expert; I can model learning as we explore this new content together.”

Meet our team: Grace Beach

Powerful Learning Practice has expanded its staff and brought some fascinating new minds (and fresh ideas) to our team. We’d like to introduce our team to you, one by one, and so we’ve come up with seven questions for each of them so you can have a little peek into what they’re thinking and who they are.

Howard Rheingold's World of Infotention

If we’re going to help our students develop the focus they need to think deeply about things — to acquire Howard Rheingold’s “Infotention” — then I think most schools will need some ground rules, made in collaboration with students after lots of conversations around these important topics.

Lead at the Edge: Will & Sheryl talk about their 21st century leadership e-course

PLP co-founders Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach and Will Richardson talk about their five-week Leading Edge Boot Camp e-course and how it can help education leaders not only understand 21st Century technologies that challenge traditional curriculum and pedagogy but how savvy leaders can use digital tools and connectivity to expand learning opportunities and assure all students thrive in the new millennium.

Shift Your School: Creating a Networked Community of Learners

As a teacher-librarian it became obvious to me that systemic change was necessary to enable all our students to benefit from the opportunities created by technology and connectedness. Over the past year, the team I work with has been leading change in our school, working to expand our understandings about 21st century information fluency and help our students grow as digital citizens. A dedicated blogging platform, ePortfolios and information fluency certificates are helping us do that.

Meet our team: Christen Dodd

I am the new Director of eLearning for PLP. I coordinate all the eCourses being currently offered, and am working with some wonderful instructors to create exciting new offerings for this spring and beyond!

Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach: Learn to teach online and become a more connected & creative educator!

My e-course “Teaching Online: Becoming a Connected Educator” is for anyone interested in teaching an online class. The teaching might be associated with a pre-service or graduate level college program for educators — or in a college or K-12 virtual school setting with students. We’ll be looking at how you, as an online instructor, can use the power of technology to create connected learning activities, design your syllabus, and craft ongoing assessments that really unleash the learning of your students.

Aggregate, Curate and Create Your Own Textbook

With information being ubiquitous, I believe that teachers can (and should) take control of their courses by creating their own interactive textbooks. It might seem like a daunting task, but the availability of quality materials online and the power of tapping into personal learning networks should make this a worthwhile learning journey. In this post I will explain the process of creating a digital textbook, tools for each step of the process, and strategies for involving students in its development.

From the Road at FETC 2012

FETC 2012 has officially begun and PLP is very excited to be in Orlando for this year’s conference. Throughout the conference (January 23-26) this blog will be updated with new information and pictures. Be sure to check back often for updates and additional chances to win prizes!

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