Connected PD on a (Zero) Budget

by | Jun 26, 2012 | Local Professional Collaboration, Personal Learning Networks, The Teaching Life, Uncategorized, Voices

Teachers are hungry for professional learning but their eyes are often bigger than their pocketbooks when it comes to professional conferences in distant cities and pricey online courses. Connected educators can feed themselves, says Becky Bair, who’s not busting the bank this summer but staying home with Twitter and Google Reader.

Our 13 Most Popular Posts of 2011

by | Dec 30, 2011 | Connected Leadership, Creating Global Classrooms, Less Teacher, More Student, Making The Shift, Passion Based Learning, The Compelling Need for Change, The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices, Voices Index, Web Tools That Deepen Learning

I’m a little reluctant to follow the popular annual tradition of announcing a “Top 10” — mostly because I’ve read every one of the 100+ articles we’ve posted since our March launch. Whatever the click counts, I know how much great content we have to share, written by a remarkable cross-section of creative and visionary educators. Still, a colleague assures me that Top 10 lists are a good way for folks to sample the product and become regular readers. Reason enough. And I’m sure you won’t mind if I add a few extra!

Life in a Inquiry Driven, Technology-Embedded, Connected Classroom: Science

by | Nov 4, 2011 | Less Teacher, More Student, Passion Based Learning, The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices, Web Tools That Deepen Learning

I teach in an inquiry, project-based, technology embedded classroom. What does that mean? I lecture less, and my students explore more. I create a classroom where students encounter concepts, via labs and other methods, before they necessarily understand all the specifics of what is happening. It’s a place where my students spend time piecing together what they have learned, critically evaluating its larger purpose, and reflecting on their own learning. Technology is embedded into the structure of all we do. It’s part of how we research, how we capture information, and how we display our learning. It’s never an accessory tacked on at the end.

How I'll Engage My Students as Learners: Six Ways to Make Connections

by | Sep 6, 2011 | Less Teacher, More Student, The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices

I believe that every person is unique and every child can learn, but I recognize that students learn best when engaged — where expectations are appropriately challenging within an environment that is both safe and that contributes to the dignity and self-worth of all. I also believe that engagement depends on quality interactions resulting from connections that happen inside and outside of the classroom. Here are some of the Engagement+Connection ideas I plan to use this year.