teachers
14 Open Resources For High School
Last week Secretary Duncan said it was time to dump the heavy, expensive books students lug around in their backpacks. We agree, it's time to shift to digital. High-quality open educational resources (OER) help make the case.
World Teachers’ Day
Today Getting Smart is excited to celebrate World Teachers’ Day. We are firm believers that even as technology increases and classrooms as we know them transform, teachers will remain the most significant change agent in student success. “On this day, we call for teachers to receive supportive…
SETDA Releases ‘Out of Print’ Highlighting Textbooks in the Digital Age
oday the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) released Out of Print: Reimagining the K-‐12 Textbook in a Digital Age. This report highlights the sea change underway in the multi-‐billion dollar U.S. K-‐12 instructional materials market enabled by recent technology and intellectual property rights innovations.
Q&A: EverFi Launches Open-Source Badging Platform
Executive Vice President of Product Development at EverFi, Inc., Kara Hedges, joins us today to discuss the significance of EverFi's recent launch of its first open-source badging platform.
3 New Teaching Methods Improve the Educational Process
The traditional “chalk and talk” method of teaching that’s persisted for hundreds of years is now acquiring inferior results when compared with the more modern and revolutionary teaching methods that are available for use in schools today. Greater student interaction is encouraged, the boundaries of authority are being broken down, and a focus on enjoyment over grades is emphasised.
Q&A: How A Top Educator Drives Innovation and Social Change In His Classroom
By: Jaclyn Norton. Last month, Microsoft awarded the nations top educators who are bringing technology and project-based learning to their classrooms in innovative and interactive ways. Greg Witkin of Boynton Continuation High School in San Jose, Calif. won first place in the Educator as Innovator and Change Agent category for his project, "Finding Youth Voice." This project made students creators and visionaries behind a multimedia project that addresses a social problem.
6 Powerful Google Docs Features to Support the Collaborative Writing Process
Google Docs is an online suite of digital tools that provides teachers with some powerful features to help students develop 21st century writing skills. Since Docs are collaborative and available 24/7, the tool is well-suited for facilitating digital writing workshops that combine peer editing with cooperative grouping and small group fine-tuned writing instruction.
Good Work: Back to School Apologies
To all the educators going back to school, thanks for your commitment to kids and their academic success. Sorry it’s so hard. Tools, conditions, and career options are getting better fast. Stick with it. Don't wait for the rest of us.
EdLeaders Need to Find & Empower Mr. T
Every district needs a Mr. T. Not the enforcer from the 80s TV show, more like Justin Talmadge, a Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) in the Snoqualmie Valley Public Schools in the Cascade foothills.
Flip Your Classroom, Blend Your School With Open & Innovative Tools
On September 18, 2012 I am co-hosting a conference, OpenBlend, with the Tacoma Public Schools and the Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center. OpenBlend is a blended learning conference featuring a full-day track of Khan Academy workshops.