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We share evidence-based K-12 learning strategies that empower you to improve education.

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School Transformation Through Arts Integration at Bates Middle School

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Blogs on Technology Integration

Technology Integration

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Discover fresh ideas for using technology in the classroom and at home to improve learning, encourage collaboration, and increase student engagement.

Teaching Copyright in the Age of Computers and Mashups

Audrey WattersSeptember 9, 2011

Tags Media Literacy, Technology Integration, Middle (6-8), High (9-12)

I wish I could say that teaching students about copyright is easy, because in a world where digital tools are making creating and sharing content easier than ever, understanding copyright is incredibly important. But intellectual property law is exceedingly complex, making even a nominal introduction to the ideas surrounding copyright -- copyright law, fair use, the public domain -- a challenge.

A New Model of Storytelling: Transmedia

Laura FlemingAugust 26, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Integrated Studies, Literacy, Media Literacy, Online Learning, Student Engagement, Technology Integration, Middle (6-8), High (9-12), English Language Arts

As a School Library Media Specialist, storytelling is at the core of what I do each and every day. Over the years, I have seen many children who struggle with reading because of a lack of engagement with traditional books and stories. The new media that surrounds educators and learners forced me to rethink the concept of storytelling for our 21st-century learners. After some experimenting within my classes, I found a way to successfully engage and capture the attention of all of my students. As a result of this, a new model of storytelling emerged for me: Transmedia.

How My School Is Transitioning to Digital Textbooks: Building (Step 2 of 5)

Andrew MarcinekAugust 23, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Curriculum, Teacher Development, Technology Integration, High (9-12), Massachusetts

This fall, my high school is transitioning to digital textbooks through a 1:1 program. In this 5-part series, I am describing the process we went through to to make this transition.

Web Tools Blog Series: Tools to Help Students Collaborate

Eric BrunsellAugust 22, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Teacher Development, Technology Integration, Middle (6-8), High (9-12)

In previous blogs, we focused on web tools to collect and organize content and tools to help students create and present ideas. In this module, we focus on how to use web tools to foster collaboration.

K-5 iPad Apps for Understanding: Part Two of Bloom's Revised Taxonomy

Diane DarrowAugust 18, 2011

Tags Comprehensive Assessment, Mobile Learning, Primary (K-2), Technology Integration, Upper Elementary (3-5), Math, Science

Benjamin Blooms' second stage, "understanding" occurs when new learning connects to prior knowledge. At this point, students have the ability to make sense of what they have read, viewed, or heard and can explain this understanding clearly and succinctly to others. This particular learning stage balances precariously between communicating understanding and expressing opinion. Here the student demonstrates the ability to identify the main idea, generalize new material, translate verbal content into a visual form, transform abstract concepts into everyday terms, or make predictions.

Google+ and Privacy: Better for Educators?

Audrey WattersAugust 15, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, , Teacher Development, All Grades

One of the biggest ongoing concerns surrounding social networking continues to be questions of privacy -- users' private conversations or users' personal data exposed, whether as a result of error, negligence, or intent. So when Google unveiled its new social network Google Plus, it wasn't surprising to see the search engine position Google Plus as an antidote to the "sloppy," "scary," and "insensitive" sharing options -- in other words, the lack of privacy -- it pointed to on other social networks. Google actually never mentions "privacy" outright in its blog post introducing Google Plus, but that's certainly the subtext, as it positions itself as an alternative to Facebook, the dominant social network, but a site that has had a long string of privacy snafus.

How to Provide Meaningful Support Services in a Virtual School: Robust Family Support (Part 1 of 4)

Adrienne ScurryAugust 10, 2011

Tags Charter Schools, Online Learning, Parental Involvement, Technology Integration, Middle (6-8), High (9-12), Pennsylvania

Adrienne Scurry is the Dean of the Family Support Department at the Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School. The school won an the 2010 Award of Excellence in Student Services from the Pennsylvania Association of Public Services Administrators.

Okay, so we know the stereotypes and myths of virtual education, right? Students are not engaged. They sit in front of a computer all day. There are no opportunities for socialization. . .

As the Dean of the Family Support Department at the Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School (PA Virtual), I am often asked, "How are support services offered in a cyber school?" To some degree, the concept of virtual education is still new in many states so I am always happy to explain how we do it!

Research Findings: Rocketship Education Boosts Scores with Online Learning

David MarkusAugust 10, 2011

Tags Achievement Gap, Blended Learning, Digital Divide, Online Learning, Primary (K-2), Student Engagement, Technology Integration, Upper Elementary (3-5), California

Is there a moment when a learning innovation, like online learning, officially becomes a best practice? When adjectives like "experimental" and "promising" give way to "tried and true" and "proven success?"

Summer PD: Use a Web Site to Help Manage Your Classroom

Nicholas ProvenzanoAugust 9, 2011

Tags Classroom Management, Classroom Technology, Technology Integration, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12)

Many view classroom management as how a teacher runs the day-to-day operations of the class. In the 21st century, classroom management goes beyond the classroom walls. To keep students working and focused on the tasks at hand, a Web site can be utilized to make class time more efficient.

How My School Is Transitioning to Digital Textbooks: Organizing (Step 1 of 5)

Andrew MarcinekAugust 4, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Curriculum, Mobile Learning, Technology Integration, High (9-12), Massachusetts

Overview: The Role of iPads

There is no denying iPads are becoming a dynamic tool for education. However, with the integration of new tools into the classroom, there is a learning curve. The evolution of the iPad has created more than just a learning curve, but a cultural shift in the way we access information and connect with the outside world.