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

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The Power of Collaborative Learning at The College Preparatory School

High school students in group at round table

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Nichole Pinkard on Digital Literacy (Big Thinkers Series)

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How to Thank a Teacher

Blogs on Middle (6-8)

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Student Team Members Weigh In on Each Other’s Work

Heather Wolpert-GawronDecember 27, 2012

Tags Classroom Technology, Curriculum, Teacher Development, Middle (6-8), High (9-12), English Language Arts

Earlier this month, I wrote about how the four Cs relate to my current TED Talks unit. Just to recap, the four Cs represent elements of Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity.

Believing in Students: The Power to Make a Difference

Dr. Richard CurwinDecember 26, 2012

Tags Best Practices, Student Engagement, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12)

After a morning Discipline With Dignity training, the high school principal and I walked to the cafeteria to eat lunch. He said, "I love your session, but it's not practical." I responded with my view that it was practical because it works -- but it’s just not easy.

Student Research: The Right Information at the Right Time

Terry HeickDecember 19, 2012

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

Google puts a universe of information at the end of any Internet connection.

This is both true and unhelpful. It offers up the universe, but no one needs the universe -- they need the right information, and they need it at the right time.

A fact. A concept. An image. A resource. Maybe a new perspective.

Khan Academy's Discovery Lab: Summer Camp Where STEM Meets PBL

Minli VirdoneDecember 18, 2012

Tags Blended Learning, Project-Based Learning, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), Math, Science

Khan Academy is primarily known as an online portal of videos and exercises (we have delivered over 207 million lessons to date). We believe that online learning goes hand in hand with hands-on, project-based learning -- and that’s why we decided to run a summer camp, the Discovery Lab, to try out the deeper explorations that can be done in a physical space. As we fine-tune the lessons that work in this setting, we will try to integrate them more deeply into the core Khan Academy platform, so students and teachers around the world have the infrastructure and tools to fully explore their creativity.

A Joyful, Brain-Friendly Classroom

Elaine KennedyDecember 17, 2012

Tags Primary (K-2), Project-Based Learning, Student Engagement, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8)

I took my handicapped dog of 15 years for a walk in the grass. Maddie has gone from not being able to walk on her hind legs (a neurological problem) to gradually being able to walk with an awkward, back-legs-don't-really-know-where-they're-landing gait. Let me relate Maddie’s experience to brain-compatible elements that my teachers implement at New Morning School every day.

Snapshot of a Deeper Learning Classroom: Aligning TED Talks to the Four Cs

Heather Wolpert-GawronDecember 13, 2012

Tags Comprehensive Assessment, Differentiated Instruction, Student Engagement, Middle (6-8), High (9-12)

Edutopia is pleased to premiere the first blog in a new series designed to showcase compelling examples of how students are developing 21st century skills through a deeper-level of learning. Through this blog series, we hope to increase awareness and encourage replication of successful models.

Chris Anderson, TED curator. (Photo credit: Pierre Omidyar via Wikimedia Commons)

As many of my readers know, this year I have been dedicated to using the 21st Century four Cs. The four Cs are a rubric of sorts that help align lessons to more reality-based learning and assessing.

Parents: Make Bedtime a Social-Emotional Moment with Your Kids

Maurice EliasDecember 3, 2012

Tags Primary (K-2), Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8)

Education consultant Jennifer Miller has launched a wonderful, valuable new blog site for parents, Confident Parents, Confident Kids that I think merits the attention of anyone working in social, emotional and character development who wants a place to send parents for ideas and advice and dialogue.

Letters to the President: Make It a Student Tradition

Suzie BossNovember 29, 2012

Tags Current Events, Lesson Plans, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12)

Although most students will be watching Inauguration Day festivities from afar on January 21, they can get into the spirit of the day by putting pen to paper, or voice to video, and offering some second-term advice for their newly reelected president.

Students Track an Ocean Voyage

Bob LenzNovember 15, 2012

Tags Learning Environments, Travel, Middle (6-8), High (9-12)

In my post, How an Ocean's Journey Inspires One School, I highlighted the worldwide voyage of the Hokule'a, a replica of an ancient double-hulled voyaging canoe and encouraged teachers and students to follow the journey. I also promised periodic updates and resources. Here is the first update and link to resources for students and teachers across the world:

Code Literacy: A 21st-Century Requirement

Douglas RushkoffNovember 13, 2012

Tags After-School Learning, Technology Integration, Middle (6-8), High (9-12)

Ask kids what Facebook is for, and they'll tell you it's there to help them make friends. And, on the surface anyway, that's what it looks like. Of course, anyone who has poked a bit deeper or thought a bit longer about it understands that people programming Facebook aren't sitting around wondering how to foster more enduring relationships for little Johnny, Janey and their friends, but rather how to monetize their social graphs -- the trail of data the site is busy accumulating about Johnny and Janey every second of the day and night.