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Social and Emotional Techniques That Help Students Focus on Academic Progress at Mount Desert Elementary

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John Seely Brown on Motivating Learners (Big Thinkers Series)

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A Parent's Guide to 21st-Century Learning

Blogs on Professional Learning Network (PLN)

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Five Tips for New Teachers to Become Connected Educators

Lisa Michelle DabbsAugust 7, 2012

Tags Media Literacy, New Teachers, Professional Development, Professional Learning Network (PLN), Teacher Development

This month, the U.S. Department of Education kicked off Connected Educator Month, with engaging keynotes, panel discussions, book chats, and more. During this month, educators in the U.S. and globally will have opportunities to connect themselves and their communities, online and in-person, to support their professional practice. The timing couldn't be better, as most teachers are preparing to hit the ground running as they gear up for back-to-school!

Making the Most of Connected Educator Month

Suzie BossAugust 1, 2012

Tags Professional Learning Network (PLN), Teacher Development, Technology Integration, All Grades

Connecting educators with online communities to advance their professional learning is the goal of the first Connected Educator Month, a U.S. Department of Education initiative that kicks off today, August 1, and continues through the month. The flurry of keynotes, panel discussions, book chats, and other interactive online events should give participants plenty to think about and, more importantly, discuss with colleagues as they head into the new school year.

Ten Ideas for Teaching Teachers Technology

Monique FlickingerJuly 25, 2012

Tags Best Practices, Classroom Technology, Leadership, Professional Learning Network (PLN), Technology Integration

I had never been to an "unconference" before, but when I heard the organizer of SocialEdCon Unconference introduce the event, I knew I was in for something new:

"Write your ideas that you want to discuss on the top of the poster board. Each of you can look at all of the ideas and put check marks beside the ones that interest you, and then that will drive the topics that we discuss today."

July: The Ultimate Planning Period

Terry HeickJuly 16, 2012

Tags Best Practices, Professional Development, Professional Learning Network (PLN), Teacher Development, All Grades

July is traditionally considered leisure time for educators and the educated -- teachers and students alike. Beaches and books, pools and picnics.

And for good reason. The workload of any teacher or administrator can be difficult for those outside of education to fully appreciate.

Hip-Hip Hooray for Summer! Three Tips to Spark Your Learning

Lisa Michelle DabbsJuly 11, 2012

Tags Online Learning, Professional Development, Professional Learning Network (PLN), Teacher Development, English Language Arts

When I was a kid, some of the things I enjoyed most about summer were swimming and banana splits! Yes . . . you heard right. Banana splits! They were my fave summer treat for many years, and I will always remember them with great fondness. As this summer has started, I've seen my PLN (personal learning network) sharing great ideas of how to spend the time in fun and frolic! I've also seen great ideas posted about how to get the most out of our summer learning time. I share this simply to say that as we seek ways to do some summer learning, we need to do it in a way that (like my banana splits) we will remember fondly.

A Six-Point Checklist for Education Innovators

Suzie BossJuly 10, 2012

Tags Education Reform, Leadership, Professional Learning Network (PLN), Teacher Development

This blog is an excerpt from the book Bringing Innovation to School: Empowering Students to Thrive in a Changing World, published June 2012 by Solution Tree.

Whether innovators are drumming up new business ideas or hard at work solving community problems, they share certain characteristics. They tend to be action-oriented. They know how to network. They're willing to take calculated risks. They look ahead, anticipating benefits that others might not have imagined yet. They work to overcome obstacles. Especially in the social sector, they're generous about sharing what they know and eager to help good ideas grow. When educators exhibit these qualities, they show students how innovators think and act. They become innovation role models.

21st-Century PLNs for School Leaders

George CourosJuly 6, 2012

Tags Leadership, Principals, Professional Learning Network (PLN), , Technology Integration

As many school administrators are enjoying their summer break, we all tend to think of ways that we can make our school better in the upcoming year. Often, I point school principals and district leaders to a powerful post by Will Richardson that helps us point the finger right at ourselves when we are looking to push our school ahead. Richardson states:

"Meaningful change ain't gonna happen for our kids if we're not willing to invest in it for ourselves first. At the heart, it's not about schools . . . it's about us."

The Connected Science Teacher

Eric BrunsellJuly 2, 2012

Tags Biology, New Teachers, Professional Learning Network (PLN), , Teacher Development, Chemistry, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12), Science

It's summertime: time to relax, refresh and get connected. Joining an online community of science teachers is a great way to find resources, inspiration and like-minded colleagues to collaborate with as you re-tool your courses for the next school year. The list below is a good starting point to find a community or two that meets your needs. However, the list is not exhaustive. Use the comment section to share any online groups or communities that you find valuable!

PBLU Brings Free Professional Development Online

Suzie BossJune 27, 2012

Tags Online Learning, Professional Development, Professional Learning Network (PLN), Project-Based Learning, Teacher Development, All Grades

Editor's note: Today is the sixth and final in a series of posts from PBL World, a global gathering of educators interested in project-based learning. Join the conversation on Twitter by following the hashtag #pblworld.

The five-day global learning experience known as PBL World wrapped up Friday with the announcement of a new online resource for teachers interested in project-based learning. PBLU, offering free professional development from the Buck Institute for Education (BIE), gets underway in late July.

ISTE 2012: A Suggested To Do List

Elana LeoniJune 20, 2012

Tags Classroom Technology, Professional Learning Network (PLN), Teacher Development, Technology Integration, All Grades

It's June, and one of the biggest edtech conferences in the US is quickly approaching -- ISTE's annual conference & exposition in San Diego. I don't know about you, but I always get nerdily excited for opportunities like this to network and collaborate with likeminded folks passionate about education. ISTE currently has almost 700 sessions available to attend, some buzz-worthy keynotes including Sir Ken Robinson and Dr. Yong Zhao, and a HUGE edtech expo. With all of these events going on, it can be overwhelming to even the most tech-savvy educator. So, I've compiled some useful tips from my experiences at ISTE that can help you make the most of your trip.