Integrated Studies

Terry Heick is Editor at Edudemic.com and Director of Curriculum at TeachThought.com. He also blogs for Edutopia, and spends his nights catering to the whims of his three children who know more than he does.

Google+ Parts

Google+, as you likely know, is Google's own foray into social media.

As much the digital overlap of Google Search, Docs, Calendar, and Gmail software as it is a response to Facebook, Google+ has strong potential application in formal learning environments. First, a look at what makes Google+ tick.

Adora Svitak (@adorasv on Twitter) is a student, author, teacher, World Food Programme youth representative, proud feminist, and advocate for youth voice and literacy. You can read her blog at http://www.adorasv.blogspot.com/.

What's the most powerful resource in your classroom? Is it the formidable stack of textbooks, the encyclopedia, the computer? As much of a reader and education technology enthusiast as I am, I believe this most powerful resource is something else entirely.

Todd Blake Finley, PhD (@finleyt on Twitter) is an Associate Professor of English Education at East Carolina University in C&I. He has taught elementary and 8-12th grade English and co-developed the Tar River Writing Project. Dr. Finley teaches, researches, works with schools and publishes in the field of composition, curriculum, instruction, technology, and collaboration. His home page is www.EEprof.com.

Start with Courage

In 1969, RAND political analyst Daniel Ellsberg risked espionage charges by photocopying secret Pentagon Papers that documented how U.S. presidents lied to the American public about military escalation plans in Vietnam and lied about its chances of success.

Andrew Miller (@betamiller on Twitter) is a National Faculty member for the Buck Institute for Education, an org that specializes in project-based curriculum, and a collaborator with Abeo School Change, committed to make powerful learning a reality for every student. He is also a regular blogger for Edutopia.

I know many teachers use graphic novels and comics in the classroom. There are amazing books on the subject that include useful tools on how to effectively implement these resources for learning. The main thing teachers need to consider is purpose. I know, we love books and tools, but just like with technology, sometimes we get wrapped up in the tool instead of first thinking about the purpose.

Dale J. Stephens (@DaleJStephens on Twitter) is an educational futurist and speaker on issues facing Generation Y. In 2011 he was selected as a Thiel Fellow, appeared as a commentator on major news networks and launched the UnCollege Movement. Read more at UnCollege.org.

I'm not just a college dropout. I chose to leave school in fifth grade to become an unschooler -- the self-directed form of homeschooler. While my peers sat in class during middle and high school, I found mentors, organized collaborative learning groups, took college courses, lived in France, helped build a library and generally directed my own education.