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Unpacking “Academic Excellence” | Connected Principals
“What are the distinguishing features of academically excellent schools or classrooms? Are the only valid features of “academically excellent” schools those that are common to all to schools? Can we or should we personalize our understanding of “academically excellent” schools?”
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La vida es bella : On Pupils and Masters
“My reflection leapt to the classroom: What defines us as teachers: our titles, our resumes, our PLN’s and social network presence? Our words? Or is it the choices we make in the presence of our students day in and day out?”
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In a Big Data World, Don’t Forget Experimentation – Thomas C. Redman – Harvard Business Review
“In the unfolding data revolution, companies must develop the capabilities to experiment.” An important consideration for schools that want to innovate. Schools can and should have R&D work blended into the fabric of their structure and purpose. After all, schools are organizations and institutions of learning.
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The Future of Tablets in Education: Potential Vs. Reality of Consuming Media | MindShift
Love this idea of balancing “Someday/Monday” for professional development.
“The Someday/Monday dichotomy captures one of the core challenges in teacher professional development around education technology. One the one hand, deep integration of new learning technologies into classrooms requires substantially rethinking pedagogy, curriculum, assessment, and teacher practice (someday). For technology to make a real difference in student learning, it can’t just be an add-on. On the other hand, teachers need to start somewhere (Monday), and one of the easiest ways for teachers to get experience with emerging tools is to play and experiment in lightweight ways: to use technology as an add-on. Teachers need to imagine a new future—to build towards Someday—and teachers also need new activities and strategies to try out on Monday. Both pathways are important to teacher growth and meaningful, sustained changes in teaching and learning.”
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Enstitute, an Alternative to College for a Digital Elite – NYTimes.com
A great piece of brain food for considering possibilities for Education 3.0. Certain paragraphs are full of blended-learning ideas and practices.
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Seth’s Blog: Urgency and accountability are two sides of the innovation coin
Really important piece on innovation in successful organizations.
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Sesame Street Meets the App Age: How to Nurture Creative Learning | MindShift
The article is about the app market for children’s learning. However, the section headers – LESSONS – seem much more universal to me.
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Pedagogy vs. Andragogy | My Island View
“Maybe as adult learners we need to take a look in the mirror before we resume our role as teachers for kids. In the final analysis, I do not think that there are differences in the way we learn as adults, or kids, but rather the differences lie in the opportunities afforded to learn. If we respected kids more as learners, they might be more self-directed and motivated in their learning. If they are allowed to participate in their learning, they might take more ownership. What learner wants to own something that is not in his, or her interest to own? If we can understand better how we learn best, maybe we can alter how we teach to be the best.”
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The Abstraction Method of Problem Solving – 99U
Zooming in and out – on spectra of abstract and specific – to enhance problem solving.