Tweet from Mike Arsenault (@marsenault)

	Mike Arsenault (@marsenault)
1/10/13, 7:54 AM RT @alicebarr: @EdCampME #edcampme EdCamp Maine Registration is now open! March 30, 2013 edcampme.wikispaces.com See you there.

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Why School?

"Access doesn't automatically come with an ability to use the Web well. We aren't suddenly self-directed, organized, and literate enough to make sense of all the people and information online — or savvy enough to connect and build relationships with others in safe, ethical, and effective ways."

Check out this great ebook from TED Books. You can find this title, and the entire TED Books lineup, at ted.com/tedbooks.

The above comes from Will Richardson's Why School. He is making the point that teachers have a role in helping students become knowledge builders (my term) in the vast information the floods our ears and eyes in the connected world. The is a point with which I whole-heartlessly agree, but that requires educators become open to collaboration and criticism and connections themselves. 

- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from Chris Sousa (@csousanh)

	Chris Sousa (@csousanh)
1/9/13, 6:00 AM Common Core, Whole Child, Teacher Leadership, and Action Research: A Perfect Storm? wholechildeducation.org/blog/common-co… #edchat #edreform

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from Chris Sousa (@csousanh)

	Chris Sousa (@csousanh)
1/8/13, 8:11 AM Online 'Shaming' A New Level Of Cyberbullying For Girls npr.org/2013/01/07/168… #edchat #ptchat #cpchat

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Consider the following;

I took this screen shot from Will Richardson's TED Book (which I am reading on my iPhone) and it struck me how deeply our society had changed and how schools have to catch-up. Of course, Richardson is tying to make that point early in the book, and it is an argument I have read (sorry Will but Seymour Papert's contrasting image of doctors and teachers is my favorite version of the story) frequently and tried to make to principals.

Tweet from Daniel Pink (@DanielPink)

	Daniel Pink (@DanielPink)
1/7/13, 10:22 AM "Starting the middle-school day 1 hour later would lead to a 3-percentile-point gain in math-&-reading test scores" web.hbr.org/ds/010713

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

PowerPoint & presenting

This contains excellent advice for both students and teachers!

www.drmichellemazur.com/2013/01/the-ugly-truth-about-ugly-powerpoint-slides.html

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Online Learning Handbook: Netiquette | Student Resources | UW Professional & Continuing Education

I have begun my first MOOC-- Information Security on Coursera-- and they include a link to this page that summarizes some of what we should be reminded of whenever we start with a new online community. Share this with your students as you use online discussions in your courses; it demonstrates two points:

1. Netiquette is something that professionals take seriously, so they might as well start being courteous and professional in your classroom.
2. Online interaction will be part of their professional life.

 Online Learning Handbook: Netiquette | Student Resources | UW Professional & Continuing Education

Classroom design and student performance

www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2013/01/03/school-design-student-grades_n_2404289.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Emerging work skills

nicolerehn.blogspot.com/2013/01/future-work-skills-2020.html?m=1

I am wondering how these are/ will be reflected in "standards."

- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from Alfie Kohn (@alfiekohn)

	Alfie Kohn (@alfiekohn)
1/4/13, 7:00 AM Most talk about student "motivation" (how to boost it; why this kid lacks it) is really about compliance: making them do what we want

This is an insightful observation from Alfie Kohn. We have plenty of evidence from researchers as well as empirical observation in the classroom by teachers that students who care about what they are doing are very motivated. The difficulty comes when we "put the cart before the horse." By insisting that students "get the basics" and learn (for example) how to do all of the calculations before we give them an interesting problem in which to apply the calculations, we complain they are not motivated, but we ignore our role in making our curriculum irrelevant. 

By starting with relevant problems first, and helping students understand that they don't have the cognitive tools to solve them, then much if the motivation problem goes away. 

- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from AMLE (@AMLEnews)

	AMLE (@AMLEnews)
1/2/13, 12:15 PM Words count and language matters. It's time to change how we talk about public education via @LearningFirst ow.ly/gu4G2

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from HuffPostEducation (@HuffPostEdu)

	HuffPostEducation (@HuffPostEdu)
1/2/13, 11:15 AM The year in education: a look back at 2012 huff.to/UIdC1m

It is distressing to me how these stories point to the increased role money and politics plays in school.  

- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Happy New Year: Pick Up a New Skill

Is there hope for "old dogs" who live and work in a world full of "new tricks?"

Happy New Year: Pick Up a New Skill
THE NEW YORKER | JANUARY 1, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/gPxBP


New Year's Eve is a time for reflection about the year that passed and a time to set goals for the future. Should we keep doing what are we doing, or Read more

--
Sent via Pulse

- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from Richard Byrne (@rmbyrne)

	Richard Byrne (@rmbyrne)
1/1/13, 10:20 PM Blubbr - Create Interactive Quizzes Using YouTube Clips...

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Online Learning and Upheavals in Social Networks

Online Learning and Upheavals in Social Networks
TECHNOLOGY REVIEW | DECEMBER 28, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/gHRdu
This year, the Web was dominated by online education, shifting social networks, and the continued march toward mobile. Read more » ... Read more

--
Sent via Pulse

- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Math teaching (@nancyflanagan)

	nancyflanagan (@nancyflanagan)
12/28/12, 8:13 AM Recipe-based math pedagogy of "I do, We Do, You Do." Copying a process rather than constructing their own knowledge. educationrethink.com/2012/12/we-don…

Follow this link... Say "right-on" in response to the picture at the top of the post, and then read on for cogent description of math education. 

- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Customized learning (@mmuir)

	Mike Muir (@mmuir)
12/26/12, 11:08 AM Curriculum and Customized Learning wp.me/p1rMN4-6I

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

New media & Shakepeare (@wired)

	Wired (@wired)
12/21/12, 5:01 AM Recent Top Stories: Record-Breaking Kickstarter Turns Hamlet Into a Choose-Your-Adventure Epic oak.ctx.ly/r/1np5

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from AMLE (@AMLEnews)

	AMLE (@AMLEnews)
12/19/12, 11:05 AM Present your program, project, idea at AMLE2013 - Call for Presentations online ow.ly/geetZ Deadlines: Feb 3 & Mar 3 #midleved

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Fwd: Happy Holidays from NELMS

- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Begin forwarded message:

From: nelms@nelms.org
Date: December 19, 2012, 9:27:49 AM EST
To: "Dr. Gary L. Ackerman" <gary@hackscience.net>
Subject: Happy Holidays from NELMS
Reply-To: NELMS <nelms@nelms.org>

 

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Tweet from JillSpencer (@JillSpencer)

	JillSpencer (@JillSpencer)
12/19/12, 9:01 AM Provocative take on Common Core: mgmfocus.com/2012/12/18/thi…

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Flipped Classrooms

We all hear this term thrown about today... this article that describes why some professors in Washington state are flipping classrooms helps to illustrate what to me is one of the reasons that flipped classrooms will be a model that becomes deeply entrenched for a long time: Educators need to help students apply, connect and extend the content we teach.

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019920197_flipping17m.html

A surprising list! (@nancyflanagan)

	nancyflanagan (@nancyflanagan)
12/17/12, 10:48 PM Not about the deck chairs and the Titanic. Five Critical Education Issues That Need More Consideration. acampbell99.wordpress.com/2012/12/16/fiv…

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from AMLE (@AMLEnews)

	AMLE (@AMLEnews)
12/17/12, 4:48 PM AMLE grieves the Sandy Hook tragedy. Links to resources to help students process the tragedy... ow.ly/gaU7W #middleschool

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from BBC Click (@BBCClick)

	BBC Click (@BBCClick)
12/17/12, 9:52 AM Raspberry Pi Gets Own App Store: Makes It Even Easier For Kids To Get Coding -- And Earn Pocket Money From Apps techcrunch.com/2012/12/17/ras…

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from Chris Sousa (@csousanh)

	Chris Sousa (@csousanh)
12/13/12, 5:33 AM "@MSMatters: Middle School Matters is out! paper.li/MSMatters/1330… ▸ Top stories today via @mccoyderek @csousanh @MSMatters" #midleved

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Game-based learning

Game-based learning is one of the "new ideas" in education that has Ben kicking around as a method of engaging the digital generations. Unfortunately, some have interpreted that as "have 'em do pages of multiple-choice questions and then reward them with a few minutes of simple arcade games."

Most game-based learning draws on a more sophisticated view of games, however. The puzzles and problems that focus attention in these is an example:

www.wired.com/gamelife/2012/12/videogames-engineering-kids?cid=4929424&pid=3195

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Link from Twitter

www.stumbleupon.com/su/2aQadE/www.drmichellemazur.com/2012/06/dullest-presentation-opening-ever.html

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Yes, You Can Hack a Pacemaker (and Other Medical Devices Too)

Looking for a relevant problem to talk about with your science students? How about this?

Yes, You Can Hack a Pacemaker (and Other Medical Devices Too)
BEST OF SCIENCE | DECEMBER 9, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/g79Qz


Photo Credit: Bloomberg. Barnaby Jack demonstrates an insulin pump attack on a mannequin. On Sunday's episode of the Emmy award-winning show Homeland... Read more

--
Sent via Pulse

- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from AMLE (@AMLEnews)

	AMLE (@AMLEnews)
12/7/12, 10:41 AM Study shows middle school students increasingly using smart phones, tablets for homework ow.ly/fUtdk via baltimoresun.com

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

5 Eye-Opening Stats That Show The World Is Going Mobile

This trend *will* change the nature of computing in schools. 

www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2012/12/04/5-eye-opening-stats-that-show-the-world-is-going-mobile?utm_campaign=techtwittersf&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Common technology problems

12most.com/2012/12/06/frustrating-technical-issues-and-how-to-avoid?utm_source=rss

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Fwd: December 6, 2012 Weekly Blast From NELMS

- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Begin forwarded message:

From: nelms@nelms.org
Date: December 6, 2012, 12:39:40 PM EST
To: "Dr. Gary L. Ackerman" <gary@hackscience.net>
Subject: December 6, 2012 Weekly Blast From NELMS
Reply-To: NELMS <nelms@nelms.org>

Call for authors!

Needed–contributions to the next Midlines. 

Theme for the January 2013 issue: Safe and Healthy Schools. We also need book reviews, teacher tips, PLC activities/discussions.
If this sounds like something you would like to do PLEASE click here to send an e-mail to Linda B.

and thanks.

 

Save the date for the NELMS 32nd Annual Conference

April 4 & 5, 2013 • RI Convention Center • Providence, RI

Tom Burton - Keynote - Thursday April 4, 2013

Carol Ann Tomlinson - Keynote - Friday April 5, 2013
The Demographics, Research and Ethics of Differentiation

Registration forms will be online by mid-January 2013.

 

From one of our sponsors...

 

 

 

 

Looking for an effective and efficient way to improve your students' MCAS scores?

Salem State Collaborative Technology Mondays
Monday December 10
2 Hour Workshop 10 PDPs
Rochelle Cooper
Lynnfield High School, 275 Essex Street, Lynnfield, MA

 

This course is designed to link the ever-busy teacher to the helpful, engaging, and fun on-line resources that can boost student learning. Course participants will explore a range of educational tools, games and apps (such as Big Brainz, Kahn Academy, Brainpop, IXL and JogNog), learning how to integrate and apply them usefully into classroom lessons.

 

• Learn how to rate online games using the ICE rubric (Intuitive-Compelling-Effective)
• Learn how to integrate and apply online games usefully into classroom lessons.
• You will create interactive class activities and games to use for assessment and enrichment
• You will come away with 2-3 completed lessons utilizing on-line resources
• Bring current curriculum material to assist in building your lessons

 

For more information please see the attached course description or click here. Click here to register.

NHAMLE Annual Education Summit!
Connecting with Technology
March 8, 2013

Annual Conference
April 4 & 5, 2013

Join us on Facebook and Twitter

©2012 New England League of Middle Schools.. All Rights Reserved

 

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Tweet from AMLE (@AMLEnews)

	AMLE (@AMLEnews)
12/6/12, 10:59 AM Five tips for building strong collaborative learning ow.ly/fSwQ2 via @edutopia

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from Alfie Kohn (@alfiekohn)

	Alfie Kohn (@alfiekohn)
12/6/12, 9:04 AM "Reading is rewarding when there's no reward for reading" [offer poster to yr publ & schl libr?] ow.ly/fSgdc -by @johntspencer

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from Chris Sousa (@csousanh)

	Chris Sousa (@csousanh)
12/6/12, 5:41 AM Report: Middle School Students Using Smartphones More Interested in STEM thejournal.com/articles/2012/… #edchat #midleved

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from NELMS (@NELMS_info)

	NELMS (@NELMS_info)
12/5/12, 1:17 PM 2012 Literacy Summit, Common Core Strategies For All Middle School Teachers Literacy Summit Day 2-12/7/12 nelms.org for more

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from Eye On Education (@eyeoneducation)

	Eye On Education (@eyeoneducation)
12/5/12, 1:05 PM 10 Fantastic Educational Podcasts ow.ly/fQADg @FractusLearning #engedu #edchat #teachchat #ntchat

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from HuffPostEducation (@HuffPostEdu)

	HuffPostEducation (@HuffPostEdu)
12/5/12, 11:15 AM Teen expelled for "cyberbullying" teacher prank gone wrong huff.to/11DW1tF

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from AMLE (@AMLEnews)

	AMLE (@AMLEnews)
12/5/12, 11:18 AM New leaders born in middle school's young women's club - West Deptford, NJ Patch ow.ly/fQDU7

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Fwd: Live Webinar Today - Teachers Becoming Their Own Khan Academy

- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Library 2.0" <mail@library20.com>
Date: December 4, 2012, 1:56:06 PM EST
To: "gary@hackscience.net" <gary@hackscience.net>
Subject: Live Webinar Today - Teachers Becoming Their Own Khan Academy
Reply-To: do-not-reply@library20.com

Join me today Tuesday, December 4th, for a live discussion with Stacey Roshan, a high school math teacher at Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland. We're going to talk about the "flipped classroom," and drill down on one of my concerns about this model: the regular use in public discussion of phrases like "finding the best lecture on..." or "be taught from the best teachers." While I appreciate the incredible opportunities to learn from the amazing diversity of video recordings from teachers (and students!) all over the world, the idea of "the best" seems to diminish the significant importance of the relationships a teacher builds with his or her students, and also the understanding that comes to both the teacher and the student through the act of teaching. Stacey will be joined by Shane Lovellette, a product manager at Techsmith. Together they will talk about the use of video and screen-capture to empower teachers and support students. This is not a paid or promotional event for Techsmith. See you online! Steve Steve Hargadon http://www.stevehargadon.com Date: Tuesday, December 4th, 2012 Time: 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern (international times here) Duration: 1 hour Location: In Blackboard Collaborate (formerly Elluminate). Log in at http://www.futureofed.info. The Blackboard Collaborate room will be open up to 30 minutes before the event if you want to come in early. To make sure that your computer is configured for Blackboard Collaborate, please visit the support and configuration page. Recording:  A full Blackboard Collaborate recording will be available shortly after the event and the link will appear here. Having noticed the high levels of anxiety in her AP Calculus classroom, Stacey Roshan realized that the traditional teaching model does not provide the right tools for students to stay caught up and engaged with course materials. In 2010, after attending the Building Learning Communities conference, Stacey saw a demonstration of Camtasia Studio and immediately knew that she was looking at her answer – a way to reduce anxiety in her AP Calculus classroom by eliminating the traditional lecture on the board. She went home from the conference inspired and with a mission: to create a video for each of the lessons that she would have stood at the board teaching. That year, she didn't do a single traditional lecture. The results of the new classroom model were astounding: Stacey was able to dramatically decrease anxiety among her students, while increasing grades and AP test scores. In short, the flipped classroom has allowed Stacey to create a supportive, calm, inspiring classroom – a learning space where students can truly thrive. Stacey received her bachelor's degree from NYU, where she studied economics, and her master's degree from UVA, where she also studied economics. Prior to becoming a teacher, Stacey was an economic consultant. Shane Lovellette is the product manager for Camtasia Studio and Camtasia for Mac. Shane joined TechSmith in 2003 with over eight years of management and production experience in video and television. Shane holds a bachelor's degree in television, radio, and film production from Syracuse University and an MBA from Michigan State University. As the product manager for TechSmith's Camtasia Studio and Camtasia for Mac, which allow teachers to record their lesson and deliver them to students outside of standard classroom walls, Shane works to tailor TechSmith offerings to best serve educators and students.  As a strong advocate of the flipped classroom model, Shane assists educators in implementing the use of technology in simple and practical ways both in and out of the classroom.  Shane believes that technology has the ability to empower teachers to be more effective at facilitating the learning process and support students through differentiated instruction. Visit Library 2.0 at: http://www.library20.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network   To control which emails you receive on Library 2.0, click here

Tweet from Ron Canuel (@RonCanuel)

	Ron Canuel (@RonCanuel)
12/4/12, 11:05 AM Major impact, documented, of effects tech on classrooms on creativity, critical thinking, collaboration. See etsb.crifpe.ca #edtech

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from NHAMLE (@nhmidleveled)

	NHAMLE (@nhmidleveled)
12/4/12, 7:03 AM MT "@csousanh: Not always popular but effective: Emphasizing effort to empower learning smartblogs.com/education/2012… #ntchat #edchat" #midleved

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

A terrific opportunity for one of your students…but deadline is soon | Bright Futures

http://brightfutures4me.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/a-terrific-opportunity-for-one-of-your-students-but-deadline-is-soon/


- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from Chris Toy (@cmtoy)

	Chris Toy (@cmtoy)
12/3/12, 12:30 PM A terrific opportunity for one of your students...but deadline is soon wp.me/pVzFP-VA via @wordpressdotcom

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Tweet from JillSpencer (@JillSpencer)

	JillSpencer (@JillSpencer)
12/3/12, 12:11 PM Be sure to read Ed Brazee's post on Bright Futures related to an exciting opportunity to recognize students:... fb.me/1LS7wvnyY

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- Dr. Gary Ackerman

Social media in the news

Today on my long commute, I heard NPR stories about the pope getting a twitter account, the meeting in Dubai focusing on the future of the Internet as determined by international treaties, the role of the Internet in pharmaceutical marketing, and a story on how SMS can support those who are trying to quit smoking.

Anyone want to argue that we can ignore information technology in our classrooms?

- Dr. Gary Ackerman