| A Good Teaching Technique: WebQuests |  |
| In this article, the author first introduces and describes a new teaching tool called WebQuests to practicing teachers. He then provides detailed information about the structure of a good WebQuest. Third, the author shows the strengths and weaknesses of using WebQuests in teaching and learning. Last, he points out the challenges for practicing teachers and administrators. Keywords: Internet, mathematics, teachers, WebQuests |  |
| A New Way To Teach: Begin With The End | |
| At the Marin School of Arts and Technology, teachers have implemented a project-based learning curriculum. Students work in the field, take their data back to the labs, and ultimately present their findings through digital media. School administrators believe that the students should be doing the learning work in project based learning, not the teachers. However, this curriculum requires teachers to brainstorm and work together to develop questions and projects for their students. | |
| Animating Dreams | |
| The ACME Animation Program is a school-based program where studnets connect with professional animators through teleconferencing technology and receive instant feedback from these experts on their animations. The program has also developed a website for anyone in the world to get similar feedback. This allows students to form relationships with professional mentors, which has improved the quality of their work. Teachers report that students produce better work when they know that professionals will be judging it, and that they also learn to work with deadlines in mind. | |
| Beginning The Journey: Five-Year-Olds Drive Their Own Project-Based Learning Projects | |
| At the Auburn Early Education Center, kindergarten students engage in learning by completing long term projects as a class. The kids decide on the theme of each project, based on their own curiosity and experiences. The teachers then guide them to resources, and the students learn how to cooperate, solve problems, and critically think and write about their solutions and experiences. The activities have meaning and value to the students, which makes them more engaging. The Center also incorporates technology into the classroom by using smartboards, which gives students access to a wide variety of information. | |
| Bookshare.org Library Now Free To All U.S. Students With Qualifying Disabilities | |
| The Bookshare.org library provides print disabled people in the United States with legal access to over 37,300 books and 150 periodicals that are converted to Braille, large print or digital formats for text to speech audio. | |
| Cinema Program: Cultivating A Career In Film | |
| At the Northeast School of the Arts, students are engaged in a filmaking class which instructors use a context for developing their thinking and writing skills. Students document school projects and trips in the class, and their films have been screened at festivals. The students learn how to write and develop a storyline, all while realizing that their stories do matter, and that the public is interested in what they have to say. | |
| Data Can Drive Development (PDF) | |
| An article about the importance of teacher professional development in the areas of data management, data analysis, and discussing data and evidence. | |
| Engineering Success: Students Build Understanding | |
| Freshmen at Aviation High School participated in a 6 month long project where they worked in teams of three to build an airplane wing. Project-based learning is prevalent in all subjects at Aviation High. This project was designed to make science and engineering seem more accessable to students. Local engineers analyzed their results and listened to student presentations, and there was time to provide feedback at the end, because the philosophy at Aviation High is that reflection is equated with retention. | |
| Forum Guide To Decision Support Systems (PDF) | |
| This document was developed by educators for educators to remedy the lack of reliable, objective information available to the education community about decision support systems. | |
| High Expectations: Students Learn To Rise To The Occasion | |
| The teachers at Faubion Elementary School are the ones responsible for the high performance exhibited by their students. Three quarters of the student population at Faubion qualify for free or reduced price lunch, however 97% of fifth grade students meet or exceed state expectations in reading and math. Teachers cite the fact that they set high expectations for all students, they engage parents as partners and visit students at home before the school year starts, the teachers work in grade level teams to plan lessons together or even teach together, they incorporate a social emotional learning curriculum called Life Skills into every grade in order to teach students how to be good citizens, and they enhance their lessons through technology use. | |
| High School Classroom: Part Five (PDF) | |
| Quality teaching is critical to using real-time classroom collaboration. Teaching a class that includes both local and remote students requires an awareness of the needs of both groups. Videoconferencing can be useful in giving both sets of students the feeling that they are in the same room, but for the teacher the ability to read faces, call on remote students for questions or responses, and include them in the discussions is vital to helping remote students feel they are truly part of the class. | |