Learning and Leading - December 2012/January 2013

Technology Together: Whole-School Professional Development for Capability and Confidence in January. This book by Renata Phelps and Anne Graham will show you how to foster a schoolwide culture of collaboration and support while helping teachers develop positive attitudes toward information and communication technology and the confidence they need to try new technologies.

MORE INFO: iste.org/store DreamBox Learning has announced an expanded

ASCEville, the online village that teaches kids about civil engineering, has added new content about building dams, bridges, and other structures to help kids understand how civil engineers use math, science, and ingenuity to overcome the forces of nature and the laws of physics. The website acquaints kids in grades 3–7 with civil engineering through engaging graphics, interactive activities, and profiles about engineers and the projects they work on. The new content in the site’s section titled Civil What? explains how engineers choose materials and select the right design, and offers facts about noteworthy achievements in civil engineering. Through exploration of dams, bridges, roads, and transportation, students will gain a broader understanding of how civil engineers help find technological solutions to overcome many of the world’s biggest challenges.

MORE INFO: www.asceville.org Ed tech blogger Will Richardson has released a new TED e-book called Why School? The book challenges traditional thinking about education and questions whether school still holds value in its current form. With an in-depth look at how connected educators are beginning to change their classroom practice, Richardson’s book offers a counterpoint to the dominant national discussion and serves as a starting point for the conversations around real school reform.

MORE INFO: www.ted.com/pages/tedbooks

Use iPads with the Visually Impaired The iPad is more than a cool gadget. It’s an equalizer for people with visual impairments. Its built-in accessibility and numerous apps make reading, writing, and socializing not only easier but far less expensive for students who are blind or have low vision. Marla Runyan, a teacher for the visually impaired, explains some exciting ways she uses the iPad with her students.

Immersed in Real-World Learning Students in Pennsylvania, USA, got a unique view into the nuclear disaster following the 2011 tsunami in Japan when they participated in a virtual simulation of a meltdown. Part of the Real World Navy Challenge, such immer-sive virtual learning environments help middle and high school students flex their STEM muscles while addressing real-world problems.

Use Video to Improve Your Practice Remember when you first heard your voice on an audio recording and wondered if it was really you? Video offers a crystal clear way for you to see how you really "sound" and to reflect on your teaching. Technology specialist Dan Mourlam shares ways you can use video to critique your practice to improve learning and teaching.