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.
Does the U.S. Education System Support Innovation?
Debate this and other controversial issues
at www.iste-community.org/group/LandL.