Teaching

FastCompany offers an intriguing, fun video of large wallboard size touch screen information monitors, etc., produced from publically available. Think of all the uses for such technology along with your mobile PC for that "hard to reach" class! Does your classroom equipment work like this, Teacher? I think such advanced equipment adds another part in the redefinition of quality teaching and adequate student learning....

Kevin Jarrett, a second career teacher, posted reasons to choose teaching as a second career in response to a question from an aspiring second career teacher. He identifies factors to consider, including comfortable interacting with children, have appropriate skill set and passion, are a lifetime learner, can afford to teach, like to work hard, and have supportive family. Thanks for sharing your insights, Kevin....

These are some of the lessons learned this week while traveling. The list is as I remember them. Rehearsals of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood still enthrall young and old. Some young girls and women still dress better, even casually, than guys. Class differences exist, but do not necessarily determine any person's life choices. Determination depends on...

Kathy and Calvin offer a great set of FAQs and insights into ways to use applied behavior analysis to accelerate learning, including for students assigned to special education programs, including for students with autism. Mobile PC software developers can refine their understanding of ways to accelerate learning by reviewing these FAQs. I use ABA principles when reading posts on education blogs as well as...

Dickey45 says "balderdash" about some criticisms of Direct Instruction (DI). ... teachers insist people that learn through Direct Instruction are not "critical thinkers" and not very creative because Direct Instruction requires that the teacher do all the work (balderdash, I know).Yes, balderdash about many of the popular "nots" for DI. DI teams removed some of the mystique from teaching-learning, as do other applied behavior...

The Associated Press published a story about Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's bet of using experienced scientists and engineers nearing the end of the professional careers to help ease the shortage of math and science teachers in California. The $12 million initiative, part of his 2007-08 budget proposal, would be a small step toward addressing the state's acute teacher shortage. Better trained math and science...

Nancy Flanagan and Lori Nazareno request that you submit questions about teacher performance pay now for a live online chat on June 6, 2007, 4PM. ...novice teachers could make as little at $30,000, while experts could make up to $130,000 per year depending on their performance.Earlier this spring, a panel released a report that strongly advocates performance-pay systems for teachers. Flanagan and Nazareno...

Chris Clark posted an excellent survey instrument for evaluating use and opinion about Tablet PCs in schools. Two-thirds of respondents use their Tablet in every class and 100 percent use them at least an hour a day and would recommend Tablet use to others. Granted, these are used with motivated, gifted and talented students. Respondents ranked number 1 use as making live annotations as...

Kent School District (KSD), Washington, initiated an experimental program to teach and learn with tablet PCs in 2005. The Curriculum Update column of the May, 2007, issue of the online District Administrator: The Magazine for K-12 Education Leaders offers an intriguing summary of progress teachers and students have made with their mobile PCs. The project has changed the way teachers teach and how students...

The Microsoft Innovative Teachers Program supports educators as we develop and share successful methodology and protocols of 21st century learning, incorporate them into their own professional learning, and then into the student learning environment. Today’s teachers are asked to prepare students for something that doesn’t exist, using tools that haven’t been invented, to solve problems that have not even been identified as problems—in short,...