A site that regularly supplies us with interesting ( and practical ) links is Edutopia. Edutopia is a site set up by George Lucas of Star Wars fame. I recommend you joining their newsletter – add your e-mail on the Edutopia site.
I have copied some information from the Edutopia site and links to a few of their articles.
Message from George Lucas:
'Education is the foundation of our democracy -- the
stepping-stones for our youth to reach their full potential. My own experience
in public school was quite frustrating. I was often bored. Occasionally, I had
a teacher who engaged my curiosity and motivated me to learn. Those were the
teachers I really loved. I wondered, "Why can't school be engaging all of
the time?" As a father, I've felt the imperative to transform schooling
even more urgently.
Traditional education can be extremely isolating -- the
curriculum is often abstract and not relevant to real life, teachers and
students don't usually connect with resources and experts outside of the
classroom, and many schools operate as if they were separate from their
communities.
Project-based learning, student teams working cooperatively,
children connecting with passionate experts, and broader forms of assessment
can dramatically improve student learning. New digital multimedia and
telecommunications can support these practices and engage our students. And
well-prepared educators are critical'.
Edutopia Mission:
We are dedicated to improving the K-12 learning process
through innovative, replicable, and evidence-based strategies that prepare
students to thrive in their studies, careers, and adult lives.
Our vision is of a new world of learning, a place where
students and parents, teachers and administrators, policy makers and the people
they serve are all empowered to change education for the better; a place where
schools provide rigorous project-based learning, social-emotional learning, and
access to new technology; a place where innovation is the rule, not the
exception; a place where students become lifelong learners and develop
21st-century skills, especially three fundamental skills:
•how to find information;
•how to assess the quality of information;
•how to creatively and effectively use information to
accomplish a goal.
( The New Zealand Curriculum asks teachers to ensure students are able to 'seek, use and create their own knowledge')
( The New Zealand Curriculum asks teachers to ensure students are able to 'seek, use and create their own knowledge')
What Edutopia Does
We pursue our mission through three primary sets of activities:
•identifying, describing, and promoting effective models and
innovations in K-12 education by producing video and other digital media;
•funding and developing research to identify and evaluate
rigorous practices for learners, educators and schools; and
•developing advanced software, technology and material for
educational purposes.
Message from George Lucas
May 8, 2012
'I was bored in school.
It's true. I didn't feel like the school system was designed
for my
learning style. It wasn't until college where I could pursue my passion, making films, that I found my way.
learning style. It wasn't until college where I could pursue my passion, making films, that I found my way.
Recently on Edutopia.org, we published observations from 8th
graders about what they believe creates an engaging learning experience. Their
answers were straight-forward and definitive: project-based learning,
technology, and an enthusiastic teacher. I couldn't agree more.
Today, with the power of the Internet, we are experiencing a
force that is revolutionizing education and offering opportunities to reach and
engage diverse learners like me. When technology is deployed effectively, it
can free up teachers from standing in front of the class and presenting
information. We can "flip" the classroom with lectures occurring at
home via
the Internet and rigorous project-based learning taking place in cooperative groups at school. In this environment, teachers can be guides and coaches to the students. What is more powerful in education than a student who is guided by an adult who truly cares -- someone who knows your name, who encourages you, and is committed to your success in life?
the Internet and rigorous project-based learning taking place in cooperative groups at school. In this environment, teachers can be guides and coaches to the students. What is more powerful in education than a student who is guided by an adult who truly cares -- someone who knows your name, who encourages you, and is committed to your success in life?
By learning about and replicating strategies that work in
education, we have the potential to transform our schools. By creating strong
cultures of creativity and curiosity, we can
engage students as active participants in their own education, rather than passive recipients of facts and formulas. In a world where information is at our fingertips, our greatest challenge is help students learn how to find information, assess its accuracy and apply it to solve problems. All around our country and the world, there are teachers and schools succeeding at the task, many featured on Edutopia.'
engage students as active participants in their own education, rather than passive recipients of facts and formulas. In a world where information is at our fingertips, our greatest challenge is help students learn how to find information, assess its accuracy and apply it to solve problems. All around our country and the world, there are teachers and schools succeeding at the task, many featured on Edutopia.'
Some Edutopia links to explore
The Maker movement is a unique combination of artistry,
circuitry, and old-fashioned craftsmanship. Certainly, learning by doing or
"making" has been happening since our ancestors refined the wheel
These eight ideas by Carol Tomlinson synthesize what four decades in classrooms
have taught her are the most important principles for teachers to understand
Great range of u-tube videos ( staff meetings)
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