Parents and Students Believe K-12 Schools Must Do More to Prepare Students for the 21st Century

While parents, K-12 students and educators agree that using technology is essential to learning and student success, parents are dissatisfied with the technology skills their children are learning in schools according to a survey report released October 29th by ProjectTomorrow, a national education nonprofit organization, and Blackboard Inc. a global leader in education technology.

Classroom blogging projects provide a forum for continued discussion

A North Carolina language arts teacher is offering tips for teachers interested in incorporating blogs into their classroom lessons. In this blog post, Bill Ferriter writes that it is best to create one classroom blog that is updated at least twice each week. The blog should become an interactive forum where students read, post information on a topic and comment on the blog.

Media literacy: book recommendations

Due to upcoming travel and other commitments, I am sending this early. Each year, around this time, I create a list of books about media and media literacy that might make great additions to your library, personal collection, or as a gift. The list can be found on the home page of my web site under NEW RESOURCES. Happy holidays. Frank Baker

Some teachers say texting might be good for teens

The Charlotte Observer reports: Texting, a favorite and seemingly instinctive activity for teens, has loomed over education and parenthood for several years. Many adults felt like it would mash proper English into the ground and was a distraction from serious learning. The average number of texts by U.S. teens 13-17 has reached 2,900 a month, according to Nielsen, the media and marketing information company. And The New York Times reported in May that physicians and psychiatrists fear texting is taking a toll on teens' sleep patterns and ability to think for themselves. But now some teachers in Charlotte and nationwide are seeking to harness its power and making peace with it. Researchers back this new approach with new evidence that texting teaches some positive language skills, and pragmatists argue that a war on texting is unwinnable.

Twitter entries satirize works of literature

From Reuters news service: Deciphering William Shakespeare plays in school essays apparently was not enough for two university students who have written a book of Twitter entries that summarize and satirize works of literature. "Twitterature: The World's Greatest Books Retold Through Twitter," which Penguin releases next month in the United Kingdom, is an irreverent, profane and sometimes brilliant collection of 20 comments on the ideas and themes in 60-some classics.

More teachers use Twitter as a collaborative tool in the classroom

Education Week and Teacher Magazine both feature stories about teachers use of twitter. Education Week reports: Teachers at one private school in Virginia are using the short-form social-networking tool Twitter in the classroom to distribute assignments and to encourage students to work together. Teacher Magazine reports that some educators are finding that helpful ideas and advice can come in 140 characters or fewer.

Educators Use Online Wikis as Classroom Tools

The Sun Newspaper (Baltimore MD) reports that some classroom discussions are taking place through online wikis, which allow students to respond to questions in real time and view responses from their classmates. Teachers also are using the Web sites in classwork, homework, special projects and professional collaboration.