The recent issue of Educational Leadership (March 2013 Vol. 70 No. 6) is chock-full of articles that challenge the way we think about learning and technology. I was especially drawn to Marc Prensky‘s article, Our Brains Extended. He asks,
Is the human brain still the smartest thing on the planet? When enhanced by technology, it is. . . Wise integration of our evolving and powerful technology demands that we rethink our curriculum.
And, I agree with him. Continue reading
Posted in Common Core State Standards, Interactive Learning, Science
Tagged ASCD, CCSS, Educational Leadership, Edudemic, Edutopia, International Reading Assoc, ISTE, Learn Zillion, Marzano, NETS, Smart Exchange, STEM, TED
March 8 was declared International Women’s Day in 1911 (see International Women’s Day 1911-2011) and has evolved in the US into a month-long celebration honoring the contributions of women to the human story. This year, the National Women’s History Project (NWHP) theme for Women’s History Month is Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (see this blog’s posts: Science Technology Engineering Math– Stem , Sally Ride 1951-2011, and Developing Literacy page for STEM links).
About 20 years ago, I participated in the Bay Area Science Project (BASP) Continue reading
Posted in American History, Lifelong Learners, Science
Tagged BASP, FOSS, International Women's Day, LHS, NWHP, STEM, Women's History Month
At dinner the other night, my youngest daughter commented she enjoyed my basil-spinach pesto and suggested I write a cooking blog. I think she was hungry! But, she got me to thinking about cooking with kids, a great way to connect with children to reinforce healthy habits. Not only that, cooking is science and it’s hands-on, too.
Here are some popular cookbooks for kids including some tasty treats for Halloween: Continue reading
Posted in Find a Book, Interactive Learning, Lifelong Learners, Parent/Teacher Ed, Science
Tagged Project Based Learning, STEM
High Flight
by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. (1941)
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air….Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace.
Where never lark, or even eagle flew —
And, while with silent lifting mind I have trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
– Put out my hand, and touched the face of God. Continue reading
Science Fairs turn students on to science. They engage in hands-on, activity based learning. The perfect combination where content and understanding merge and students open their eyes and minds to STEM–science, technology, engineering, math–and inquiry based curricula. There is a big push in American education to open the doors to STEM. See the Hands On Science Partnership website. We have the jobs in the US but not enough trained folks to fill them, so specialists are recruited abroad. What can you do? Continue reading
