Teacher Professional Development

The Education Commission of the States (ECS) includes a lot of information on its site about professional development for teachers.  The What States are Doing page includes links to some reports as well as a review of each state’s professional development criteria and statutes.  The Selected Research & Readings page includes even more information on specific development issues.   [URLs:  http://www.ecs.org/html/IssueSection.asp?issueid=129&subissueid=64&ssID=0&s=What+States+Are+Doing, http://www.ecs.org/html/IssueSection.asp?issueid=129&subissueid=64&ssID=0&s=Selected+Research+%26+Readings]

This Week’s Reports

The American Federation of Teachers has issued its 2008 edition of Sizing Up State Standards.   According to the report, “Some states are making discernible progress in writing clear, specific, content-focused standards that define what students are expected to learn in every grade or course in English, math, science and social studies.”  Read the release from the AFT.   

The Internet and Consumer Choice:  Online Americans Use Different Search and Purchase Strategies for Different Goods has recently been released by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.  The report concludes that “among online Americans who use the internet for product research, online resources make shopping more efficient by helping them explore options and compare features. And while sizable numbers say it helps them get better deals, few execute the purchase online.”  An interesting look at consumer buying patterns.

The Department of Education has released the final report on the Implementation Study of Smaller Learning Communities.  The study was designed to examine the success of the Smaller Learning Communities program in improving safety, achievement and graduation rates in high schools.  The conclusions found that both safety and graduation rates were up in the smaller schools.  But achievement levels were not measurably better. 

Beyond Test Scores: Leading Indicators for Education is a report from the Annenberg Institute for School Reform.  Four school districts are examined in their use of “data-informed decision making.”  Leading indicators include: early reading proficiency, enrollment in pre-algebra/algebra, over-age/undercredited students and student attendance, among others.

[URLs:  http://www.aft.org/pubs-reports/downloads/teachers/standards2008.pdf, http://www.aft.org/news/2008/standards.htm, http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Consumer.Decisions.pdf, http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/other/small-communities/final-report.pdf, http://www.annenberginstitute.org/pdf/LeadingIndicators.pdf]

Newsworthy

iCue is a new free, collaborative learning community for teenagers launched by NBC News, according to eSchool News Online (NBC News launches free online learning community for teenagers).  iCue stands for immerse, connect, understand and excel.  Working with MIT, NBC created this site to help teens learn critical thinking skills, using NBC News’ deep archive of news stories.

Virtual classroom at the University of Florida puts teachers to the test is a story from the Orlando Sentinel.  It looks at a new virtual technique to teach new teachers how to deal with classroom situations.  The technology was adapted from that developed for military training.

Thinkronize, Inc., the company that owns NetTrekker has come up with an index of what kids are searching for online.  According to the company, the index “offers a different view: a real-time, school-based mirror of what our children are searching for--both for academic purposes and out of genuine curiosity." The top search terms included: games, dogs, animals, Civil War, and George Washington.  20,000 schools were monitored between February and April of 2008 (eSchool News Online).

According to the Los Angeles Times, Demand for wireless Internet paying off for schools.  Educational institutions that hold licenses to the public airwave spectrum are finding this to be lucrative as major companies attempt to expand wireless services.

A new report from the American Association of University Women concludes that Girls’ gains have not cost boys (New York Times).  The study found that “the largest disparities in educational achievement are not between boys and girls, but between those of different races, ethnicities and income levels.”  You can read the full report, Where the Girls Are: the Facts about Gender Equity in Education.

[URLs: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/site-of-the-week/site/?i=53808;_hbguid=0071612c-e7b5-4178-acf3-a74ec980b081&d=site-of-the-week, http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/orl-virtualkid1508may15,0,1998552.story, http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/?i=53830;_hbguid=084225dc-6d5d-4c92-8323-0a7aefe1f9bb, http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-schools20-2008may20,1,5317654.story, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/education/20girls.html?_r=2&ref=education&oref=slogin&oref=slogin, http://www.aauw.org/research/upload/whereGirlsAre.pdf]

Whale Watching

Brandon Cole is a photographer.  His web site includes some spectacular shots of marine animals.  We recommend the whales, although there are plenty of others, dolphins, manatees, etc.  But the whales are incredible.  Use the drop down menu to select the type of whale photos you want to see.  There are dozens.  Remember that this material is copyrighted.  So you’ll need to get permission to use it.  And while you’re looking at the great pictures, take a listen to some of these incredible animals as they “sing.” [URLs:  http://www.brandoncole.com/gallerytableofcontents.htm, http://www.new-brunswick.net/new-brunswick/whales/avi.html]