"More and more of society at large, and consequently many students, are demanding an educational system that works for and with them," wrote high school math teacher Paul Bogdan in Edutopia (emphasis mine). "A student-centered learning environment encourages students to become independent learners and ultimately to be in charge of their own education." Student-centered learning just makes sense … [Read more...] about The benefits of agency, choice, and student-centered learning
teens
‘One Good Thing’: THIS is what middle schoolers are like
Give yourself a gift this holiday season and watch this 3 min. video. You might find you want to share it with your children or students. Not because it represents who they should be or what they should do but because it represents who they (and all of us) really are. This is the kind of goodness that's happening all the time, all over the world – especially among the youngest generation, I'm … [Read more...] about ‘One Good Thing’: THIS is what middle schoolers are like
Teens on what’s trending in teens’ digital media
Here's some data and some anecdotal evidence. First the data: A recent survey of teens found that "the world's largest social network has been replaced by Twitter as US teenagers' favorite social platform," Internet research firm Statista.com reported, citing research by investment bank Piper Jaffray. When asked what their favorite social media service was, 26% said Twitter, while Facebook and … [Read more...] about Teens on what’s trending in teens’ digital media
Students hacking iPads: Mostly good, isn’t it?
Calling it a "hacking scandal," NPR reported that less than a week after receiving their iPads in the Los Angeles Unified School District's $30 million iPad program, more than 200 high school students had already figured out how to bypass the filtering software installed on them. A scandal, maybe, for educators who just want to control students' use of the devices. But this is school not jail, … [Read more...] about Students hacking iPads: Mostly good, isn’t it?
GromSocial.com: By a teen, for teens
No pressure or anything, but we'll be watching GromSocial.com – a social network site for people under 16 – to see if it isn't one of the best ways for kids to learn safe, constructive use of social media. It was started by 13-year-old Zach Marks in Florida after his parents kicked him off of Facebook, Florida Today reports. Even the county sheriff, Wayne Ivey, believes that there is no better … [Read more...] about GromSocial.com: By a teen, for teens