Deeper Learning Digest: #PBLWorld, Teacher Toolbox, and So Much More

Brace yourself, this is a doozy of a digest today. Before we dive into the six, count them, six sections of the digest today, let us draw your attention to this article from Edudemic titled “30 Powerful Ways to Promote Your Blog.” As we all know, great content that isn’t communicated effectively isn’t good for anyone. For all of you with a blog, or even a Twitter account, out there, this article is worth a look to see what you could possibly improve on.

News and Views

• Dobyns: Graduates Don’t Just Take a Path… They Blaze a Trail – The Huffington Post
• The Common Core: Real College- and Career Readiness – U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• Expeditionary Learning Announces Addition of Four ‘Mentor Schools’ in its Network – Expeditionary Learning
• NYC iZone Launches Blended Learning Institute & Innovation Challenges – Education Week/Getting Smart
• Tips for Transitioning to Project-Based Learning – U.S. News and World Report
• All Students Can Meet the Deeper Learning Bar Set by Common Core – The Huffington Post
• Will the Common Core Derail True College and Career Readiness? –  Education Week: Teacher Magazine

Project Based Learning and #PBLWorld

• Deeper Learning Day at PBL World – Friday, June 21 was the final day of PBL World in Napa, and Hewlett Foundation Program Officer Marc Chun was the opening speaker. Marc spoke about the Hewlett Foundation’s Deeper Learning network, and then conference attendees learned about the participating network members in breakout sessions held throughout the morning. Deeper Learning network presenters included the Asia Society, Big Picture Learning, High Tech High, Envision Education, New Visions, ConnectEd, New Tech Network, and EdVisions.
• Driving Question to Facilitate Student Inquiry and Common Core… My Post From PBL World In Napa, CA – 21st Century Ed Tech
• Debunking Five Myths About Project-Based Learning – Edutopia
• Building Partnerships to Expand the PBL Classroom – Edutopia

#ISTE13

Two notes from the International Society for Technology in Education conference this week.

• This week, the Buck Institute for Education was represented by its Director of Innovation, Alfred Solis, at ISTE in San Antonio, TX, where he spoke to participants about PBLU.org, a new online professional development program that is generously funded by the Hewlett Foundation.
• Interesting Storify put together by the New Tech Network on #DeeperLearning at #ISTE13

Teacher Toolbox
(A rundown of pedagogical resources, tips, tricks, and infographics to improve the classroom experience.)

• Tips for Teachers: The Art of Storytelling and Digital Tools To Practice It – Ed Tech Review
• A Step-By-Step Visual Guide To Being An Effective Instructor – Edudemic
• 22 Effective Ways To Use Twitter In The Classroom – Edudemic
• Classroom Guide: Top Ten Tips for Assessing Project-Based Learning – Edutopia

Deeper and Project-Based Learning Notes from Around the Country
(A round-up of articles from local papers across the United States. State and related deeper learning network (where applicable), in brackets.)

• [California] New way to learn: New Tech hosts project-based learning forum – Napa Valley Register
• [Colorado] A new principal to lead new future at Glenwood Springs Elementary School – Post Independent/Citizen Telegram/Grand Junction Free Press
• [Florida] Parents plan to protest national educator’s Orlando convention – My FOX Orlando
• [Iowa] Prairie High admins phase out G Squared school within a school – The Gazette
•  [Massachusetts] Worcester Polytechnic Institute Alumni Survey Reveals Powerful Impact of Project-Based Learning on Professional Skills, Abilities, and World Views – PR Web
• [Wyoming] Wyoming Gov. Mead appoints Arizona state senator as education director – Wyoming Star Tribune

New Research

• Trends in Academic Progress 2012 – National Center for Education Statistics
  • For the news story related to this, click here, via Education Week
  • Towards a New End: New Pedagogies for Deep Learning by Michael Fullan and Maria Langworthy – New Pedagogies for Deep Learning
  • Understanding student weaknesses – Best science teachers can predict their pupils’ misconceptions, study says –Harvard Gazette