21st Century Teaching & Learning Environment
928940
Digital Learning:  Strengthening and Assessing 21st Century Skills is clearly, thoroughly researched and organized.  The author focuses on the Common Core standards and NETS standards throughout the book.  Although this book does not focus on standards by State (as some of the reviewers complained about), I believe this is a benefit to educators.  The book offers extraordinary organization tools for educators, and stresses the need for more collaboration among teachers spanning all over the country, not just by State.  As an educator myself, I can't stress hard enough, the importance of this idea of expanding our collaboration borders.
Ferdi Serim approaches learning as student centered.  He talks about how we learn and what motivates learners.  He focuses on a teaching environment of creativity, innovation, communication and collaboration, which clearly shines through his text.  I actually had the opportunity to take part in a webinar he presented in, and his enthusiasm for learning and teaching is very clear while reading this book.  When you listen to him in person, his passion is no joke.
This is not to be meant as a text book for classroom teachers to use in isolation.  This is meant to be a guide for educators who are trying to lead their schools, classrooms and students into the 21st century.
952914
Students want and need to be challenged in a relevant, fun, and meaningful way. Technology is often implemented in the classroom to accomplish this goal.  There are many barriers, challenges, and roadblocks that can occur by implementing successful edtech into the classroom.  How do integrate research based strategies with the dynamically changing environment through which we interact and engage with students. Youve heard of BYOD, makerspaces, blended learning, etc., but do you have the tools to effectively lead this effort in your building or classroom? Erics book is just for you. All Ed leaders, teachers, parents, community members must read!
905348
The ideas in this book support teachers as they create innovative and engaging lessons for their students.  The book helps take teaching into the digital age in mind blowing ways.  Love the ideas and support in the book.  Great read.
3505763
This handbook is a collection of ideas from companies for designing employee training and learning systems. It covers such areas such as creating the "learning organization", outsourcing, electronic performance systems, interactive multimedia training systems, diversity training and development, training for global operations and benchmarking for best practices.

This comprehensive handbook helps trainers design classrooms, self-study and computer and web based training programs. While delivering the latest information on how adults learn best, it shows trainers how to prepare lesson plans, create visual aids, and deliver dynamic and powerful presentations.
1429145
Mob rule learning, as described by Michelle Boule in her book by that name, is about creating participatory learning communities around a topic of shared interest. She not only provides a description and rationale for participant-designed learning events, which she refers to as camps or unconferences, but explains how to design such events. Many readers will already be familiar with design options Boule suggests, such as Open Space Technology, Appreciative Inquiry, Nominal Group Technique, PechaKucha, and others. The value Boule provides is in bringing these various methodologies together under the organizing concept of unconferences. The author also provides case studies and design recommendations for using camps in higher education and the workplace. College teachers, corporate trainers, conference planners, and others responsible for organizing learning environments will benefit from this book. Boule provides clear explanations and a directory of helpful resources. There is also an accompanying website to the book that provides additional sources. Boule's book is a timely contribution to the growing movement to redesign how we facilitate learning in colleges and organizations.
4644407
As an educator, parent, and grandparent, I am familiar with many learning theories. Likewise, I have implemented a variety in my classroom and at home with my own children. Now, as a newly retired educator, I picked up Mr. Downing's book and read with interest because I remember sitting in his U.S. History II classroom as a junior in high school. Mr. Downing's classroom exemplified a true environment for learning. There were no behavior problems. Students entered eager to learn. Mr. Downing's influence spanned my near-thirty year teaching career in the very same school where I had sat in his classroom only during my career it had become the town's middle school. The thing I remember most about his classroom is that he treated his students with respect so, they, in turn, truly respected him.

So, reading Mr. Downing's book all these years later was fascinating as I had experienced his theories first hand forty some years earlier. The one tool that I wished I had implemented during my own teaching career and parenting years is asking children "What is the rule?"  I believe this is genius making children accountable. I like the idea of a few rules and reinforcing them.

His ideas are clearly presented and easy to implement. Presenting with real examples from his classroom and at home with his own children illustrate the effectiveness of his techniques.

Wish I had read this book years and years ago!!!!!
2274119
I think the book Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology is terrific.  I honestly only bought it because it was an assignment for one of my classes.  However I found some of the thoughts by Collins and Halverson to be very intriguing.  Specifically how the changes that technology has created in the workplace are not currently changing the way we teach.  I personally believe that the work place should dictate the principals and skills that are taught in the classroom.
 The book outlines how education is changing and the ways it should be changing.  A look at the barriers to that change is examined and how a reformed education system could look.  I agreed with many of the author's sediments and found their arguments compelling.  As a new teacher with a deep interest in technology in the classroom I really enjoyed this book, and would suggest it to any new teacher.
869419
Learning Transformed is THE book we need now for our learners. Tom Murray and Eric Sheninger start in the introduction with why there is a sense of urgency to transform learning now. They get to the heart of what matters most in leading change: its all about learners and learning. This book is a realistic blueprint with Eight Keys for intentionally designing the schools of tomorrow while providing the background and history on how we got to our schools today. The authors offer evidence-based research along with examples of successful practice at the end of each chapter. Learning Transformed is a necessary resource for school leaders, teachers, and policymakers who seek strategies to transform schools to flexible learner-centered environments that focus on equity and high level learning experiences for all learners.

Barbara Bray @bbray27
Author, Creative Learning Strategist, Rethinking Learning
1097665
I am not an educator, however, I was enlightened and inspired after reading A Synthesis of Qualitative Studies of Writing Center Tutoring.
As I read about the interactions between the tutor and tutee and the breakdown of all the dynamics involved, I began to understand what is involved in creating a learning environment.  Again the book does not stop there, we get a review of the literature.  The authors present us with an evidence based approach.
We are preparing our children to live in a future world that we cannot imagine.  One critical component that we can foresee is the need to be able to communicate.  This book clearly shows us the importance of writing centers and the contribution they make  to individual students and society.
Congratulations to the authors.
1079632
For most teachers, research often identifies a relationship between student behavior and classroom management through effective active supervision. To increase ones effectiveness for instruction, teachers in any discipline scan, move, and engage students frequently during lessons. Most teachers employ music to accompany various activities, not only to integrate media, but to enhance motivation, retention and productivity. As a young educator, Ive found that performing both simultaneous is often difficult due to shuttling back-and-forth to control a stereo remotely and manually. Or Id tie up a student with a long AUX/stereo cord extension. This might sound like a reasonable solution for those students that cant sit still, but all problems solved when I ordered a Coolstream Duo!

The device is built simple and small, and battery life covers my morning of classes. I teach elementary phys ed, so proximal skill detection and correction is a large component of student motor learning. The Duo allows me to do just that, where the Bluetooth connectivity reaches an astonishing 30 yards across my fieldhouse basketball court without distortion or pauses in the signal. Even works through cement block! Other models average 15-30 feet max. I can adjust the volume on the fly (from my iPhone 6) between segments of instruction, and push it hard at the end of class during student exploration. Later in the weightroom, I let the high schoolers pair up and play their own music (setting-appropriate of course). I mainly use the Duos rechargeable battery, but have also docked with the 30-pin port to a dated-but-portable Altec Lansing speaker that resides in the pool office all summer long. My lifeguards all appreciated the adapter when they updated to current gen, lightning port iPhones.

The crowning moment: When I had an issue, the owner herself replied promptly to my inquiry with stellar customer service to satisfy a loyal consumer. My work day would be significantly different without this device. Cannot thank the Coolstream Duo Team enough, cheers! Best BT adapter out there!
351768
Excellent teaching tool!!!! Can integrate all ideas into all subject areas. Can generate ideas to create interactive lessons with Cooperative learning. I teach both reading and art at the elementary and middle school levels. Use the tips to teach art history and elements of art and principles of design within art lessons. I use Cornell notes in conjunction with these tips with Middle school students.
4098488
A very useful resource for teachers who want to explore media in their classroom without reducing instruction to mere entertainment.  This book includes real-life examples of how to use media and offers a substantive model for teaching.
1379218
I read this book over my winter break and was pleased and delighted to encounter some new teaching models and to learn more of the recent science on learning.
In particular, interweaving, retrieval, predictions, using emotions, and thinking about possible big teaching innovations down the line were useful topics.

Highly recommend to newer teachers looking for simple tweaks to improve their practice.
3697840
This book is an excellent overview of what it takes to be a teacher for  today's world.  Gone are the days of children sitting silently in rows  while the the "sage on stage" lectures endlessly on facts and  figures.  In the year 2000, teachers need to be willing to share  responsiblity for learning with their students, and present subject matter  in relevant, engaging, collaborative ways.  Daniels and Bizar do a  masterful job presenting the "basics" for today.  Teaching with  integrated themes, the value of response projects, student conferences in  their various forms, and creating a workshop atmosphere in the classroom  are just some of the "methods that matter" presented in this  highly readable, jargon-free book.  If you are looking to to move toward  stepping out of the spotlight in your classroom, to become a more  child-centered facilitator of learning, this book is an excellent place to  begin.
An added bonus:  this book is not "pie-in-the-sky"  idealistic, as many professional development books tend to be.  Daniels and  Bizar come across as "real", and acknowledge the realities that  we as teachers face in the day to day politics that is American education  today.
96685
Are you looking for a practical guide in creating a classroom environment that empowers students to lead, collaborate, and improve on a daily basis? Do you want your focus to be on student growth and 21st century skills? This book will show you how to get students engaged in active learning & critical thinking while simultaneously affording your pupils the opportunity to display positive character skills in the classroom.  It's a "must read" and then definitely a "must do"!  Read it this summer then implement it next school year. Thank you, Paul Solarz, for creating and sharing this incredible guide for teachers.  It's relevant. It's invigorating. It's game changing!
1387313
Sosulski and Bongiovanni offer an insightful primer to both educators and students who want to dive into the new world of online learning.  University administrators and faculty learn what techniques can push education beyond the traditional brick-and-mortar classroom and students are invited to reconnect with a long-lost sense of self-guided scholarship that has largely vanished in this world of standardized testing.

Steve Goss' illustrations add a timelessness to the book and the authors present otherwise dry ideas entertainingly and with real-life anecdotes.
4501719
I got this device to use in my classroom so I could show educational websites and programs to my students with special needs. I didn't know what to expect when ordering, but I figured it might be of assistance when making whole-class presentations.  The Philips Wireless HD Net Connect exceeded all expectations I might have had. We have had the best time with this device. It was easy to set up and I have found that my students are more engaged when using this unlikely teaching device.

I am able to put up the JUMBLE Puzzle of the day and have my students try to unscramble the words each morning which gets the day off to a great start. We then watch "how to" videos from You Tube which can cover everything from basic sign language skills to laundry-sorting techniques. The Philips Wireless Net Connect makes my lessons come to life and adds a new dimension to my teaching repertoire.

In addition to being educational it is also a lot of fun. We can watch funny, inspirational and motivational videos and websites on our classroom television. I cannot heap enough praise on this superior device. It has made my students very excited to learn and helped me remain interested and focused on my teaching.