Professional Development


Social Networking Site Focuses on Teaching Strategies

A new social learning site has launched, one that's focused on sharing teaching strategies and other ideas surrounding the use of interactive classroom response systems.

CNCS, Microsoft Partnership Gives Students a Chance To Teach Educators Technology

In an effort to give students a "portal" to real-world volunteer service, the federally operated Corporation for National and Community Service has announced a partnership with Microsoft's U.S. Partners in Learning to establish a virtual helpdesk, an online tool aimed at helping tech-savvy students help teachers using technology in the classroom.

Helping Educators Bridge the Technology Gap

Candace Hackett Shively was helping teachers maximize technology before anyone had even coined the title, "technology education integrator." The year was 2000, and Shively had already spent several years figuring out ways to bridge the gap between rapidly evolving technological applications and the educational field.

KDS Launches Online Teacher Professional Development Courses

Knowledge Delivery Systems this week launched two new online teacher professional development courses focused on English language learners and differentiated instruction.

Creating Assignments That Work for Digital Learning Environments

How can teachers really create assignments that demonstrate what students know both in content and in technology skill development? And how can these assignments be rigorous, accessible, and holistic--yet also specific--and all the while remain student-centered and integrate technology freely?

Education Dept. Grants Aim To Attract Professionals to Teaching in High-Need Schools

The United States Department of Education has announced $6.86 million in grants to help attract professionals and recent college graduates (with degrees in disciplines other than education) to careers in K-12 teaching.

Professional Development Provider Seeks To Demystify Autism Using Online Workshops

For educators who teach children affected with varying degrees of autism, the watchword has long been "frustration." But ongoing progress in improving professional development training for these individuals may make such inescapable frustration a thing of the past.

USC Taking Graduate Degree in Teaching Online

The University of Southern California's Rossier School of Education is launching a master's of arts in teaching degree that will be delivered online. The new program begins in June of 2009.

NCSA Launches Online Security Program for Students, Teachers

With data from the 2008 K-12 National Baseline Study on Cyberethics, Cybersafety, and Cybersecurity showing that less than 25 percent of educators feel they are able to properly instruct their students how to stay safe while online, the National Cyber Security Alliance has launched the Cyber Security Awareness Volunteer Education Program (C-SAVE).

The 21st Century Learning Imperative

For Steven L. Paine, state superintendent of schools for West Virginia, 21st century learning is not an option; it's a necessity for students who must go out and compete on a global level. "Students deserve it. The world demands it," he told an audience at the FETC Virtual Conference & Expo, held Thursday. And to make it happen, he said, changes need to be made in the way we assess students and in the way we develop teachers.

Biweekly Poll

Do you believe your district will benefit from ARRA funds?