So, it finally happened, did it?First it was Gates, Zuckerberg, and Oprah.But unlike those corporate-type folk who seem to know how to fix the system, Seth Godin asks the simple question: What's high school for?And unlike the upper-class illuminati who believe that an allegiance with corporate America is the only way to fix the static … Continue reading What IS High School For? →

My colleague and mentor, Literate Owl, would be the first to admit that he has witnessed, (and he himself has bared the brunt of) asinine, unfounded, and ill-informed rhetoric in his thirty years as a teacher, parent, and educational advocate. This is especially true when it comes to teacher-librarians having to continually defend their jobs. … Continue reading L.A. Teacher-Librarians Face Inquisition →

Here's a powerfully illustrated analysis about the ills and praise for social media on college students:

Now more than ever I am convinced that schools can keep up with the pressures to provide adequate technology infrastructure, and possess some control over balancing the rising costs in the name of progress (ie. replacement costs, technician time, vandalism, replacement, upgrades, etc.). The key, is appears, lies in the relationship between providing opportunity for unfettered Internet … Continue reading Arrival: Personal Learning Device in School →

I just finished reading a terrific interview with French author and teacher Daniel Pennac. I'm also currently reading his book School Blues (or Chagrin d'ecole) that was recently translated into English. This is the follow-up to his critically acclaimed The Rights of the Reader.It is neither the purpose of this post to either review or … Continue reading The Cancre: Influence of Parents →

In early February, I received an unsolicited phone call from a student in the Library and Information Technology program at Langara College. She inquired about the possibility of completing her mandatory ten-day school library practicum at our school library.Now, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I was initially shocked, and then flattered. I … Continue reading The Library Technologist Gets It! →

Isabella Oleschuck, a Grade 7 students at Amity Middle School, ran away from home last Sunday because, she told her parents, she was stressed out about taking the Connecticut Mastery Tests.Hmmmm...I'm willing to bet that Isabella isn't alone in her fears of standardized tests and the immense pressure from both parents, schools, and affects on … Continue reading Who could blame her? →

This slideshow is courtesty of Sandy Hirtz, moderator and founder of the Community of Expertise in Educational Technology, and it is a great introduction for teachers beginning to utilize Moodle more intimately in a blended learning sort of environment.Moodle Do's and Moodle Don'ts http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=goodbadugly-110324141256-phpapp01&stripped_title=moodle-dos-and-moodle-donts&userName=shirtz View more presentations from shirtz

Yesterday, Facebook announced new tools in the fight to reduce online bullying through its platform. Essentially, a two prong approach that involves using a combination of a safety education centre and enabling capabilities for reporting bullying or offensive content. Here's a couple of the newly added features: These are the first big changes to its 'Safety … Continue reading Facebook Steps Up the Anti-Bullying Campaign →

The nominations for British Columbia's very own awards for literature, the 2011 BC Book Prizes, have been announced. And I'm really, really excited to see that one of my favourite CBC personalities (and rock god), Grant Lawrence, has received recognition for his first book Adventures in Solitude: What Not to Wear to a Nude Potluck … Continue reading My CBC Fave Nominated for Two BC Book Prizes →