Project?Based Learning; it's a term that most educators have heard and probably have heard good things about, Often, though, they aren't quite sure precisely what its defining characteristics are other than involving students in projects that are supposed to somehow result in their learning things of value. A great many teachers are reluctant to make it part of what they do with their students due to unfounded fears of unrealistic workloads and classroom management issues associated with it. This book should help change that, making the nature of PBL (Project?Based Learning) clear and illustrating how it can be a manageable, effective, and very enjoyable aspect of instruction. The book will present an exciting, alternative approach to literacy instruction that its authors call Project Based Literacy. This will principally be done through the presentation of 20 appealing projects, all of them carefully designed to engage and inspire students (grades 3 - 8) in literacy activities that are both core to the required curriculum and deeply in?synch with the Common Core Standards in English Language Arts. The book will also present support material for this, providing sufficient theory, instructional and classroom management tips, and technology and other `How To' information to ensure that rank and file classroom teachers can adopt, adapt, and enjoyably and successfully implement the projects and maximize learning in relation to the Common Core Standards for ELA.

Podcasting for Teachers is the first volume of a new series from Dr. Kathleen P. King and Mark Gura- Emerging Technologies for Evolving Learners and is based on their successful educational technology podcast, Podcast for Teachers, Techpod (sm). Their podcast work has reached over 600,000 people as of 9/06 and branched into virtual seminars, and additional innovations. This book introduces and explains this important new technology from the perspective of educators. It also provides new insights into the ways that technology can provide solutions to instructional needs that have not been sufficiently addressed until now. Not only does it provide concrete explanations, examples, models, and details about methods and resources that are not currently illustrated in other publications, but it also reveals a new rationale for the use of technology in education. This book helps readers apprehend critical issues essential to understanding and taking advantage of podcasting and related technologies as an educational resource: . What podcasting is . How ""to do"" podcasting . How to plan podcasting-based activities for students . How to create podcasts as teaching resources .How to use podcasting for professional development . Models developed specifically by the authors regarding: . Podcast development . Educators' learning curve in podcasting . Cost/benefit decision making regarding podcasting projects K - 12 school district directors of curriculum and instruction and directors of professional development, as well as classroom teachers, principals, and instructional supervisors across the core curriculum and in the area of Instructional Technology; and teacher educators and other college faculty will find this book a valuable resource. Readers may use the book as part of their own efforts to expand their teaching or staff development practice. It can also be an important resource for Education courses in content instruction and Instructional Technology and serve as a valuable reference for educators interested in educational applications of technology.

A volume in Emerging Technologies for Evolving Learners Series Editors Kathleen P. King and Mark Gura, Fordham University This book introduces and explains this important new technology from the perspective of educators. It also provides new insights into the ways that technology can provide solutions to instructional needs that have not been sufficiently addressed until now. Not only does it provide concrete explanations, examples, models, and details about methods and resources that are not currently illustrated in other publications, but it also reveals a new rationale for the use of technology in education.This book helps readers apprehend critical issues essential to understanding and taking advantage of podcasting and related technologies as an educational resource: What podcasting is How ""to do"" podcasting How to plan podcasting-based activities for students How to create podcasts as teaching resources How to use podcasting for professional development Models developed specifically by the authors regarding: Podcast development Educators' learning curve in podcasting Cost/benefit decision making regarding podcasting projects K -- 12 school district directors of curriculum and instruction and directors of professional development, as well as classroom teachers, principals, and instructional supervisors across the core curriculum and in the area of Instructional Technology; and teacher educators and other college faculty will find this book a valuable resource. Readers may use the book as part of their own efforts to expand their teaching or staff development practice. It can also be an important resource for Education courses in content instruction and Instructional Technology and serve as a valuable reference for educators interested in educational applications of technology.What you will find in this revised and updated edition? New for this edition are valuable additional insights and updates related to our additional years of experience in podcasting and new media. Critical updated URLs, screenshots, software comparisons, data, some fresh new curricular examples, and included references to our new series, The Teachers' Podcast and Transformation Education LIVE! We have also upgraded statistical information, advancements from the podcasting world, references, and biographical information. In short, the book is better than ever, in part because of suggestions form our many readers who are, teachers learners, and podcast listeners of course! The 16 chapters of the book are divided into the following major sections: PART I. A REVOLUTION IN OUR POCKETS PART II. PODCASTING ""HOW TO"" BASICS PART III. BECOMING A PODCASTING EDUCATOR

This collection of creative lessons offers ideas for integrating design thinking, literacy and STEAM to drive SEL skills including self-awareness, self-management, mindfulness, responsible decision-making and social awareness. Research shows that creativity can be beneficial for mental health and can help build critical skills such as empathy and introspection, while social-emotional learning (SEL) is an integral part of education and human development. This book bridges these two ideas with a series of creative projects that foster SEL learning by promoting growth mindset, supporting mindfulness, offering ways to cope with anxiety and stress, and encouraging and guiding positive social activism. Opening with an overview of research behind the integration of SEL and creativity, the book then features a variety of lessons based on the above themes, illustrating how to deepen SEL by integrating the arts and STEAM learning in creative and authentic ways. The activities are drawn from the work of the authors and a diverse group of educator contributors to provide engaging, insightful and culturally responsive learning opportunities appropriate for traditional or online/blended learning environments. The book:Highlights a diverse array of educators, innovators and design-thinkers who share their insights on SEL, STEAM and creativity. Offers an accessible and fun approach to teaching SEL, which is critical to education and human development. Guides teachers in implementing the following ISTE Standards for Students: Creative Communicator, Innovative Designer and Knowledge Constructor. This book invites teachers to consider a variety of formats — print and digital, audio, video games and more — and shows how helping students become creators and design-thinkers can foster SEL. Audience: K-12 educators

The purpose of this book is to reach out to teachers, parents, coaches, and students who may be hoping to, or just investigating the possibility of, how to get started with robotics. At the same time, we hope to leverage the efforts of those who have been hard at work and "play" in this massive movement for many years, applaud their efforts, and provide them with documentation, support, and additional resources to reach further into the possibilities they can help create for all of us in bringing the power and potential of learning through robotics to more students, to the classroom and beyond. Not only does this book provide resources and firsthand insight into this exciting field, but it also provides one-of-a-kind perspectives of curricular applications of robotics for student learning.

Despite significant investment of funds, time, and effort in bringing computers, the Internet, and related technologies into our classrooms, educators have turned their back on these new power tools of the intellect. School is the last remaining institution to keep 21st Century technology at arms distance. How can technology be used to enrich and enhance traditional approaches to instruction? How does it move teaching into new territory? What actions need to be taken in order to successfully transform our schools to effective, technology-supported learning environments? Why has this happened and what can be done to reverse it? Recapturing Technology for Education answers these questions. It re-establishes the legitimacy and urgency of tapping technology to make our schools relevant and effective once again. This book explores the reasons why educators have resisted making the leap to a technology-supported brand of teaching and learning, and it will provide an education worthy of 21st Century children. Includes: Interviews and quotes of experts in the field, References, reviews, and recommendations of free resources available to educators. Written for both education professionals and lay persons, it will also be useful to all who are interested in understanding Instructional Technology and unleashing its potential to positively impact.

Project?Based Learning; it's a term that most educators have heard and probably have heard good things about, Often, though, they aren't quite sure precisely what its defining characteristics are other than involving students in projects that are supposed to somehow result in their learning things of value. A great many teachers are reluctant to make it part of what they do with their students due to unfounded fears of unrealistic workloads and classroom management issues associated with it. This book should help change that, making the nature of PBL (Project?Based Learning) clear and illustrating how it can be a manageable, effective, and very enjoyable aspect of instruction. The book will present an exciting, alternative approach to literacy instruction that its authors call Project Based Literacy. This will principally be done through the presentation of 20 appealing projects, all of them carefully designed to engage and inspire students (grades 3 - 8) in literacy activities that are both core to the required curriculum and deeply in?synch with the Common Core Standards in English Language Arts. The book will also present support material for this, providing sufficient theory, instructional and classroom management tips, and technology and other `How To' information to ensure that rank and file classroom teachers can adopt, adapt, and enjoyably and successfully implement the projects and maximize learning in relation to the Common Core Standards for ELA.

Podcasting for Teachers is the first volume of a new series from Dr. Kathleen P. King and Mark Gura- Emerging Technologies for Evolving Learners and is based on their successful educational technology podcast, Podcast for Teachers, Techpod (sm). Their podcast work has reached over 600,000 people as of 9/06 and branched into virtual seminars, and additional innovations. This book introduces and explains this important new technology from the perspective of educators. It also provides new insights into the ways that technology can provide solutions to instructional needs that have not been sufficiently addressed until now. Not only does it provide concrete explanations, examples, models, and details about methods and resources that are not currently illustrated in other publications, but it also reveals a new rationale for the use of technology in education. This book helps readers apprehend critical issues essential to understanding and taking advantage of podcasting and related technologies as an educational resource:. What podcasting is . How ""to do"" podcasting . How to plan podcasting-based activities for students . How to create podcasts as teaching resources . How to use podcasting for professional development . Models developed specifically by the authors regarding: . Podcast development . Educators' learning curve in podcasting . Cost/benefit decision making regarding podcasting projects K - 12 school district directors of curriculum and instruction and directors of professional development, as well as classroom teachers, principals, and instructional supervisors across the core curriculum and in the area of Instructional Technology; and teacher educators and other college faculty will find this book a valuable resource. Readers may use the book as part of their own efforts to expand their teaching or staff development practice. It can also be an important resource for Education courses in content instruction and Instructional Technology and serve as a valuable reference for educators interested in educational applications of technology.

The purpose of this book is to reach out to teachers, parents, coaches, and students who may be hoping to, or just investigating the possibility of, how to get started with robotics. At the same time, we hope to leverage the efforts of those who have been hard at work and ""play"" in this massive movement for many years, applaud their efforts, and provide them with documentation, support, and additional resources to reach further into the possibilities they can help create for all of us in bringing the power and potential of learning through robotics to more students, to the classroom and beyond. Not only does this book provide resources and firsthand insight into this exciting field, but it also provides one-of-a-kind perspectives of curricular applications of robotics for student learning.

A volume in Emerging Technologies for Evolving Learners Series Editors Kathleen P. King and Mark Gura, Fordham University This book introduces and explains this important new technology from the perspective of educators. It also provides new insights into the ways that technology can provide solutions to instructional needs that have not been sufficiently addressed until now. Not only does it provide concrete explanations, examples, models, and details about methods and resources that are not currently illustrated in other publications, but it also reveals a new rationale for the use of technology in education.This book helps readers apprehend critical issues essential to understanding and taking advantage of podcasting and related technologies as an educational resource: What podcasting is How ""to do"" podcasting How to plan podcasting-based activities for students How to create podcasts as teaching resources How to use podcasting for professional development Models developed specifically by the authors regarding: Podcast development Educators' learning curve in podcasting Cost/benefit decision making regarding podcasting projects K -- 12 school district directors of curriculum and instruction and directors of professional development, as well as classroom teachers, principals, and instructional supervisors across the core curriculum and in the area of Instructional Technology; and teacher educators and other college faculty will find this book a valuable resource. Readers may use the book as part of their own efforts to expand their teaching or staff development practice. It can also be an important resource for Education courses in content instruction and Instructional Technology and serve as a valuable reference for educators interested in educational applications of technology.What you will find in this revised and updated edition? New for this edition are valuable additional insights and updates related to our additional years of experience in podcasting and new media. Critical updated URLs, screenshots, software comparisons, data, some fresh new curricular examples, and included references to our new series, The Teachers' Podcast and Transformation Education LIVE! We have also upgraded statistical information, advancements from the podcasting world, references, and biographical information. In short, the book is better than ever, in part because of suggestions form our many readers who are, teachers learners, and podcast listeners of course! The 16 chapters of the book are divided into the following major sections: PART I. A REVOLUTION IN OUR POCKETS PART II. PODCASTING ""HOW TO"" BASICS PART III. BECOMING A PODCASTING EDUCATOR

In order to adequately prepare students for success in their lifetimes, our schools need to be transformed into environments that encourage students to evolve and develop as creative individuals. Educators are challenged to establish an instructional practice that will encourage and support the development of student creativity as well as meet curricular goals and assessments. In this book, author Mark Gura shows that yes, creativity can be developed and - with the variety of technology resources currently available - doing so is not only possible, but practical and effective. Through examples and practical approaches the book guides educators in: weaving Maker, STEAM, Robotics, and Gaming into Instruction encouraging motivation, entrepreneurship, curiosity, and play teaching creativity across the curriculum finding technology tools and resources to support student creativity