John Merrow: Technology and the Future of Schooling

We just love this fellow. He is always open to possibilities and very knowledgeable about the history of education and the economic, social, and political forces at work that are shaping the future of education. In this post he looks at three reasons to worry about the impact of technological advances in society and education. His posts on this blog are a good one to follow. In addition, Learning Matters is a great resource for information on teaching and learning.

Getting Better on Company Time

Professional development comes in a lot of shapes and sizes. You can go to Florida and see great presentations or go to Chicago and participate is wonderful workshops. These days, there is another form for development and you don’t even have to leave your office. And that may or may not be such a good thing. Check out the original article and the interview in this short piece.

Changing Times and Changing Tools in Teacher Development

The very phrase “teacher improvement” can lift the hackles on many an instructor. Our work here at TELS often involves assisting instructors to improve existing, or non-existing, skill sets. Fortunately for us, our instructors are most often more than happy to improve teaching skills. But not always, and the world of teacher education in pedagogy and technology integration has had some good air time over the past few years. From the good folks at Educational Leadership, here is a look at the changing times of teacher education.

Moving to Shorter Lectures and a Better Presentation

Now that we have all mastered PowerPoint it is time to refine the presentation and the speaking. We have liked what Garr Reynolds was telling us from the start. In a nutshell, don’t put your lecture notes on the slides in bullet form. Create something more. Here are some tips.