A QR (quick-response) code is a two-dimensional scannable code, similar in function to a traditional bar code that one might find on a product at the supermarket. The main difference between the two is that, while a traditional bar code can hold a maximum of only 20 digits, a QR code can hold up to 7,089 characters, so it can contain much more…

Educators recognize that they need to create new learning and teaching environments where the curriculum and instructional tools reflect today's world. Schools are full of students who want to engage, socialize, communicate, create, and collaborate in meaningful ways that reflect the world in which they live. How can education re-create itself to…

MOOCs--massive open online courses--are all the rage these days, with hundreds of thousands of participants signing up and investors plunking down millions to get a piece of the pie. Why is there so much excitement about this new disruptive form of online learning, and how does this model apply to professional learning for teachers? Traditional…

Creativity matters. A shared vocabulary and lens for creativity helps teachers and students know what it means to "be creative" and where to start. J. P. Guilford's FFOE model of divergent thinking from the 1950s offers four dimensions to describe creativity: (1) Fluency; (2) Flexibility; (3) Originality; and (4) Elaboration. FFOE makes time spent…

These days, school district budgets are getting hit on both sides: State budgets are facing drastic cuts across the United States at the same time that many schools are dealing with rising insurance premiums and retirement fund payouts. It's no wonder that technology is often an early casualty in district fiscal planning. Unfortunately, in this…

Today, U.S. educators are teaching in the midst of a technological revolution. Technology promises to provide innovative solutions in the nation's classrooms, just as it has transformed the way people communicate, socialize, and conduct business. In this article, the author argues that now is the time to harness technology to revolutionize the way…

Making a one-to-one computing program work calls for more than just placing a computer on everyone's desk. It takes a complete transformation of learning and teaching. In this article, the author shares a few lessons she learned on the path to one-to-one success. (Contains 3 online resources.)

As with many schools, tech integration at the American School of Bombay (ASB) was varied and scattered. ASB had enthusiastic teachers who used technology in class, but they were the exception. As a result, just a small percentage of students experienced new ways of learning. The authors wanted to turn the occasional use of technology into a…

For more than seven years, Etiwanda School District in California has implemented a districtwide technology integration program that included beginning, intermediate, and advanced professional development training and support for general education teachers. Training included programs such as Intel Teach to the Future and the application of this…

Design thinking is about using design to improve the human experience. It combines collaboration, systems thinking, and a balance of creative and analytical habits. It also fuels what the students want for themselves: making an impact on the real world in real time and having adults take their passions seriously. The process essentially comes down…

Some schools in South Dakota have gone one-to-one, and other schools have one computer cart for two grade levels. Some teachers refuse to use their computers for anything but email, and others are incorporating web 2.0 tools into their project-based learning curricula. But one thing that is consistent across the board is the need for…

Many educators know that web 2.0 tools can transform learning and teaching, but teachers need support to make this happen. This article discusses how principals can encourage teachers to learn how to use these powerful tools. Over the past decade, Intel has provided the Center for Children & Technology with funding to conduct numerous studies…

Student-created media offer significant opportunities for engagement and learning. For the past five years, the authors have explored ways to incorporate Web-based authoring tools into the curriculum. In this article, they discuss PrimaryAccess, a suite of online tools that provides students with access to primary source documents on websites such…

What can Mali, an impoverished, land-locked West African nation, teach educators about mobile technology? Little to nothing, one might think. Yet in Mali, as in much of sub-Saharan Africa, teachers and students are increasingly using mobile technologies for learning and teaching. While educators in the United States have debated whether, why, and…

Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) is a global educational program sponsored by the Adobe Foundation, the philanthropic arm of software maker Adobe. The education-based initiative teaches underserved kids aged 13-18 how to use digital media to comment on their world, share ideas, and take action on the social issues that are important to them. The AYV…