Revisiting Chess

This is really interesting:
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-11-03-chess-2-the-sequel-how-a-street-fightin-man-fixed-the-worlds-most-famous-game

As I was reading it, I was imagining this as a STEM project. Learning to build something while actually building it.

Look. Over There. Is that Bigfoot?

After going through a period of extreme crankiness about the flood of uninteresting education-related articles I receive via various lists daily (a topic for another post perhaps), I came across this article describing a teacher, Shane Donovan, who is having his students work in a self-directed fashion.

The article's title comes from a comparison that this type of learning and teaching is as rare as a sighting of Big Foot.

I added a comment, which I repeat here:

I really appreciated this article. As a middle school Science teacher, I developed a self-directed curriculum for an 8th grade Biology course, and delivered it over two years. It was an amazing experience, watching the students learn to work independently, and then going so far beyond what would have normally happened (in terms of depth of understanding) in a typical classroom.

What do you think? Have you seen Big Foot where you are?

Nice piece about "Personalized Learning"

This is a nice interview with Scratch creator Mitch Resnick.

http://hechingerreport.org/content/mit-technology-trailblazer-is-a-critic-of-computerized-learning_12697/

I was especially interested in his comments on assessment.

How to Make a Customized Google Map

This seemed like a cool thing that could be done with students.
How to Make a Customized Google Map:

'via Blog this'

How to Apply Design Thinking in Class, Step By Step | MindShift

I was intrigued by this article, because it provides a step-by-step model to self-directed learning in a studio setting.

I want to work on modifying this for a Science classroom.

How to Apply Design Thinking in Class, Step By Step | MindShift:

'via Blog this'

Libraries and love

In the Digital Age, What Becomes of the Library? | MindShift

This article does a great job connecting the printed  page with the digital world. And, in the center of this nexus, is the librarian.

Well said

Why Programming Teaches So Much More Than Technical Skills | MindShift

Well said AND student driven.