We want to hear from teachers and administrators

We are looking for input on what type of support you need as a teacher or administrator. Please take a moment to answer this short survey of 8 questions so we can better understand what your needs are.

What is your Unique Selling Position (USP)? How do you stand out in a crowd or in social media so you are remarkable and different enough to get noticed by an employer or client?

You can do this by branding yourself. The job market is tough and sending thousands of resumés may not be the right way to get that "job" you want. This article from AARP...   more...

If you are setting up or participating in an online community, training, or coaching program, follow Barbara Bray's blog. Bray writes a regular column on professional development for the OnCue Journal and has been involved in coaching and designing online communities with numerous organizations around the world. Here's links to the latest four posts:

• Building a Learning Village
• The Purpose of Education
• The Educated Unemployable 
• Defining Quality Education 

Visit Barbara Bray's website, contact her, or follow her at .

July 18 - 22, 2011 at Mid-Pacific Institute in Hawaii

Project Based Learning 101: A Playshop for teachers excited about project-based learning but are unsure of where to begin. This is a week long playshop in Hawaii open to K-12 teachers. Go to this site for more details and to sign up for this unique opportunity.

CUE Conference in Palm Springs March 17-19

Here are some interesting presentations at this year's Computer Using Educator's conference in Palm Springs. Visit cue.org to get a list of open presentations and to sign up for workshops. 

• Come & Get It - Free Stuff to Use Right Away (3/17 9:30-10:30)  
• Digital Storytelling and Web 2.0 Playshop (3/17 11:30-2:30)  
• Mobile Technology: Learning on the Go (3/18 11:30 CUETip)
• Quick Ways to Bring Joy to Learning (3/18 3:30 CUETip) 
• Comic Style Storytelling to teach Digital Citizenship
  (Presenter: Jeff Brain 3/19 8am)  

ISTE Conference in Philadelphia June 26-29...   more...

Last month we launched our new text editor. Here are a few more quick tips about how to use our new text editor:

• To align your image, go to the second tab (Appearance) to the pull down menu.
• Use the Full Screen to have more room to type.
• If you make a mistake while you type, you now can Undo your last actions.
• Check out the Word icon where you can now insert text from Word and it keeps the formatting the same.
• The paint brush icon removes messy code.  
• You can even insert the date and time into your text. 

Click here for an overview of some of the features.

Noteworthy updates from the educational community

Articles

• Obama asks Congress for changes in education bill 
• You are what you App: What is your Appitype?  
• Teaching Ideas about the Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan 
• iPad lets Scientists Drag, Pinch and Swipe Real Molecules 

Contests & Challenges

• Google Science Fair 2011 
• Monthly Writing Contest for High School Students 
• Win an iPad for your Classroom  
• High School Physics Photo Contest   
• Science Fair Projects from Discovery  

Grants and Funding Opportunities

• ...   more...

We go way beyond just providing links to the eLibrary Spotlights for our search results by finding additional activities, vocabulary, keywords and tags, extension activities, standards matched to this resource, essential questions and more. Login and click on the eLibrary Spotlight for more details about each site.  

 Featured Projects

• Transcontinental Railroads  
• Frog Families 
• K-1 Media Center 
• Financial Independence 

eLibrary Spotlights

• Changing the Face of Medicine 
• KidsHealth 
• Random Acts of Kindness 

Do you know a great resource? Please ...   more...

Language Arts and Social Studies Madison Middle school teachers and students showcased their technology projects to over 220 parents and family members. This was a success thanks to a great team that included Oakland Unified School District's Instructional Technology department, a supportive principal Dr. Taylor and dedicated teachers. What a fun evening for everyone!

Ms. Elphick's 6th grade Ancient Egyptian Travel Agents promoted their Egyptian city with special deals for camels and pyramids. Mr. Kim's 8th grade students created songs, skits, and poems about the pros and cons of the Bill of Rights amendments...   more...