Teacher's Curriculum Institute

Everyone’s talking about Apple’s recent announcement that they want to play in the textbook sandbox. Apple released three free pieces of software and launched iBooks 2 all with the end goal of having kids read content on an iPad or Apple device instead of from a print textbook.
When I say everyone’s talking about it, I [...]

This is the first in a series of blogs highlighting a nifty feature in the TCI Subscriptions. In this short video, we show you three easy ways to add students to your classes.

Impossibly, my oldest daughter will begin middle school next year.
We are fortunate to live in a Bay Area community not unlike Lake Wobegon where all the children are high achieving (and schools are great, parents are involved, etc). All three of our middle schools offer a Laptop Program. Enrolled students use their laptops in their [...]

While on a recent flight to Wisconsin, I picked up the copy of Delta Sky Magazine from my seat back (yes, I forgot to pack a newspaper). In it was an article that was about e-books and publishing. The article broke down devices used for e-books and implications on books as we know them. I [...]

You’re a genius. We know it. You know it. Now let the world know.
Today we’re launching our PureGenius contest and asking teachers to submit their great ideas for ways to bring engaging technology classrooms without breaking the bank.
Submissions that receive the most votes will receive a $100 prize and be entered into our grand prize drawing [...]

This voicethread includes voices of teachers who used the Problem-Solving Groupwork strategy by TCI to get the most out of project-based learning.  If this is the first time you have ever encountered a voicethread, just click the arrow in the lower-right to advance.  Each voice will be heard in turn.  The first is a prompt, [...]

 
Consider the launch dates for the most widely used social media sites in the past ten years.  We begin in 2001 with the launch of Wikipedia, which became a destination site for many students as they research topics.  Of course the challenges would come because of how posts can be edited by the audience for [...]

The focus of this year’s Leadership Conference was technology. But not just technology for technology’s sake. In fact, I began the conference with a keynote challenge asking participants: “Can technology create true interactivity in your classroom?” My fear is that technology may be making students less prone to true, deep learning.  I quoted a New [...]

On Sunday, 250 teachers and administrators will arrive here in northern California for TCI’s 2010 Leadership Conference. We affectionately refer to the conference as the “crown jewel” of our events. This year is no exception. Conference participants have more than 80 enrichment sessions to choose from that offer content ranging from introductory sessions for beginners to more [...]

I’m loving this website lately!  www.classtools.net
You can quickly create fun, simple review games for vocabulary and to test basic content in a unit. Select the template “Game Generator,” enter your vocab or content questions, and then the website creates a game for you (using Flash).  Save the URL or embed the game into your blog, wiki, or class website [...]