(This entry is cross posted on Ecology of Education)

Do standards influence quality of instruction? No doubt.

Do other teachers' practices have a larger influence? You bet.

Many quotes by dead famous people suggest the potential of surrounding yourself with people who you respect and who inspire you. Doing so as teachers however, can be a challenge. Most teachers find themselves isolated by four walls. Plus, by the end of the… Continue

Am now in C-Span session with Meredith Rapp, who I interviewed for our network's inaugural webinar. She's an engaging presenter and is showcasing C-Span Classroom's treasure-trove of free resources, notably its social studies video clips. She's explaining how to research a topic -- say, healthcare -- and then create one's own C-Span video clips (a handy feature) via their Library Archive. You can embed the clips you make into your own website!
Sign up for C-Span Classroom at:… Continue

I just sat in on Dr. Aaron Willis's Google Earth presentation at NCSS. (Love that the network is robust the room is equipped with power cords!) His webpage for this presentation is located at www.socialstudies.com/ncss09..
He started off with a sound constructivist, inquiry-based approach to learning, but then spent too much time showcasing Perthes Digital Atlas, a $129 single-user software product he's pushing for Social Studies School Service.… Continue