Free Checklists to Support PBL and Evaluation

A project based learning method is a comprehensive approach to instruction. Your students participate in projects and practice an interdisciplinary array of skills from math, language arts, fine arts, geography, science, and technology.

The folks at PBL have created age-appropriate, customizable project checklists for written reports, multimedia projects, oral presentations, and science projects. The use of these checklists keeps students on track and allows them to take responsibility for their own learning through peer- and self-evaluation. For more information, visit: http://pblchecklist.4teachers.org/

DIGITAL RESOURCE: Wisc-Online

Drawing on a wide range of subject expertise, the Wisconsin Online ResourceCenter (Wisc-Online) is a digital library of web-based learning resources known as "learning objects". Learning objects" are essentially self-contained small chunks of learning that can be embedded in a learning activity, lesson, unit or course. The site includes over 2170 of these objects, and new objects are being developed continuously. Visitors will need to complete a short registration form before they are allowed to access all of the materials on the site, but they can certainly get a sense of what the site includes by checking out the "New Learning Objects" area. Here they will find everything from animated presentations showing how the pH level of a cleaning solution is controlled to an interactive activity on industrial automation. For more information, visit: www.wisc-online.com

PBWiki Back to School Challenge

Collaborative technology developer PBwiki has launched two new grant programs for education offering free upgrades to the company's hosted wiki service and other awards.

The first of the programs, called the Back To School Challenge, will allow up to 100,000 teachers and librarians to earn a gold-level PBwiki account for free. (Gold upgrades normally run $250.) They can do this by "by using, blogging about, and referring others to PBwiki." Other prizes in this program include a $1,000 gift certificate for purchasing school supplies; autographed books; Lego educational products; and games. Prizes are awarded based on a point system. A complete list of prizes and point totals can be found here.

The second program, called the Partner Program for Education, allows districts and associations to offer PBwiki gold accounts to members for free.

"With schools and libraries feeling the pinch of the slowing economy, PBwiki wants to make sure educators can still afford the tools they need to make 2008-2009 the year of collaborative learning," said PBwiki CEO Jim Groff in a statement released this week. "Giving away 100,000 premium wikis lets us help out and spread wiki-based collaboration to an even wider audience."

Both programs are open now and run through Oct. 31. Further information can be found here.

Nano Science Education Solutions and Resources Online

The purpose and mission of The NanoTechnology Group Inc., is to provide a supportive and collaborative advisory role to our members for facilitation and development of innovative Nano scale Science Education to include subject specific math curriculum targeted for grades preK-20, featuring Interactive Virtual Nano Science Classrooms for Global access and Virtual Interactive Nano Science Laboratories (nano-lab) for experiential learning, along with Massive Online Role-playing Games for Education globally. As a Solution Based Organization, they continuously post new resources for teachers/students/parents while seeding the ideas into the matrix for implementation. For more information, visit: www.TNTG.org/

Do you remember PicLens?

It's probably impossible to create a true 3D experience in terms of web-browsing, but PicLens 1.8 comes quite close. This application can be used with a variety of browsers to bring online photos and videos into sharp relief. Essentially, PicLens displays video and photos as a movable "wall"of sorts on the monitor. This version is compatible with computers running Windows XP or Vista. For more information, visit: http://www.cooliris.com/

Best Buy Grants

Nominations for the 2009 Best Buy Teach Awards are now open. The program will award $2 million in K-12 grants this year for the use of technology in ways that engage students in the classroom and help keep those students in school. The Teach Awards recognize schools and districts for "exceptional, creative use of interactive technology in the classroom." Winners will be chosen based on the strengths of their current programs and their plans for expanding those programs in the following year. For more information, visit: www.bestbuyinc.com

Free Electronic Student Planner

The StudyMinder Homework System is an electronic student planner that helps students improve their grades by solving the most common problems students face:

• Forgotten assignments
• Homework notes scattered everywhere
• No overview of when assignments are due
• Difficulty estimating study time so everything gets done
• Waiting to start big projects until the night before they are due
• Lack of good study skills

For more information, visit: www.studyminder.com