In an effort to boost achievement and better prepare students for the workforce, President Obama is spearheading a program that will bring high-speed Internet access to 99 percent of America's K-12 schools.
Dubbed ConnectED, the program aims to accomplish its goal in the next five years. In addition to bringing Internet speeds of at least 100 Mbps and as high as 1Gbps, the program will provide comprehensive training to teachers so that they are up-to-speed on best practices for using the Web in class.
A particular focus of ConnectED will be rural schools that have difficulty accessing the Internet. In a statement, Obama was clear that getting students connected and teachers trained is a priority. "We are living in a digital age, and to help our students get ahead, we must make sure they have access to cutting-edge technology," he said. "So today, I'm issuing a new challenge for America -- one that families, businesses, school districts and the federal government can rally around together -- to connect virtually every student in America's classrooms to high-speed broadband Internet within five years, and equip them with the tools to make the most of it."

“Keeping track of our well-being is the key motivator for enjoying our work with compassion, be it in classroom or elsewhere.” – Vishal Sharma
What if all teachers were empowered with a stress-free learning ecosystem that supported their well-being and motivated them to love their job? What impact would this have on the teachers,...

With this being the time of year for the story, A Christmas Carol, it's a great opportunity to learn about its author,Charles Dickens. One of the most famous writers of all times,Dickens also wrote Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, David Copperfield and more.
Today, a person who is very tight with money, is often called a scrooge,...
Author's note: The following is an excerpt from my upcoming book, tentatively titled: The Awakened Supervisor: Embedding Mindfulness-based Practices in Instructional Supervision (Rowman & Littlefield).
The Benefits of Mindfulness
Mindfulness is an ancient technique originating from Buddhism that has found its way into all aspects of the West. The most commonly used definition of mindfulness is Kabat-Zinn’s (2003): “the awareness that emerges...

“It’s really encouraging to see an increasing number of models that take a learner-centric approach which considers the challenges that young people face today.” – Polly Akhurst
Only 23% of the millions of displaced refugees around the world have access to a quality secondary education. How do you address the challenges...

“Children are increasingly required to navigate ambiguity, reconcile conflicting viewpoints and identify fake or misleading online content. The key is to strike the right balance between empowering children to take advantage of the digital world while also protecting them from potential risks.” – Tracey Burns
What is...