With school systems under pressure to boost achievement and improve human capital management, today’s education leaders recognize that effective teacher staff development is more important than ever. Yet teacher learning programs in many schools and districts remain disjointed and unfocused. In this webinar, we will explore how schools can create greater coherence in professional development programs—and in turn make teachers more successful—by aligning learning activities with clear objectives for teacher growth and by leveraging available research on instructional effectiveness. The presentation will also highlight ways in which interactive technology can be used to deliver and manage professional development.

Recalibrating Professional Development for Teacher Success
Tuesday, April 12th, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. CDT
Register now.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama met with students, parents and teachers from the Conference on Bullying Prevention at the White House last week.

"The President smiled when he said his large ears and funny name once made him a target of school-yard harassment. But he was all seriousness last Thursday when he told a White House conference on bullying that torment and intimidation must not be tolerated."

Read more.

Such bullying is not only happening on the school yards, it happens online as well. The term "cyberbullying" refers to the use of digital tools, such as email or instant messaging, to send or post text or images that have the effect of intimidating, frightening, or embarrassing another person. Teach your students to be good digital citizens, check out our tech integration project "Cyberbully? No Way, Not Me".

Trish Panknin, Director of Information Services at Tuloso-Midway ISD in Corpus Christi, Texas shared with us her Atomic Learning story when we caught up with her last week at the TCEA Annual Convention. An extra special thanks to Trish for her TCEA session on iCamp where attendees learned how she incorporates Atomic Learning into her technology camp to take teachers beyond the "how to" stage to the "integration" stage.

Are you attending TCEA? Stop by booth #1445 and share your Atomic Learning success story with us in honor of our 10^th anniversary. Here are some ideas to inspire you:

• How has Atomic Learning impacted your teachers and students?
• Share your favorite memory of an Atomic Learning team member.
• What would you like to see from Atomic Learning in the next 10 years?

Even if you're not attending TCEA, we still welcome your video. It’s easy; just use the camera on your computer, if you have one, or even better, grab a student with a flip camera to be your videographer! Simply record a 30- to 60-second video based on one of the following topics and email it to atomic@atomiclearning.com.

One lucky submission will win an iPad!

Congratulations to Atomic Learning customer, Dr. Kevin M. Anderson, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning at Oak Park Elementary School District 97 in Illinois for being named one of Tech & Learning magazine’s three top educators in its 23rd annual Leader of the Year program last week. Anderson was selected from over 60 entries and each of the winners exemplifies extraordinary education technology leadership, often working within budgetary restrictions and limited resources.

"The three winners of the 2010 Leader of the Year contest represent the best of our readers," says Kevin Hogan, Editorial Director for NewBay Media's Tech & Learning Group. "Each exhibits forward thinking, innovative strategies, and innate ability to persuade and inspire others."

The other two winners include a seventh-grade social studies teacher from New York, and an executive director of technology from Minnesota.

What tech lessons have you tried that have failed miserably? Sometimes a small spark of inspiration can go a long way. A slight tweak in your method could make all the difference in the lesson's success.

Brad Flickinger shares his frustration and how he found guidance from Atomic Learning while teaching a 5th grade lesson on blogging in his recent post entitled “My Student Blogging Needs a Makeover”.  “…tech projects rarely work the first time you try them,” Flickinger said. “DO NOT GIVE UP. Fix what is wrong and try again.” Read more about Flickinger's experience here.

The Department of Education recently announced this year's list of Blue Ribbon Schools. As partners in education, we want to congratulate you for your dedication to student achievement.

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools that are either high performing or have improved student achievement to high levels, especially among disadvantaged students. The program is part of a larger Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about best school leadership and teaching practices. Each year since 1982, the U.S. Department of Education has sought out schools where students attain and maintain high academic goals, including those that beat the odds.

In case you needed an excuse to love the iPad, Brad Flickinger has prepared this presentation which outlines 8 reasons iPads are great for education. After you've watched the video, check out our tutorial series here.

Tis the season to show those around us how much we appreciate them. Check out this website to see how you can thank our educators. Share how a teacher, colleague or student has inspired you by following these guidelines within the next couple days. (Hey - you can even win fun stuff if your shout-out gets enough notice!)

In honor of our 10^th anniversary, we’d like you to share your stories with us. It’s easy; just use the camera on your computer, if you have one, or even better, grab a student with a flip camera to be your videographer! Simply record a 30- to 60-second video based on one of the following topics and email it to atomic@atomiclearning.com by December 10, 2010.

• How has Atomic Learning impacted your teachers and students?
• Share your favorite memory of an Atomic Learning team member.
• What would you like to see from Atomic Learning in the next 10 years?

If you’re one of the first 25 to respond, you’ll be entered into a random drawing for an iPad! We can’t wait to see your videos, so please share with us today! All videos will be shared with the Atomic Learning team, and may be added here on our blog, to our facebook page and our youtube channel for others to see. Thank you  in advance for your submissions.

Speak Up, a national online research project facilitated by Project Tomorrow®, gives individuals the opportunity to share their viewpoints about key educational issues. Each year, findings are summarized and shared with national and state policy makers. Participating schools and districts can access their data online, free-of-charge.

The purpose of the project is to:

• Collect and report the unfiltered feedback from students, parents and teachers on key educational issues.
• Use the data to stimulate local conversations. 
• Raise national awareness about the importance of including the viewpoints of students, parents, and teachers in the education dialogue.

Register to voice your opinion today! The surveys will be open until December 17, 2010.

Please visit the Speak Up website to learn more about participating in Speak Up. This website includes How-to Guides, lesson plans, promotion materials and more.

How To Set Up a Technology Day in Your District
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
12 pm CST

With the seemingly impossible job of creating meaningful technology training opportunities for teachers and staff who are pressed for time, Tuloso-Midway ISD in Corpus Christi, Texas developed a “Teaching with Technology Day” which has become their very own district-wide technology conference.

Teachers have conference bags, programs, many sessions from which to choose, and most importantly, the opportunity to learn from their fellow teachers what technology integration really looks like in the classroom. Having just completed their fifth such conference, they have developed a step-by-step guide that can be used to plan a technology conference in any district.

Register for this event here.

Teaching is a profession where you have to constantly adapt and adapt on your feet, so hitting technology roadblocks should be handled no different.  Use your Technology Specialist to your advantage to learn from technology stumbles, and continue to try something new.

By trying new things, you’ll not only grow your own knowledge, but broaden the knowledge of your students. This blog post from Edutopia speaks to this point; weather the frustrations and persevere with successful technology integration in your classroom.

Educators in the state of Illinois now have an opportunity to learn how to use emerging technologies and apply them to the classroom while earning Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDUs). Atomic Learning has recently been approved as a provider by the Illinois State Board of Education enabling staff in districts that have a subscription to earn CPDUs for tutorials they view from Atomic Learning’s vast library of tutorials.

Atomic Learning offers an abundant selection of training sessions to teach educators and students the latest in technology. The most recent content includes Facebook for Educators where educators can learn how to connect and use Facebook effectively with students. Also added are series on iPad and iPod touch–introducing the basic features and functions of these products. With a vast library of options, Atomic Learning makes it easy to learn new technology and encourage technology integration in the classroom.

If you're an educator in the state of Illinois, review  your professional development plan and earn more CPDUs today with Atomic Learning.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW)  is looking for a few great teachers and students from middle and high schools across the country doing great things in the area of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Why? To honor them for developing the most imaginative student projects and the most innovative instructional programs related to STEM with some outstanding scholarships and cash prizes.

For Teachers—Innova Award For Learning

If you, or you and a group of colleagues, can demonstrate an "innovative approach" to teaching and learning STEM to help ignite imagination and innovation in students, then we encourage you to enter to win the PLTW Innova Award For Learning and receive a $5,000 cash prize. It's a great opportunity to be recognized for the great things you do for STEM education. Learn more.

For Students—Innova Award For Imagination