Have a listen as Susan van Gelder interviews Neil Stephenson with his presentation from 2009.

http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=459

Neil Stephenson believes in the power of technology to bring the past into the future. Empowered with 21st century tools, Stephenson’s Grade 7 students reinterpret events from five periods that have shaped Canada’s current historical landscape. Called the Cigar Box Project, Stephenson’s students collect and analyze historical images and artifacts, and then use graphic design principles to digitally assemble new cigar panels, each one revealing a unique, visual perspective of an historical event or time from Canada’s past. At the end of the year, students physically build their wooden Cigar Boxes, creating their own historical artifact that pulls together the story of our country. Along the way, students encounter a variety of assessment practices, create mini-documentaries about their artifacts and meet a number of experts who support their historical learning.

Check out Neil's blog at: http://calgaryscienceschool.blogspot.com/

On our first Echo in 2011 for the K12 Online Conference Susan van Gelder and Jose Rodriguez welcome Tony Vincent with his presentation Project Based Learning in Hand from K12 Online Conference 2010 in the Kicking up a notch Strand.  Tony has so much to share both regarding PBL and the use of handhelds. He also shared how he made the presentation.  So much to learn from him.

http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=645

Link to Text Chat

They shared this experience and gave us more tips on how to use skype in our classrooms.  We learned about taking risks and understanding that using Skype and other tech tools is all about learning along the way.  Make sure to visit their presentation site: https://sites.google.com/site/seedstosuccesswithskype/home and follow them on twitter @plnaugle and @janwells

A big shoutout to the K12online live events committee for their wonderful work during the conference and their continued support in the Echoes at EdTechTalk.  Susan van Gelder, Kim Cofino, Peggy George. You can find more info about the K12 Online Conference by joining our Ning.

The Classroom Teacher As a 21st Century Instructional Leader   9pm Eastern at http://edtechtalk.com/studio

Link to the text chat

Guests Jim Burke (founder of the English Companion ning)  and Maja Wilson (author of Rethinking Rubrics in Writing Assessment) joined us for some lively discussion.

Ian Jukes joined Cheryl Lykowski and Susan van Gelder to talk about the need for fluency, not just literacy. Find the links at http://teachersaretalking.blogspot.com/