Having trouble resolving “sticky” situations? Bowling Green Junior High School in Bowling Green, Ky., uses Appreciative Inquiry—a process of improving an organization by emphasizing what works, rather than focusing on what doesn’t—to develop their school improvement plan. They’ve been rewarded with increased “buy-in” from stakeholders and have resolved many difficult issues. Wouldn’t we all work harder if we were praised for our qualities rather than criticized for our shortcomings?
McREL
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A teacher at the John Carroll School in Maryland has eliminated all paper from his classroom. Supported by a 1:1 computing environment, Richard Wojewodzki uses blogs and wikis to take the place of paper. Beyond the obvious savings on paper and resources, paperless classrooms can explore the dynamic resources made possible by the technology behind “Web 2.0.” The idea has generated considerable interest in the media, at the Johns Hopkins’ Center for Technology in Education, and even the Australian Department of Education. The invention of the computer promised to lead us to a paperless society but has failed to deliver on that promise. . . until now, perhaps?