Items 1-5 Response

1. Watched. It was fabulous.

2. Read. Link for later reference. / Learning Styles / Spatial Intel.
Here's the root of one huge problem.
"To date, the current No Child Left Behind test legislation in the United States does not encompass the multiple intelligences framework in the exams' design and/or implementation."

3. Did it. I am a Type 1 Learner.
4. Watched. Link for later reference.

5. Found One Article and Several Videos: In Education, Technology Changes Everything and Nothing.
Technology is changing schools for the better. The need for great educators will never change. A teacher like a student is only as good as the tools we can give them to improve their experience. A good way to describe this is this quote from the article: "There was widespread agreement among the participants that technology will change everything and nothing" Considering the amount of investment our country makes in education (which is not enough) we're falling short on the return. As much as I have a large amount of faith in the power of technology we have to look at the core of the issue. We've got to stop underpaying educators to attract people to the field who are passionate about it and who can actually survive off of the profession. Technology is a tool, not an end all be all solution. We've got to put it in the right hands.

The article covers the "ideal" teacher pretty well (according to the Gallup):

• They are relational: They develop student-to-student, student-to-educator, and student-to-parent relationships.
• They are hopeful: They inspire students with energy and enthusiasm for the future.
• They are insightful: They see each student as an individual and get to know his or her unique identity and nature.

"Simply put, great teaching is about emotionally engaging the learner in a way that is individualized."

Now take that relationship, hope, and insight and put it in the hands of more students with technology. Thats where change really takes hold.

the Atlantic Intelligence series - Technologies in Education Forum.
 "More than 250 high-level education policymakers, industry leaders, technology experts, and gamers gathered at The Gallup Building in Washington, D.C. for The Atlantic’s second annual Technologies in Education Forum on Tuesday, May 22, 2012. The full-day program featured six sessions focusing on emerging policies and cutting-edge technologies available to educators, particularly those teaching science and math."

6. Brainstorm:

Paradigms (new media, collab culture: Wikipedia, Bittorrent, cultural trends)
Student types and conditions & context (learning styles, rural school)
Education administration and policy (immigration, lack of finances, lack of resources, overcrowding)
Objectives, learning goals, experiences (history (election year), study abroad)