| Education News from Around the World |  |
- Swedish municipality expands school laptop programme
Teachers at Kungsgårdens School in Sweden have, for the past nine years, used laptop computers to teach students to read and write. The school's success has led to an expansion of the laptop programme, with all schools in Sandviken now adopting the instructional method. Schools in the municipality now share information through an online portal that offers around-the-clock access to school information, including homework assignments and test results. ComputerWeekly.com (U.K.)
(12 Feb.)      
- Online programme aims to boost students' self-esteem
A firm in Ireland has developed a high-tech therapy programme intended to help teenagers develop self-esteem and avoid developing eating disorders and other psychological issues. The online e-therapy programme, SeeMySelf, has been piloted by a group of teenagers and blends in-person contact with e-therapy. Silicon Republic (Ireland)
(11 Feb.)
- How can the UK improve physical education?
Physical-education teachers in England need to do more to challenge physically fit students and raise their standards for all pupils, according to a recent report. "In particular, we found there often wasn't enough physical, strenuous activity in PE lessons. Some teachers talked for too long and pupils were not provided with enough activity to enable them to learn or practise their skills," Ofsted Chief Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw said. The Telegraph (London) (tiered subscription model)
(14 Feb.)
 | Star Power at Harvard's GoodWork Project Conference
Youth today are growing up with both new opportunities and new pressures. Pressing questions arise for us as educators and parents: How do we raise balanced, responsible, and caring youth in today's opportunity-rich yet challenging context? Presented in collaboration with CASIE.
Register Now. |
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| Professional Leadership |  |  |
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- Fund invests in professional development of England's teachers
A new £24 million London Schools Excellence Fund has been established to help improve teaching in England's schools. Among other things, the fund will go to support professional development for teachers through a residential programme for primary- and secondary-school teachers. Schools, along with their partners, will be invited to bid for money from the education fund. BBC
(11 Feb.)
| Regional Spotlight | | |
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ASCD Worldwide Edition SmartBrief highlights education practices and policies in specific regions to give readers more in-depth insight into that country or region's education system. This edition focuses on Ontario, Canada.
- Toronto, Ontario, focuses on social, emotional learning
Officials in Toronto, Ontario, in Canada, say they were alarmed by recent tests showing a high percentage of students are at risk for depression and struggle with social and emotional well-being. To help reverse that trend, schools will launch a new mental-health strategy in which such lessons will be centralised -- ending the current approach, which has been characterised as "piecemeal". National Post (Canada)
(13 Feb.)
- Ontario seeks to repair relationship with teachers
The Ontario, Canada, government remains at an impasse with the province's teachers over pay and other matters, leading teachers to discontinue their involvement in sports and after-school clubs. Now, however, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is telling students and parents she is hopeful the activities will be restored and that an agreement can soon be reached with teachers. Wynne has said one of her goals is to restore the government's relationship with the teachers. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (tiered subscription model)
(13 Feb.)
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| The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
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| Reform and Research | | |
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- Study: UK students need positive gender expectations
 Male students who were told that girls are superior academically experienced a drop in performance when compared with a control group, according to a recent study of students ages 4 to 10 in Britain. "Our findings emphasize the real importance of promoting positive gender expectations," said Bonny Hartley, a doctoral student at Britain's University of Kent and co-author of the study. National Post (Canada)
(11 Feb.)
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Research a topic: Effective teaching and leading
Visit the effective teaching and leading resource page to discover what quality professional development looks like and how you can implement it in your school or district. Here, you'll also find a wealth of support resources that cover topics like instruction, formative assessment and using data. You'll also see information about the ASCD experts who can best support your work.
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