I was about 10 years old. I had just finished a science fiction story that had flying cars, food everywhere and dome housing. I wanted to know if I had a chance to see it in person.  I added my current age decade by decade until I hit 2008. I couldn’t get that old, could I?

In the U.S., public educational systems select teacher candidates based on test scores, credentials, and university degrees. But those, says Malcolm Gladwell in a recent New Yorker article, are not good predictors of teacher success. In fact, he writes, there may be no good predictors at all.

Matthew Coster was expelled from Central Connecticut State University in 2006 for committing plagiarism. . . Except he wasn't really a plagiarist. A state judge has ruled that Coster was actually the victim of another student, Cristina Duquette, who stole Coster's paper from a mailbox, edited it into what their professor decided was a better paper, and turned it in as her own.

When the topic of homeschooling, unschooling and other unconventional methods of learning came up in my local mom's group a while ago, I began to think more about what would be best for our family. Previously, I'd never considered any options: my 'plan' was to enroll them in kindergarten as they came of age, but as I listened to discussion on the topic I found myself seeing the perspectives of those that weren't going to school their children traditionally more clearly, and agreeing with some of their ideology.

This week The New York Times featured the slow blogging movement in an article that profiled my friend and colleague Barbara Ganley. I was glad to see Barbara featured by the venerable paper, but the piece was short and didn't make the best use of Ganley or the other bloggers it cited. Here's a big part of what it missed: Slow blogging isn't just about lifestyle (the article was in the Fashion and Style section). It's about learning.

The remarkable people who teach my children deserve giantic, generous gifts for Christmas--maybe a new laptop tied with a big, red bow, with a gift card to a spa tucked in for good measure?

This week is Geography Awareness Week. I love geography. I used to have a large world map on my bedroom door with all of the world’s flags on it.--Travel TurtleImage: Geography Girl from Flickr.

“What do you do about the boys’ education?” I get asked that question all the time. Granted, given the fact that John and I are long-time teachers most people assume we know what the boys need to learn and know how to teach it. But the reality is we mostly allow Mother Nature to be their teacher.--Family on BikesYou can't help but wonder about education when those lucky - and resourceful - families - pack up the kids and hit the road.

Should we skip right over those pesky adolescent years? Apparently Newt Gingrich has been advocating this move for years, and the former U.S. House representative reiterated it last week. Says Gingrich in Business Week,

No, this isn't another "where are the women in technology?" post. After all, we all know the answer to that question: here on BlogHer. :) Rather, this is a round-up of what some of my favorite women ed tech bloggers are thinking about these days. Some trends: reflections on their place in the profession and the technosphere, thoughts on the challenges faced by e-learners, and considerations of gaming. Reflections

Over the past few weeks I have seen a exponential growth in the number of flat out stupid people. Stupid as in “lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity.” Maybe they have always been around and I was off doing something else. I’m am not exempt. I have done stupid things. But I learned and didn’t do the same stupid thing again and again.

If there is one thing at which I really, really suck, it's math. Sure, I can balance my checkbook and even do some pre-algebra, but what little math I learned in school has largely gone poof! from my brain. Although my math failings embarrass me, I don't care about them much these days--I have established a happily math-free career--but I do worry about the math and science education of today's girls and young women in the U.S. I have plenty of reasons for apprehension.