1. Commit to a core of subject matter knowledge
   • State Standards and Big Ideas
   • Strong Curriculum
   • Where's the Beef?
2. High demand for thinking
   • Pose and solve problems
   • Predict
   • Critical stance
   • Self-reflection
3. Active use of knowledge

Some Characteristics of Student Engagement (ACOCT - linked below)

• Students devote substantial time and effort to a task
• Students care about the quality of their work
• Students commit becausework seems to have significance beyond its personal instrumental value (will this be on the test?)

Increasing Student and Motivation -- From the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory

• Teachers report student engagement rises significantly when working with technology
• A different set of students are often able to stand out
• Too much reliance on a single program loses students engagement
• Time trade-offs exist
• Students spent more time going further with a more positive attitude

1. Technical Writing -- English 9-12
2. Adolescence in the 1950's -- English 9 - 12
3. Own Your Own Business -- Math 9 - 12
4. Genetic Counselor -- Science 9- 12
5. Highway Safety Design -- Science 9 - 12

Teaching Zack to Think -- by Alan November

Gay-Lussac's Law -- an Excel example for high school

• The Excel Workbook
• Temperature Conversion Tool -- One of many available
• The U.S. Navy's Lab for this concept

Battery Life Experiment -- Using Excel formulas and graphs

• The Excel Workbook

Podcasts -- An introduction at Wikipedia

• Audacity -- Get Free Podcast Creation Software
• Learn Mandarin Chinese from a Podcast
• Happy Fish -- A News and Podcast Reader that synchs with MP3 players

Paths to Peace -- Liza Zandonella and Fairfield Ludlowe S.S. Teachers