http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/what-the-us-cant-learn-from-finland-about-ed-reform/2012/04/16/gIQAGIvVMT_blog.html

 Finland’s high-achieving public school system is now part of the conversation about U.S. education reform these days. What, it is often asked, can we learn from Finland? (Plenty, actually, though U.S. reformers consistently ignore the lessons .) The query  has been asked and answered so often that it seems like a good time to ask what the United States can’t lear ... Read more »

Global standardized assessments such as the PISA and TIMMS tests are often used to benchmark and compare education systems. How do you feel about this? I found this useful video that explains what this PISA assessment is and what it measures: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1I9tuScLUA

I was asked few questions about Pushkin and Tolstoy by one charming lady from Jordan.

Pushkin and Tolstoy. It is not easy to say whose literary works I prefer. They seem very  different to me. For me Pushkin is like a young genius man, and Tolstoy is an old man, a philosopher. When I was younger I preferred reading Pushkin and couldn't read Tolstoy's novels up to the end. About 1-2 years ago I reread his War and Peace, Sevastopol stories, Cossacks and admired his genius. May be I needed to get more life experience :). I am afraid that lots of cultural nuances get lost after translation and Tolstoy in Englis ... Read more »

To best students and most active participants of the Computer Chronicles

AND to the teacher

We were really pleased:)

  Dear Vera;

Thank you for your participation in the Learning Circles.

You project has been posted on the Finished Project Website at: http://www.iearn.org/circles/2012session1/index.htm  

Please take a look at the Web site and check to make sure that all of your information is correct.  If something needs to be changed please notify me and I will make the changes. ... Read more »