Quick Hits (9.27.11)

When in doubt, throw a chicken. That’s one of the Muppet Rules of Thumb that will no doubt be on display this year as Sesame Street is brought to you by the letters S-T-E- and M. The time to introduce students to science is when they are very young—and besides, the laws of gravity allow so many opportunities for comedy. (Joanne Jacobs)

Studybook. Facebook has a new app, called Hootme.com, which changes the popular social networking site into a place for homework help and study tips. It diverts users from their walls and news feeds, instead directing them to join live video conferences on study topics. (Mind/Shift)

Alexander Opposes Waivers. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) opposes President Obama’s announcement last week to offer waivers to states for mandates included in No Child Left Behind. In a New York Times op-ed, the former Secretary of Education argues that these waivers “would make the secretary of education the equivalent of a national school board.” Missed Obama’s announcement? See Education Sector Policy Analyst Anne Hyslop’s coverage here. (New York Times)

Online learning offers more than learning, says a Washington teacher who works for a full-time online school. Her students are kids who want to escape bullying at their local schools, stay home to care for an ill family member, give birth, or train for the Olympics. And she says she knows these students better than those in her former brick-and-mortar school. (Kitsap Sun)