Hawaii educator Joseph Manfre honed in on the "we" of the "I do, we do, you do" teaching concept in his middle-school math classes to better empower students and prompt critical thinking. Manfre also increased student input by creating small groups with rotating student facilitators to ask "what should we do next?" to prompt students' solutions.

A new six-year plan in Indiana to boost instruction in science, technology, engineering and math would require all teachers to learn project-based problem-solving teaching strategies. The Indiana Department of Education plans to ask state lawmakers for $20 million to support the STEM push.

Teachers can lead education innovation on their own, says Ted Dintersmith, a venture capitalist turned education philanthropist, who has traveled to schools in all 50 states. He advocates for and invests in grassroots approaches to education reform and his website identifies 32 steps that can help teachers innovate.

Transportation Security Administration officers at the Indianapolis International Airport get help on the job from trained dogs that assist in screening passengers and their bags. The canines are trained to check for drugs and explosives and help with general security tasks.

Indiana education officials launched a campaign Monday to engage more parents in their children's education, asking them to sign a pledge to collaborate with teachers and be more involved. "Education cannot end when the final bell rings and the carpool line forms. Kids must go home to environments that reinforce key academic lessons and support positive classroom behavior," state schools chief Tony Bennett said.