Digital Bulldog Revolution

Final Post

2010-08-10T13:15:00.000-05:00

This is the final post of the Digital Bulldog Revolution. I have enjoyed the past year at Bosse High School, but now I am embarking on a new challenge with the EVSC ICATS (Integrating Curriculum and Technology Specialists).

Please follow my new blog, ICATS revolution:

http://icatsrevolution.blogspot.com/

Cheers!

Tim

Tour the Brain

2010-04-28T14:59:00.002-05:00

Science Teachers...Here is a site that has an interactive tour of the brain... kind of cool...

http://www.alz.org/brain/01.asp

Use these as trailors?

2010-04-28T14:53:00.002-05:00

English teachers...Here is a website that has 60 second recaps of popular novels. Some of them are pretty clever. Use them as teasers, then challenge your students to create their own :)

http://www.60secondrecap.com/

Another One for Math

2010-04-28T14:49:00.002-05:00

Here is a website that has videos of teachers teaching concepts related to math. These might be really good resources to supplement your students' understanding. Check it out.

http://www.brightstorm.com/d/math

Google Earth

2010-04-28T14:37:00.004-05:00

There are a lot of hidden gems related to Google Earth. Here are two:

History...
Historical Imagery from WWII

Science...
Ocean Showcase

Skype Around the World

2010-04-28T14:28:00.002-05:00

A while back, my friend Michelle sent me a link to this blog post/ video. It is a great resource for anyone who is looking to incorporate some international flavor. If you haven't considered Skype as part of your classroom experience, start here to gain some ideas!

http://www.langwitches.org/portfolio/

Cool New Tool

2010-04-28T14:18:00.002-05:00

Alright, this is pretty cool. Use Wall Wisher to create a wall and manipulate notes and pictures in the same way that you would on a message board. I could see creating one of these for a class for people to post to or as an expression tool or as a story boarding tool. Try it out!

http://www.wallwisher.com/

It's Up To Us

2010-04-28T13:59:00.002-05:00

One of the things I heard recently that struck a chord with me was the idea that good teachers are still good teachers with technology and bad teachers are still bad teachers with technology. The quality of instruction that we give our students is what ultimately drives their chances of success in school...with or without computers.

That said, we need to find ways to be current technologically for the sake of our students and their futures. This means that excellent teachers need to find ways to be excellent with technology, and we all need to learn from those models of excellence.

Here is an article that explores some of these ideas:

1:1 Programs Only As Good As Their Teachers

How To Teach With Tech Tools

2010-04-28T13:54:00.001-05:00

Here is another article that offers some great basic strategies for finding meaningful ways to incorporate technology in your classroom. Good reading.

http://www.convergemag.com/edtech/How-to-Teach-with-Tech-Tools.html

An Old Favorite

2010-04-28T13:44:00.003-05:00

A colleague of mine reminded me recently of a great website that allows you to see the front pages of newspapers from all over the world. As the print paper fades, this may truly become a Newseum, but for now, think of it as a great way to tour the world with your morning coffee.

http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/flash/

Personalized Instruction

2010-04-28T13:12:00.002-05:00

Can technology help us to tailor educational experiences to the individual needs of our students? I believe so. The best educational experiences are ones in which kids take personal ownership in their learning because they find it meaningful and engaging. Today's technologies are geared toward allowing users to personalize their experiences, while the traditional classroom is not. Yet, arguably education is an arena where personalization is most essential. Here is an article that explores some of these issues...

Digital Tools Expand Options for Personalized Learning

More Tech Tips

2010-04-28T12:56:00.002-05:00

Are you looking for more handy tips and tricks for using technology in your classroom? If so, you may want to check out Tammy Worcester's website. She provides tips, handouts, internet resources, and activities. The best part is that she is updating the site often. Enjoy!

http://www.tammyworcester.com/Tips/Tammys_Technology_Tips_for_Teachers.html

Sexting and Cyber-Bullying

2010-04-28T12:36:00.003-05:00

It's an uncomfortable topic, but the same dangers that face our kids in their real lives can face our kids in their digital lives as well. We definitely have a responsibility to help our kids safely navigate the digital world, knowing that we won't always be there to protect them. What can we do as teachers to help our kids in the case of sexting or cyber-bullying? Diane Trim at Inside the School has written an article that can help begin this discussion. Check it out here:

What Should Teachers Do About Sexting?

And here is another site that gives information for cyber safety at home and at school:

https://www.mysecurecyberspace.com/

Combining Technology and Reading Strategies

2010-04-28T12:25:00.002-05:00

Ultimately, technology just allows us to do what we know works in new ways. So how do we take what we know about reading and apply that that to a media-rich classroom? These are the types of questions that we need to consider. Here is a site that takes some of Marzano's work with literacy and finds new media applications.

http://gets.gc.k12.va.us/VSTE/2008/9advorganizers.htm

Another Online Safety Resource

2010-04-28T10:52:00.002-05:00

We must constantly be aware of our responsibility to help our students know how to be safe when they work (and play) online. Here is a government publication that covers many of the issues and strategies related to teaching kids Internet safety.

It's definitely worth a look.

http://www.onguardonline.gov/pdf/tec04.pdf

Math TV?

2010-04-28T10:45:00.002-05:00

Math teachers often share the concern that they find fewer applications online to support their work compared to other content areas. I am always on the look out for good Math-based technology. Here is a cool site where students have posted videos that combine math concepts with real-world applications. Kids teaching kids? You bet.

http://www.mathtrain.tv/

So cool, I'm speechless...

2010-04-28T10:41:00.001-05:00

Go Here. See This.

http://www.ted.com/talks/blaise_aguera_y_arcas_demos_photosynth.html

Here's a link to the program:

http://www.seadragon.com/

A Little Levity from savagechickens.com

2010-04-28T10:36:00.002-05:00

November Said It

2010-04-28T10:13:00.003-05:00

I've been trying to find a way to express why it is important to let students use the social tools that they use in life in the classroom. Alan November makes the argument very well. Please look at this article if you find that you are at war with Google Talk. Maybe there is a way to make peace with the technology and engage your kids at the same time. We definitely need to be talking about this.

November to Educators: Let Students Use Online Social Tools

Convergent Education

2010-04-28T09:59:00.003-05:00

Here is a great special report from eSchool News. If you are interested in how technology is altering the education landscape, this is a great article to provoke thought. Just thought I'd Share:

Convergent Education

Vimeo

2010-04-28T09:39:00.002-05:00

One of the big complaints about YouTube is that it is full of less meaningful content and ill-mannered people. It's definitely not a gated community, but that can also be YouTube's strength. Still, in the classroom, you may be looking for a video community that sets some expectations for its members and visitors. Vimeo is that community. Self-described as respectful and creative, this community of film-makers offers some compelling work that you might be able to share in your classroom. If your kids are making films, they can get valuable constructive criticism here without the risk of rude people posting unkind comments to their efforts.

Check Vimeo out here:

http://www.vimeo.com/

Students to Help Teachers

2010-04-28T09:07:00.002-05:00

I hope that as we move forward with our work this year, we start to realize that we can rely on our students to be self-directed more than we do, especially when it comes to technology. This is not to say that kids should be set adrift without the scaffolding that will support their learning. It is to say, though, that kids who are challenged to use their powers for good, can do amazing things that we don't know how to teach them. Really, that invites us to a more student-centered, co-learning model of education. Here is an article that describes one example of this type of learning:

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6717185.html&

ISTE Learning

2010-04-28T08:46:00.003-05:00

The International Society for Technology in Education is rolling out some very exciting support material for the teacher who is interested in integrating technology into their work. Currently the "commons area" of a virtual campus is open. In the future they will be rolling out a learning lab, "cafe" for collaboration, and university course work. You can access the commons here:

http://istelearning.org/

Top Tips for Online Learning

2010-04-09T14:36:00.002-05:00

As we work to help our students learn in digital environments, we have to remember that it is important to teach them the process skills that they need as much as it is important to teach them the knowledge and skills related to our subject areas. This isn't a new concept. We've always been responsible for teaching kids how to learn. The only thing that is different is that we need to learn for ourselves the particulars of learning in these new types of environments.

Here is an article that describes one school's efforts to verbalize what students need to be ready to do when learning online. This list might be helpful to you as you prepare to help your students adapt to the 1:1 learning environment.

Top Tips for Online Learning

Google Books

2010-04-09T14:15:00.002-05:00

I have to be honest. I have been putting off looking at Google Books. Partly it is because I am a bibliophile and online reading is something I am still getting adjusted to. Partly it is because I've been waiting to see whether or not this project is going to be scuttled by the legal issues related to the artists and authors whose works are being used. And partly it is because this is a pretty deep ocean to go wading through.

That said, I took a peek. The interface is nice and simple. The search function (as one would expect) is excellent. Really, the whole thing is about as good as I might hope. Still, it's not a shelf full of books that I can touch.

My big hope is that the iPad will move this forward. The action of reading (at least for many in my generation, still requires the flipping of pages. Scrolling is still a bit awkward. I like what I see so far from the iPad promotional materials.

Really, the jury is still out for me on this, but I can certainly see the educational benefit. Look at all the reading material that our students have access to now. Imagine the trees that don't have to be slaughtered for textbooks as well.

In the meantime, take a look for yourself, and let me know your thoughts...

Google Books

Apple iPad

I've said it before...

2010-04-09T13:56:00.002-05:00

I don't want to sound like a broken record (interesting that many of today's kids don't get that metaphor), BUT here is another article that helps to explain why it is so important to embrace tech-rich education, and why they need to do so in a thoughtful, purposeful way.

Best paragraph?

"If someone was frozen 100 years ago and woke up today, they'd look around and they'd say the world has changed, and technology has been at the heart of these changes," Tapscott said. "If they walked into many typical classrooms, they'd breathe a sigh of relief and say, 'I recognize this.'"

Check it out: Tapscott Article

Easy Bibliography Maker

2010-04-09T13:38:00.002-05:00

If you are having your students write research papers (or if you have to write one yourself), you may want to check out BibMe. It is a bibliography page generator that produces bibliographies for resources in all the major writing style formats. It's so nice to know that at least part of the drudgery of a research paper can be automated. I remember when I had to type my research paper on a typewriter. And we didn't have any of those automatic correction cartridges. Back in my day...

BibMe.org

School Change Website

2010-04-09T13:31:00.002-05:00

If you have read Tony Wagner's The Global Achievement Gap, then you may be interested to know that there is a website that is based on his research, and that keeps readers up to date on related efforts to move forward with teaching 21st Century Skills. You can find this website here:

School Change Consulting

Wordsift

2010-04-09T13:14:00.002-05:00

My friend Michelle sent this to me as well. I'm quoting her email:

http://www.wordsift.com/

Described by its creators as "a toy in a linguistic playground" this site allows you to paste in text (up to 65,000 characters) and generate visual representation (referred to as a word map or a tag cloud) of key vocabulary words. Users can then click on any word in the tag cloud and get:

Image library

Related videos

Visual Thesaurus

Instances of sentences in which that word is used in the text.

This tool could be used for lesson planning, pre-reading, during and post-reading. Thank you for the great tools:)

Online Science Magazine

2010-04-09T12:40:00.004-05:00

While I am on a science tear, here is a link to Science Nation- an online science magazine that Mike Russ sent me. The sea turtle video is really interesting, and kind of funny. Thanks to Mike for the tip.

Science Nation

NASA Image Resource

2010-04-09T12:28:00.002-05:00

I love science. Sometimes I even loved science when I was in science class. My wife is taking a graduate class in science for non-science majors, and as a result, I've been reminded of what makes science so cool. Science begins with a state of wonder. I wonder why the moon looks red sometimes, I wonder if there is life on other planets, I wonder what color a triceretops was. You get the picture. If I was a science teacher, I would start with images and sounds that made my students ask questions. I bet I spent an hour the other day checking out this website and speculating about life, the universe and everything. We know the answer is 42. It's fun to try to chase down the right questions...start here:

NASA Images

What's Your iCue?

2010-04-09T12:12:00.003-05:00

My colleague Michelle sent me this link a couple of months ago. This NBC site is filled with great resources that are aligned with AP classes. One of the nice features is that the site and its media are very slick, professional, and engaging. You can easily find material that is related to your content area. Thanks to Michelle for sharing such a great place to find online resources!

iCue Homepage

The View from 20,000 feet

2010-04-09T10:05:00.003-05:00

Sometimes it's a good idea to put what is going on currently into perspective. A lot of times when I talk to teachers about how very different the lives of students are today, compared to our own lives at that age, there is a moment of skepticism followed by recognition.

I recently had this brought home to me in a video I saw. The creators of the video pointed out that when "we" went home after school, we turned on the TV (without tivo, possibly without cable) and watched a limited number of choices (for most of my childhood there were 4 channels) with a structured schedule that we had no ability to control or alter. Todays students turn on any number of devices which have been designed to always be available, have a wide variety of choices, and to be alterable at will. That is going to affect the way a person perceives the world.

Anyway, the linked article below does a good job of putting the previous decade in perspective. It's worth asking how the kids who were born in the past decade will experience the world differently from even the kids who are graduating this Spring.

An iWorld of Difference

New Vocabulary: Froom

2010-04-09T09:49:00.002-05:00

I read this article (see the link at the bottom), and I was intrigued by the mash-up word "froom" which means 'forever in the classroom.' When I first began blogging with my classes, I shared many of the same goals and rationales as the author of this article. The virtual environment extends the reach of our classes and frees us up to focus on really meaningful work when we meet with our students. I thought this was an interesting article that offers some specific ways to begin decorating your own froom. Here it is:

Eight Simple Ways to Embrace the "Froom"

Twiducate!

2010-04-09T09:26:00.003-05:00

One of the complaints about Twitter in education is that joining a social networking site can open your classes to the scary public. While I don't necessarily agree that this is a problem (at least at the high school level), I understand the concern. That is why I am so excited about Twiducate. This service allows you to create your own twitter-type network that you control. If you have been looking for a way to bring social networking into your classroom, try this one out!

twiducate

Twitter to Teach History

2010-04-09T09:07:00.002-05:00

I ran across this article, and I have to admit, I got a little excited about the possibilities that it suggested. I have heard a few teachers at conferences give examples of how Twitter could be used in the classroom, but this role-playing activity is the most advanced use of the technology I've come across so far. I could definitely see this being applied across the curriculum. Imagine asking students to tweet from the perspective of various characters as you read a play together in class. Or what if science students were invited to tweet their way through the various developmental stages of, say, a frog in its natural habitat. Frankly, I think the fictitious applications of twitter might be more compelling than the real-life ones. Food for thought:

Twitter Role-Playing

3 Tools of Engagement

2010-04-09T08:50:00.002-05:00

When we work with students in an online virtual environment, we want to engage them to the same extent that we do in the physical classroom. Here are some words of wisdom from someone who has been teaching online for a while:

Sensible Tools of Engagement

Get Out Your Phones!

2010-03-10T11:07:00.004-06:00

It's strange, but with the netbooks in the students' hands, cell phones don't seem like such a big deal anymore. I've always believed that we should be using the cell phones that our students bring to school to our advantage anyway. I used to ask questions for students to look up the answers to and then dramatically look away as my students would get out their iPhones. Eventually, a student would raise his or her hand and say, "I don't know how I know this, but..."

The fact of the matter is that kids love to use technology to find answers, and if you give them engaging things to do, they will use their technology to further the goals of your class.

Here are a couple of articles that highlights this topic:

http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=2198

http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=2200

Free Online Access to Research

2010-03-10T10:13:00.002-06:00

Lately, I've been spending a lot of time trying to locate scholarly research related to eLearning. Here is a great resource for doing that type of research:

http://repository.alt.ac.uk/

Keeping Kids Safe

2010-03-10T10:00:00.003-06:00

I'm not sure that we can ever do enough to help our kids understand the importance of cyber-safety. It is definitely a digital citizenship skill that has to be constantly reinforced given the seductive and anonymous nature of the digital world.

Here is a resource that my colleague, Jeff shared with me last semester. There are some great resources here:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/

A World of Experts

2010-03-10T09:41:00.003-06:00

What if experts from your field of study from universities across the nation could be brought in as guest lecturers for your classes? The reality is that this is already a possibility. If you haven't already checked out iTunes University, you should look at the wealth of material that is there. Here is a link to a blog that has reviewed some of the content there:

http://www.learnoutloud.com/content/blog/archives/2007/07/best_of_itunes.html

Also, you can find similar content at Academic Earth:

http://academicearth.org/

If you are looking for inspiration, I really encourage you to check out TED.com. This is a website with videos of some of the most inspiring and interesting public speakers on the circuit today:

http://www.ted.com/

Finally, here is a link to some professional development videos that exist for teachers:

http://www.teachindy.com/videos.php

This is What I Believe

2010-02-25T11:24:00.005-06:00

I took my job as an eLearning Coach because I truly believe that education is transforming in ways that are fundamental. I think some people believe that my purpose is to just find ways to use technology in the classroom, but no amount of technology in the classroom will make our students more motivated or higher achieving. That comes back to practice. eLearning is less about the nature of technology and more about the nature of teaching and learning. We have to create student-driven, student-centered learning experiences. Technology can help us do that well, but it is the structure of the lesson and the nature of the learning that ultimately motivates students to do the hard work related to thinking. I believe this with all of my heart.

These videos from Elizabeth Murphey on YouTube begin to illustrate what I am talking about:

An Innovative Computer Initiative Gains Momentum | Edutopia

2010-02-24T14:30:00.001-06:00

Here is a video that shares a 1:1 laptop initiative in Maine. They did it with middle-schoolers. I was glad to see that they used many of the same justifications that we have, including providing equity to all of our students and helping our students to be the most technologically literate kids in preparation for a life in the 21st century.

An Innovative Computer Initiative Gains Momentum | Edutopia

Toss the Traditional Textbook: Revamping a Curriculum | Edutopia

2010-02-24T14:26:00.001-06:00

One of the issues that we have been playing with recently is the need to free ourselves from the yoke of slow-to-evolve textbook companies. Don't get me wrong, textbooks can be very good sometimes, but often they are not, and even when they are, they are limiting to teachers in that they drive a curriculum that can force innovative teachers into a box. So can we give up the textbooks (and all the freebies that come along with them)? It would mean working harder and thinking more about our craft. We would need to collaborate more. Hmmmm. What would that look like? Check out this article:

Toss the Traditional Textbook: Revamping a Curriculum | Edutopia

Grading 2.0: Evaluation in the Digital Age

2010-02-24T14:06:00.001-06:00

Here is another article that raises the question of how we evaluate students in the digital age. The article does a great job of delineating some of the issues. Also, I'd encourage you to read some of the comments to the original article. Very interesting discussion.

Grading 2.0: Evaluation in the Digital Age

The Fall of the Education Wall

2010-02-24T13:51:00.001-06:00

My colleague Dianne sent me this article at a time when I was feeling a little discouraged about moving forward as an educational system. It makes an interesting comparison between the fall of the Berlin Wall and the eLearning revolution. Education (like any institution) can be slow to move, but dedicated people who believe that change is not only possible, but absolutely necessary will eventually overcome.

The Fall of the Education Wall

Sticky Notes!

2010-02-24T13:35:00.003-06:00

If you are like me and your computer is already covered with paper sticky notes, you might be interested in downloading a simple sticky note application for PCs. At least you might save a tree by making the switch. Here is a link to just such a download.

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,70878/description.html

Math and Web 2.0

2010-02-24T13:24:00.002-06:00

As an English teacher, sometimes it's hard for me to imagine how math teachers use Web 2.0 tools to enhance student learning. I know it happens, I just don't have the frame of reference that I need to really effectively discuss this topic the way I would like to. Fortunately, there are others who do. This article is for the math teachers out there:

http://thejournal.com/Articles/2010/02/17/Web-2.0-in-Instruction-Adding-Spice-to-Math-Education.aspx

If you teach math and would like to share some of your tips, I'd love to pass them on to some of my colleagues as well. Holla.

Internet Access on Tests?

2010-02-24T13:07:00.000-06:00

I have been confronted quite a bit with the question of what do we do about students having Internet access during tests. I guess this question gets to the root of how we perceive the purpose of tests. If students are being asked to provide recall-type responses to objective questions, then access to the resources on the Internet (not to mention texting friends) is clearly problematic. If the assessment is asking students to demonstrate skills, though, I don't imagine that access to these resources is all that problematic. I can see both sides of the issue. At the very least, I think we are challenged to ask whether the assessments we use are testing what we want them to. The longer I study this, the more convinced I am that testing in its traditional form needs to take a less central role in our pedagogy.

Here is a link to an article that brought this subject back to my mind:

Internet Access on Tests?

Mind 42

2010-02-04T15:25:00.004-06:00

I've taken to creating screencasts as another way to share cool tools for the classroom. Ultimately, I see them as reinforcement for my Tech Tips. Anyway, here is a screencast I did about a great organizational and thinking tool called Mind42. I'm not sure I have much of a video presence yet, but I'm still learning the ropes. I welcome suggestions.

Are We at the Forefront of Innovation?

2010-02-04T14:24:00.003-06:00

If you are like me, sometimes you wonder if we really are leading the way with innovation. I mean, the signs are there. We're doing things that others aren't, but does that mean others will follow? I believe that they will, but it is encouraging to see that others think so, too. Check out this article, in which Tom Vander Ark states,

"In the coming decade, most middle and high schools will adopt some version of 1:1 technology, online learning will play an increasing role, and learning experiences will be conducted and coordinated on social learning platforms. While adoption won't be simple and smooth, it will cut through the typical barriers that block other reforms."

No the road hasn't always been smooth, but it won't be if we're blazing a trail.

The article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-vander-ark/how-social-networking-wit_b_349467.html?view=screen

Tech Integration for Social Studies

2010-02-04T14:18:00.002-06:00

Mike Russ sent me a link to this article a while back. If you teach social studies, this one's for you. Here are several ideas for bringing tech into your classroom in meaningful ways.

http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/SeptemberOctoberNo2/Tech_Integration_in_Social_Studies.htm

Yep. This Pretty Much Sums It Up

2010-02-04T14:02:00.002-06:00

Okay. If you really are starting from scratch, or if you have lost your way along the path to 21st Century teaching, then this article will lay the map back out in front of you. Be like Joey and get inside the map.

http://techlearning.com/Blogs/22558

What Else Can I Do With This Projector?

2010-02-04T13:51:00.003-06:00

Don't answer that...because it's already been answered! If your projector is just sitting around waiting for presentation day, you may want to check out this article.

http://techlearning.com/article/17198

The article contains 10 ideas to take your projector beyond PowerPoints.

Think You Know Bloom's Taxonomy?

2010-02-04T13:42:00.002-06:00

If you haven't checked in with Bloom's Taxonomy since you were introduced to it back in teacher school, you may want to revisit the old girl. She's had an impressive face-lift for the digital age. The most important change (in my estimation) is the placement of creativity at the top of the pecking order. This article will catch you up...

http://techlearning.com/article/8670

Angelic Learning

2010-02-04T13:29:00.002-06:00

This is a shout out to a fellow blogger and Angel user. My friend Missy discovered Jonathan's blog, and she suggested we share it with you all. Here is another resource for us as we navigate the deep waters that Angel is.

It's nice to know others are making the transition!

Here's Jonathan's blog, Angelic Learning Online

Backgrounds for PhotoStory

2010-02-04T13:11:00.003-06:00

My friend Missy made a cool promo for a party she was hosting using PhotoStory. I liked it and wondered how she got the backgrounds for her title slides. She sent me this link:

http://district.sbschools.net/ite/help/photostory/backgrounds.htm

Here's her promo, by the way.

Growing Pains

2010-02-04T12:39:00.003-06:00

I recognize that we are going to go through some growing pains as we work to bring education in line with the world in terms of technology, but we have to make this effort. I'm glad that we are finally willing to acknowledge that the way we have done things in the past does not have to dictate the way we will do things in the future. The way we understand mobile technologies is an excellent example of the type of thing we will have to re-define in our minds.

Here is an article about the inevitability of cellphone technology in the classroom:

http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=2160

Bid Deal Book of Technology

2010-02-04T12:30:00.002-06:00

At HECC this year I picked up a great resource that has all kinds of links that would be valuable for a K-12 teacher. I wish I could have brought one back for all of my teachers, but this is just as good. Here is a link to the pdf file of the same book. Thanks to CDWG.com for creating this great resource!

http://webobjects.cdw.com/webobjects/media/pdf/big-deal-fall-2009.pdf

Going Deeper Down the Rabbit Hole

2010-02-04T12:20:00.002-06:00

If you are more interested in looking ahead at what the future holds for technology and education, you might be interested in this compelling white paper about the direction the "web" is headed. Sometimes it is good to get a view from 20,000 feet.

http://assets.en.oreilly.com/1/event/28/web2009_websquared-whitepaper.pdf

iTunes University

2010-02-04T12:15:00.002-06:00

I recently did a Tech Tip Tuesday on iTunes University and its value for the classroom teacher. Here is an article that I held onto from eSchool News.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2009/10/21/itunes-u-evolving-into-teacher-resource/

Technology Tips for Teachers

2010-02-04T12:06:00.002-06:00

My colleague Dianne sent me a link a while back that is worth visiting. If you are casting about for ways to integrate technology into your curriculum, this is a friendly starting point from a teacher in Georgia:

Mini-T's: Technology Tips for Teachers

ISTE- Learning and Leading with Technology

2010-02-04T11:55:00.002-06:00

Okay, I know I've been absent for a while. It's easy to fall out of the habit with so many irons in the fire. Still, once in a while, I run into something that I'd be foolish not to share. My colleague sent me a link to the digital version of ISTE's magazine, Learning and Leading with Technology.

This magazine is full of information that is relevant to what we are trying to do in the EVSC. I hope you will take a look and decide to bookmark this link:

Learning and Leading with Technology

Great Video to Combat Plagiarism

2010-01-06T13:59:00.002-06:00

... or at least to entertain. Check out this youtube video parody of Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats." English teacher fun, is the best kind of fun. Thanks to my friend Michelle for sharing this gem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NvA4hCOfjU&feature=related

Big Ol' List

2010-01-06T13:49:00.004-06:00

A former student (and future teacher) sent me this link recently. There are A LOT of tools listed here (which can be a bit overwhelming), but if you have the time to do some exploring, here it is. If you don't have time, I'm sure many of these will appear on this blog in the coming weeks.

http://www.onlinedegree.net/100-essential-2-0-tools-for-teachers/

You Decide

2009-12-01T13:41:00.006-06:00

I keep saying that education is going to change whether we want it to or not. Read this article regardless of which side you are on:

http://www.convergemag.com/blog/DynamicEducation/Netbooks-Coming-Education-Ready.html?elq=1e6af0a35025410cad32b0ea1538513c

Google Wave

2009-12-01T13:34:00.002-06:00

If you are like me, you've heard the term Google Wave, but you aren't quite sure what it is, or what it has to do with you. Well, here is an article that attempts to answer those questions. I think it sounds pretty cool. I hope I get an invitation :)

http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1929231,00.html

Respect Copyrights

2009-12-01T13:27:00.003-06:00

One of the areas of digital citizenship that we need to work on with our students is respecting copyrights. Sadly, in this day and age, "free" media is very easy to come by, and students can be confused about what media is okay to possess and what media is pirated. This website can help clarify that issue:

http://www.respectcopyrights.org/

Science Resources

2009-12-01T13:18:00.002-06:00

My colleague, Michelle Green at Central, sent me these science resources:

Chemical Education Digital Library- http://chemeddl.org/

Physics and Physical Science- http://www.thephysicsfront.org/

Free Sign-Up Access to NOVA- http://www.teachersdomain.org/

Communication is the Key

2009-12-01T13:05:00.003-06:00

Online learning requires excellent communication skills on the part of the instructor. Here is an article that discusses some of the characteristics of high-quality online learning:

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=61071

Interesting Statistics

2009-12-01T12:53:00.002-06:00

Here is a brief catalog of facts that are relevant to the discussion of computers in education:

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN2235793520091001

Online Learning is a Reality

2009-12-01T12:39:00.003-06:00

Here is an article from the Boston Globe about online learning in high schools:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2009/09/24/nonprofit_virtual_high_school_consortium_gaining_schools_students/

More Minerals

2009-12-01T12:26:00.003-06:00

Betsy Wade sent me some more activities that she does with minerals. She has students complete a worksheet located here: http://www.sciencespot.net/Media/miningmin.pdf

Then she has them go to the following websites to locate answers to the questions:

http://www.rocksandminerals.com/uses.htm

http://www.rocksandminerals.com/fireworks.htm

http://www.galleries.com/minerals/interest.htm

Thanks for sharing, Betsy :)

Awesome Periodic Table

2009-12-01T12:14:00.002-06:00

Science teachers-

Here is a link to a periodic table that has videos associated with each of the elements. The EVSC has unblocked each of the videos, so it should work in class. Here is the link:

http://www.periodicvideos.com/

Social Networking in the Classroom

2009-12-01T11:44:00.002-06:00

While sites like facebook and myspace have an image problem in terms of education and Internet safety (a reputation that is only partly deserved). The power of social networking sites offer many possibilities for education. Recently, a colleague asked about social networking sites that he might use with his classes. My fellow eCoaches came up with a list of good sites to review. I share them here:

http://www.ning.com/

Google Sites

http://education.weebly.com/

I would also encourage people to use blog sites and learning management systems to create social networks.

TodaysMeet

2009-12-01T11:26:00.002-06:00

I saw this used recently at a conference. Basically, you use this site to create a backchannel for your students to comment on live during a presentation. Yes, I can imagine all of the potential pitfalls here, too. Obviously, you wouldn't want to use this tool with a group of students who lack citizenship skills. Still, if you have a great group of highly functional learners, try the following:

Use TodaysMeet to create a backchannel to be shared on the netbooks (and possibly projected?)
Assign your students to use the backchannel as a place to make productive comments, share thoughts and ideas generated from your presentation and ask questions.
Assign one student as your ambassador. This student will be called upon from time to time to summarize what the group is thinking, ask questions and report on problems.
Present your information, stopping to check with the ambassador from time to time.
At the end, use the info on TodaysMeet to generate talking points for your blog or for a later class activity.

http://todaysmeet.com/

SketchCast

2009-12-01T11:09:00.002-06:00

This is a neat tool. Basically, you can create a sketch with audio and then embed the sketchcast in a blog. I could imagine creating a how-to type lesson with this or having students show mastery of something using this tool. If nothing else, it's fun to cruise the different sketches people have created. Since the sketch happens before your eyes, this might be a great way to teach some art skills as well.

http://sketchcast.com/

Randomizer

2009-11-10T07:19:00.003-06:00

Here's a neat tool. Basically, you enter a series of names or words, and this site will pull them up in a random order. This would be great if you wanted to call on students at random, or if you wanted to add an element of randomness to a review game. I'm sure there are other applications as well. If you think of some, I hope you'll share them with me.

http://classtools.net/main_area/template_loader.php/?fruit_machine

Another Screencast Tool

2009-11-10T07:09:00.003-06:00

Jing is a great application that you can use to create screencasts, capture screen images, and share them with others. I've downloaded this to my netbook, and I find it very easy to use. If you are interested in creating how-to guides or videos for your students, this may be the tool you've been looking for. Try it out.

http://www.jingproject.com/

Student Survey

2009-11-08T21:18:00.003-06:00

Freshmen,

Here is the link to the survey I want you to take:

Student Netbook Survey

Too Cool For Words

2009-11-04T14:38:00.002-06:00

I'm speechless. This is a wicked cool creativity tool. I hope that someone uses this and then shares with me what they did.

In a nutshell: draw something alone or collaboratively, then replay the process at will.

http://www.imaginationcubed.com/

Photo Mosaic

2009-11-04T14:22:00.002-06:00

This is just a neat app. It is really kind of cool to see, and I could imagine that there are lessons here in art, photography, optics, etc. It also might just add an extra engaging bell or whistle to a presentation, poster, or PhotoStory project.

Basically, this app takes a picture that you select and recreates it using other images. The effect is best from a distance, but up close, you can see the images that have created the macro image.

http://click7.org/image-mosaic-generator/?create

Bundling URLs

2009-11-04T14:13:00.002-06:00

You know those times when you have students looking at a few different websites for an activity? Well here is a way to create a single URL that will bundle these sites together. Then the student clicks on the single link and can navigate among the different sites that you have chosen without having to click on a new link or enter a new URL. The amount of time that this could save seems boundless to me. Give it a try.

http://fur.ly/

Text to Speech

2009-11-04T13:51:00.002-06:00

Another cool audio tool... Use vozMe to create an electronic voice file of typed text. You can type or cut and paste text into the textbox, click the button and an mp3 file is created of an electronic voice reciting the text.

How might you use this in your class? What if you have your students cut and paste their papers into the textbox? They could then listen to the paper as a proofreading tool. Or if students encounter an unfamiliar word, they could type it in to receive a pronunciation sample.

Of course, if you teach them this tool, be aware that they will amuse themselves endlessly by having their electronic voices say things like, "I like butts." We were all thinking it. I just said it.

http://vozme.com/index.php?lang=en

Online Voice Recording

2009-11-04T13:42:00.002-06:00

Here is a handy service. Go to Vocaroo.com and you can record your voice using your computer's microphone. Then you can send your recording to a friend's email or post the audio file on the Internet.

I'm imagining a situation where you could assign students to record their impressions of something and then send those reflections to your email. Or you could have them do a dramatic reading of a poem and have them send them to you. What about pronunciation practice in Spanish? Lots of cool ideas.

http://www.vocaroo.com/

Powerful Music Creation Site

2009-11-04T09:54:00.002-06:00

Okay, this is cool. Here is a site that enables students to create their own music with lots of different output possibilities. I especially like that you can get a grant for your classroom so that you do not have to pay an access fee for your students to use all of the features.

Go to the bottom left corner of the site and click on the "In the Classroom" button. What an amazing tool for music teachers!

http://www.jamstudio.com/Studio/index.htm

If You Watch Only One Inspiring Video Today...

2009-10-27T15:00:00.003-05:00

...make it this one:

Doing Things Right

2009-10-27T14:37:00.003-05:00

Obviously, there are many things that we would do differently in hindsight, but moving forward requires a willingness to learn through trial and error. Now that we have had the netbooks for a while, it might be time to reflect on how we have used them and and how we can make them a positive force in our schools. We need to think about the netbooks on all levels and continue to integrate them into the educational process. Here is a link to an article that suggests 9 ways to effectively incorporate netbooks into the school environment. I think it might be an efective starting point for a discussion about how to improve what we have already begun. Take a look:

http://www.guide2digitallearning.com/professional_development/9_point_checklist_1_1

Missy's Angel Poem [Expurgated]

2009-10-23T11:30:00.003-05:00

A couple of months ago, Missy Feller wrote a poem about Angel. I think she managed to capture the humor and frustration that many of us were feeling as we tried to navigate so many technological changes in our classrooms. In my mind, this poem must be shared. I hope you enjoy it as much as many of us have already.

Some editorial changes have been made with the author's permission. Please excuse any formatting errors related to posting here.

Angel

You know I’ve

always been fascinated with

feathers and

flying and

the freedom of knowing a freedom with limitless possibilities

dramatically bursting through the cliché

‘the sky is the limit’

with

the Angels

I write

in my book.

But Angel--

you're different –

I speak of you like

you're an estranged boyfriend

but let’s start at the beginning

before

the honeymoon ended.

We met on a Friday in July

and I’d heard from others how great

you were

how

you’d change my life

and

how you were everything I’d been

searching for -- I

needed something stable in my life

Angel

and I knew there were no two

better matched for each other --

we’d make the others jealous of us –

I already planned this within five minutes –

others would hate me for what I could do

with you, Angel

For a month

I explored you like a conquistador on a promised land

like a child with a new instrument in band

like a proud mother willing to stand up

for the one that nobody had faith in

that everyone thought was stupid.

For a month

we were alone together

learning everything that would make

my life easy

Angel

you’re gonna grade my assessments for me?

tell me who knew what question and

how many times people looked at my site and

be there to back me when I say “pencils down”

there’s you, echoing: “and don’t think she don’t mean it”

and then you turn the timer off.

I had plans for us, Angel

We were gonna be unstoppable.

And then, others wanted you

and I found myself

smothering you to get you back

under my control

I tried visiting you more and it seemed you

preferred them over me

“I can’t believe you blocked me again”

“The kids would really like to see you”

“You’ve been unavailable for days – where are you?!”

AND

WHY is your name so ironic, Angel

why couldn’t your name have been something along the lines

of a pun – something less deceptive like

De’ville

AND I just want you to know that

it really hurts me

when I hear others brag how they “got on you”

AND

I just want to see you.

I thought we had something –

I thought we made a good team.

But

I think it’s best if we took some time apart.

A month or a couple weeks –

it’ll depend on my patience with you

and your flexibility and willingness to change, I guess.

I’ll admit

I wanted too much too quick

I didn’t give you space

I wanted you all to myself

but the truth is

that

I need stability in my life

right now Angel

I was counting on you to help me out

You have to understand:

I just can’t keep doing this to the kids.

We make plans to see you

and you’re there one day and then you’re not

and I’m seeing them starting to lose faith in you

and it hurts because I know the potential within you

to be something great and meaningful in their lives

and mine

Angel

I just need

some time

find myself this year –

to figure out what I really want from you.

I need you to let me know

when you’re ready

when

you’re ready to commit.

Yours for the taking –

Missy Feller

Brainy Stuff

2009-10-23T11:20:00.002-05:00

Here is a great journal article on the power of social networking to positively affect student learning. Everybody needs a little light reading on a Friday afternoon, right? Enjoy!

http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/671/1267

Tool for Class Polls

2009-10-23T10:45:00.002-05:00

Want to try something fun and useful in the next couple of weeks? Try the website http://polleverywhere.com. Sign-up for a FREE account and poll students about whatever content you want in many different forms. Once the poll has been created, students log on to http://poll4.com. This is where students vote. This tool can be used for lots of different purposes. I can imagine bellringers, discussion starters, teacher feedback and more. Try it out.

Engagement Strategies

2009-10-23T10:29:00.002-05:00

Keeping kids engaged has always been a challenge. Now we've added a very shiny and versatile distraction box. Really, though, the strategies that successfully establish engagement don't change. In fact, that shiny distraction box can help with engagement issues. Here is a very useful article on how to nurture engagement in your classroom. It's high impact. Fast. Meaningful.

http://www.edutopia.org/classroom-student-participation-tips

Teacher Facebook?

2009-10-23T09:55:00.005-05:00

One of the great aspects of social networking sites is that they expand the number of people from whom we can learn and with whom we can share our ideas. Here is a networking site for teachers. Look it over. It might be for you.

http://www.learncentral.org/og_all_list

Make Class Fun!

2009-10-21T08:49:00.003-05:00

I am in a workshop as we speak and I had to share this! The argument is that we need to make our classes fun if we want to maximize our results for our students. Currently, we shut down the main sources of how our students CHOOSE to learn. Imagine all of the times that we shut down their communication tools. The current flap over Google talk is a great example.

Still, what would happen if we designed our lessons to maximize fun and interest. Every subject can be fun and full of wonder if we choose to make it so. Here is a video that the presenters in my workshop shared. As you view the video, think of this as a case for why we should make our classes fun.

Here's the video:

How to Prepare for 1 to 1 Classroom

2009-10-21T08:18:00.002-05:00

Whether you planned for it or not, we are in the middle of the eLearning revolution, and you have the resources to run a 1 to 1 classroom full of 21st Century learning. So what would it have been nice to have thought about from the very beginning? Here is a link to a very informative pdf file. I encourage you to read this regardless of where you are in the process.

http://education.qld.gov.au/smartclassrooms/pdf/scbyte-21steps.pdf

How Teens Use Media

2009-10-20T12:27:00.002-05:00

Okay, now this is useful. In our data-driven world, wouldn't it be nice to get the facts (rather than the myths) about how teenagers are using media? If you are like me, you can accidentally fall into the habit of believing that what you learned about teens five years ago still holds true today. Click on the link below and get a really interesting overview of today's teens from the Nielson company. I can imagine using this to start a really valuable discussion in class that might lead to some transformative insights related to how we teach. Enjoy...

http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/reports/nielsen_howteensusemedia_june09.pdf

Internet Safety

2009-10-20T12:16:00.003-05:00

As we begin the process of learning to educate for good digital citizenship, one of our first concerns should be digital safety. After all, there are legitimate threats in the cyber-world. Here are a few sites that Mike Russ sent me that might help as we begin to explore ways to reinforce good digital citizenship and safety:

http://www.wiredsafety.org/

http://www.isafe.org/

http://www.incredibleinternet.com/

http://www.csriu.org/

Web-Accessible Computing Services

2009-10-19T14:23:00.003-05:00

Here are some great links to web-based computing tools that Mike Russ sent out a while back:

Zoho Writer (Word Processor)

Google Docs (Word Processor)

Adobe Buzzword (Word Processor)

Adobe PhotoShop Express (Photo Editing)

Writeboard (Collaborative Writing Tool)

Jing (Screencasting Tool)

Scratch (Animation Tool)

Teaching Copyright

2009-10-19T14:18:00.002-05:00

Teaching students to respect copyright laws in this time of easy Internet access can be complicated. It is important that we teach students to honor intellectual property from a legal standpoint and from an ethical standpoint. Here is a website that provides clear guidance for those who seek to know.

http://www.teachingcopyright.org/

Project-Based Learning

2009-10-19T14:12:00.003-05:00

If you've been tapped into the buzz at all lately, you've probably noticed a resurgence of the words "project-based learning". If you are wondering what all of the buzz is about, or if you want to make sure that what you think it's about is correct, check out these websites:

http://www.bie.org/index.php

http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/route21/