10 Technology Skills Every Educator Should Have

<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.techifire.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/tablet-smartphone-replace-laptop.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="141" id="il_fi" src="http://www.techifire.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/tablet-smartphone-replace-laptop.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></a></div>This past January I wrote <a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2012/01/10-tech-skills-every-student-should.html">"10 Tech Skills Every Student Should Have"</a> and I have decided to modify it for the "10 Tech Skills Every Educator Should Have". Here's my list.<br /><br />Overall, educators need to understand some basics about technology and that it is not a be-all-end-all solution to everything in a classroom. Technology can help teachers differentiate and provide new experiences for their students. Technology can also help students better understand a concept and provide extra help for them. Educators need to start with good pedagogy and lesson objectives and activities and then look for technology that can enhance those lessons, improve teaching and learning, and help students learn.<br /><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2012/01/hows-whys-and-value-of-educational.html">The How's, Why's and Value of Educational Technology</a><br /><br /><b>1. Internet Search and Research</b> - educators need to know how to do a proper internet search, using search terms and modifiers. This skill is needed for school, work and life in general. They also need to be able to teach proper internet search skills to their students, no matter what class they are teaching. They need to know where to find scholarly and peer-reviewed materials to use.<br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/11/tips-on-better-searches-on-google-from.html">Tips on Better Searches (from Google)</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/11/infographic-on-better-searches-using.html">Infographic on Better Searches</a><br /><a href="http://www.commoncraft.com/video/web-search-strategies">Common Craft Video on Web Search Strategies</a><br /><br /><i><b>UPDATED thanks to a great comment below.</b></i><br /><b>2. <strike>Office Suite Skills</strike></b> <b>Productivity Apps </b>- <b>Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Presentation Tools, Note taking and organization apps</b>- educators need to now how to create, edit, and modify documents, presentations, and spreadsheets. They need to know how to use different productivity tools as an educator and how to show students how to use them. Businesses still use MS Office for the most part, but iWorks, OpenOffice / LibreOffice, and <a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/p/google-for-educators_22.html">Google Docs</a> are all getting more popular. They all work similarly so the learning curve when switching isn't that big. Most teachers know the basics. but many don't know about the alternatives to MS Office or some of the really great features (like charts and graphs in Excel) that are helpful to them and their students. Teachers should also know how to use things like digital calendars, to-do lists, note taking apps, and more to get organized and get digital.<br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/p/evernote-for-education.html">Evernote for Education - take notes, clip from the web, upload files, and much more</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/p/google-for-educators_22.html">Google for Education - Docs, calendar, tasks, email, and much more</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b>3. Self learning of tech and where to go for help</b> - knowing how to search a help menu on software or hardware, where to go to find user forums for help, and where to find the manual for technology is a huge skill that many do not know about. I am amazed at how many educators don't know where to go for help, outside of asking another teacher. This goes along with internet search also - being able to find what you need to help you figure out how to do something.<br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2009/05/free-technology-tips-and-help.html">Free Tech Tips and Help</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2010/12/tech-ease-great-tech-support-site-for.html">TechEase - technology tips</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2009/05/online-tech-tips.html">Online Tech Tips - hardware, software, and more</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2010/12/teach-parents-tech-on-demand-tech.html">Tech Support help</a><br /><br /><br /><b>4. Finding Free Resources and Sources of Funding for Technology - </b>budgets are constantly shrinking and teachers need to make due with less. Knowing how to find funding for technology or find free technology is very important. It's also important to look at different ways of providing technology in schools, whether it is through computer labs, 1-1 laptops, or Bring Your Own Device (students bring own tech). This skill can help teachers, schools, and districts save money in certain areas (apps and services) to have more money for other areas (hardware).<br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/why-do-schools-still-pay-so-much-for.html">Why do schools still pay so much for software? Free alternatives to paid software and services.</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/01/donorschoose-get-materials-for-your.html">DonorsChoose - get materials for your classroom project funded</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/04/tips-for-saving-money-and-finding-free.html">Tips for saving money and finding free resources for school</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><b>5. Social Media</b> - how to properly use social media for school and work, how to protect yourself on it, the issues of cyberbullying, connecting with others in your profession (PLN). Many educators are use social media for their personal life, but not enough are using it in their professional life. I learn so much from Twitter and Google+ because of the people and web sites I follow there. This goes along with number 3 - self learning. I get more "professional development" out of a week of participating in social media than I have in 10 years of traditional professional development. Educators need to get online as part of their profession.<br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2012/01/twitter-google-plus-facebook-nice.html">Twitter, Google+, Facebook comparison</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/12/twitter-facebook-rss-feeds-email.html">Twitter, Facebook, RSS, Email, Google+ - tips on use</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/11/infographic-comparing-facebook-and.html">Facebook and Google+ security and privacy</a><br /><a href="http://www.commoncraft.com/video/social-media">Common Craft Video on Social Media</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/p/create-personal-learning-network.html">Create a Personal Learning Network</a><br /><br /><br /><i><b>UPDATED thanks to a great comment below.</b></i><br /><b>6. <strike>Netiquette </strike> Digital Citizenship - Internet/Email/Social Media etiquette</b> - proper way to use the internet, write professional emails, use social media in relation to your job (not complaining about the boss). Using the web and social media with students, share proper use with them.<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netiquette">Netiquette - Wikipedia</a><br /><br /><br /><b>7. Security and Safety </b>- antivirus, spam, phishing, too much personal information sharing, stalkers, and more are all issues they need to know about. Educators need to be aware of this for their own protection, and to teach their students these important topics.<br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/04/internet-safety-resources-help-students.html">Internet Safety Resources</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2010/12/google-family-safety-center-help.html">Google Family Safety Center</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/12/google-good-to-know-online-safety-and.html">Google Good to Know online safety and internet data</a><br /><a href="http://www.commoncraft.com/video/secure-passwords">Common Craft Video on Secure Passwords</a><br /><br /><br /><b>8. Hardware basics and troubleshooting</b> - knowing what different parts of technology are called, how to make minor fixes, and how to do basic troubleshooting for WiFi, networks, OS won't load, etc.<br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2009/05/free-technology-tips-and-help.html">Free Tech Tips and Help</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2010/12/tech-ease-great-tech-support-site-for.html">TechEase - technology tips</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2009/05/online-tech-tips.html">Online Tech Tips - hardware, software, and more</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2010/12/teach-parents-tech-on-demand-tech.html">Tech Support help</a><br /><br /><br /><b>9. Backup data </b>- with all of the data that educators create for school and work, it is important to back it up and have access to it at any time. I deal with educators all the time who have lost their flash drive or had a flash drive die and never backed up their files somewhere else. The era of the flash drive is gone. Cloud computing it where it's at.<br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2012/03/world-backup-day-make-sure-your-data.html">Backup your Data - tools and resources</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2012/01/google-takeout-take-your-google-account.html">Google Takeout - export your Google data</a><br /><br /><br /><b>10. Finding apps and software</b> - how to find, evaluate, and use apps for school and business. Also, how to find quality, free alternatives to paid software, apps and services. Part of this for educators includes not only finding apps and software, but making sure that they aren't using these just to use technology. The lesson objectives come first and then you can look for technology that can enhance the lesson or help students.<br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2012/01/quixey-search-engine-for-apps.html">Quixey - Search engine for apps</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/why-do-schools-still-pay-so-much-for.html">Free Alternatives to Paid Software</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/p/google-for-educators_22.html">Google Apps Resources</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2010/10/free-apps.html">Free Apps</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/11/on-device-appssoftware-vs-web-apps.html">On device apps/software vs. web apps</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2009/07/own-smartphone-heres-were-you-can-find.html">SmartPhone Experts - apps, reviews, tech tips, and more for all smartphones</a><br /><br /><br /><b>Bonus:</b><br /><br /><b>11. Copyright and Citing Sources</b> - educators need to understand copyright laws and rules, how to cite a resource, and how to integrate someone else's work into their's properly. This is pretty timely considering that some educators have been stealing my blog work (along with other blogger's work) without following proper copyright procedures.<br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/09/taking-mystery-out-of-copyright-from.html">Taking the Mystery out of Copyright</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/citation-help-resources-make-citing.html">Citation Help</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><i>What do you think are the top tech skills educators need to know?</i><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Related:</b><br /><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/p/my-favorite-resources-for-teachers-and.html">My Favorite Resources for Students and Educators</a><br /><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2010/11/differentiating-with-web-20.html">Differentiating with Web 2.0 Technologies</a><br /><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/05/technology-i-use-everyday-as-educator.html">Technology I use Everyday as an Educator</a><br /><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/unfettered-by-stuff-or-why-i-dont-lug.html">Unfettered by Stuff - or "Why I don't lug stuff home every night"</a><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/p/google-for-educators_22.html">Google for Educators</a><br /><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/p/evernote-for-education.html">Evernote for Educators</a><br /><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/p/25-free-resources-from-discovery.html">25 Free Resources from Discovery Education</a><br /><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-technology-has-helped-during.html">Technology has Helped During Absences and Injuries</a><br /><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/03/tools-to-go-paperless-in-school-and-at.html">Tools to Go Paperless in School</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />

10 Technology Skills Every Educator Should Have

This past January I wrote "10 Tech Skills Every Student Should Have" and I have decided to modify it for the "10 Tech Skills...

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Open Education Week is this week - connect, create, share Education Resources

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAkn6AMRj84dnpO8CS6CXrgzTuKIE_JsgYGFJnsXLcpcLKSfMxjrn-Ax5Yh_JoBE_7UqAq9uC1pts4EGxN8nCQ4Y-tJwFIlVYFWRKrhs2FDz6dmkCLiOZsg1jZFFcALXjRo39cqQc8Je6/s1600/Open+Education+Week-142040.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAkn6AMRj84dnpO8CS6CXrgzTuKIE_JsgYGFJnsXLcpcLKSfMxjrn-Ax5Yh_JoBE_7UqAq9uC1pts4EGxN8nCQ4Y-tJwFIlVYFWRKrhs2FDz6dmkCLiOZsg1jZFFcALXjRo39cqQc8Je6/s1600/Open+Education+Week-142040.png" /></a></div><br /><br />This week is the first ever, <a href="http://www.openeducationweek.org/">Open Education Week (March 5 - 2012)</a>. The purpose is to "raise awareness of the open education movement and its impact on teaching and learning worldwide. Participation in all events and use of all resources is free an open to anyone."<br /><br />Educators, for the most part, share resources with each other. You can see this on blogs, Twitter and Google+ every day. We know that we are all in this together and we need to help other educators help our students.<br /><br />This site and movement want that sharing to expand to all educators.<br /><br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Open education is about sharing, reducing barriers and increasing access in education. It includes free and open access to platforms, tools and resources in education (such as learning materials, course materials, videos of lectures, assessment tools, research, study groups, textbooks, etc.). Open education seeks to create a world in which the desire to learn is fully met by the opportunity to do so, where everyone, everywhere is able to access affordable, educationally and culturally appropriate opportunities to gain whatever knowledge or training they desire.</blockquote><br />The Twitter hashtag for Open Education Week is #openeducationwk <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">The site has some great resources: </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="http://www.openeducationweek.org/category/blog/about-open-education/">ABOUT OPEN EDUCATION</a> page for introductory documents and videos. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Once you have a feel for what open education is, there are many ways you can participate in Open Education Week: </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">CONNECT……..Visit the <a href="http://www.openeducationweek.org/?page_id=1581">DISCUSSION</a> page often to see the continuing global conversation happening via blogs, Twitter and postings. Check out the <a href="http://www.openeducationweek.org/?page_id=1562">EVENTS AND WEBINARS</a> schedule and join in – participation is open to everyone. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">COLLECT………Find out about the diversity of open education efforts around the world. Visit the<a href="http://www.openeducationweek.org/?cat=47">PROJECTS</a> area and learn about open education resources and open learning opportunities available to you now. Find out what people are saying <a href="http://www.openeducationweek.org/?page_id=1583">HERE</a>. Check out the <a href="http://www.openeducationweek.org/category/blog/resources/">RESOURCES</a> tab for links to even more information. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">CREATE……….The “open” in open education means that you can modify them, mix them together in new ways, add your own perspectives and share them back to the world. Find out how through some of the video <a href="http://www.openeducationweek.org/?cat=47">PRESENTATIONS</a>. Put your thoughts down in a tweet or blog, create a video, or post a research paper. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">SHARE…………Tell people about your discoveries via Twitter using the hashtag #openeducationwk. You will be able to see the live Twitter feed on the <a href="http://www.openeducationweek.org/">HOMEPAGE</a>. Share your blog with us (find out how HERE). Let people know that there’s a world of free and open educational opportunities available to them now. Share your thoughts with us in the FEEDBACK area. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">CONNECT……….COLLECT……….CREATE……….SHARE……….</blockquote><br />Google is also supporting the Open Educational Resources movement:<br /><a href="http://googleresearch.blogspot.com/2012/03/keeping-oer-mind-about-shared-resources.html">http://googleresearch.blogspot.com/2012/03/keeping-oer-mind-about-shared-resources.html</a><br /><br /><br /><br />Join it. Connect, Collect, Create, and Share educational resources with other educators.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

Open Education Week is this week - connect, create, share Education Resources

This week is the first ever, Open Education Week (March 5 - 2012) . The purpose is to "raise awareness of the open education movement a...

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What's in your bag? What's in my educator bag - conferences, etc.

<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" id="il_fi" src="http://www.voltaicsystems.com/img/messenger/messenger-2-large.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><b id="internal-source-marker_0.6288867681287229"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m a physics teacher, so I don’t need to carry much to and from school (<a href="http://goo.gl/wyMTx">I have everything in the cloud</a>). </span></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I only carry my <a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/10/android-smartphone-and-apps-i-use-as.html">smart phone (Droid Incredible 2)</a> with me. Everything else is synced through <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTU5Mjc0NTI5">Dropbox</a> between my home and school computers. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At school, if I am going to a meeting or training, I either use my smart phone or <a href="http://goo.gl/PPglm">Google CR-48 Chromebook</a> while in the building. The CR-48 battery lasts forever and it’s very light. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If I’m going out of the building to a conference or training, I do use a bag that will have the following things in it:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- <a href="http://goo.gl/Pe6Ah">HP TouchPad </a>(in it’s case) </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- <a href="http://goo.gl/eHeeY">Livescribe Pen and Pad</a>  </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- regular pen and a small pad/post it notes combo</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- charger for my smart phone and TouchPad (although I’ve only needed the TouchPad charger for multi-day events). I also have an external battery for my phone that I sometimes bring. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- business cards</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- water</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- tissues</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- chap stick</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- If I’m presenting at a conference, I usually bring the Chromebook and my remote. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I always have my Swiss Army Flash knife on my key ring. It has a knife, screwdriver, pen, LED light, scissors, and a 4GB flash drive. Between this and my Droid I2 I rarely need anything else. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have a simple bag I got from the school that I put everything in.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If mobile/traveling for training and conferences:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tablet or laptop and charger</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CD/flash drive with apps and utilities</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pad and pen</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">dry erase markers</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">remote control</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">VGA cable</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">post it notes</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">water, snack, gum, chapstick, tissues</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">smartphone cable/charger</span><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/06/mimioteach-system-great-tools-for.html">Mimio</a> - turns any whiteboard into an interactive whiteboard.<br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><br /><b>What do you have in your bag?</b></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Related Articles:</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://box.net%20offering%2050gb%20free%20storage%20for%20ios%20users%20%28and%20here%20are%20some%20other%20options%29/">Cloud File Sync and Backup Services</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/07/hp-touchpad-review.html">HP TouchPad</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/10/android-smartphone-and-apps-i-use-as.html">Smartphone and Apps I Use as Educator</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/06/mimioteach-system-great-tools-for.html">Mimio Teach system</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2010/12/google-chrome-os-and-cr-48-notebook.html">Google Chromebook</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/11/livscribe-pen-great-cyber-monday-deal.html">Livescribe Pen</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/unfettered-by-stuff-or-why-i-dont-lug.html">Unfettered by Stuff - or Why I don't lug things home everynight</a><br /><br /><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/10/technology-i-use-on-daily-basis-updated.html">Technology I use on a Daily Basis - updated for this year</a><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>

What's in your bag? What's in my educator bag - conferences, etc.

I’m a physics teacher, so I don’t need to carry much to and from school ( I have everything in the cloud ).  I only carry my smart phone (Dr...

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Jonathan Bird's Blue World

<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0udElRCt1YuyoovgYAAsd-EgloDQUa5ezJOVhxM8Jo052em9ZxhNqfN7sHflPcljk2y7FEIINGWJlsUyqvC-FKDxeuZROcFFksravo3N1JzLeI5mT0_pGi-pNyvrMQgQO6-8nDBSL0E/s1600/jonathan+birds+blue+world.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475277286783174498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0udElRCt1YuyoovgYAAsd-EgloDQUa5ezJOVhxM8Jo052em9ZxhNqfN7sHflPcljk2y7FEIINGWJlsUyqvC-FKDxeuZROcFFksravo3N1JzLeI5mT0_pGi-pNyvrMQgQO6-8nDBSL0E/s400/jonathan+birds+blue+world.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.blueworldtv.com/index.html">Jonathan Bird's Blue World</a> is an Emmy award winning educational program that explores the wonders of the world's oceans. </div><div><br /></div><div>The program airs on public television, but the website also has <a href="http://www.blueworldtv.com/season_1.html">webisodes</a> on the site for you to view. They also have an educators' section with study guides for each episode, sea stories and web links. You can even book him to come to your school and do a presentation (for a fee). He is very dynamic and you can see an<a href="http://forum-network.org/lecture/swimming-dolphins"> example of one of his presentations</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some of the episode topics include: Sharks, whales, airplane graveyard in the sea, tropical fish, manta rays, and much more. There is also a section with videos describing the SCUBA gear that they use when filming and exploring the oceans.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is also a blog, <a href="http://jonathanbirdsblueworld.blogspot.com/">http://jonathanbirdsblueworld.blogspot.com/</a>, where they post information and news. </div><div><br /></div><div>I found the program to be well done and very interesting and the resources on the site for educators were great. Definitely a great resource for your classroom.</div><div><br /></div><div>On a side note, I actually went to college with Jonathan at <a href="http://www.wpi.edu/Admin/Alumni/News/washburn2000.html">WPI</a>. He was two years ahead of me, but was in a band with a friend of mine. He's a great guy and it's great to see another engineer doing educational work. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>some of the episodes:</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2S0pVGgHakI_5xozdM9f1g7JhQkIuhdDpqEdYm8Kc-mkE22wrxQLoScNElUwQ0Cjk1mn9FjMZr9xQB7FGRUDAtixMDB3IaKeki0OCeoIlqdBQoKRjiy-TOVP6L200L4842bxudFVKEEU/s1600/jonathan+birds+blue+world-episodes.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475277354928341186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2S0pVGgHakI_5xozdM9f1g7JhQkIuhdDpqEdYm8Kc-mkE22wrxQLoScNElUwQ0Cjk1mn9FjMZr9xQB7FGRUDAtixMDB3IaKeki0OCeoIlqdBQoKRjiy-TOVP6L200L4842bxudFVKEEU/s400/jonathan+birds+blue+world-episodes.png" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>

Jonathan Bird's Blue World

Jonathan Bird's Blue World is an Emmy award winning educational program that explores the wonders of the world's oceans. The progra...

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50 Free Collaboration Tools That Are Awesome for Education

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxV28hV5apcIMVSyRrgU9nbsQG-ZeQQDpQMTloozcKPF6bwXWLkii1gk1YpekbBjUzak1M5rHSVag6ybAdHqY1PNvV4BmumOR_fkr1RHpv4C1nuDp-PoizVgei13769QORUNQ5c6QQy4/s1600/Collaboration.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458117605254674450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxV28hV5apcIMVSyRrgU9nbsQG-ZeQQDpQMTloozcKPF6bwXWLkii1gk1YpekbBjUzak1M5rHSVag6ybAdHqY1PNvV4BmumOR_fkr1RHpv4C1nuDp-PoizVgei13769QORUNQ5c6QQy4/s400/Collaboration.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" /></a><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">image from </span><a href="http://www.digitalstrategy.govt.nz/Resources/Publications/digital-strategy-2-draft/draft_collaboration/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.digitalstrategy.govt.nz/Resources/Publications/digital-strategy-2-draft/draft_collaboration/</span></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.accreditedonlinecolleges.com/blog/2010/50-free-collaboration-tools/">This site has a list of 50 free collaboration tools</a> that can help with distance education, group projects, homework collaboration, or working with other schools. The tools allow for group papers, file sharing, communications, and much more. The resources are listed by topic for easy searching.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some of my favorites: Google Docs, Zoho, Skype, drop.io, Blogger, and Twitter.</div><div><br /></div><div>I already use some of these, but I found some really good new ones too.</div><div><br /></div>

50 Free Collaboration Tools That Are Awesome for Education

image from http://www.digitalstrategy.govt.nz/Resources/Publications/digital-strategy-2-draft/draft_collaboration/ This site has a list of 5...

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How do we motivate students?

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8IHMuGD6YwSiOrur-aNJ6RhIbvT27d94NzI2srt4TorPkQA5byqJ7yMu1__pWM-ObHiQdK0ZnquXQGltHv1erVqs1Ck7BkzVJGCL9TY-s0CDRdtCC1OPJYVqerWmK6wbY7rNGargdG0/s1600/missingmotivation.bmp" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455668545625255378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8IHMuGD6YwSiOrur-aNJ6RhIbvT27d94NzI2srt4TorPkQA5byqJ7yMu1__pWM-ObHiQdK0ZnquXQGltHv1erVqs1Ck7BkzVJGCL9TY-s0CDRdtCC1OPJYVqerWmK6wbY7rNGargdG0/s400/missingmotivation.bmp" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 252px; height: 310px;" /></a><div><br /></div><div>How do we motivate students? I know I don't know how to motivate all students. I try to tell them why learning is important, how an education can make them a better person (and more money) and how important it is to do your best in any endeavor.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some students are self-motivated. They want to do well. They compete with others to do well in school. They like the feeling they get when they do well. Some are motivated by their parents and a history of being pushed to do their best. </div><div><br /></div><div>What about the rest? I know some unmotivated students can actually get motivated when they finally do well on something. They get a taste of success and want to get more and more of it. Some students do things to avoid a punishment. That only works for so long. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then there are the students who aren't motivated because they don't see the point in education. Their parents aren't educated and they do ok in the student's eyes. Or, they see their friends working at the local store and think that is a great job (Stop and Shop is a coveted job by my students). The other issues we have to fight is students who see the guys selling drugs and making lots of money, and I've had students tell me why should they worry about school when their mom doesn't work but gets a check every month. There are a lot of things that affect how these students feel about education.</div><div><br /></div><div>In Connecticut, we have the CAPT test as our standardized test for 10th graders. One of the data points that the State and Feds look at is the percentage of the 10th grade class that takes all sections of the test. Many schools use prizes to motivate students to come every day to take the test. But this only works to get them there. What motivates students to do their best?</div><div><br /></div><div>In a <a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/should-we-force-students-to-learn.html">previous article</a>, I talked about forcing students to learn and how maybe we should look at more alternative programs for students who aren't interested in academics or college, but would rather do a trade, or learn better in different ways. I wonder what we can do to help motivate students who don't see the point in school or aren't into academics at all.</div><div><br /></div><div>We can use technology to give students access to new things and see new things to motivate them to do well and be successful so that they can go see these things for real. We can use technology to create alternative programs and online classes to help struggling students achieve success which will hopefully get them motivated to try to succeed all the time. We can use technology to make learning more fun and interactive and get these students to like learning. </div><div><br /></div><div>Rewards are good in some cases. Giving students free time, a pass on homework, time on a computer, etc. can get them to do some things and motivate them in some ways. But how long can rewards motivate students?</div><div><br /></div><div>We can show students data about how much more money they can make being educated. How much more of the world is opened up to them. But that won't motivate them all. </div><div><br /></div><div>We can show them what happens to drug dealers and how welfare is not the answer. But some of them won't care.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some ideas for motivating students (by getting them more interested in learning)</div><div>1. Be enthusiastic and positive about what you teach. Create a positive learning environment for them.</div><div>2. Let students have some of the fun and let them discover things on their own instead of telling them it all up front.</div><div>3. Use visual aids, movies, examples, props, demonstrations and more</div><div>4. Take a field trip and make it real</div><div>5. Show them how great it feels to succeed and do well (they will want that feeling again)</div><div>6. Give them praise for doing well (they will crave it more and more). Frequent, early praise show them that they can do well.</div><div>7. Care about students and their lives. Talk to them. Ask them how they are doing. Talk to them about why they didn't do the work and what might be bothering them. </div><div>8. Reward them with different things. But, start slowing down on the rewards and increasing the praise as time goes on. Sometimes the praise and attention of an adult is a reward for many students.</div><div>9. Create tasks and work that students can complete and succeed in doing (not too easy, not too hard). Give them the skills and resources they need to succeed. </div><div>10. Help your students find personal meaning and value in the material that you are teaching.</div><div>11. Make your students feel valued and special by acknowledging their contributions to the class.</div><div><br /></div><div>What else can we do to motivate students?</div><div><br /></div><div>Please share your ideas!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Resource:</span></div><div><a href="http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/motiv.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/motiv.htm</span></a></div><div><br /></div>

How do we motivate students?

How do we motivate students? I know I don't know how to motivate all students. I try to tell them why learning is important, how an educ...

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Great Educational Ideas from Colleges and the Boy Scouts

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNT7JF6IbGzxZ6CFtwKHxjVPHdCs_qbQDiy_iUjYkzKAQ0d6jt_Qq0xffTWBbgoeM7xjRimsT4RuQJ1juepWz0guypclkzlnrS-u38kivo-I6Us5nFCASwLr1n7fXdnIxQjuAeABUaLk/s1600/BsaLogoOriginal.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455229597122201842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNT7JF6IbGzxZ6CFtwKHxjVPHdCs_qbQDiy_iUjYkzKAQ0d6jt_Qq0xffTWBbgoeM7xjRimsT4RuQJ1juepWz0guypclkzlnrS-u38kivo-I6Us5nFCASwLr1n7fXdnIxQjuAeABUaLk/s400/BsaLogoOriginal.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 73px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXoreerEwJKNpA73pFjtPxCeHAswZZQaUnXnoSKDn0P39GLhP7lnRszclDHR53iyMmXSYIJaayzHkF2Y4uCkSUihKJoF3ne0lP2oJ7BnVDvjy8q1gWTzpx4buCMzpSJQkbwYoW8HjYno/s1600/wpi+logo.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455229420375710578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXoreerEwJKNpA73pFjtPxCeHAswZZQaUnXnoSKDn0P39GLhP7lnRszclDHR53iyMmXSYIJaayzHkF2Y4uCkSUihKJoF3ne0lP2oJ7BnVDvjy8q1gWTzpx4buCMzpSJQkbwYoW8HjYno/s400/wpi+logo.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 65px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;"></span><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;">cross posted at <a href="http://www.techlearning.com/blogs/28974">Tech&Learning Magazine</a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;"><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I went to college at <a href="http://www.wpi.edu/" id="vvl7" style="color: #551a8b;" title="Worcester Polytechnic Institute, WPI">Worcester Polytechnic Institute, WPI</a>, and majored in Aerospace Engineering. I worked for 10 years as an engineer before becoming a physics teacher. WPI has a unique curriculum, called <a href="http://www.wpi.edu/academics/catalogs/ugrad/wpiplan.html" id="lq47" style="color: #551a8b;" title="the WPI Plan">the WPI Plan</a>, consisting of 4 quarters instead of 2 semesters, 3 <a href="http://www.wpi.edu/academics/catalogs/ugrad/projects.html" id="n69g" style="color: #551a8b;" title="large projects,">large projects,</a> and course curriculum that are mainly project based. Each undergraduate has to complete a <a href="http://www.wpi.edu/academics/catalogs/ugrad/sufficiency.html" id="tt95" style="color: #551a8b;" title="Humanities Sufficiency Project">Humanities Sufficiency Project</a>, and <a href="http://www.wpi.edu/academics/catalogs/ugrad/iqp.html" id="y6rh" style="color: #551a8b;" title="Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP)">Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP)</a> and a <a href="http://www.wpi.edu/academics/catalogs/ugrad/mqp.html" id="jq82" style="color: #551a8b;" title="Major Qualifying Project (MQP)">Major Qualifying Project (MQP)</a>. The Sufficiency is a 3 credit project and course sequence in the humanities which ensures that all WPI graduates are well rounded. The IQP is a 9 credit project done in the junior year which relates science and technology to society and the MQP is a 9 credit project done in the senior year similar to a Master's thesis. The project based curriculum helps students learn content and develop problem solving, communications, and teamwork skills. It also helps develop ethics and responsibility in the students. I found that my <a href="http://www.wpi.edu/" id="n5i7" style="color: #551a8b;" title="WPI">WPI</a> education has prepared me for my career as an engineer, as well as an educator, and served me well in many capacities. </div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">This is the type of plan I try to use with my Physics students. I try to do as many labs, projects, and activities as I can because I know how well that works. The students are more engaged and tend to learn and remember concepts better. Project based learning is been proven to be a great way to educate students. In fact, WPI has done research on this topic. My IQP was on the quality of technical education in the US and we found that the students who did best in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) majors and careers were the ones who had a good background in high school, including collaborative projects. Other research at WPI has shown the same thing. Many educators and educational institutions also have shown that project based learning is a very effective way to teach and learn STEM topics. </div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.me.wpi.edu/" id="mfa5" style="color: #551a8b;" title="WPI's Mechanical Engineering Department">WPI's Mechanical Engineering Department</a> also has a great classroom called the <a href="http://www.me.wpi.edu/Resources/discovery.html" id="jziv" style="color: #551a8b;" title="Discovery Classroom">Discovery Classroom</a>. It is a lecture-style room with large tables for the students. It has multimedia capabilities, laptops for the students to use, and a room off to the side which contains equipment for demonstrations. This took a plain lecture hall and turned it into an interactive learning room. </div><br />WPI also has <a href="http://www.wpi.edu/academics/catalogs/ugrad/specialprog.html" id="do61" style="color: #551a8b;" title="some great programs for incoming freshmen">some great programs for incoming freshmen</a> to introduce them to the school and STEM topics and help prepare them for the rest of college. High Schools would do well to have similar programs that would help freshmen obtain the skills necessary to be successful in high school.<br /><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Other colleges have similar programs that emphasize group projects, the interaction of technology and society and a base in the humanities. High schools have also been moving more and more towards project based learning because it has been proven to work.</div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">K-12 education should take notice of some of the great and innovative things that colleges are doing and adapt them to their own schools. Many colleges have K-12 outreach programs and schools should take advantage of these. </div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I am also an <a href="http://www.scouting.org/about/factsheets/eaglescouts.aspx" id="ob51" style="color: #551a8b;" title="Eagle Scout">Eagle Scout</a>, which is the highest rank in the <a href="http://www.scouting.org/" id="ois4" style="color: #551a8b;" title="Boy Scouts">Boy Scouts</a>. I <a href="http://www.scouting.org/Visitor.aspx" id="jn54" style="color: #551a8b;" title="learned a lot">learned a lot</a> in the Boy Scouts besides certain skills in camping, hiking, and the like. I learned how to work as a team, how to be a leader, and how to plan things. In Boy Scouts, the adults are advisors and the scouts do the planning and running of events, training, and campouts. As an Assistant Scoutmaster, I worked with a group of 5 boys who planned and carried out a Camporee for over 500 scouts. The Boy Scouts aren't afraid to let the boys take charge and lead. The adults will step in when necessary, but the boys learn a lot by their mistakes too. The older, more experienced scouts help teach the younger, newer scouts. Discipline is also handled by older scouts and things run very smoothly.</div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I think schools should do more to let students make decisions and run things. Let the students come up with ideas for lessons, projects, programs and more. Let them lead these projects and have the teachers advise them. The students will learn valuable skills and feel what it is like to take charge of a situation. Have students teach and tutor other students. Have upperclassmen be mentors to the underclassmen. </div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Some schools already do these things, but others would do well to look outside for ideas for new and innovative programs. Colleges, youth groups, the military, and even business and industry have plenty of great programs and ideas for doing things. Many of them can be brought into K-12 education and can be used to improve student engagement, achievement, and skills building. We have a large number of problems in schools now, and educators have to be creative in coming up with ways to address them. Look to these other organizations for ideas and help. We don't have to do it on our own. </div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Please share your ideas of things from outside education that could be used inside education.</div><br />Resources/more information:<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.wpi.edu/" style="color: #551a8b;">http://www.wpi.edu/</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.scouting.org/scouting.aspx" id="j6cw" title="http://www.scouting.org/scouting.aspx">http://www.scouting.org/scouting.aspx</a></div><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-to-get-started-with-project-based.html" style="color: #551a8b;">http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-to-get-started-with-project-based.html</a><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-to-get-started-with-project-based.html" style="color: #551a8b;"></a><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/should-we-force-students-to-learn.html" style="color: #551a8b;">http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/should-we-force-students-to-learn.html</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/should-we-force-students-to-learn.html" style="color: #551a8b;"></a><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2010/03/whos-responsible-for-failing.html" style="color: #551a8b;">http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2010/03/whos-responsible-for-failing.html</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></span>

Great Educational Ideas from Colleges and the Boy Scouts

cross posted at Tech&Learning Magazine I went to college at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, WPI , and majored in Aerospace Engineering....

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it's learning Course Management System

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_K2e1jJDmw6lJxbdIGcabfIODtsP55m-r_wIDsV7Al1V6RaDGN_B-Msff2oc2XbF93IyunN54RBX0I6B-YIlQHk9u53Nr8FlhrZAOs2dY7lOHSsZoMpShPKl41lWhaGkRcIlOY-VZKpA/s1600-h/itslearning.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450031835783056754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_K2e1jJDmw6lJxbdIGcabfIODtsP55m-r_wIDsV7Al1V6RaDGN_B-Msff2oc2XbF93IyunN54RBX0I6B-YIlQHk9u53Nr8FlhrZAOs2dY7lOHSsZoMpShPKl41lWhaGkRcIlOY-VZKpA/s400/itslearning.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 244px;" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">It's very rare that I review apps and services that are not free. However, I found out about <a href="https://www.itslearning.com/">it's learning</a> last month and was able to see a demo and I really liked it as a course management system.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.itslearning.com/">it's learning</a> is a web-based system containing course management tools that enable students and teachers to create multimedia learning experiences. You can create your own content or merge free and commercial content into the library.</div><div><br /></div><div>You start with a dashboard that contains links to your courses, calendar, tasks, messages and more. The system is easy to navigate and quite intuitive. </div><div><br /></div><div>Features include: course listings, project management, calendar, messaging, ePortfolio's, a library of lesson plans, full search, a community forum, tasks, blogs, built-in audio and video recorders, plagiarism control and much more.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;font-size:medium;">Pricing is based on an annual license for each student and teacher,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">typically ranging between $10 - $15 per user/year. Parent and mentor<br />accounts are free.</span></span><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="https://www.itslearning.com/">it's learning</a> is a very good alternative to other course management systems like Blackboard or Moodle. I found it to be easier to navigate and use also.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(disclaimer - I was not paid for this review and have received nothing from it's learning for the review)</span></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Below is a full list of features and descriptions from their site:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;">it’s learning is a user-friendly and flexible learning platform that can be used for:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom: .1in;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;">Communication and cooperation<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom: .1in;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;">Administration, reporting and evaluation<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom: .1in;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3;tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;">Production and management of learning resources<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;">it’s learning is not adapted in any specific pedagogical direction. We supply the tools that are used to build up courses, while the teachers and schools fill the learning platform with content. it’s learning supports learning activity, new learning forms and simple access to knowledge. We support standardised e-learning standards such as AICC, IMS and SCORM.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;">User-friendliness is an important factor for successfully implementing a learning platform, whether in private or the public sector, or in an educational institution. Even if different e-learning systems often seem to include the same functions and tools, it is the intuitiveness of the user interface that in practice decides if the learning platform is actually used. When our customers choose it’s learning, it is most often because of the user-friendliness.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <h2 style="margin-top:.25in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 0in"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;color:#002B00;">Communication and cooperation<o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;">it’s learning has a number of built-in learning tools. The application can easily be set up so that only parts of these tools are made available for the users of the learning platform. This is an arena in which the participants cooperate, both synchronously and asynchronously. Available tools for communication and cooperation are, for example: the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.itslearning.com/help/en-US/Content/Messages/messages.htm"><span style="color:#0000D0;">internal message system</span></a>,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.itslearning.com/help/en-US/Content/Messages/email.htm"><span style="color:#0000D0;">e-mail</span></a>,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.itslearning.com/help/en-US/Content/Learning%20tools/discussions.htm"><span style="color:#0000D0;">discussions</span></a>,<a href="https://www.itslearning.com/help/en-US/Content/Learning%20tools/process_oriented_document.htm"><span style="color:#0000D0;">process-oriented documents</span></a>, bulletin boards and news services.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <h2 style="margin-top:.25in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 0in"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;color:#002B00;">Administration, reporting and evaluation<o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;">it’s learning is also an administrative tool, both for system administrators, course administrators and teachers. The idea behind the learning platform is that the teachers themselves have the flexibility to choose their own methodology in their educational work. Teachers are not dependent on a superior administrator to set up and administrate their learners and content resources. Reports are automatically generated providing overviews of the learning process, either of a single learner or that of a group. it’s learning also supports<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.itslearning.com/help/en-US/Content/Courses/portfolio_assessment.htm"><span style="color:#0000D0;">assessment portfolio</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>evaluation, and provides possibilities for individual follow-up and reflection.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <h2 style="margin-top:.25in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 0in"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;color:#002B00;">Production and management of learning resources<o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;">it’s learning is a powerful tool for production, organisation, updating and re-use of learning resources. We allow both internal and external tools for producing content.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;">Our users are interested in content production. By using the Add function in it’s learning, you can access about 15 different tools that allow you to add your own learning tools and organise them within a subject. You can organise course content in many different ways, for example, thematically, chronologically and functionally. For the more advanced users we recommend the additional module<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.itslearning.com/help/en-US/Content/Library/library.htm"><span style="color:#0000D0;">Library</span></a>. The Library allows teachers to create and share lessons. Our customers can also make their own learning tools by means of the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.itslearning.com/help/en-US/Content/Learning%20tools/proxytools.htm"><span style="color:#0000D0;">proxy tool</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>function.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt: double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;"> </span></p></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:10.0pt;color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div>

it's learning Course Management System

It's very rare that I review apps and services that are not free. However, I found out about it's learning last month and was able ...

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List of Resources I've recently posted to Twitter

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5Y0KVWTYkx03mEiBboZpXZhvoL87H91q8RzMQ8m0V497oVE0sjr-VRpIje6bKFOWjSsqfug67vDNJLnGIkoXq6Lx6AO4s9Kh6qqwU3mbf5gNj4-wj0n_PiK40OIwF3AwqUGd3QKTupE/s1600-h/twitter+logo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437352493378720610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5Y0KVWTYkx03mEiBboZpXZhvoL87H91q8RzMQ8m0V497oVE0sjr-VRpIje6bKFOWjSsqfug67vDNJLnGIkoXq6Lx6AO4s9Kh6qqwU3mbf5gNj4-wj0n_PiK40OIwF3AwqUGd3QKTupE/s400/twitter+logo.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 108px;" /></a><div>Here is a list of the resources I have posted on Twitter recently:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Tech Tip - how to mask your email address - <wbr></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://trunc.it/5l6sb">http://trunc.it/5l6sb</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Google Maps adds Lab features like aerial tilting view - <wbr></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://trunc.it/5icy2">http://trunc.it/5icy2</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://trunc.it/5icy2"><wbr> </a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Tips on Using Google Buzz - <wbr></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://trunc.it/5hyxi">http://trunc.it/5hyxi</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><wbr> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Surf Dog promotes literacy in children of all ages.<a href="http://www.surfdogsunsetbeach.com/"> <wbr></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.surfdogsunsetbeach.com/">http://www.surfdogsunsetbeach.com/</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Online Tech Tips - Google Buzz - <wbr></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://trunc.it/5euvr">http://trunc.it/5euvr</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">20 Free Apps for the Web 2.0 Student<a href="http://bit.ly/ckzSvH"> <wbr></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://bit.ly/ckzSvH">http://bit.ly/ckzSvH</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><wbr> - and some more - <wbr></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://trunc.it/5hfmc">http://trunc.it/5hfmc</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Digital Textbooks - online resources to replace your textbooks - <wbr></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://trunc.it/5hue5">http://trunc.it/5hue5</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Blogs as a teaching tool - some ideas for teachers and examples -<wbr></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://trunc.it/5gjeh">http://trunc.it/5gjeh</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Resources and tips for Using TV in the classroom - <wbr></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://trunc.it/5jbpb">http://trunc.it/5jbpb</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Evernote - note taking, web capture, image search & much more-great resource for getting organized-<a href="http://trunc.it/5htym"> <wbr></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://trunc.it/5htym">http://trunc.it/5htym</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://trunc.it/5htym"><wbr> </a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Aviary online graphics editors and web screen capture - <wbr></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://trunc.it/5dqbg">http://trunc.it/5dqbg</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://trunc.it/5dqbg"><wbr> </a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Science Lesson Resources - some great material -<a href="http://trunc.it/5hti2"> <wbr></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://trunc.it/5hti2">http://trunc.it/5hti2</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Alternative to Microsoft Office - OpenOffice - now with improved performance - <wbr></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://trunc.it/5hq7g">http://trunc.it/5hq7g</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Google Chrome Browser review and features - <wbr></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://trunc.it/5dozu">http://trunc.it/5dozu</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Tech Tip - are you being recorded in your classroom?<a href="http://www.180techtips.com/100.htm"> <wbr></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.180techtips.com/100.htm">http://www.180techtips.com/100.htm</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Great new Web 2.0 Resource from Discovery Education - <wbr></span></span><a href="http://web2010.discoveryeducation.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">http://web2010.discoveryeducation.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Tech Tip - What Does "beta" mean -<a href="http://www.180techtips.com/98.htm"> <wbr></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.180techtips.com/98.htm">http://www.180techtips.com/98.htm</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Some great PowerPoint tips and resources: <wbr></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://goo.gl/SAbu">http://goo.gl/SAbu</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><wbr> , <wbr></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.180techtips.com/99.htm">http://www.180techtips.com/99.htm</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div>Enjoy.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>

List of Resources I've recently posted to Twitter

Here is a list of the resources I have posted on Twitter recently: Tech Tip - how to mask your email address - http://trunc.it/5l6sb Google ...

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Practical Physics

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAm10pP8kqV669N_dLgAcDCe4YaCykw-JVUTRlFpUioDpd35EKPByG2mkDQlLn6gQm6GlkxZJ-QUykDxJ49YIiYWf0J-LiKA8RkzpRXC84KLKGfIG2yXkXSoVjLlMYFPDQSEMbJko8e5g/s1600-h/practical+physics.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433297288740186434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAm10pP8kqV669N_dLgAcDCe4YaCykw-JVUTRlFpUioDpd35EKPByG2mkDQlLn6gQm6GlkxZJ-QUykDxJ49YIiYWf0J-LiKA8RkzpRXC84KLKGfIG2yXkXSoVjLlMYFPDQSEMbJko8e5g/s400/practical+physics.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.practicalphysics.org/">Practical Physics</a> is a collection of physics labs and experiments, activities, and more. There are also lesson plans, tips, and guidance on how to teach different concepts in physics. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was very impressed with the collection of materials and was especially impressed with the guidance for teachers. This section can help teachers break down and explain concepts better.</div><div><br /></div><div>The<a href="http://www.practicalphysics.org/"> site</a> breaks things down by major physics topic. There are also sections on physics applications and physics at play which can help teachers give their students an example of why this concept is important or useful.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are also links to other physics resources.</div><div><br /></div><div>I found this <a href="http://www.practicalphysics.org/">site</a> to be very useful and very easy to use and have already used some resources from it in my physics classes.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>

Practical Physics

Practical Physics is a collection of physics labs and experiments, activities, and more. There are also lesson plans, tips, and guidance on...

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Great Web 2.0 resource site

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUI_9JiD99DpOEcabVtJs-nwozh5NqQ6iBOCjcNfkAbRTucD8qachtGqAbVYRr5EoKvawwVT2MnRykaToxuic9FK1-_w6cHaKTELBcARD03Fy0E4YpnKuFt8a_FUW3IxyjRJlUbxRZuIg/s1600-h/kevinhoneycutt.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426277310756014850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUI_9JiD99DpOEcabVtJs-nwozh5NqQ6iBOCjcNfkAbRTucD8qachtGqAbVYRr5EoKvawwVT2MnRykaToxuic9FK1-_w6cHaKTELBcARD03Fy0E4YpnKuFt8a_FUW3IxyjRJlUbxRZuIg/s400/kevinhoneycutt.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" /></a><div><br /></div><div>Kevin Honeycutt has a<a href="http://kevinhoneycutt.org/"> great site</a> with information, videos, links, and resources for Web 2.0 tools for educators and how to use them. He also has other information and links for online safety and cyber-bullying. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've only begun to delve into his site and I have already found a huge amount of resources. Check it out.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>

Great Web 2.0 resource site

Kevin Honeycutt has a great site with information, videos, links, and resources for Web 2.0 tools for educators and how to use them. He al...

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The Value of Educational Technology

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoS2aCYbb_VG6jCRaWKWiE7Pqksmompf99AB_OHK_tZLbXmpFNeNHpwWTHYJSkMVH4-STMASzzQMI5jOw1JkVdq65S2Yd2RwORcOyNbzyq8lLlcZJl3Oov2if5zqDlOfhL0GO3tfB86U/s1600-h/value+of+edtech.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423260385960520290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoS2aCYbb_VG6jCRaWKWiE7Pqksmompf99AB_OHK_tZLbXmpFNeNHpwWTHYJSkMVH4-STMASzzQMI5jOw1JkVdq65S2Yd2RwORcOyNbzyq8lLlcZJl3Oov2if5zqDlOfhL0GO3tfB86U/s400/value+of+edtech.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div>I recently had a colleague ask me "why should I learn this tech stuff. How will it help me or my students?" I answered that it could make him more<a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2009/09/what-technology-i-use-on-daily-basis.html"> efficient and organized, able to learn new things, and allow his students to do new things, explore, engage, create, and have fun learning.</a> We talked for a few more minutes and I convinced him to come to a professional development session I was running entitled "An Introduction to Educational Technology" where I introduce some basic edtech tools and resources and show the participants <a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2009/10/getting-started-with-educational.html">how to get started using educational technology</a>. Many teachers are intimidated by everything out there, so I also point them <a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2009/12/web-20-conquering-technophobia.html">towards resources that can help them overcome their fears</a> and learn to use the resources. </div><div><br /></div><div>The conversation got me thinking more about the value of educational technology. I have always believed in edtech as a valuable educational tool and resource, but I wanted to try to verbalize my beliefs better and come up with concrete examples. So, here goes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Value of Educational Technology: (or, how does it help teachers and students)</div><div><ol><li>Organization - things like Google Calendar, iGoogle, Evernote help keep us organized and more efficient</li><li>Collaboration - Google Docs, Twitter, Prezi, Blogs, Wiki's, Scriblar, and more allow teachers and students to interact, work together, and work with others. </li><li>Web 2.0 - in general, allows students and teachers to create and interact instead of just observing</li><li><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2009/11/creating-personal-learning-network-pln.html">Personal Learning Network (PLN)</a> - learning and sharing what you know</li><li>Professional development - <a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2009/10/professional-development-resource.html">online resources</a>, informal through PLN, online classes</li><li>Research/Information - the internet ('nuff said)</li><li>Virtual labs, trips - take your students to places they'd never get to see otherwise, do labs and experiences with them, even when you don't have the supplies or equipment.</li><li>Save time and money</li><li><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2009/11/how-technology-can-help-improve.html">Provide new learning experiences and help improve education</a></li><li>Connect with students and parents easier - email, websites, blogs, etc.</li><li>Provide differentiated educational experiences (video, audio, print, interactive, help and tutoring)</li></ol><div>I was trying to figure out how much money I have saved in my classroom alone by utilizing educational technology in place of other things. </div><div><ul><li>My physics classes do not have a textbook because I use two free online physics texts, three great websites, and a free downloadable pdf version of a physics textbook. Savings of $140 per student. (the textbook we have is very old and out of date)</li><li>I don't print out anywhere near the amount of paper for students that I used to because I post things on the class blogs and website. Savings of literally tens of thousands of pieces of paper and copier toner and my time.</li><li>Electronic grade book, attendance, note taking, etc. has saved money on grade books and paper (and allowed parents to keep track of their child's performance)</li><li>Free online virtual labs and simulations instead of paying for licenses or lab equipment</li><li>Free software / services (Google Docs, Sites, Blogger, Evernote, etc) instead of paying for licenses - students can therefore do things at home that they normally couldn't afford to do either.</li></ul><div>I could not put a numeric value on educational technology. I know I save money, I know I save time, I know I offer my students labs and experiences that I couldn't otherwise (due to budget issues), I know the students have fun, I know that they are creating instead of just consuming, I know I am more efficient and more organized, I know I learn a lot from my PLN, I know my students learn a lot from the class and their work. How do you put a price on that? I think it is priceless. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>What do you think the value of educational technology is?</div><div><br /></div><div>Can we quantify it with numbers and data?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>

The Value of Educational Technology

I recently had a colleague ask me "why should I learn this tech stuff. How will it help me or my students?" I answered that it cou...

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Harvard WIDE World Online Classes

<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415519786617064066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPc5h8yGJOWHQbNz5UMZKuQulT_7LDvOW19FFKHnwSsAvTvkBcfyJ47FWJSw8TwEIO6Iu2Asl81_94HUvDc6fQ51Z6JdvR_YG0MaW9OVtQrO12CZG5fVBczTiTB_-dH-5kSLgTSjngsEA/s400/Harvard+WIDE+1.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It is rare that I mention, let alone recommend, something that costs money, but this one is well worth it.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.gse.harvard.edu/">Harvard's Graduate School of Education</a> has a great online program called <a href="http://wideworld.pz.harvard.edu/">WIDE World. </a></div><div><a href="http://wideworld.pz.harvard.edu/">WIDE World</a> offers online certificate courses for educators on topics ranging from Teaching for Understanding to Differentiation to Teaching with New Technologies.</div><div><br /></div><div>They have courses of study, or you can take individual courses that you are interested in.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have taken <a href="http://wideworld.pz.harvard.edu/en/prog/tech1.html">Teaching to Standards with New Technologies 1</a> and<a href="http://wideworld.pz.harvard.edu/en/prog/tech2.html"> 2</a>. I found the courses to be well designed and planned out. Each course had readings from books and web sites, online activities, research and assignments, and online discussions as part of the program. WIDE World emphasizes Understanding By Design and we used the UbD lesson format in our assignments.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is a discounted fee for people who sign up as part of a group.</div><div><br /></div><div>I recommend this program to my colleagues.</div><div><br /></div><div>I would like to hear feedback from any readers who have taken courses through Harvard's <a href="http://wideworld.pz.harvard.edu/en/index.html">WIDE World program</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415519281153851842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxgC-rwmaaiKV2s_ldmr9RHw2tmhe9w0jRnjQ-20SRm0wnEr8VajmxkHVXgJaynyV1jV-HFsi4XaydqLD8vST4lM90mF9ys3k3Up5IyoSjMZ0K2aVe2nSdC87WxqjabqmlFYNsYoF1nw/s400/Harvard+WIDE.jpg" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 326px; " /></div><div><br /></div>

Harvard WIDE World Online Classes

It is rare that I mention, let alone recommend, something that costs money, but this one is well worth it. Harvard's Graduate School of ...

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Great idea for technology and kids

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1DwVaJNSYUOgIcy_HOPy6v3TuiTyPv_Vkq4m6o1-ZFlVibg9gbJUgppbGUORO51WSeH5i8Lbu3CsVZnyTSaxzXILNqRVX38zlM1ctOrscl0CBu-BQykI8W4ik55Tjlke8WmfhdxgsSY/s1600-h/izup.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392158233832825138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1DwVaJNSYUOgIcy_HOPy6v3TuiTyPv_Vkq4m6o1-ZFlVibg9gbJUgppbGUORO51WSeH5i8Lbu3CsVZnyTSaxzXILNqRVX38zlM1ctOrscl0CBu-BQykI8W4ik55Tjlke8WmfhdxgsSY/s400/izup.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 138px;" /></a><div>I saw this <a href="http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_13540026">ARTICLE</a> in the local paper today. A mother designed a system to work with cellphones to prevent their use in a car. What I like the most about it is that it is really geared towards teen drivers, who are most likely to use their cell phone and text while driving. </div><div>The system is called <a href="http://getiZUP.com">the iZUP. </a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://getiZUP.com">The iZUP</a> will be available online at </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://getiZUP.com">getiZUP.com</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> next month. A single device will cost $4.95 a month or $49.95 year or a family plan with three or more devices will cost $5.95 a month or $59.95 a year.</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>I will be mentioning this to parents of my students and talking to my students about texting and using cell phones while driving. In my physics classes I can relate this to forces and the damage and impact makes. In the EMT class, I show them the results of accidents from distracted drivers.</div><div><br /></div><div>While this is not a free resource, it is very worthwhile.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>

Great idea for technology and kids

I saw this ARTICLE in the local paper today. A mother designed a system to work with cellphones to prevent their use in a car. What I like ...

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Free Resource from Edutopia

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLZgR5XW7DMWPUEsEgIOT_V0AoBj5ir8uvf1x9IEdb6HGWLgNNT1Dr_QpuxzOfAFh6yzlmL5RHDdjPFyRPAogG6iq8OY2ygJaIMI-6XC0LCotRJNsSJqcbLvCj3-pmm_UAQcLns1Dgtc/s1600-h/edutopia.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381822861186892738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLZgR5XW7DMWPUEsEgIOT_V0AoBj5ir8uvf1x9IEdb6HGWLgNNT1Dr_QpuxzOfAFh6yzlmL5RHDdjPFyRPAogG6iq8OY2ygJaIMI-6XC0LCotRJNsSJqcbLvCj3-pmm_UAQcLns1Dgtc/s400/edutopia.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 100px;" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.edutopia.org/">Edutopia</a>, the George Lucas Educational Foundation, has a free, downloadable resource for teachers entitled <a href="http://www.edutopia.org/ten-top-tips">"Top Ten Tips for Teaching with New Media"</a>. It is a PDF file. </div><div><br /></div><div>The <a href="http://www.edutopia.org/ten-top-tips">document</a> contains some very good tips on applying new technologies and media to classroom education. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.edutopia.org/">Edutopia's website</a> also has a lot of great resources for teachers. You can also join for a small yearly fee and get even more resources and a subscription to the Edutopia magazine.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is one of the few educational resources that I pay for because I find it very useful and helpful.</div>

Free Resource from Edutopia

Edutopia , the George Lucas Educational Foundation, has a free, downloadable resource for teachers entitled "Top Ten Tips for Teaching ...

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New Teacher Advice

<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 0, 51); font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:13px;"><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">WELCOME NEW TEACHERS!</span></span></b></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">As I was realizing that summer was almost up, I also realized that there will be a new batch of teachers to join our distinguished profession. So here it is, my advice to new teachers.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Your best resource as a new teacher is yourself. Use what you learned in school. Seek out more information from colleagues and the Internet. Use your creativity. Remember what it was like to be a student yourself.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Ask for help. Don't be afraid to ask other teachers for help. Do not isolate yourself in your classroom. Make connections with other teachers, whether it is in person, by email, Facebook, Ning, Twitter, web sites, or blogs.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Don't reinvent the wheel. Use the resources that are available to you. Most textbooks now come with instructor resource CD-ROMs and companion web sites. Use the resources that they have and then modify them as needed. Search the Internet for lesson plan ideas, activities, classroom management tips, and other tips and tricks.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Stay organized. You need to stay organized. Make sure you have a lesson plan guide and calendar of some sort. You can use a paper based planner and lesson planner or use an electronic or web-based system. Smartphones, such as those from Palm (Centro), RIM (Blackberry), and Apple (iPhone) are great for staying organized. You can also use online resources like Google, Yahoo, Evernote and others to keep your files, calendar, tasks, and lesson plans organized. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Write things down and make sure you have your classroom materials organized and labeled.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Take advantage of professional development opportunities. Your district and school will run professional development sessions, but don't limit yourself to those. Look for free online sessions, webcasts, conferences, and sessions run by your local educational resource agency.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Join a professional society in your area. As a physics teacher, I have joined the National Science Teacher's Association (NSTA) and the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). Find out what organizations are in your area and join them. You will find resources and contacts through these organizations.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Read journals. Subscribe to and read educational journals. Most are free, so you don't have to worry about the money. There are journals on general education, educational technology, pedagogy, assessment, and just about every other area of education.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Be creative with your lessons. Think outside the box. Come up with new, fun ways to teach the students. Use projects and project-based-learning as a way to engage and teach your students. You can find a huge number of resources and ideas for projects on the web.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Read some books on education. My personal favorites to start with are </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0962936065?ie=UTF8&tag=educatechnguy-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0962936065%22%3EThe%20First%20Days%20Of%20School:%20How%20To%20Be%20An%20Effective%20Teacher%3C/a%3E" rel="nofollow" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">"First Days of School", by Harry Wong</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">, and </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0761529691?ie=UTF8&tag=educatechnguy-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0761529691%22%3EYour%20First%20Year%20As%20a%20High%20School%20Teacher%20:%20Making%20the%20Transition%20from%20Total%20Novice%20to%20Successful%20Professional%3C/a%3E" rel="nofollow" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">"Your First Year as a High School Teacher", by Lynne Rominger</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">, et al.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Don't pay for things if you can get them for free. There are tons of free resources, from software to web sites, that can help you in your classroom.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Make connections with the secretaries and custodians in your building. They will be some of your best resources for supplies, ideas, and help.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Make connections with local businesses, especially those that are related to your subject area. They can be a huge resource for guests, supplies and equipment, and funding. Many local businesses, such as Staples, have Teacher Appreciation Days with discounts and free gifts. Find out about these. Remind businesses that instead of throwing out things, they can donate usable items to your school as a tax write-off.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Get to know the publisher's representative for your class's textbook. They can get you a lot of resources.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Be flexible. Remember Murphy's law. Have plans for when your lessons run short or long, to deal with interruptions and fire drills, assemblies, and days when much of your class is absent because of a field trip. Have back up plans for everything and especially have backup plans in case of technology issues.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Know your local and State curriculum. Know what is expected of you. Know what is expected of the students.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Track your personal expenses and save receipts. There is a tax deduction for educators.</span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Copyright issues - be careful and make sure you know about Educational Copyright issues</span><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Keep up on your certification requirements.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Ask for help, and look for help. Again, don't be afraid to ask for help. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Good luck and welcome to the profession!</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Here is a list of my favorite sites and resources (all are free / have free versions)</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Google for Educators: </span><a href="http://www.google.com/educators/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">http://www.google.com/educators/index.html</span></a></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Evernote: </span><a href="http://www.evernote.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">http://www.evernote.com/</span></a></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">SugarSync: </span><a href="https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=c6g3ccjrtagq2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=c6g3ccjrtagq2</span></a></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Tech&Learning Magazine: </span><a href="http://www.techlearning.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">http://www.techlearning.com/</span></a></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">THE Journal: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://thejournal.com/Home.aspx">http://thejournal.com/Home.aspx</a></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Engrade: <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://www.engrade.com/">http://www.engrade.com/</a></span></span></p></span>

New Teacher Advice

WELCOME NEW TEACHERS! As I was realizing that summer was almost up, I also realized that there will be a new batch of teachers to join our d...

Read more »