September, 2012

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Fostering Creative Thought Through Tweets

A Principal's Reflections

'The other day I began conducting formal observations of my teachers. My second observation of the day took me to an English class. During the opening moments of the 9 th grade English class I was pleasantly surprised when the teacher quickly reviewed the summer choice reading assignment that was due in a few days. She used social media, specifically Twitter, to increase student engagement as well as relevancy and meaning.

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Infographic on Technology in the Classroom - What Teachers Want

Educational Technology Guy

'An interesting infographic from PBS on what teachers want for technology in the classroom: Related: 10 Essential Educational Resources for Teachers - my list. This post originally appeared on Educational Technology Guy. Feel free to share summaries and links to these articles, but do not copy and repost entire article. Follow me on Twitter and Google+.

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Apps That Teach! (And Might Be Fun Too.)

The Web20Classroom

'I get asked a lot what are my favorite apps. And I usually can rattle off a few. Evernote, Twitter, Wunderlist to name a few. But what about apps that actually teach? What about apps that kids (or you) can use to learn? I have a few teachers in my district working on a 1:1 tablet project and we are going to be introducing some apps in a few weeks that are fun but have a purpose.

Android 266
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The Dog in BYOD-- make sure you have tissues ready

Baker's B.Y.O.D.

'On the Moose River near Jackman, ME Brody is 8.5 years old and with his graying muzzle, it is evident that he is starting to show his age. I''m reminded that my super-hero dog is mortal. This scares me. Brody has been a faithful companion, trail buddy, swim partner, and emotional rock for 8.5 years now. For 7 of those years he has walked the halls of Southern Regional with me, saying hi to students and staff, offering an ear for reading, snoozing while I teach, and soothing anyone in need.

BYOD 163
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Enhancing Higher Education with Generative AI: A Responsible Guide

Generative AI holds tremendous promise for all stakeholders in higher education. But guardrails are needed. Strong governance that empower instructors are at the core of a responsible approach to using generative AI in academia.

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10 Things School Leaders Do to Kill a Teacher's Enthusiasm for Technology

The 21st Century Principal

'Here''s a list of ten things a school leader does to kill any teacher’s enthusiasm for using technology in their classrooms. An alternative title for this list might be, “10 Things a 21st Century School Leader Will Not Do to Discourage Teachers from Engaging in the Use of Technology.” 1. Mandate the use of technologies or specific programs. One of the fastest ways to kill an educator''s enthusiasm for infusing technology is mandate a specific technology or specific program.

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50 Shades of Mobile

The Mobile Native

'Smart phones (MLDs) 1. SMCS Mobile Learning Technology 2. The Mobile Learning Portal 3. Learning in Hand 4. Cybrary Man''s Mobile Learning Page 5. 100 Mobile Tools for Teachers 6. Breaking the Cell Phone Ban 7. Go Mobile 4 Learning 8. Tool for Learning or Distraction? 9. 50+ Tips and Resources 10. Learning2Go iPads 11. iPad Apps Separated by Subject Area 12. iPad/iPod Resources 13. 102 Interesting Ways to Use iPads in the Classroom 14.

Mobility 111

More Trending

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Google Field Trip - app that finds info about where you are

Educational Technology Guy

'Google has a cool new app for Android , called " Field Trip ". It helps you find things about what''s around you. It runs in the background and when you get close to something interesting, it pops up with details about that location. You can use it to learn more about historical locations, buildings, stores and restaurants and more. It takes information from a variety of sources, along with your location data, to produce these results.

Google 256
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The Most Common Questions (And Answers) I Get About Twitter

The Web20Classroom

'A while back I wrote a 3 part series on Twitter. In Part One I shared how I do Twitter PD, which might not be the way you think. In Part Two , I crowdsourced what some folks on Twitter wish they had know before getting started. And in Part Three I shared some of my tips tricks and secrets. I am revisiting the tips and tricks section because a few things have changed, or been added to and I have some new ideas I want to share.

Twitter 253
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Flipping testing skills in Week 3

Baker's B.Y.O.D.

'I identify with the tenets of flipped approached and find that it is a natural fit for much of what I do in my student-centered, collaborative learning environment. A hybrid-mastery approach works well for my style, but I cannot be completely asynchronous for a number of reasons both curricular and logistical. To highlight Cheryl Morris'' explanation of the Flipped Method in English/Language Arts : Flipping English is about two things: 1) helping students take responsibility for their own learn

Edmodo 90
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9 Principles of Courageous Leadership for 21st Century School Leaders

The 21st Century Principal

'“A common requirement of leaders at all levels is having the courage to make tough decisions and take difficult actions,” write authors David Cottrell and Eric Harvey in their book Leadership Courage: Leadership Strategies for Individual and Organizational Success. A big part of courage in 21st century leadership is standing up for what is right. As Cottrell and Harvey correctly describe, “ The true measure of leadership is the ability to look in the mirror and know that you had the courage to

Strategy 100
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Enhancing School Device Management for Improved Learning

Schools face increasing challenges as technology becomes integral to education. Efficient device management is essential for maximizing technology use and safeguarding investments. Our article discusses the importance of tracking devices, outlines current challenges, and suggests modern solutions that go beyond traditional methods like Excel. Learn how advanced tracking systems can streamline operations, improve maintenance, and offer real-time updates for better resource allocation.

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Flummox and Friends

SpeechTechie

'If you follow my posts here, you know I have a strong interest in social learning, and I am always looking for ways to engage my students in developing social cognition. Video is definitely an engaging medium to help students discuss social interactions in context. The problem with finding fun, engaging video is, well, finding it and knowing the timing of clips, etc.

iPad 97
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Great Reads for School Leaders

A Principal's Reflections

'Well the summer is unofficially over and all I can say is that it was one of the most productive breaks I have had in recent memory from a reading standpoint. I made a commitment to set aside time to read, something that I have failed miserably at in the past. The challenge for me though was to select books that were not only engaging, but would push my thinking on educational leadership.

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My Experience as a Paramedic on 9-11-01

Educational Technology Guy

'I am a paramedic and I was an Aerospace Engineer before I became a teacher. On this 11th anniversary of that horrible day, I would like to share my experience of that event. I was working at Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford, CT as an engineer on that day. We started to get information from phone calls and then we all started checking the internet for news.

Training 244
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Online Teacher Development Works Best - 15 Reasons Why

Nik Peachey

I've started this article with quite a bold statement, but it's a conclusion that I have been coming to over the course of quite a few years now. I should really put this into context though, as most of the teacher training I do deals with pedagogical training for the use of technology and is most often delivered during intensive face to face sessions, usually with groups of teachers working in a computer lab.

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Quickly Create Personalized Learning Experiences that Work

How can we actively engage learners 24/7, on their level and according to their interests, while respecting their learning styles? It’s not impossible. In this guide: Explore how to transform traditional, one-way videos into two-way interactive learning experiences Understand different types of artificial intelligence (AI), including - Generative vs.

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The Beast of the East

Baker's B.Y.O.D.

'Me, going down & up a hill While this title sounds like something my cross-country, Californian colleagues might call me (#thatsajoke), this is really referring to the 10K McGuire Mud Run held at Fort Dix, NJ. Yes, 10k. And I''m not a great runner. I don''t usually run. But the focus in this race is on the process: my mom, siblings & I encouraging each other and using team work to overcome ridiculously muddy obstacles.

Meeting 90
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6 Key Personal Learning Network Literacies Every Educator Needs

The 21st Century Principal

'“We now live in a world where even twelve-year olds can create their own global classrooms around the things about which they are are most passionate,” writes Will Richardson in an essay entitled “Navigating Social Networks as Learning Tools.” Richardson adds this about our students, “Most of them have no adults, neither teachers nor parents, in their lives, who can help them see and employ the learning potential at hand.

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What to do with that SmartBoard?

SpeechTechie

'As you start your new school year, you may find yourself having access to an interactive whiteboard (IWB), either a SMART or Promethean board, or perhaps even another brand such as an ENO. Maybe you have one in your treatment room, or are working in classrooms where these boards are available. "Available" may seem like a complicated word to use, because you may not know what to do with the board, and are prohibited from writing on it with whiteboard markers, leaving you with perhaps a lot less

iPad 80
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Doing What It Takes To Support Learning (Part 1)

A Principal's Reflections

'I am a firm believer that schools must do everything possible to provide students with enriching learning experiences both during and outside of the school day. It is also essential that schools support our students when they seek out meaningful learning opportunities on their own even if they occur when school is not in session. In my opinion this is a no-brainer as it is our jobs to instill a passion for learning amongst our students.

Learning 203
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Can Brain Science Actually Help Make Your Training & Teaching Stick?

Speaker: Andrew Cohen, Founder & CEO of Brainscape

The instructor’s PPT slides are brilliant. You’ve splurged on the expensive interactive courseware. Student engagement is stellar. So… why are half of your students still forgetting everything they learned in just a matter of weeks? It's likely a matter of cognitive science! With so much material to "teach" these days, we often forget to incorporate key proven principles into our curricula — namely active recall, metacognition, spaced repetition, and interleaving practice.

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Edmodo - first year using it with my students - so far, AWESOME!

Educational Technology Guy

'For the last few years I''ve used a website and blog to communicate with students, hold online discussions, offer help and post resources. Maintaining the two different systems wasn''t always easy, there were features I wanted, and it was all public. So, this year I decided to use Edmodo with my classes. It has been great already. Edmodo is a free, learning management system that is full featured and easy to use.

Edmodo 210
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Common Core: Addressing Text Complexity through Digital Resources

wwwatanabe

'The Internet is a key resource for text complexity. We are in a day and age where information and resources are at our fingertips. I frequently see people use the Internet to look up recipes, movie listings, and news; however, I still don''t see it as a natural source for engaging rigorous learning in the classroom. Why? Maybe it''s a matter of understanding what text complexity is really asking us, or how to create rigorous and deeper engaging tasks associated with the text.

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Tonight - Ron Ritchhart on "Making Thinking Visible"

The Learning Revolution Has Begun

'Join me today, Tuesday, September 25th, for a one-hour live and interactive FutureofEducation.com webinar with Ron Ritchhart on his new book, Making Thinking Visible : How to Promote Engagement, Understanding, and Independence for All Learners. Ron has been a researcher at Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education since 1994. His research focuses on understanding how to develop, nurture, and sustain thoughtful learning environments for both students and teachers.

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Turning Your Classrooms into 21st Century Learning Spaces

The 21st Century Principal

'“Where a school is located and how it sets up internal structures determine its possibilities,” writes Heidi Hayes Jacob in the book Curriculum 21: Essential Education for a Changing World. As she argues in this book, we have inherited spaces in our buildings that were designed for learning of another era. Tearing down and rebuilding our schools is hardly a tasteful option in an era of tight budgets and a total lack of funding.

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Behind the Bell: The Underlying Impact of Tardiness in K-12 Schools

Managing a K-12 campus with constant pressure to meet performance metrics is challenging. And tardiness can significantly limit a school from reaching these goals. Learn more about why chronic lateness matters, and key strategies to address the following impacts: Data errors caused by manual processes Low attendance and graduation rates that affect a school’s reputation Classroom disruption, which leads to poor academic performance High staff attrition and “The Teacher Exodus” Unmet LCAP goals t

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Boston Area Peeps- Course in Tech Integration for SLPs and Language Teachers

SpeechTechie

'Hi Folks, Just want to spread the word that I am again teaching the course "Tech Links to Language Interventions" through EDCO Greater Boston Collaborative this October. This is a hybrid class with one face-to-face workshop day on October 11 in Waltham and a month of follow up activities online (totaling 2 days time, all said). I taught it last spring and it was a lot of fun!

Course 72
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Week #2- Artistry & Collaboration

Baker's B.Y.O.D.

'Week 2 Break Down: 1. Narrative Terms & Literary Devices 2. Collaborative Google Docs 3. Socrative Space Race 4. Seniors vs Freshmen "Bouquet of Sunflowers" by Claude Monet Oil on Canvas, 1881 "Flower"by Katherine Baker, Microsoft Paint, 2012 With the freshmen, I start the year off working with Narrative Terms and showing how an author can add artistry to writing.

BYOD 60
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Anatomy of a Teacher - infographic with interesting data on teachers and schools

Educational Technology Guy

'Anatomy of a Teacher is an interesting infographic with data on teachers - percentage female vs. male, public vs. private schools, student/teacher ratios, salary, working hours and more. Take a look and see if the data matches your situation and share it with others. Source: [link]. This post originally appeared on Educational Technology Guy. Feel free to share summaries and links to these articles, but do not copy and repost entire article.

Data 204
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Confessions and Learnings of an EdTech Enabler

EdTechSandyK

'Photo Used Under a Creative Commons License Some Typical EdTech Scenarios Ms. Jones calls in a panic - her students are trying to get to the documents she shared with them on the school server and no one can find them. "The folder was just there," she says, "and now it''s gone!" Knowing her history of "organizing" things, I run down to her classroom and in two shakes I move the folder students need access to out of the other folder where she''s stored it.

EdTech 67
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The Battle of the Authoring Tools: A 10-Point Comparison for Picking the Right One

Speaker: Chris Paxton McMillin, President of D3 Training Solutions

There are plenty of great authoring tools for developing eLearning, but the one you select could directly impact your course's outcomes. Depending upon your learners’ needs and your organization’s performance goals, you could be overlooking considerations that impact the both effectiveness of your courses and how long it takes to finish them. From general capabilities to specific workflow structures, some aspects are critical when it comes to learning objectives and deadlines.

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Dear Faculty, What Would You Like Me to Ask Google?

mauilibrarian2 in Olinda

'Dear Faculty, Is there anything you would like me to ask the folks at the Google Teacher Academy next week? Someone already gave me a question to ask: "The Google Site search could use improvement in my opinion. If I do a keyword search to find a site, I get way more than I need. Are tags the only solution, or is Google planning something new?" Please use the Google form below to submit your question.

Google 61
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5 Suggestions for 21st Century School Leaders on Web Presence Management

The 21st Century Principal

'According to Kitty Porterfield and Meg Carnes, in the book Why Social Media Matters: School Communication in the Digital Age , school leaders should “Think of your website as home base for your school information platform.” A great deal is written about school leaders engaging in the use of social media. I myself have done the same. But, most of us have a more powerful way to communicate information and image to the broader world than social media, and that is our school or district web presenc

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Language Adventures updated with new content!

SpeechTechie

'I am really proud to announce that one of the apps I have worked on, Language Adventures, was just updated with DOUBLE the content. Language Adventures was first released this past spring, as a contextual board game for iPad with "flexible word use" targets across three categories: synonyms, antonyms, and multiple meanings. The app allows you to choose a level, roughly geared at early elementary/upper elementary-MS/MS-HS, for up to four players with fun use of their photographs during the game.

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Start the Year with Contracts, 9/11 & BWP

Baker's B.Y.O.D.

'Breaking Down the First Week: 1. BWP 2. Class Contract for Mid-level classes 3. Class Procedures for all 4. Using Edmodo for posting activities and assignments and having online discussions 5. Using Quizlet as a study resource 6. Student reflection responses Blank White Page Project was a big hit for starting off the year. Students were intrigued about the idea of questioning and researching for the sake of questioning and researching.

Edmodo 60
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Reimagining Chickering & Gamson's Principles Post-Pandemic: Technology's Central Role in Modern Edu

This white paper examines and proposes revisions to the "Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education" introduced by Arthur Chickering and Zelda Gamson in 1987 for today's technology-driven world.