Educational+Technology


 * Share what you've found on the web for teaching and learning...**

The future is in Personal Learning Networks. This site from FETC 2009 explains what they are, how you can be part of it, plus a lot of other tech for teachers tutorials.

In this school budget climate, California is embracing open-source textbooks. Take a look at what they've got so far. You might find supplemental material you can use.

Web 2.0 wiki and tools. The page you're reading may soon be a thing of the past. If you already use Google docs as a tool, it may make more sense to create a web site or wiki using Google's tools. Check out this Google Site tutorial...

NovemberLearning (Alan November's site) has some "tricks and tips" on using tech in class (many of which are already here).

Online presentation tool ("PowerPoint on LSD"): www.prezi.com

Why should teachers use twitter? Check this site out.

Delicious lets your class share online resources they've found through "social bookmarking."

Diigo lets you bookmark while storing the content-- like a great quote, definition or paragraph (like online index cards!).

Want to record something that you're doing on your computer to share with others? It's called "screencasting," and Jing offers it free!

TheFullWiki is truly amazing. It marries Wikipedia with GoogleMaps through "topic trees." You have to see it to understand what it can do for you and your students!

The WGBH NOVA site has some media-rich science and social studies lessons.

Really, it's not just a buzzword, but we should challenge the best definition. Start here to find out more about "21st century learning."

Internet Archive has a really cool feature called the Wayback Machine. Plug in any website and it will show you its history (what it looked like) from day 1.

Moodle is a Course Management System (CMS), also known as a Learning Management System (LMS) or a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It is a FREE web application that educators can use to create effective online learning sites.

Think kids take lousy notes? They do! If everyone's taking inaccurate notes, who's learning, and what are you doing to help? When they take notes together, notes improve. Try a Google doc and assign each by group. (See who wrote what under File: Revision History).

Want to have students on the computers (laptops, computer lab) all contribute live to a "conversation" on the Smartboard? Try Etherpad.

Student response systems can range into the $thousands. Check PollEverywhere out for your class.

You won't believe the sheer number of (great) links to resources at USA.gov, from grants to libraries to science to community development to museums and libraries. Another good place for students to begin research.

If you teach any of the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), the Minnesota-STEM site not only has some great free downloadable resources, but emphasizes the importance of rebuilding America through successful education in these areas (particularly, tying them all together!).

"Digital Nation" is both a PBS Frontline program (airing Feb. 2) and a project looking at how online technology has affected and will affect relationships, politics, war, education... There's some great stuff on the ed page, including mini interviews on such topics as schools of the future, video games and cell phones in the classroom, and a new digital divide.

Power to Learn is a collection of resources from Cablevision-- free and extensive, including math and reading games, blogs, and an internet safety quiz.

While keeping video watching to a minimum, let's look for opportunities to inject multimedia into an interactive whole. You can get "streaming" video free through the county AVA commission at Learning360. The file with passwords is at left and were emailed 9/16/09.

Did you know... content standards have been updated in several areas? Go to the NJDOE website for downloadable content.

OK, e-Books aren't for everybody, but you're a teacher, and these are free (and excellent!!). I found lots on differentiating instruction, curriculum, class management and discipline... These are books that normally cost $30-$40 through our associations. Register yourself (or have your local librarian do it) at netlibrary.com.

If you are concerned about disasters, both natural and human-made, you can sign up for text-messages and emails from the NJ Office of Emergency Management.

Got some free stuff from scholastic and the feds last week on the 2010 census-- lesson plans, huge map posters, etc. They have support online at census.gov, and it's worth a look!

The Annie E. Casey foundation has a searchable database called Kids Count that can get you info on the well-being of children nationwide (homelessness, teen pregnancy, immigration, etc.).

A quick outline of Understanding by Design, the format and philosophy of our new curricula, as well as some general info on the "constructivist" approach to education.

Here's an article I liked which might give thought to our "new beginning." Barth on School Culture.

Don't have enough friends for a book club? Check out Book Glutton!

The [|National Institute for Literacy] provided us with brochures on Scientifically Based Research, but there's lots more on their web site regarding literacy, including pdfs for families and dads.

So why is it important to know what a [|"Professional Learning Community"] is? Here's a well-written introduction from the 40-year old non-profit Southwestern Educational Development Laboratory.

[|Engrade] provides free online tools for over 50,000 teachers including a gradebook, homework calendar, student messaging, attendance, and more, allowing them to manage their classes online while providing parents and students with 24/7 real-time online class information. (MN)

[|Thinkfinity] is a free resource from Verizon that has searchable, standards-based lesson plans, strategies, and interactives for teachers, facts, links and help for students and parents. Amazing! (MN)

[|Teachers’ Domain] is an online library of more than 1,000 free resources that correlate to state and national standards from the best in public television, featuring media from NOVA, Frontline, Design Squad, American Experience, and other public broadcasting and content partners. Includes video and audio segments, Flash interactives, images, documents, lesson plans for teachers, and student-oriented activities. Register yourself or use ID: beersstreet, PW: bulldog (MN)

[|Classroom 2.0] is a social network of thousands of educators with discussions, online workshops, and resources on every subject area and topic. (MN)

[|Teachers.net] offers articles, printables, and resources by grade, subject, methodology... Very extensive! (MN)

[|iLike2Learn.com] was shared with me by my son, who's a Geobee whiz. Here's one of his secrets: interactive map games to learn states and countries! (MN)

[|Teachers Corner] has generators for (and pre-made) worksheets, daily writing prompts, key/pen pals, monthly activities, etc. (MN)

Create a blog (for free!) that your students can participate in at [|21Classes]. For example, post a question about a novel you're reading and assign students to respond-- to your question, and to each other. Of course, you could also create a Ning (with chats and blogs like ours) for your class... (MN)

[|Knowledge Delivery Systems] offers online courses for CEUs or graduate credit. Cost. Shared with me by Joe Sinsheimer. (MN)

Okay, maybe the "[|Collaborative Assessment for Planning and Achievement]" is a bit of a mouthful, and it's hardly my favorite website. But this NJ Department of Ed unit looks at school standards (not the ed standards from your planbooks) and asks interesting "essential questions." (MN)

Take a look at [|Newscurrents.com]. Some of the schools have subscribed in the past. If you are interested, let me know.

Stockton College and the NJDOE have a new initiative to provide assistance on [|Intervention and Referral Services], including online training.

[|Pacer.org] has tons of links on **bullying**. (LF)

Debbie DiMaio found a [|great site] with lessons for the Smartboard!

Parents whose children are on the autism spectrum have apparently latched on to the free Google software program [|SketchUp]. It allows you to quickly render objects, like floor plans, in 3D. There are easy tutorials, samples and videos of kids with autism using it.

Free online courses in math (and probably others) for K-grade 12 at [|Learner.org].