Free Technology for Teachers Ten Ideas for Using Instagram in the Classroom I didn't understand the pull of Instagram the first time I heard about it. To me, it sounded like a fancy app that would take regular pictures and make them look like they were crappy, old photographs. Eventually, though, I changed my mind. I saw the artistic side of the app and eventually began to see the social interaction. Instagram became another layer of sharing our world and telling our stories. After spending a few months using it, I see a powerful element that I had failed to understand before. And yet, for me, Instagram has done the opposite. So, with that in mind, I'm thinking of ten ways I might use Instagram with my students next year: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.Just Let Them Take Pictures: I'm thinking of letting kids take pictures for the sake of taking pictures.
Digital Boards Trending On Learnist For September 1. Education Apps There are more than 1.5 million iPads currently in use in educational institutions and schools and thousands of educational apps to choose from. Here are our thoughts on best educational applications for students and teachers 2. Not all words have an English equivalent. 3. 4. Modern, well-designed, easy-to-use tools that will influence workplace learning (schoolplace & at home too) in years ahead. 5. Who needs a school when there’s the internet + informed users + learnist? A Review of Japan's Higher Education System: Looking at McVeigh's Book Japanese Higher Education as Myth A Review of Japan's Higher Education System: Looking at Brian McVeigh's book Japanese Higher Education as Mythby Kimberly Fujioka Brian J. McVeigh. Japanese Higher Education as Myth. Armonk, New York: M.E. Brian J. The answer is yes. McVeigh's thesis is radical, in that it goes to the root of the problem, asserting that Japanese daigaku possess none of the attributes commonly associated with higher education, such as the capacity to "generate knowledge that previously did not exist" (p. 238). But if "education does not appear to be the primary purpose at an astounding number of Japan's universities" (p. 26), then what is their primary purpose? McVeigh is not a historian, which is a breath of fresh air. What makes McVeigh's narrative so readable are the personal accounts of daigaku life from his teaching experience in Japan, and through faculty interviews and from listening to the words of students. Other English-language books on Japanese higher education.
Langwitches I have been a fan of Visible Thinking Routines which were developed by Project Zero from Havard, for a while now. I have used these routines with students, as blogging routines and in professional development workshops. The Visible Thinking Routines website explains that: Routines exist in all classrooms; they are the patterns by which we operate and go about the job of learning and working together in a classroom environment. As I am trying to make 21st century, modern, contemporary or “now” learning visible, it seemed a natural step to point out “Modern” or “Now” Learning Routines. Here are my 5 routines that promote modern learning: 1. Read as much as you can on your subject. Write about what you read, write about connections you are making between the content you have read, write about things you wonder about and write your reflection of your thoughts. Comment or annotate on the things you read. 2. Share your learning and your reflection with others. 3. 4. Teach it to others. 5. 22.
Fotor | Photo Editing Made Simple - Free Online Photo Editor The 20 Top #hashtags In Education As a teacher, continuing education is so important that most school districts require that teachers enroll in some form of coursework on a regular basis to keep their knowledge and skills fresh. And while those courses are essential, staying on top of the cutting edge of educational development is important as well. Through Twitter discussions, teachers can follow the latest in education, whether it’s educational technology or new ways to teach math. These 20 hashtags offer teachers a convenient way to become part of chats and discussions that share the absolute latest in education news, resources, and ideas. 1. #edchat Created by educators Tom Whitby, Steven Anderson, and Shelly Terrell, #edchat offers a great platform for discussion among teachers and other professionals related to education. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
The 50 Best Videos For Teachers Interested In Gamification Image by Sezzles via Flickr Creative Commons Gaming in education is a really big deal, and a very fun way to get students more involved and interested in education. Board games, video games, even active outdoor games all have an important place in education, and these videos share more about their role in learning. Check out our list of 50 awesome videos for gaming teachers to discover what experts, teachers, and even students have to say about using games for education. Gabe Zichermann: How games make kids smarter : Check out Gabe Zichermann’s TED talk to find out how video games can actually make kids smarter and better problem solvers. Johnny Lee demos Wii Remote hacks : Check out this video to see how you can turn a cheap Wii Remote into a sophisticated educational tool. Game On! Game Based Learning in Special Education : Andre Chercka discusses his experience with game-based learning and how it can be applied to special education in this talk.
Technology Front and Center -- THE Journal Innovative Instruction | Feature Technology Front and Center A new high school in Texas will combine technology with project-based learning. By Bridget McCrea03/23/11 Armed with a $3 million Texas Title I Priority Schools grant, Belton Independent School District in Texas will open the doors to an innovative high school concept this fall. Currently in the development phase, Belton New Tech High School at Waskow will combine technology and project-based learning to create a learning environment that Principal Stan Whittle hopes will entice students to "take ownership of their educations and their futures." The new school is part of the New Tech Network, which was founded in Napa, CA., in 1996 after local businesses became disenchanted with the supposedly "skilled" graduates in the area. Whittle said the district has been researching the idea of project-based learning for several years. The new school will start with 125 ninth graders and "small class sizes," according to Whittle.
Understand what you read The 10 Most Followed Users On Pinterest It’s not entirely clear what makes pinterest users tick. Images are curated into often gorgeous collections, with users spending hours on end to meticulously maintain their collections. For users, does it function as a kind of visual social bookmarking, an engaging way to daydream, or something in between? And what role does pinterest–or the thinking behin it–have in education? The following list should give you a head-start in pursuit of these sorts of questions. So maybe not like Learnist at all. Nonetheless, one interesting bit about pinterest is that the top follows are refreshingly devoid of celebrities, unlike twitter, facebook, or even instagram. Another takeaway after skimming these “power users” is to see the very diverse ways using categorize their images. Have a look. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.