You Need to Use Technology the Wrong Way
I don't think I've ever known anyone else who uses a spreadsheet as a calendar. For me, it works, though. I have the date, the day, the task or event, the type of task and the location. I'm not suggesting everyone should use a spreadsheet for a calendar. Too often, students learn a rigid definition of how a particular technology tool should be used. I want students to be hackers. The following are some examples of using tools in ways they weren't originally intended to be used:Vocabulary Tumblrs: Tumblrs allow students to create and to curate. Those are just a few examples and many people would say, "Well, why don't you just use ______ instead?" Here are a few thoughts on how teachers can encourage students to get into the hacking mindset: Permission: Teachers can create options for students as they work on projects and assignments. photo credit: scottwills via photo pin cc
10 Great Free Google Forms Every Teacher Should Be Using
Google Forms is a great free service by Google and that has a huge potential in education. Google Forms is very easy to use and does not require any advanced technology skills to run it. It is automatically built in Google Docs meaning it is completely web-based and does not require any software download. Today's post, however, is about a great work that has been done by our colleague Tom Barret. Check out this list of forms below and click on any title to access its corresponding form. 1- Get to Know your Class Use this form to collect information about your students such as their likes, dislikes, club affiliations, and many more. 2- Emotion Graph This is a form ideal for use by students when studying linear narrative both written or visual. 3- Spelling Test As its name suggests , this form is great for use inside the classroom to test students spelling. 4- Comprehension Questions This is a form that test students understanding of a text or anything thing else you want to test.
20 Things New Teachers Need to Know
Are your knees knocking at the thought of walking into a classroom for the very first time this fall? Have no fear! We asked our friends on Facebook to share their best pearls of wisdom for new teachers, and they generously sent their inspiration, advice and need-to-know strategies. Think of them as your virtual mentors—like all teachers, we’re here to help one another succeed! 1. The 3 Cs: “Be CLEAR on your expectations for behavior and performance. 2. 3. 4. 5. Number 2: The decorations on your walls don't need to come from Teachers Supply stores, because the ones from Dollar Tree will do the job. Number 3: Invest in a good pair of shoes that fit you well, because you'll be on your feet all day.” 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
Google Tools To Check Out
Most folks are familiar with the most common Google tools. Search, Hangouts, Docs, Mail, Drive all are used by countless folks around the world. In fact this blog is written with Google Blogger. I use Google and live there most days. But did you know there are some under used features outside of the typical ones that have great value? Here is just a handful of some of the Google Tools to check out for your classroom. Google Custom Search Engine -This tool is one of my favorites. Google Keep -Keep is new to the Google tool lineup. Google Mars -Always wanted to visit Mars but thought it would take to long? Public Data -This one is one of my favorites. URL Shortner -Long URLs are ugly and not to mention hard to type in. Google For Teachers -There are so many more resources specifically for teachers that Google has curated. What about you?
7 Fun Ways to Use QR Codes In Education
QR Codes Quick Response are so fun to integrate in classroom. Quick Response codes are bar codes with information. QR Codes can include contact information, websites, text, SMS, pictures and so much more. My students absolutely love using these in their activities. Here are some ways to Integrate QR Codes in Your Lessons 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Quick Response Codes are so easy to create. Try it…your kids will love it!
Connected Educator Month | Connected Educators
Google Released An Excellent New Service Called Handwrite
Handwrite for mobile is a new service Google launched yesterday. This adds to the variety of other services that Google designed before to increase both user satisfaction and interaction with its search engine such as Google Instant search, Google voice, and Google image search to mention but a few. Handwrite for mobile allows you " to search by just writing letters with your finger most anywhere on your device's screen, there is no keyboard that covers half of the screen and no need for hunt-and-peck typing." To get started using this new feature, all you have to do is head over to Google homepage in your mobile device and tap on "settings" at the bottom of the screen and enable " Handwrite". Handwrite feature works best with Chrome and is enabled for iOS5+ devices, Android4.0+ tablets in 27 languages. Watch the video below to learn more
The 2012 ADE Institute
I've spent the past week at the 2012 Apple Distinguished Educator Institute in Cork. It's been a great week. The best thing I can say about it is that the Institute was run to the same quality and attention to detail that WWDC is. I might add, though, that the lunches were substantially better than they are at Moscone! About 270 educators from all over the world got together at Fota Island hotel in Cork to spend the week networking, socialising and working together on various projects. It was a delight to meet so many new friends. In conversations, I started to get the sense of two early and new trends that I think are interesting. The first trend is that we, as a group, are starting to get into some of the second-order effects of 1:1 programs using iPad. Personally, I'm looking to iTunes U. The second trend I picked up on was the continuing shift towards total student autonomy in IT. The final step is to eliminate the network. It will take leadership and it will take courage.
