A Principal's Reflections

DECEMBER 26, 2012

'Educators across the country are grappling with the Common Core Standards and the significant changes that have come with them. Many Districts spent the end of last year and this past summer re-writing curriculum to address the new standards while also spending a great deal of money providing needed professional development to teachers. With upgraded curricula and the knowledge gained from trainings teachers began in earnest this past September developing lessons to implement and assess the new

Common Core 276

Common Core Classroom iPad Assessment 276

The Web20Classroom

DECEMBER 10, 2012

'Lots has been made about flipping over the past year or so. Unfamiliar with the term? No problem. Here is an explanation. So the idea is, there is some sort of information transfer (basic information about a learning concept) outside of the learning environment (classroom) allowing for further discussion or extended learning when in the learning environment.

Edmodo 273

Edmodo Video Classroom Meeting 273

Educational Technology Guy

DECEMBER 27, 2012

'Gooru is a site I wrote about a while back when it was in Alpha status. It is now in Beta status and open for everyone to use. Gooru describes itself as a "Search Engine for Learning". It is a study tool that allows students to explore resources and study guides that are aligned to standards. The materials are in math, social studeis and science and are from 5th grade up to high school.

Learning 212

Learning Social Media Resources Study 212

Baker's B.Y.O.D.

DECEMBER 2, 2012

'On December 1st, 2012, educators from NJ and surrounding areas congregated at Linwood Middle School in North Brunswick for EdcampNJ''s free day of professional development. For notes on all sessions from the day, take a look at the #EdcampNJ collaborative Google doc compiled by participants. P ictures taken by Kevin Jarret t can be found on Flickr.

Edcamps 115

Edcamps BYOD Digital Citizenship Edmodo 115

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.

Technology

SpeechTechie

DECEMBER 3, 2012

'A couple weeks ago, you might have seen my post nominating some peers (always hard to make these choices) for the 2012 Edublog Awards, and may have seen many other posts if you hopefully follow some other SLP blogs. The way this works is that the folks at the "Eddies" need to comb through thousands of nominations made by all the people in the edublogosphere and create a manageable Shortlist.

Twitter 109

Twitter Social Media Education Mobility 109

The Innovative Educator

DECEMBER 7, 2012

'" I hate school, but I love learning. " That is what high school student and author of the book One Size Does Not Fit All , Nikhil Goyal, recently posted on his Facebook timeline. What followed were 99 comments. Many from peers deeply invested in and trained by the system to believe you need school to get an education. They represent those who have accepted and/or know nothing else but this new and narrow system that our corporate reformers and politicians have created for us.

Learning 105

Learning Facebook Education Twitter 105

The Web20Classroom

DECEMBER 4, 2012

'The nominations are in and the voting is open for the 2012 Edublog Awards. I was humbled to learn that for the 4th year in a row I have been nominated for Twitterer of the Year and for the 3rd year in a row this blog was nominated for Best Edtech/Resource Sharing Blog. It really is special for me just to be nominated in those categories. #Edchat was also nominated for Best Educational Hashtag for the 3rd year in a row, which is really awesome too!

EdTech 185

EdTech Twitter Google Education 185

Educational Technology Guy

DECEMBER 27, 2012

'This past November I started a new chapter in my career and became the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the district I was a teacher in for 10 years. It combines my experience as a teacher and educational technology specialist, as well as my 10 years as an engineer and project manager, into one very exciting, busy, crazy, rewarding job. I am responsible for the IT department, as well as coordinating with the data teams and all technology issues and projects.

Technology 192

Technology Chromebook Smartphone Android 192

Baker's B.Y.O.D.

DECEMBER 10, 2012

'Using Screencast-O-Matic and Windows Live Movie Maker, here is a "quick" tour of how I integrate technology in my classroom. Be sure to check out the complete list of projects and resources by clicking on the Integrating Technology tab.

Classroom 90

Classroom Edmodo Digital Citizenship BYOD 90

The 21st Century Principal

DECEMBER 7, 2012

'“ If you are using virtual spaces for professional learning, it only enhances your digital footprint,” writes Kristen Swanson in her new book Professional Learning in the Digital Age: The Educator’s Guide to User-Generated Learning. Getting educators to think about their own digital footprint should be an important part of 21st century school leadership, and reflecting and managing our own is just as important.

Strategy 95

Strategy Social Media Professional Learning Tools 95

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The Innovative Educator

DECEMBER 23, 2012

'Editor''s note: This is a living post to which I will continue adding the stories of teacher dropouts as they are brought to my attention. More than 20 years ago John Taylor Gatto wrote a letter announcing his departure from the teaching profession, titled I Quit, I Think. The letter was published in the op-ed pages of the Wall Street Journal where he said he no longer wished to "hurt kids to make a living.

Dropout 105

Dropout Video Education System 105

A Principal's Reflections

DECEMBER 8, 2012

'A good graphic organizer reinforces key concepts in a fun, engaging way. Unfortunately, graphic organizers have traditionally been hosted on outdated websites with a poor user experience and no organization to speak of. Are you frustrated with stale content, zero digital options, and a lack of customizable features? Give Lucidchart a try. As a popular diagramming web application, Lucidchart offers a modern solution to the age-old challenge of visual learning.

Learning 256

Learning Education Wiki Libraries 256

SpeechTechie

DECEMBER 8, 2012

'People may mistake my enthusiasm for the potential of technology with a desire to spread the message that our lives, both work and personal, should be tech-infused all the time. Though I struggle myself with balancing high- and no-tech, and there''s the whole "those who can''t do." thing at work here, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge how important it is that we regularly Notice our analog friends, family, neighbors, and, of course, students.

Google 84

Google Twitter Facebook Video 84

Educational Technology Guy

DECEMBER 10, 2012

'Many teachers use interactive white boards in their classrooms. They can be used for interesting lessons, engaging students at the board, recording what is done on the board, and controlling the computer from the board. There are a variety of brands and devices out there, and one that I like is the Mimio Teach system. This turns any white board into an interactive white board.

System 179

System Classroom Tablets Libraries 179

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.

Comparison

Baker's B.Y.O.D.

DECEMBER 2, 2012

'My students used their phones to create voice recorded projects and I''d like to continue evolving their skills into eventually being comfortable doing collaborative digital presentations. Technology can easily be used to facilitate student presentations and overcome the fear of public speaking and provide valid opportunities for reflection and collaboration.

Edmodo 74

Edmodo BYOD Student Engagement Google 74

The 21st Century Principal

DECEMBER 8, 2012

'This morning’s #satchat turned to a discussion about using technology to make the school administrator’s office paperless. I have actually always been “less paperful,” if I may coin a term, than other administrators because it is a by-product of relying heavily on technology, which I always have. I won’t go into the rationale for why one would want to have a paperless office because I think the reasons for doing so are rather obvious.

Strategy 90

Strategy E-rate Classroom Tools 90

The Innovative Educator

DECEMBER 18, 2012

'I have the good fortune to be able to call Deven Black a colleague and friend who has never disappointed when it comes to stretching my thinking. Deven helps me become smarter and look at things in new ways. Every time Deven and I communicate, I''m always surprised by some other amazing accomplishment of his that he mentions in passing. As I was writing my Teens Guide to Opting Out of School for Success , Deven mentioned he was one such teen and he agreed to contribute to my guide.

How To 99

How To Education Learning Common Core 99

A Principal's Reflections

DECEMBER 28, 2012

'Education needs more advocates. Students, teachers, and administrators need more advocates. The Bammy Awards is one such initiative that is attempting to shine a bright light on the many amazing people in the trenches that are doing great things in the field of education. Thankfully there are others who are beginning to step up as well. I recently met Anne Ostholthoff at the inaugural Bammy Awards and have seen first-hand the work she is doing to launch the web based The Ignite Show.

Education 174

Education Resources 174

Speaker: Amanda Davis, Chief Experience Officer and Liam O'Malley, VP of Association Solutions

The "new normal" is now a little less new, a little more normal. Does that mean your current LMS strategy is in need of a refresh? Is your organization or association leaning into the always-evolving eLearning environment to ensure you have the tools and content to remain relevant through all this change? There are many complex decision-making processes within your learning & development strategy and LMS lifecycle management, including: Selection.

LMS

wwwatanabe

DECEMBER 13, 2012

'Research shows that vocabulary acquisition plays a huge role in student learning, therefore requires attention in the classroom. With the shifts of the Common Core , students need to spend time learning both Tier 2 and Tier 3 words in a variety of ways. Reading more text exposes students to more words and phrases. Students learn vocabulary in multiple contexts through multiple connections.

Common Core 82

Common Core Tools Differentiated Instruction Google 82

Educational Technology Guy

DECEMBER 31, 2012

'Technology changes rapidly and it seems like something you just bought last week is already outdated and replaced by something new. Some people and companies are always buying the latest and greatest technology, but schools, and most people, can''t afford to do that. So, what can we do? One thing is to reuse old technology for new purposes. I use an old Palm PDA as my backup alarm clock.

Technology 168

Technology Laptops Chromebook Google 168

EdTechSandyK

DECEMBER 16, 2012

'Newtown has every parent, educator, law enforcement professional, politician, and anyone who cares about children and schools reeling. As part of that reaction, we should all be asking how our schools can do better. The sobering and sad fact is this: Nothing we do can ever put in place a 100% guarantee that an event like Newtown won''t happen again.

Elementary 78

Elementary Classroom Education Policies 78

The 21st Century Principal

DECEMBER 9, 2012

'“Most successful teachers learn from a combination of resources, including local communities, virtual communities, and research,” writes Kristen Swanson in her new book Professional Learning in the Digital Age: The Educator’s Guide to User-Generated Learning. In other words, educators learn from the communities to which their are connected, and having the tools to make those connections are truly vital in the digital age.

Professional Learning 87

Professional Learning Learning Education Classroom 87

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Classroom

The Innovative Educator

DECEMBER 24, 2012

'Guest post by Ed J. Komperda, III | Originally posted and shared with hundreds on Facebook "What did you do in school today?" "Nothing." Ah….the generic response of children when confronted upon their parents arrival home from work. No need to press the issue. As a 15-year veteran public school teacher, I'll share the 411 from an insider's perspective -- with a well-deserved angle of candidness and transparency for parents and tax payers.

Education 97

Education Assessment Facebook Resources 97

Baker's B.Y.O.D.

DECEMBER 8, 2012

'My group and I read Rewired by Larry Rosen and discussed it via a group on Edmodo. Rosen provides definitions and distinctions of people in terms of their generation and technological knowledge and use: Baby Boomers, Gen-Xers, Net-Geners, and iGeners all use technology in different ways. It is obvious that students of today are not like the students of yesterday.

Edmodo 60

Edmodo Classroom Groups Technology 60

wwwatanabe

DECEMBER 4, 2012

'It''s an honor to announce four of our AJUSD members and several of those I nominated have been shortlisted as finalists for several Edublog Awards. Voting is open until 11:59 pm (USA Eastern Standard Time) on Sunday, December 9th. You can vote once a day, for as many categories as you want. Only one vote will count per day, per IP address. For those at AJUSD, that means only one vote counts from the district network, so please vote from home.

Wiki 67

Wiki Classroom Education Twitter 67

Educational Technology Guy

DECEMBER 21, 2012

'I just wrote about Evernote Clearly having text-to-speech and I just found out that Google Play Books does too. It has a read aloud function that will read books to you. It has to have an internet access at the time, but it is another resource for students who struggle to read. 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.

Google 164

Google Education Twitter Resources 164

Speaker: Aaron Webb, Jamf

Apple empowers educators and students by design. Whether using Macs, iPads, or Apple TV, Apple devices encourage creativity and can simplify teaching with apps to make the classroom more flexible, collaborative and personalized for each student. To unleash the full potential of the technology and create the best learning environment, you need to understand the tools and resources available, and develop an education-focused, comprehensive plan, from equipment purchase to deployment, management an

Classroom

EdTechSandyK

DECEMBER 5, 2012

'On November 25th, I posted my nominations for the 2012 Edublog Awards. The nominations are now all in, the finalists have been named, and voting is open. You should go vote! Why vote? Because the educators who are recognized by these nominations have given freely of their time and talent to share their thoughts and ideas and in some cases create tools which benefit the entire education community.

Resources 73

Resources Education Google Tools 73

The 21st Century Principal

DECEMBER 13, 2012

'I received an email from Best Buy today that is indicative of what happens when businesses and organizations are stuck with "inside-the-box thinking" instead of “out-of-the-Box Thinking.” The email from Best Buy offered me $25 if I would spend $500. My immediate reaction was, “That’s not a deal; that’s an insult.” You would think a company that is in Best Buy’s predicament could come up something better than that.

Education 85

Education Course System Policies 85

The Innovative Educator

DECEMBER 16, 2012

'Guest pos t by Alexandria Potter Is college easy? I have heard that it is not and I can believe that. So you may be interested to know why I refer to going to college as “the easy way out." Let's start with a Q&A. Question : How many people do we know that go to college and don’t know What they want to major in What they want to do in life What other options are available Answer : I want more ».

Education 92

Education 92

Baker's B.Y.O.D.

DECEMBER 2, 2012

'With all the focus on standardized testing and the discussion of the flipped classroom in education today, it is interesting to return to Howard Gardner''s interview with Edutopia in 1997 and reflect on then and now. Talk about RELEVANCY ! Consider these questions: How do digital tools tap into students'' multiple intelligences? How is assessment still mystified today?

Digital Citizenship 60

Digital Citizenship Flipped Classroom Classroom Assessment 60

This whitepaper explores integrating the PowerTeaching pedagogical approach within a HyFlex (Hybrid Flexible) educational model, focusing on employing cooperative learning strategies and efficient classroom management techniques.

Education