Free Technology for Teachers: Video Projects and Common Core Standards: "Video Projects and Common Core Standards
Last week I ran two workshops on video creation in the classroom. A part of that workshop was a discussion of Common Core standards that can be addressed through video creation projects. I've pulled out some of the standards that I think a video creation project can address. The standards that I chose all came from the Language Arts standards. I would love to hear from mathematics teachers who have ideas about Common Core standards that can be addressed through video creation projects.
"
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Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Free Technology for Teachers: Use Studeous to Create a Discussion Forum for Your Class
Free Technology for Teachers: Use Studeous to Create a Discussion Forum for Your Class: "Studeous is a new service that teachers can use to create online discussion forums for their courses. In your Studeous account you can create a discussion forum for each of the courses that you teach. In addition to using Studeous as a discussion forum you can create an announcements page. If you upgrade to a paid account you can post files and images too (the free version limits you to two files). Students can join your forum by entering the access code for your course or you can send them invitations via email."
'via Blog this'
'via Blog this'
Free Technology for Teachers: Bibliography Templates for Google Documents
Free Technology for Teachers: Bibliography Templates for Google Documents: "Tools like EasyBib, refDot, and Citelighter can help students format their bibliographies. One problem with those tools is that students have to install browser extensions, create new accounts, or both in order to use them. If your students already use Google Docs there is an easy-to-access alternative.
The Google Docs template gallery is a good place to check out before you create your next form or document that requires a lot specific formatting. Chances are someone else may have had a similar need and has already created and published a template that you can use. For example, the Google Docs template gallery has templates for creating bibliographies in APA, MLA, AMA, and Chicago Style.
Applications for Education
The Google Docs bibliography templates could be very useful for any student that needs to create a bibliography. The templates can be embedded into a classroom blog as a model for students to follow even if they don't use Google Docs to create their bibliographies. "
'via Blog this'
The Google Docs template gallery is a good place to check out before you create your next form or document that requires a lot specific formatting. Chances are someone else may have had a similar need and has already created and published a template that you can use. For example, the Google Docs template gallery has templates for creating bibliographies in APA, MLA, AMA, and Chicago Style.
Applications for Education
The Google Docs bibliography templates could be very useful for any student that needs to create a bibliography. The templates can be embedded into a classroom blog as a model for students to follow even if they don't use Google Docs to create their bibliographies. "
'via Blog this'
Why "Is There an Ed-Tech Bubble?" Is the Wrong Question
Why "Is There an Ed-Tech Bubble?" Is the Wrong Question: "Frank Catalano recently suggested in his GeekWire column that we could be on the cusp of another tech bubble, this time in education. “There are early warning signs that the hype could be outpacing the reality,” he wrote, pointing to the increasing investment, attention, and startups in ed-tech.
BostInno’s Lauren Landry dismissed the artile as “the hipster’s case against ed-tech” (which made me smirk because with great fondness I think of Frank Catalano as a “veteran” of ed-tech’s case). She argued that innovation in the space is great and should be encouraged — fears of bubbles be-damned, I guess.
I don’t dispute either argument."
'via Blog this'
BostInno’s Lauren Landry dismissed the artile as “the hipster’s case against ed-tech” (which made me smirk because with great fondness I think of Frank Catalano as a “veteran” of ed-tech’s case). She argued that innovation in the space is great and should be encouraged — fears of bubbles be-damned, I guess.
I don’t dispute either argument."
'via Blog this'
Free Technology for Teachers: theLearnia - Video Lessons with a Social Network
Free Technology for Teachers: theLearnia - Video Lessons with a Social Network: "theLearnia is a new website that is organizing video lessons into collections. The service calls the videos "lessons" and appears to have plans for adding more to the lessons than just video clips, but that doesn't appear to have happened to most of the lessons. theLearnia has a social element that allows you to connect with other students and teachers to comment on videos and exchange public and private messages about lessons.
Applications for Education
Right now I think that the value of theLearnia is its organization of videos according to grade level and subject. In the future when there are more users theLearnia could be a good place to host informal online study sessions."
'via Blog this'
Applications for Education
Right now I think that the value of theLearnia is its organization of videos according to grade level and subject. In the future when there are more users theLearnia could be a good place to host informal online study sessions."
'via Blog this'
“Edcanvas” Looks Like A Nifty Tool | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…
“Edcanvas” Looks Like A Nifty Tool | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…: "I just learned about Edcanvas from Diana Laufenberg. It’s a nifty tool that lets you very easily add videos, images, website snapshots and files to create a grid canvass for students to access (teachers can also create virtual classes so that students could create their own). You can also type text on top of what you drag into the grid boxes — for example, instructions. A particularly nifty feature is that it provides a search box so you can search for videos, images and websites right from within the application.
It has multiple uses, but I think it’s especially good for creating Internet Scavenger Hunts and Web Quests, which I why I’m adding it to The Best Places To Create (And Find) Internet Scavenger Hunts & Webquests."
'via Blog this'
It has multiple uses, but I think it’s especially good for creating Internet Scavenger Hunts and Web Quests, which I why I’m adding it to The Best Places To Create (And Find) Internet Scavenger Hunts & Webquests."
'via Blog this'
A Vital Skill? Look For, Find and Learn from Online Guides & Tutorials | Langwitches Blog
A Vital Skill? Look For, Find and Learn from Online Guides & Tutorials | Langwitches Blog: "Simply google Yale iTunes University or Harvard iTunes University and you are in business to potentially LEARN from the same professors that teach the students who are attending these “very expensive”higher education institutions.
Will you earn a degree from these universities?…No…
Will you receive one on one attention from the professors if you have questions about their lecture?… No…
Will you meet the right people or be roommates with the children of the right people?…. No….
Do you have access to listening and learning from some brilliant minds?.. on your choice of topics?… without having to spend a dime?… Yes!
Can you become part of an online learning community, with members watching the same lectures, discussing and learning with and from each other?…Yes"
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Will you earn a degree from these universities?…No…
Will you receive one on one attention from the professors if you have questions about their lecture?… No…
Will you meet the right people or be roommates with the children of the right people?…. No….
Do you have access to listening and learning from some brilliant minds?.. on your choice of topics?… without having to spend a dime?… Yes!
Can you become part of an online learning community, with members watching the same lectures, discussing and learning with and from each other?…Yes"
'via Blog this'
The LMS Instructure Enters the MOOC Fray
The LMS Instructure Enters the MOOC Fray:
"The Canvas Network
So with the new Canvas Network, Instructure has compiled a catalog of free, open online classes run on the Canvas LMS by Canvas customers. The network launches with participation from a dozen institutions, including Brown, the University of Washington, and the University of Central Florida. There are 2 dozen courses, including “Introduction to Openness in Education” taught by BYU’s David Wiley and “Gender Through Comic Books” with lectures voiced by Stan Lee. (Yes, that Stan Lee.)"
'via Blog this'
"The Canvas Network
So with the new Canvas Network, Instructure has compiled a catalog of free, open online classes run on the Canvas LMS by Canvas customers. The network launches with participation from a dozen institutions, including Brown, the University of Washington, and the University of Central Florida. There are 2 dozen courses, including “Introduction to Openness in Education” taught by BYU’s David Wiley and “Gender Through Comic Books” with lectures voiced by Stan Lee. (Yes, that Stan Lee.)"
'via Blog this'
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Free Technology for Teachers: Quickly Find Images for Google Presentations
Free Technology for Teachers: Quickly Find Images for Google Presentations: "To access the research tool in Google Docs, Presentations, or Drawings just select it from the "tools" menu when you have a document, presentation, or drawing open. If you want to locate images that are licensed for re-use, open the "settings" menu at the bottom of the research pane and select "free to use, share, modify even commercially." Make that selection before conducting your search. If you use Chrome or Firefox you can drag images directly into your document, presentation, or drawing from the research pane."
'via Blog this'
'via Blog this'
Making time for Reflection! & Reflection for Lower Elementary Students | Langwitches Blog
Making time for Reflection! & Reflection for Lower Elementary Students | Langwitches Blog: "As teachers, we all know that we should create time to reflect on our professional practices… we need to experience the process of reflecting, in order to be able to guide our students…
….but what get’s cut the easiest from our schedule if there is little time available? How can we see reflection as a high priority item on our never ending list of things to do? How can we get into the habit of making reflection time?"
'via Blog this'
….but what get’s cut the easiest from our schedule if there is little time available? How can we see reflection as a high priority item on our never ending list of things to do? How can we get into the habit of making reflection time?"
'via Blog this'
Monday, October 29, 2012
Free Technology for Teachers: Creative Commons in Plain English
Free Technology for Teachers: Creative Commons in Plain English: "I just published a post about creating attributions for Creative Commons licensed images. Writing that post reminded me that Creative Commons isn't always an easy topic to understand. Whenever I give a presentation or run a workshop about student video projects, I spend time explaining what Creative Commons licensing is and its benefits for consumers and producers of media. Sometimes in my workshops I use Common Craft's explanation of Creative Commons licenses and what they mean for consumers and producers of media. I've embedded the video below."
'via Blog this'
'via Blog this'
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Personalize Learning: The Expert Learner with Voice and Choice
Personalize Learning: The Expert Learner with Voice and Choice: "The Expert Learner with Voice and Choice
Who is the Expert Learner?
Expert learners take responsibility for their learning. They view learning as something they do for themselves, not something that is done to them or for them. [Source: The Expert Learner]
"The more educators give students choice, control, challenge, and collaborative opportunities, the more motivation and engagement are likely to rise. The enhancement of agency has been linked to a variety of important educational outcomes, including: elevated achievement levels in marginalized student populations, greater classroom participation, enhanced school reform efforts, better self-reflection and preparation for improvement in struggling students, and decreases in behavioral problems." [Source: Motivation, Engagement and Student Voice from the research from Students at the Center]
'via Blog this'
Who is the Expert Learner?
Expert learners take responsibility for their learning. They view learning as something they do for themselves, not something that is done to them or for them. [Source: The Expert Learner]
"The more educators give students choice, control, challenge, and collaborative opportunities, the more motivation and engagement are likely to rise. The enhancement of agency has been linked to a variety of important educational outcomes, including: elevated achievement levels in marginalized student populations, greater classroom participation, enhanced school reform efforts, better self-reflection and preparation for improvement in struggling students, and decreases in behavioral problems." [Source: Motivation, Engagement and Student Voice from the research from Students at the Center]
'via Blog this'
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Manifest Destiny - The Story of The US Told In 141 Maps
Manifest Destiny - The Story of The US Told In 141 Maps: "Manifest Destiny tells the story of the United States in 141 maps from the Declaration of Independence to the present.
Explore and interact with any of the maps below, or fast-forward to important events, such as the Louisiana Purchase, the Civil War, or to the present-day US."
'via Blog this'
Explore and interact with any of the maps below, or fast-forward to important events, such as the Louisiana Purchase, the Civil War, or to the present-day US."
'via Blog this'
Monday, October 22, 2012
Are they Students or are they Learners? : 2¢ Worth
Are they Students or are they Learners? : 2¢ Worth: "I spend a lot of time, these days, talking and writing about how we are asking teachers to redefine what it means to be a teacher — and, in all fairness, how difficult that is. I try to present myself as a master learner, suggesting that part of what teachers should be, today, is constant and resourceful learners — master learners. But perhaps a significant part of this exercise in redefinition should involve our students — an explicit remolding of perceptions of these youngsters, in order to fully shift the relationship between student and teacher, learner and master learner.
So let me see if I can distinguish between these notions of students and learners."
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So let me see if I can distinguish between these notions of students and learners."
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A School that Practices Learning-Literacy : 2¢ Worth
A School that Practices Learning-Literacy : 2¢ Worth:
"So, a school that practices learning-literacy will be a school where:
How does this ring for you?"
I added the bold on the first point because I think this is the most significant point of a great list of significant points. Learning takes place when a group explores, someone needs to moderate and that is the role of the teacher. Point 5 is what I'm trying to get done; digital footprint is the product created and published from the process of learning. This is what we need to focus on over the coming year.
I also think my problem of coming up with the new labels has been solved: Student is changed to learner and teacher is changed to master learner.
Mr. Lawslo
'via Blog this'
"So, a school that practices learning-literacy will be a school where:
- The distinctions between teacher and student begin to blur.
- There is less reliance on textbooks and authority, and more reliance on the work of learning.
- There is a natural convergence between the rich information skills of literacy and numeracy and the information and data that define the content areas.
- Teachers teach from new learning, as master learners.
- Digital Footprints become a central part of the school’s culture, building evolving personal and school identities based on learning and “doing” with the learning.
- The library magnifies the world outside, but also reflects the culture inside, curating collections of learner produced media products.
- Where learners learn, teachers model learning, and the school teaches the community.
How does this ring for you?"
I added the bold on the first point because I think this is the most significant point of a great list of significant points. Learning takes place when a group explores, someone needs to moderate and that is the role of the teacher. Point 5 is what I'm trying to get done; digital footprint is the product created and published from the process of learning. This is what we need to focus on over the coming year.
I also think my problem of coming up with the new labels has been solved: Student is changed to learner and teacher is changed to master learner.
Mr. Lawslo
'via Blog this'
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Free Technology for Teachers: Six Multimedia Timeline Creation Tools for Students
Free Technology for Teachers: Six Multimedia Timeline Creation Tools for Students: "This week I ran a workshop on mind mapping, brainstorming, and timeline creation. These are the timeline creation tools that I included in the workshop."
'via Blog this'
'via Blog this'
Struggling with educators’ lack of technology fluency | Dangerously Irrelevant
Struggling with educators’ lack of technology fluency | Dangerously Irrelevant: "It’s 2012. Technology suffuses everything around us. The Internet and Internet browsers have been pretty mainstream for at least a decade.
And yet, I continually run into significant numbers of educators who still don’t know how to work their Internet browser. They struggle with copying and pasting. They get confused just clicking between 2 or 3 different browser tabs. They don’t conceptually understand the difference between their browser’s Google search box and the box where they can actually type in the URL and get there directly. They have no idea that they can right-click on things like hyperlinks or images. And so on… [And this is just the Internet browser. I'm not even talking about individual software programs or online tools.]
What hope do these teachers have of providing meaningful, technology-rich learning experiences for their students? What hope do these leaders have of creating and adequately supporting powerful, technology-rich learning environments for students and staff? Little to none."
'via Blog this'
And yet, I continually run into significant numbers of educators who still don’t know how to work their Internet browser. They struggle with copying and pasting. They get confused just clicking between 2 or 3 different browser tabs. They don’t conceptually understand the difference between their browser’s Google search box and the box where they can actually type in the URL and get there directly. They have no idea that they can right-click on things like hyperlinks or images. And so on… [And this is just the Internet browser. I'm not even talking about individual software programs or online tools.]
What hope do these teachers have of providing meaningful, technology-rich learning experiences for their students? What hope do these leaders have of creating and adequately supporting powerful, technology-rich learning environments for students and staff? Little to none."
'via Blog this'
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Free Technology for Teachers: Check Out These YouTube EDU Gurus
How did I not hear about this? I'm putting together a video anyway!
Free Technology for Teachers: Check Out These YouTube EDU Gurus: "Last month YouTube launched a Star Search of sorts to find the next ten YouTube EDU Gurus. This week those new gurus were revealed and I'm very happy to say that three of them have been featured here on Free Technology for Teachers in the past. Those three are Keith Hughes, Kristen Williams, and Paul Anderson. Their new introductory videos are posted below. Congratulations to all of the new YouTube EDU Gurus. I look forward to all of the new content that you produce."'via Blog this'
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Free Technology for Teachers: Common Curriculum Helps You Create Common Core Lesson Plans
Free Technology for Teachers: Common Curriculum Helps You Create Common Core Lesson Plans: "Common Curriculum is a new online lesson planning resource that aims to help you align your lessons to Common Core standards. In Common Curriculum you can enter your courses and write your lesson plans. After you enter a lesson plan into your Common Curriculum planner you can click "search for standard" to have Common Curriculum search for Common Core standards that might match your lesson plan. The more text that you include in your lesson plan the more likely Common Curriculum is to find Common Core standards that match your lesson plans. "
'via Blog this'
'via Blog this'
Monday, October 15, 2012
Holding back our children | Dangerously Irrelevant
Holding back our children | Dangerously Irrelevant: "Digital technologies are magnifiers and amplifiers of our humanity. They extend the reach of our human voice. They increase a millionfold our capacities and inclinations to find, connect, and share with others. They boost exponentially our abilities to collaborate with others, do meaningful work, and contribute to the overall good."
'via Blog this'
'via Blog this'
Friday, October 12, 2012
Free Technology for Teachers: iSideWith Helps You Pick a Presidential Candidate
Free Technology for Teachers: iSideWith Helps You Pick a Presidential Candidate: "With the U.S. Presidential Election less than one month away many schools across the United States will be hosting or participating in mock elections over the next few weeks. iSideWith could help your students identify a candidate whose ideas they are most likely to agree with. Students work through a series of questions on issues of social welfare, economics, science, and international affairs. Based upon their answers iSideWith shows students how similar or different they are compared to six presidential candidates."
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'via Blog this'
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Free Technology for Teachers: Reward Students' Achievements with ClassBadges
Free Technology for Teachers: Reward Students' Achievements with ClassBadges: "ClassBadges is a new service that aims to help teachers and students track their achievements big and small. Using ClassBadges teachers create goals for their students. When students reach their goals teachers assign a badge to them to keep in their student profiles. Teachers can create goals for things like completing a large research project, for perfect attendance, or for completing an informal learning activity with their parents while visiting a local museum."
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Free Technology for Teachers: Explore the Google Cultural Institute
Free Technology for Teachers: Explore the Google Cultural Institute: "The Google Cultural Institute launched 42 new online historical exhibitions yesterday. The new exhibitions feature images, documents, and artifacts from some of the most significant cultural events of the last one hundred years. The exhibitions are built as interactive slideshows that you can scroll and click through to discover the artifacts and stories. "
'via Blog this'
'via Blog this'
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Parenting more important than schools to academic achievement, study finds
Parenting more important than schools to academic achievement, study finds: "New research from North Carolina State University, Brigham Young University and the University of California, Irvine finds that parental involvement is a more significant factor in a child's academic performance than the qualities of the school itself."
'via Blog this'
'via Blog this'
Free Technology for Teachers: Free Downloads
Free Technology for Teachers: Free Downloads: "The eight free guides below will give you a sense of what this blog is all about.
Every day Free Technology for Teachers provides teachers with free websites and resources that they can use in their classrooms. Take a look at this post or this post to get a better sense of the type of post you'll find here. If you like what you see, please subscribe to the blog using the RSS or Email subscription options by clicking the icons to the right."
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Every day Free Technology for Teachers provides teachers with free websites and resources that they can use in their classrooms. Take a look at this post or this post to get a better sense of the type of post you'll find here. If you like what you see, please subscribe to the blog using the RSS or Email subscription options by clicking the icons to the right."
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Free Technology for Teachers: Use Wikibrains as a Story Starter
Free Technology for Teachers: Use Wikibrains as a Story Starter: "Wikibrains is a neat website designed to help you brainstorm in a web format. When you brainstorm on Wikibrains you're also performing a basic Internet search at the same time. To create a brainstorm web on Wikibrains start by entering one word or phrase. When you enter a word you will be prompted to add more words by completing the phrase, "Makes me think off..." Each new word or phrase that you enter will be added to your web. As you enter words on the right side of the screen you will see links to search results about each word."
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'via Blog this'
Free Technology for Teachers: Testmoz - A Simple Tool for Giving Tests Online
Free Technology for Teachers: Testmoz - A Simple Tool for Giving Tests Online: "Testmoz is a simple service for creating and administering multiple choice tests online. Testmoz provides a unique url for the tests you create. Testmoz also provides a "pass code" that test takers have to enter. As the administrator of the tests you create you can quickly see who has taken your test and how many questions they answered correctly."
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'via Blog this'
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Teacher Resources | Students | US EPA
Teacher Resources | Students | US EPA: "Teacher Resources and Lesson Plans
Find an array of environmental and science based lesson plans, activities and ideas below."
'via Blog this'
Find an array of environmental and science based lesson plans, activities and ideas below."
'via Blog this'
Free Technology for Teachers: Share Bookmarks With a Group in Annotary
Free Technology for Teachers: Share Bookmarks With a Group in Annotary: "Last month I wrote about a new bookmarking service called Annotary. Annotary struck me as being a bit like Diigo meets Pinterest. I liked Annotary but it was missing something. That missing thing was the option to create bookmark sharing groups. This week Annotary added that option. "
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