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My point is that here most of us have created a PowerPoint and done a presentation (or will at some point) and yet it is likely to be one of the most poorly done things on a computer.

"iBooks Author is a great tool for creating interactive ebooks. Unfortunately, creating content with iBooks Author isn't always as easy as you might hope it is. Back in June I shared a free 110 page book about using iBooks Author . However, if video tutorials are more helpful to you I have found twenty six videos that you should look at."

In my mind, we spend way too much time walking people through tedious lessons on how to do very basic things with technology in our schools. In many cases we would be better throwing the unopened boxes out to our staff and or students and let them figure it out on their own. But if we can escape our traditional upbringings here and look at the evidence here and the similar finding of Sugata Mitra with his Hole in the Wall Project, I believe we can move much faster.

The SAMR Model can simply be applied effectively to Apps that you use in the classroom. This graphic is not intended to be an exhaustive list but it will give you an idea of how you can integrate the SAMR Model into your teaching and learning.

"Diigo is a powerful information capturing, storing, recalling and sharing tool. Here are just a few of the possibilities with Diigo: Save important websites and access them on any computer. Categorize websites by titles, notes, keyword tags, lists and groups. Search through bookmarks to quickly find desired information. Save a screenshot of a website and see how it has changed over time. Annotate websites with highlighting or virtual "sticky notes." View any annotations made by others on any website visited. Share websites with groups or the entire Diigo social network. Comment on the bookmarks of others or solicit comments to your shared bookmarks."

"Coauthors Harada and Yoshina authored the first text that focused on learning assessment in a school library context. In this revised and expanded version of "Assessing for Learning: Librarians and Teachers as Partners," they continue to shed light on the issue of school librarians helping students to assess for learning. The book begins with a brief discussion of national reform efforts and the importance of assessment for effective learning within this context. The balance of the book provides numerous strategies and tools for involving students as well as library media specialists in assessment activities, emphasizing the importance of students assessing for their own learning. It also provides specific examples of how assessment can be incorporated into various library-related learning activities. All chapters in this second edition have been updated with additional information, and three new chapters on assessing for critical thinking, dispositions, and tech-related learning have been added."

Very good explanation from a teacher as to why Google Drive works so well.

"Teach children how to have "grit," the perseverance and determination that's required to create something new. He referenced the research on grit conducted by University of Pennsylvania psychologist Angela Duckworth, who professes the maxim "Choose easy, work hard.""

"Carl Wieman talks about his change in career since being awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. Dr Wieman talks about how predicting the future success of students in his lab sparked a more general interest in people's learning behaviour (7:39), why education practices are failing students (15:32), and the changes he believes should be made (20:16). This led him to turn his attention from physics research to science education,"

As I have done a lot of work with school administrators on why they should be using social media and some practical ways to use it within their schools, I wanted to compile some articles together that will help schools/organizations move forward. They will be listed under two categories; the why and the how. The articles are listed below:

In order to effectively use iPads in education, you probably need a modern iPad workflow that works for both teachers and students alike. I just came across a fabulous version that is in graphic form - which makes it all the better. It's from dedwards.me and lists out the apps, parties involved, and how each one fits into particular steps along the process. In other words, this is a workflow designed to help both sides of the classroom.

There are many reasons why a teacher will want - and need - to follow up with a student beyond classroom. Behaviour concerns are the most common. Such follow up may be as basic as a five minute chat after class, or an informal lunchtime conversation. It may entail a detention or post time-out meeting, or it may involve a mediation meeting between the student (or teacher) in conflict.

"I don't think you should ever miss this slide from Tom Barret. It is one of the best ones available online that provides awesome tips on how teachers can use iPad in their classrooms. "

I've been thinking a lot lately about how much time I spend on the Internet, and worrying that it's too much.

I have been learning how Pinterest works lately and I like it. It appeals to me for its ease of use, its reliability and its social nature.

Lesson Overview Students gain a sense of the living history that surrounds the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Through studying primary source materials from American Memory and other online resources, students of all backgrounds may better grasp how historical events and human forces have shaped relationships between black and white, and rich and poor cultures of our country.

"The growing access to knowledge, information, people, and tools that our students are getting demands a shift in how we think about the work they do in school."

"Teachers at Mount Desert Elementary School in Northeast Harbor, Maine, use proven Responsive Classroom techniques -- such as relationship-building morning meetings and engaging student-led activities -- to get students focused and ready to learn. "

While iPads might be taking up a lot of buzz in the classroom technology world, laptops are still a widely used tool for both personal and classroom use. Choosing a laptop may not be a simple task, either - there are a lot of choices out there. Making sure it has the right tools you need and falls into a price range that works for you tend to be the top two factors for most people who are in the market for a new laptop. So we thought it'd be useful to tackle the best laptops for teachers in a world filled with iPads and smartphones.