Group items tagged

"We've now posted a user guide to help you get started with the bookmarking tool Diigo. This brilliant service allows you to save, tag and search your own bookmarks. Diigo also lets you create public lists of links and share your bookmarks with other people in groups, such as the #VicPLN Diigo group. Diigo is the perfect way to share bookmarks within your faculty, your class or your learning network."

"Getting the school year started right can mean calling home with a positive message, stepping out of your comfort zone or simply asking for help. The connections you make in August can serve you well through the trials of K-12 education. You never know when you're going to need help -- from an encouraging smile to a better way to assess a standard. While the Internet and social media are great, they are merely tools to connect you with the people behind all of the accounts. With so much to do, it can be easy to push collaboration back, but this can have a long-term erosive effect on your happiness in teaching. The earlier you start, the easier it becomes. "

"A teacher's role in the classroom is to supply direction, maturity and wisdom. It is to raise questions, inspire endeavour and lay down challenges. A teacher brings purpose to the lesson. But to be effective in an iPad classroom, she must relinquish control over the tools used, allowing students to share the responsibility and joy of discovering and sharing solutions to achieve that purpose. I'm not saying that teachers are absolved of their professional responsibility for learning to use the technology. But they should admit to being learners, and not let that fact stop their students from using the device in unforeseen ways, in the pursuit of the class goals."

So here is a handy improvement to Google image search, that makes it easier to encourage appropriate use . In amongst the image search tools, Google has just added a search by 'usage rights' field.

There are a growing number of online tools to support students in need of literacy support. This new series from Catherine Hainstock talks about how text-to-speech programs can support students' reading online.

This week the focus is iPad and Web 2.0 Tools Tutorials. These tutorials will support teachers to effectively embed technology into their Literacy and Numeracy programs.

"Evernote has transformed the way I organise myself as a teacher. Using Evernote as an organisational tool in the classroom has changed the way I assess students, keep notes and records and complete many day to day tasks. I am a big believer in not making more work for myself than I need to and using Evernote effectively makes things much easier"

One of the ways I like to organise my reading groups is by using our class iPads, QR Codes and Evernote. These three tools combined allow me to be organised and prepared in advanced for reading lessons.

What type of tools could students choose from to heighten the message of their original writing with sound effects, vocal effects, music and images?

What type of tools could students choose from to heighten the message of their original writing with sound effects, vocal effects, music and images?

Greg Kulowiec begins his session by asking, "Why limit our students to one tool at one time?" With App Smashing, students can create content with a variety of apps and then publish it to the web - don't let content "die on your iPad." The general concept between App Smashing is merging content from a variety of apps. Greg likes the word App Smash, but Lisa Johnson (@techchef4u) calls it App Synergy.

"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."

Social media pervades all aspects of modern society, particularly with the rapid influx of mobile devices. If used in meaningful and appropriate ways, it can transform a student's learning experience, improve communication with parents and community members, as well as support professional growth. However, teachers and administrators also confront the realities of opening up students to a global audience, and address real concerns about security, screentime, inappropriate behavior, and acceptable use. While the first instinct in schools and districts is often to block services such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and even some blogging platforms, the positives of these tools often outweigh the negatives.

Almost all college professors are on social media these days. Many use it simply to connect with other professionals in their field or to post information on themselves and their research. But using social media inside the classroom can be extremely effective. Increase productivity, communication, and understanding by using these six tips.

The app gives you the ability to use an special effect known as Chroma Key or Green Screen in a simple, fun and quick way.

Tagul is a web service that enables you to create gorgeous word/tag clouds.

"For those just getting started, a few basic terms to help you easily and quickly navigate your way around Twitter. For those who already use Twitter, you may want to jump down to the next section, Benefits for Educators, or simply download the Twitter Cheat Sheet at the bottom of the post."