CTAP Siskiyou Web 2.0

Great to see we're back to encouraging backwards design as we approach the CCSS. I use parts of this myself in technology planning & professional development - "Begin with the end in mind" (Stephen Covey)

Innovative use of blended learning, using a  rotating centers approach: Teacher instruction, Group work, Technology group. They are able to do more differentiated instruction within this model and looks like they're using some digital curriculum or an LMS. 

This is a helpful look at the stages many go through as they begin the journey of building a PLN. I've read a couple of posts by those extending themselves into the realm of connected relationships online: Chez Vivian "Oh, what a tangled web we weave" - http://goo.gl/CFnKv & Fenella Olynick: "Staying the Course: Connections, Reciprocity, and the Web" http://goo.gl/H8UKp

An award-winning English teacher and tech. coach/trainer, Alice shows how the CCSS recognizes the importance of technology in the classroom and gives specific ideas for meeting a number of standards. Definitely worth checking out!

Nice introductory video on using Twitter for PD and how to get started.

Online portfolio for teachers - FREE. I would encourage especially pre-service teachers to consider using a tool like this to help provide something more engaging than the standard resume. One of my goals this summer is to use something like this or a blog resume to document my work, experience, skill sets, and learning. 

"NY Times writers collaborated with the Common Sense Media writer Kelly Schryver to focus on the increasingly important and nuanced question "Who Are You Online?" Times and Learning Network content as well as offerings from Common Sense Media's K-12 Digital Literacy and Citizenship curriculum for teaching and learning about this complex issue." Lots of avenues to take this material in working with students.

LDC offers a framework for building the college-and-career-ready literacy skills specified by the Common Core State Standards. There are some excellent inquiry units under modules tab - all for secondary years.

"A lot of instructors are under the impression that they are successfully integrating technology, when in fact they are simply using technology. Although this might seem to some as just semantics, in my opinion there is a huge difference between the two - a difference that can be seen in the impact the technology usage has on student learning." See the chart

A presentation by Richard Byrne on how to use some different digital collections of Primary Source documents to teach high school social studies lessons in Honors level classes, as well as other classes. 

Technology integration isn't always as easy as presenters make it out to be. Here is a model to explore to assess/implement tech. integration. TPACK stands for Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge. This framework looks at each of these domains of knowledge, and how they overlap with each other within a given context. It can be an important tool when addressing the problem of technology integration.

39 Instructional videos on K-8 pathways to the CC Standards. What do you think of the approach these teachers are taking? How can they help you in your transition to the CCore? Some practices here are applicable to high school, as well. 

There are different approaches to how to build and use a PLN (Personal Learning Network). Here are a few tutorials on how to build yours. 

Several Twitter users speak to why Twitter is an important tool for them and how it can be for you, as well. Some sharing have been in education for over 30 years, so it's not just for younger teachers. Join in and learn and share your learning with others.

Interesting discussion on copyright issues with Flickr images with Creative Commons license - be sure to read the comments

Fantastic resource that not only provides resources for teachers and students, but allows for CURATION & customized collections. This could be a great way to have students learn CURATION skills - an important digital literacy. Google Apps integration. 

Video downloaders, including EZVID, which allows for screen capture, video and slideshow making in Windows.

Resume style blog for educators - new teacher

What is the relationship between synchronous and asynchronous experiences? The opportunity to learn more about digital literacy by treating both sessions as one continuous "meeting" helps define what digital literacy actually implies (the ability to move seamlessly within these various digital platforms to create one cohesive experience). How we define "meetings" is being transformed with the advent of the blending of synchronous and asynchronous experiences and I think will have a profound effect on education and professional development. What literacies will be needed to learn in these settings?

"Content curation will play a major role both in the way we "teach" and in the way we educate ourselves on any topic. When and where it will be adopted, it will deeply affect many key aspects of the educational ecosystem."