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While looking through the different sites and the information that they offer I kept learning towards the 2 cents worth site.  I'm not sure why but I think it has part to do with the organization of the site and the information presented.  But I stumbled across this article which really makes you think about your style of teaching and the way it affects your students.  It also makes you think about how students need to see you as a learner as well rather than someone so high above them that they can not relate to you.  By providing students with this view they will be more likely to listen to what your saying and see what they are learning as beneficial to themselves.  I thoroughly enjoyed the chart at the bottom so if you don't have the time to read the whole article please at least look at the chart it's a real eye opener.

Really love what David has shared, here. I left a comment on this blog post of his after I read it a few minutes ago...it reminded me of the Sugata Mitra vid you guys watched this week. Thanks, Brittney!

This is short but to the point and informative article that provides some insights into the importance of the technology we are working with in class

Summary: Cultivate a positive digital footprint, both for yourself and for your students! In showing that ePortfolios provide students with transparency for family, skills for the future, effective digital citizenship, and an online cv for employers, this blog convicted ME that I should (a) learn to have a positive online presence, and (b) teach my student to do the same.

This is an awesome article that makes a positive spin on the "digital footprint" theme. I've mostly come at it from a you-better-watch-what-you're-putting-out-there perspective...in other words, from a "be careful" point of view. This has re-framed it a little for me...made me realize I can approach digital writing with a let's-show-them-the-great-things-we're-doing attitude.

I saw this video the other day on Google Reader. It sparked my interest because it is a very interesting idea and could be a great resource for teachers and students alike. I think on-demand video learning is going to be a huge part of the future of the classroom, and it is a great way for students to get a fuller understanding of something that maybe wasn't discussed in as much detail in the classroom.

Khan Academy is AWESOME! I had bookmarked it last year, and then I forgot about it. I could use it now to help my daughter in Math! Thanks!

This is an interactive math website that places math fundamentals in a galactic interplanetary battle. With a variety of mathematic concepts at in a wide range of subjects, the website prompts the user to perform mathematical operations in timed duals versus a computer opponent. The theme of the website as well as the layout of the activities make it a resource that appeals to student desires to play and compete.  While the website does not really provide students with a learning opportunity, but it is a great way to assess student understanding of concepts. While having a battle in quadratic functions, I quickly realized that I am not as strong with the equations as I was with the graphic representations of functions. This site provides quick activities that could be highly valuable in adjusting and refining teaching units. 

Summary of available materials - resources for active whiteboard use, activity suggestions, and useful links Use in classroom: Can be utilized in the classroom by involving students in the utilization of the whiteboard to present materials to class based on a review of assigned materials related to specific topics. Student learn to utilize technology and take an active and interactive part in the teaching and learning process

When I was little, I had a book called How Stuff Works. I used to reference it all the time because I was curious about everything. Conversion to a website format makes it that much easier to find what you need and to add additional videos as technology advances. I think that this would be a fantastic reference website for any classroom.

This website looks like a fantastic resource for teachers, although I was saddened to find that they didn't include English or Literature in their list of subjects.

This website looks like a fantastic resource for teachers, although I was saddened to find that they didn't include English or Literature in their list of subjects.

I think this site is pretty awesome even for hearing students. I know that when I watch something with words along the bottom, I automatically read what is along the bottom no matter what. Things that have tickers across the bottom, like CNN or (what I'm more likely watching, shamefully) E!, I get super distracted, which is frustrating. But having the words that are actually being spoken, kids may become better readers and also better absorb what is being presented to them. Reading along also makes watching a video a less passive activity.

This great resource is a lesson plan from the New York Times. The students not only get to put their brains in the realm of public health and and social media, but they also get to see a new movie trailer as a warm up. As the students delve into using technology such as Google Tools, Twitter, and even Facebook. All this use of technology and new media would be a blast in the class and is a huge reason why it sparked my interest.

WOW! I skimmed this lesson plan, Max. It's really cool! Have you seen the movie yet?

This is a really awesome link! I added it to my Reader and immediately went to town combing through all of it. I saw the movie last weekend and was completely freaked out by it. What makes it worse is that I have a friend who is an epidemiologist and he is always telling me all the ways in which I could die. He can be a drag sometimes. I just have to remind myself that, for most things, soap and water do the trick. :)

I liked this piece because it reminded me of a conversation I had in another class this week. Another person in the class was asking how we can prepare our kids for technology in the future that we have no idea will exist as of right now. The example given was how nobody knew iPads would exist a few years ago and now tablets are the big thing. My thoughts are that if we make sure our students are well-versed in the technology that we have right now, future technology builds on that and becomes intuitive. It wasn't hard for me to go from Pac-Man to Zelda, or from Zelda to Doom. Each built on skills that I already had. When I got my iPad as a gift, I had no idea what the purpose of it was; now I can't live without it. It wasn't hard for me to learn at all because it built on the skills I already had. I think this article says all of that, albeit in a much simpler way.

Great points!

This resource has a number of whiteboard activities for different areas of study. I focused on the English (Literacy) section. It seems somewhat limited in some respects, as it only has a few activities for certain books/plays, but the ones that were there were pretty cool. I really liked the Romeo and Juliet activities. I thought the intro scale about love at first sight would be a great way to get kids hooked, and the activities in which the kids put the things that happened in order were good as well. I liked some of the middle grades activities more. There was one in which you have to look at different newspapers coverage of the same event and make a Venn diagram of how the stories overlap. I think this really makes learning more interactive and meaningful to the students and utilizes the technology well.

This is a website that has a ton of ridiculously cool interactive activities for teachers to use in the classroom. This company, Lakeshore, has interactive boards for Math, Language, Science and Social studies that would be a really cool way to keep kids active in the classroom while incorporating technology. I would personally use this to try and keep math interesting and interactive. Allowing students to feel like they are an active participant in their learning is a great way to empower them.