Group items tagged

Great discussion on the process of implementing blogging in the classroom. Nice infographic embedded in blogpost

Wonderful reflective expression on ETMOOC using adjectives and research that connects with each. Certainly supports the learning environment and outcomes so many of us have experienced. 

"Speaking and listening. We do it every day for countless reasons. Routine interactions, brief exchanges, or thoughtful diatribes propel us through everything from the most mundane tasks to critical life events. Therefore, it's not surprising that speaking and listening have earned a prominent place in our K-12 standard documents, including the widely endorsed Common Core State Standards (CCSS). "

A very personal look by Vicki at handling difficult situations in life. Inspirational.

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!

Great rationale for why networks matter. Peggy Bentlley does a marvelous job of using Tweets to support the points she makes in her blog post. Must read!

Sherry Hegstrom, on her blog "Emerging Technologies in Education" asks the question: What makes for a digital story? She brings up some great questions for us to consider and there are some comments that engage the discussion. Check it out!

Lots of links on different aspects of storytelling. A great way to explore the topic and help define for yourself the role of storytelling in your own life and that of our students.

Dean Shareski brings up a vital discussion around the fears we have in "publishing" online and what this space is really for: CONVERSATION. Take the time to read this, as it will impact the way you view publishing and provide discussion points with colleagues and students. 

Will Richardson explores this idea: "By pairing personalized learning and technology, a teacher can help students learn what they need to learn through the topics that interest them most." How does "personal learning" fit into the structures we have in school learning environments? 

A Twitter friend, Holly Clark aka @hollyedtechdiva,(http://hollyclark.net/), shared a post she found about how Google Apps can make a difference for teachers & students. And they are making a difference, and there's so much more we can do. Just think, students and teachers in our district have created over 30,000 docs, 1,712 spreadsheets, 1,027 presentations, & 2,894 folders. There are also over 9,000 files uploaded and stored in Google Drive. And there are 10 things Google Apps teachers rarely, if ever hear. Check them out :)

Does your research teaching embrace the 21st century learner? This blog post has great information/lessons on strategies for helping students curate (finding/evaluating/managing) information.

Want to learn about Google Classroom? Alice Keeler has written a lot of posts & they're gathered on this blog post for us. Lots of good ones to choose from.

"Through digital curation we collect, manage and collate the best, most relevant content, on a specific topic or theme,  for ourselves and share with others. Using tools like Scoop.it, Pinterest, Diigo and Livebinders educators collect the best resources to put them into context with organization, annotation and presentation." This post is a summary of ideas, tips, and resources to become an effective curator.

Kyle Pace, Google Certified Teacher and Instructional Tech. Specialist shares his insights into creating workflows in Google Drive with students. The most common methods used are #2 and #3 (Doctopus is another popular script that I like). However, another teacher shared another on you can view here ( http://goo.gl/Kuy3b9 ) that utilizes the idea of a digital portfolio. Using one of these methods is KEY to helping you and your students more effectively leverage Google Drive...and keep your Inbox a bit leaner from all of those file sharing notifications.

Kathy Cassidy, first grade teacher, received a challenging comment on her blog, regarding her classroom blog and protecting her students. She shares masterfully, and with kindness, to the comment. Want a rationale for classroom blogging? Find some of that in her reply.

Especially with the CCSS, teachers/admin. need to take a look at how grading reflects assessment practices. What do the grades you give really REFLECT about what students CAN DO and know? The table comes from the work of Tom Guskey, a college professor who has done extensive research and writing on grading. (see http://goo.gl/DAHyH)

What are your go-to stress busters when the pressure is on? This article provides some great ideas for how to interrupt stress and create better health in the workplace.

"What Is Transformational In Your Educational Vision?      Part of the challenge in educational reform is that not everyone defines learning or education the same way.  Sure, we all refer to things such as literacy, college and career ready, 21st century skills, etc.        However, what is the core purpose of one's education?  Beyond specifics related to employment skills, literacy skills and standards mastery, I offer up this idea: Education is meant to transform one's life.  In other words, education has to dramatically, or even radically, transform the person into a new, improved person that is more emotionally, socially, and intellectually ready for any challenge the world has to offer."

"It seems like just yesterday that I was a disconnected nomad working hard to maintain the status quo and conform to a rigid system commonly known as education. You see, prior to 2009 I was adamantly opposed to even the thought of using social media for both personal and professional reasons. As a building level leader burdened by endless responsibilities, I could not fathom wasting even a precious minute in what I saw as a perpetual time sap. " Read the rest of this post to see how Eric discovered being connected on social media and engaging in conversations with passionate educators has transformed his work in education.