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A recent report (November 2011) from Symantec highlighted that 15% of teachers have experienced cyber-baiting, and 25% of teachers have formed friendships with students via social networks. There has been quite a bit of media attention around the issue, so I thought it would be a good time to highlight some work that NetSafe did last year with a group of educators around some guidelines for the use of blogs and other social media tools.

"This event takes place on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012, 1 to 2 p.m. ET. The flipped classroom model-in which students watch video lessons for homework and receive more direct, individual instruction from teachers during class time-is rapidly gaining popularity in K-12 schools, with websites such as Khan Academy offering thousands of free video lessons. Some teachers see flipped learning as a way to spend more time working with their students and less time lecturing. But critics of the approach have called it nothing more than a high-tech, time-shifting tool that often leaves students confused about the content they're supposed to be absorbing at home. Our guests will discuss the pros and cons of this approach and highlight the best methods for making a flipped classroom successful. "

Mastering the art of presentation is not easy. True. Good presenters are natural presenters. Not true. This guide to mastering the art of presentation proves this point. Everyone can present with flair, style and success. Everyone can be effective. This book reveals the fundamentals of good presenting practice. Highlighting the major guidelines followed by successful presenters it offers ideas that you can follow to make your presentations more masterful.

In 2013, you don't need to find a radio to listen in on quality broadcast programming. A laptop, MP3 player, tablet, or even a smartphone will work just as well. Even better, there is a wealth of content out there that's both educational and entertaining, including some pretty amazing shows on scientific topics that are equally interesting to the layman and the professional. Whether you're just getting into listening to science podcasts or are looking for a few new shows to add to your weekly collection, we've highlighted what we think are some of the best science podcasts out there right now. They're informative, compelling, and even, at times, pretty darn funny, so make sure to check out one, two, or even all of these great science programs the next time you're looking for a little edutainment.

"If you rely on Gmail for personal or professional use (including Google Apps for Education email messages) take a look at this nice little guide to Gmail shortcuts. These shortcuts, highlighted on one page, could save a few minutes or more the next time that you face a backlog of email messages."

Over the past several weeks UNESCO has been publishing individual titles in its Working Paper Series on Mobile Learning. Recently the Organization concluded the first phase of the Series by releasing two Global Themes papers.  These papers, unlike previous titles, are not region-specific.  Instead they synthesize information contained in the regional papers to identify salient trends that cut across geographic boundaries. One paper, Turning on Mobile Learning: Global Themes, highlights issues policy makers and other stakeholders should consider when infusing mobile learning into education systems.  The other paper, Mobile Learning for Teachers: Global Themes, examines characteristics shared by programmes that assist educators, either by aiding their work in schools or by helping them improve their own pedagogical and content knowledge.

This collection of links and applications highlights just the tip of the iceberg of educational resources that are available on the web. If you are interested in teaching yourself a new skill or learning a new topic indepth in your spare time, hopefully some of these will be of use.

"The Ed Tech Developer's Guide: A Primer for Developers, Startups and Entrepreneurs is a free guide that addresses key questions about the education ecosystem and highlights critical needs and opportunities to develop digital tools and apps for learning.  Written with input from knowledgeable educators, developers, and researchers who were willing to share what they have learned, the guide is designed to help entrepreneurs apply technology in smart ways to solve persistent problems in education."