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So, how can you use Dropbox as an educator? There are many ways that you can do this. One is to just manage your own material and make it more readily accessible. My PowerPoint presentations are very image intensive and quickly get over 20MB - not an emailable size (my server limits email space to 5MB). Rushing around in the morning, it's easy to forgot to copy the new version of a big file onto my flash-drive. By keeping my lectures and other school materials on Dropbox, I always have access to the most recent changes.

We love this document that Mark Anderson has produced for a training day at his school in North Somerset, UK. It succinctly provides the name of Web2.0 tools and gives you examples of how to use them. From our experience teachers did need quick, easy and fast ways to connect to new technology ideas. We think Mark achieves this very well!

"As part of the iPads for Learning trial, students have access to an iPad on a 1-to-1 basis, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week for the duration of the trial. 1-to-1 programs maximise learning opportunities for students by providing access to information anywhere, anytime. A major benefit of 1-to-1 devices is that they can be networked for two way communication and collaboration between teachers and students and extend learning beyond the classroom."

"The virtual school videos for South African learners in the category "maths". The fun way to learn maths! Make sure to have a look at the entire list from top to bottom! "

Sometimes teachers and administrators need a kick in the pants to see what they perceive as problems re-framed in a different way. Adam S. Bellow, author of The Tech Commandments, and founder of eduTecher, spoke to a roomful of receptive teachers at the recent ISTE 2011 conference, and demonstrated some of the ironies and contradictions the education system is mired in. And he had some advice.

"I am not a Twitter snob - really - but there are some people who have been using Twitter and think that it's just a matter of tweeting random musings and links to their own website - or feeding from their Facebook status updates! Those people haven't gotten the point of Twitter yet. Really there is no point following someone if they don't know how to use Twitter properly - unless you know them in real life and are planning to gently help them along the way."

As the recently released "2012 Horizon Report: K-12 Edition" suggests, mobile devices and apps will become mainstream in a year or less. But apps aren't all about playing games. Converge asked three instructional technology coordinators and teachers to share how they're using apps to help students achieve learning goals.

Twylah is a great way for websites, products, venues, and even individuals to create one page, which sums up what they're about.

"Celly is an easy way for teachers, coaches and administrators to communicate with students and parents Send school wide alerts and keep parents updated Schedule reminders or curate class discussions Use polls and surveys to engage students"

"This lively, interactive, 5 module course has been designed for educators who would like to learn new ways to become even more effective when implementing technology into their classroom and teaching practice. Each research-based module, which will take about an hour to complete, contains a rich variety of multimedia learning activities and resources including videos, surveys and links to additional readings. You'll see and hear teachers in action, listen to their ideas, learn tips, tools and classroom-ready strategies that will help you maximize learning outcomes and expand your knowledge of how to use technology to support instructional frameworks."

Edheads is an online educational resource that provides free science and math games and activities that promote critical thinking. Choose from Simple Machines, Virtual Knee Surgery or Stem Cell Heart Repair, among others. All activities meet state and national standards. We partner with corporations, universities, and school systems throughout the United States, which help us research, design, and test our activities every step of the way. Not only do teachers and students appreciate our free activities, Edheads has been recognized by almost every major award on the Web for our excellent educational content

"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."

"This site doesn't just present theories and ideas, but rather actionable solutions that can be immediately and easily implemented in service of a relevant education for American students who need to gain proficiency if not mastery of core subject areas while at the same time being prepared for the reality of future work. Imagination is a broad topic, encompassing everything the mind can conjure, so the findings in this report are focused on those that overlap with the changing world of work. Imagination is required to envision the skills demanded by the future as the rate of transformation continues to increase. Creativity and flexibility will be required to put shared ideas into effective practice as rapidly as the current crisis demands. A truly collaborative approach to problem solving is a necessity, and a recognition of the importance not only of science and mathematics, but of creativity, art and music to amplify learning. Einstein credits some of his greatest breakthroughs in insight to his violin breaks, which connected different parts of his brain in new ways. Is it possible to thrive in a perilous and yet exciting period of transformation?"

"When adopting technology in the classroom, one of the key concerns for teachers and administrators is classroom management. I am often asked if there is a way to "lock down an iPad screen" or "ensure students cannot go to inappropriate websites" (e.g. Social Media). In other words, how do we keep students on task and are not distracted by the novelty of gadgets or communicating with friends via texting or social media. Often, teachers will take up devices (such as mobile phones) to avoid the issue of students texting or checking Facebook on their phones (eliminating access to a powerful, pocket computer in the process)."

"It is still summer time and I am sharing some of those websites I feel should be in every teacher's toolbox! I have forty… maybe more… and I am sending out ten new ones in each post. This is post number two… remember I am picking these from thousands.  It is my way of saying happy summer! "

"Open Access means free access to scientific information and unrestricted use of electronic data for everyone. With Open Access, expensive prices and copyrights will no longer be obstacles to the dissemination of knowledge. Everyone is free to add information, modify contents, translate texts into other languages, and disseminate an entire electronic publication. For UNESCO, adopting an Open Access Policy means to make thousands of its publications freely available to the public. Furthermore, Open Access is also a way to provide the public with an insight into the work of the Organization so that everyone is able to discover and share what UNESCO is doing."