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Apps Taskonomy: Digging Deeper into the Application of Apps he iPad (or iPod touch or iPhone) with its apps opens many new opportunities for learning. At the same time, it offers a slightly different wrapper for older learning opportunities. Both can be worthwhile, but it would be a shame if teachers missed the former for the latter. And, if past experience and research is any indication, educators are much more likely to co-opt the new technology to accomplish the status quo. This activity is designed to help teachers think through both opportunities and to categorize those apps that lend themselves to either or both. Teachers will start by exploring a variety of apps, some that lend themselves to learning content such as math facts or spelling words and others that can be used in open ended content creation such as storytelling or photography. Then, teachers will examine a set of lessons that use these apps. Finally, teachers will use a "taxonomy" such as Bloom's Taxonomy, SAMR, LoTi, ETaP, Prensky, etc. and attempt to classify/categorize where the apps fall. Most likely teachers will need to contextualize the app to a particular use/activity. Ideally, teachers will realize that in most cases it is not the app itself, but the use that detrmines where it falls and that the apps belong in multiple places.

Lisa Nielsen is an educational administrator and permanently certified teacher with more than a decade's worth of experience working in educational innovation at the city, state, and national level. Working as an innovative educator in New York City, Ms. Nielsen was honored as Teacher of the Year and was her district's nominee for Technology Educator of the year. Ms. Nielsen has worked in various capacities in educational innovation at the NYC Department of Education and Teachers College, Columbia University including as manager of instructional technology professional development, literacy coach, instructional technology coach, teacher, librarian, and staff developer. She currently serves as Technology Innovation Manager for the NYC Department of Education. Ms. Nielsen is a Google Certified Teacher, International Edublogger, International EduTwitter, and creator of The Innovative Educator blog, website, learning network, and wiki. In addition to her blog (http://TheInnovativeEducator.blogspot.com), her work is published in "Learning and Leading," and "Tech & Learning," magazine as well as the following online media Tech & Learning, ISTE Connects, Ed Reformer, and The Huffington Post. An outspoken and passionate advocate of innovative education Ms. Nielsen is also covered by local and national media for her views on "Passion (not data) Driven Learning," "Thinking Outside the Ban" and determining ways to harness the power of technology for instruction and providing a voice to educators and students. Her first book "Teaching Generation Text" is set for a fall 2011 release.

"The rest of this week I will be running workshops on Google Docs and Google Sites with Kern Kelley and Alice Barr as a part of Google Apps Bootcamp NH. For the Google Docs section I will be using my guide to Google Drive and Docs for Teachers. For the Google Sites section I will be using a brand new guide to Google Sites for Teachers. Google Sites for Teachers was designed as a guide for new users of Google Sites. I have designs for expanding it to include more advanced features in the future. You can view the 47 page guide as embedded below. "

The Summer Challenge Tuesday, July 21, 2009 When I was little, I loved school so much that I would ask my mom to give me homework out of the encyclopedias during the summer. Well in the same tradition, I decided to offer summer homework to the teachers in my division. Totally optional, but there would be a reward in the end--four hours of professional development credit awarded upon the submission of a portfolio containing all eight challenges. To my surprise, several teachers have accepted the challenge. I have even had teachers from other divisions ask for my homework after hearing what the Early Childhood teachers were doing. They are having so much fun! They have proudly shown me some of their projects. Some say they probably won't do the portfolio for credit, but just wanted to complete the challenges to learn something new. I am linking to the project documents here if you would like to take the challenge. Summer is a great time to learn something new!

My goal is to create the ultimate teacher resource that is free for everyone! Have Fun Teaching is updated on a daily basis with new worksheets, songs, videos, flash cards, coloring pages, fun activities and blog articles released every day. Unlike other web sites for teachers, Have Fun Teaching is created by a teacher and it offers high quality songs for learning with content-rich lyrics for kids. HaveFunTeaching.com specializes in fun worksheets, coloring pages, songs for kids, educational videos, fun activities, and teacher tools. ColorMeGood.com is another website that I have created that offers over 6,000 free printable coloring pages for kids! This is the largest selection of coloring pages online with thousands of high quality, full-page coloring pages.

"There are new web 2.0 tools appearing every day. Although some of these tools were not originally meant for use in the classroom, they can be extremely effective learning tools for today's technology geared students and their venturesome teachers. Many of these teachers are searching for the latest products and technologies to help them find easier and efficient ways to create productive learning in their students. More and more teachers are using blogs, podcasts and wikis, as another approach to teaching. We have created a list of 100 tools we think will encourage interactivity and engagement, motivate and empower your students, and create differentiation in their learning process. "

This is a self-professed, blatant all-out "steal" of a great idea begun by Gina Hartman for Twitter users in education. As a plurker, I thought we plurkers needed one of these for us. I've even "borrowed" her very well done directions: This wiki was created to easily help new teachers (or teachers new to Plurk) connect with other teachers that have the same interests as them (that teach in the same content area). Check out the list of teachers below. To add your Plurk name to the list, click on the "Edit" tab at the top of this page, and then enter yourself in the appropriate category or categories! But first you have to create an account. Just follow the instructions to the right.

New Teacher Chat LiveBinder full of resources for new  and future teachers

100 Helpful Websites for New Teachers By Tara Miller You've been preparing for teaching for years, and now you finally get your chance to have a class of your own. With so much to learn as you get started, it can be overwhelming keeping it all straight. The following websites are loaded with helpful information that new teachers will appreciate.

Great artilcle that needs to be read by teachers and EVERY FUTURE teacher.

"Teachers, do you... Not have enough time for grading? Want useful measurements on student performance? Need a free solution to help? If so, then Flubaroo can help! Grade online assignments in a single step! Get reporting and analysis on student performance! Email students their scores. Designed by a teacher, for other teachers! Read the Overview to learn more Latest News: New and Improved Version Available! (Jan 2012)"

Video parodies are used to make teacher training interesting A Texas district is producing videos parodying well-known commercials to make teacher training more interesting and to send messages to students. The videos have been so effective that there are plans to produce more. "We've been doing these videos since 2006. This way of delivering a message has more appeal," said a district administrator. The Dallas Morning News (9/8) http://www.youtube.com/user/MesquiteISD#play/all

"The Blogging Teacher: Setting Up Your Classroom Page Blogs ("web logs") are an effective way to communicate with parents and the school community about the learning and events taking place in your classroom. As a teacher, using a blog page as a method of sharing news and information can be helpful to parents (and students) by allowing them access to these things online - rather than by paper handouts and agenda writing. "

ISTE urges tech training for future teachers As the FY10 budget process unfolds in Congress, ed-tech advocates want funding for a new grant program for pre-service teacher

"Educators are constantly seeking new strategies for using Wikis in the classroom. This is especially true for teachers who have formulated some ideas; however, they are still looking for additional ideas. Even teachers who have been using this technology for quite some time are on the lookout for new ideas. Regardless of being new to Wiki or a veteran, new strategies and techniques for engaging students are just around the corner."

" 3 tips for teachers new to Twitter"

"Great resources for New Teachers - advice, support, and training"

"Research dispels common ed-tech myths Among the findings: New teachers aren't more likely than veteran teachers to use technology"

Here is a survival guide for new and veteran teachers compiled by the U.S. Department of Education. 

Teachers looking for ways to incorporate the Olympic Winter Games into their instruction have a new resource they can use: NBC Learn, the educational arm of NBC News, has teamed up with the National Science Foundation (NSF) to produce a 16-part video series focusing on the science behind the games.

Teachers looking for ways to incorporate the Olympic Winter Games into their instruction have a new resource they can use: NBC Learn, the educational arm of NBC News, has teamed up with the National Science Foundation (NSF) to produce a 16-part video series focusing on the science behind the games.