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Florida releases Value-added measures of teachers.

The world's most advanced online photo editor. Create dazzling photo effects for free in your

Technology Tip Number 2 Just Googling Around The internet is big, really, really big, and if you want to use it effectively you have to be familiar with search engines.

Masher lets you easily create a video by mixing together video clips, music tracks, and photos all for FREE! Mix... Your videos and photos, with our huge library of video clips from BBC Motion Gallery, Rip Curl and more. Mash... Your videos and photos together using our simple studio, then add some words, music and special effects. Share... Your video Mash by posting it to sites such as Facebook, MySpace, or by emailing it.

Today's post is the first in several that will give you an insight to some Google tools you may not have not had the chance to previously explore. Yes, we all Google in one form or another, but most of us are unaware of little tools and great updated features that make Google more than a basic search engine. Plus, with the newest features of Google Squared, the Timeline, and the Wonder Wheel, students and teachers have a way to navigate through information more efficiently and effectively. I don't know about you, but I'm a big fan of getting results quickly rather than wandering in the web for hours.

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

Twitter Resources for Teachers You've heard the buzz on the Twitter phenomenon. Everybody seems to be hooked by this micro blogging service. It's been a catalyst for marketing in multinational companies, personal branding for entrepreneurs, and a simple advertising tool for the small businesses. Professionals from the education sphere seem to be catching up to the trends of technolgoy. Whether you're innovating teaching strategies for the university or looking for education jobs online, Twitter is one versatile venue where both teachers and students converse meaningfully. Don't take our word for it, here are some expert guides and tips on how to use this magnificent social networking site to your learning advantage. Articles on Twitter In Education 1. Teaching Twitter to the Teachers - To use twitter effectively, you need a reason to start with. 2. Twitter Tweets for Higher Education - Doing a little online searching (emphasis on the little), the author of this blog has found the following items related to Twitter and education. 3. 50 Ideas on Using Twitter for Education - Blog By Carol - Based on a list by Chris Brogan - 50 ideas for using Twitter in Business. 4. Using Twitter as an Education Tool - Are you using Twitter yet? If not, you may want to read how other educators are using Twitter as an education tool. 5. Twitter Transforms Teaching - Twitter's now tapped as a teaching and learning tool with opportunities to motivate students and advance achievement. 6. Teaching with Twitter - Steve Wheeler's 10 top uses of Twitter for education. 7. Twitter Professors: 18 People to Follow for a Real Time Education - 18 people Lon S. Cohen (writer and social media strategist. He is @obilon on Twitter) following for a real time education. 8. Educational Tool: Twitter - 'Twitter in the Classroom' techniques by Christine Morris. 9. Twenty-Five Interesting Ways to use Twitter in the Classroom - Excellent presentation by Creative Commons 10. N

"The first "wiki," or user-edited Web page, was made in 1995 to improve communication between computer programmers. With more than 3 million articles, Wikipedia, the user-edited encyclopedia, is the world's most widely used wiki. And because a Wikipedia entry comes up for almost any Google search, students will inevitably encounter the site during their research. For this reason, it's important to teach students about using Wikipedia effectively and avoiding its pitfalls. "

"A Principal's Reflections Education is a reflective practice. This blog provides my views on educational leadership, effective technology integration, best practices, and creating a student-centered learning culture."

"If you're new to computers or simply need a refresher course on how to get the most out of your Mac, you've come to the right place. Welcome to Mac 101: Your guide to using a Mac effectively and efficiently. If you've switched to Mac from Windows, Switch 101 is just for you. Whether you want to learn how to get around your Mac desktop (or find out what a desktop is, for that matter); figure out how to connect your printer, iPod, digital camera, or other device; discover email and the Internet; learn how to do various tasks; learn how to use the software that came with your Mac; or even find out what to do when things don't go as planned; we have the answers. "

"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. "

"LEARNING TOOLS DIRECTORY 2010 More Collaboration Tools TOOLS: A-K | Tools L - Z These are further stand-alone tools suitable for individuals to work and learn more effectively with others - as well as on their own. Key: B=Social bookmarking and web clipping tools C=Calendar/event scheduling tools M=Mind mapping tools N=note taking/sharing/annotation/whiteboarding tools R=research tools O=Other collaboration tools Free tools are shaded grey = a Top 100 Tool, click on the star for more info"

"Gmail, Calendar, Docs and more. Google Apps Education Edition offers a free (and ad-free) set of customizable tools that enable faculty, staff and students to work together and learn more effectively."

NPR story on using video as an evaluation and research tool for discovering effective teaching techniques.

We believe that Vermont educators would benefit from seeing "pictures" of these new learning environments. Additionally, we feel that technology must play a strong role in supporting these environments. The National Education Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S) "refreshed" in 2007 provide us with guidance on how technology, when combined with effective pedagogy and strong content standards can get us to that desired end.... the transformed classroom.

Welcome to the Maine Content Literacy Project's Technology, Literacy, and Content (TLC) site. TLC contains a collection of unit exemplars that were designed to strategically utilize technology and literacy instruction in order to support and deepen content area understanding.  The site includes units for elementary, middle, and secondary school students that provide examples of effective literacy and technology integration in the core content areas of Social Studies, English Language Arts, Math, and Science.  Each unit contains unit plans, lesson plans, resource materials, instructional tools, and exemplar videos.    The units, lessons, videos, and resources are free to use by schools for instruction or professional development.  

Storytelling is a vital skill with seemingly unlimited applications. Done well, it can have a magical effect -- moving, enlightening, or entertaining audiences of any size. We tell stories to woo lovers, calm children, or reassure ourselves. Lawyers rely on the power of storytelling to vividly re-create crimes to juries, archaeologists conjure former civilizations, and teachers make abstract concepts real to their students.

@Langwitches provides an overview of some recent screecast apps for the iPad and how to use them effectively. 

"Stories are not just for campfires - they entertain, educate, motivate, incite and surprising to many also bring healing powers into our lives. Digital storytelling is not simply a technical playground but an artistic experience merging the ancient art of storytelling with a palette of digital tools. Mixing images, sounds, voices, and special effects together creates a sensory experience of well-written stories."

"It's Google's world, we're just teaching in it. Now, we can use it a little more easily. With classes, homework, and projects-not to mention your social life-time is truly at a premium for all teachers, so why not take advantage of the wide world that Google has to offer? From super-effective search tricks to Google tools specifically for education to tricks and tips for using Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Calendar, these tricks will surely save you some precious time. "