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1. Get Some Training. You don't have to become a computer expert, but you need to have some basic understanding of how computers operate and what to do when they do not operate properly. You should also become familiar with a web browser such as Firefox or Internet Explorer and websites that provide tech-integration resources and tutorials. Your school or college likely has an instructional technology specialist to help you in this regard. 2. Don't Re-invent the Wheel. There are plenty of credible and experienced educational technology organizations, administrators and teachers out there who can lead you to quality materials, lesson plans and activities for use in your classroom. You don't have to spend hours using search engines to locate appropriate sites and materials. Some of the best educational Web sites for integrating technology in the classroom are: Center for History and New Media Classroom 2.0Edutopia Discovery Education: Kathy Schrock "Guide for Educators"PBS Teachers: Media InfusionThinkfinity 3. Establish a Partnership with Your Students. Many of your students will be excited about computer use, but you and they may be apprehensive about how technology will change your learning environment. Tell your students that computer use in your classroom is new and exciting for you as well, and that you are all part of an experiment whose ultimate success will largely depend on your combined efforts and cooperation. Stress how special this educational opportunity is and how much you need their input. Remember, it's about the students, not you. Your students will probably appreciate you asking for their help, and it may spur them to take ownership of the program. It also may soften some frustrations when technical problems occur. 4. Have a Plan B Ready. You are going to run into some technical difficulties in class and how you handle them will go a long way in determining how successful and enjoyable your technology experience is. You can minimize unwanted surprises by getting some training from an instructional technology specialist and by minimizing your reliance on live web connections. However, you will invariably run into technical problems during class that you are not able to solve immediately. In such instances, if you appear overly perturbed and frustrated you will send a signal to your students that they too can moan about technical problems and perhaps use them as excuses to forego completing computer-based work. Even worse, you may inadvertently cause them to question the ultimate merit of computer-based learning. Instead, try to make a smooth transition to a backup lesson plan, thereby sending a signal that technical glitches are just part of your educational adventure.

Technology is a literacy that is expected in higher education and in our economy. (1) It is a universal language spoken by the entire world, regardless of the profession. Our current students will encounter one of the toughest job markets in generations. Gone are the days of falling into a profession and riding that wave for 30-plus years. However, it's not to say those jobs aren't still available. They are, but they're dwindling as automation and outsourcing continue to expand.

onsin was the 30th state in the USA; it became a state on May 29,1848. State Abbreviation - WI State Capital - Madison Largest City - Milwaukee Area - 65,503 square miles [Wisconsin is the 23rd biggest state in the USA] Population - 5,742,713 (as of 2013) [Wisconsin is the 20th most populous state in the USA] Name for Residents - Wisconsinites Major Industries - dairy products (milk, butter, cheese), farming (corn), machinery, paper manufacturing, beer, tourism Major Rivers - Wisconsin River, Mississippi River, St. Croix River, Chippewa River Major Lakes - Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Winnebago Highest Point - Timms Hill - 1,952 feet (595 m) above sea level Number of Counties - 72 Bordering States - Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois Origin of the Name Wisconsin - Wisconsin is from an Indian word, but the origin is uncertain. It is perhaps an Algonquian Indian word that means "long river," a Chippewa/Ojibwa/Anishinabe word, "Ouisconsin," that means "grassy place," or "gathering of the waters." State Nickname - Badger State State Motto - "Forward" State Song - On, Wisconsin!

SoundingBoard

Apple recently announced at their Education Event that 20,000 education apps have been built for the iPad.

Richard Scarry’s Busytown

Blackboard SMU uses the course management system Blackboard.  For help creating Blackboard courses and learning the basics, consult Academic Technology's Blackboard help page, as well as this Blackboard online tutorial. Access your Blackboard courses here. Presentation Software Sometimes it's helpful to provide visual aids to complement teaching, stimulate discussion, or allow out-of-class teaching. Tools designed for this purpose, such as PowerPoint, can be used well or used badly. Click here for resources that provide advice for thoughtful use of PowerPoint, as well as a few additional presentation tools. Classroom Response Systems ("clickers") One way to encourage student engagement is by using electronic devices that allow students to record their answers to multiple choice questions and allow you to instantly display the results. The anonymity encourages participation, and their answers help the teacher know when further discussion is needed.  Use of clickers can also serve as a catalyst for discussion.  Click here to learn more about using response systems effectively.

Converting a Face-to-Face Course to an Online Course Teaching online, whether in a hybrid course or a wholly-online course, requires different techniques and different tools.  Without the F2F contact, professors will need to be even clearer about setting and articulating expectations for digital work and participation.  Encouraging interaction between professor and student and among students is an additional challenge, as is monitoring student learning as the course progresses.  The online environment requires the use of basic technologies to digitize course materials as well as mastery of the university's learning management system.  And various tools like Skype allow synchronous communications, while blogs and Twitter can encourage asynchronous interaction.  Here are some ideas to get you started.

While walking around the classroom and interacting with students, teachers can control their computers from their iPad with the Remote Mouse app. With a simple cable, teachers can use their iPads to present their unique and creative Prezi (11) presentation made on their computer by using the iPad application called Prezi Player. The teacher can control the document by simply pinching, twisting and sliding their fingers across the face of the iPad.

73% of AP and NWP teachers say that they and/or their students use their mobile phones in the classroom or to complete assignments 45% report they or their students use e-readers and 43% use tablet computers in the classroom or to complete assignments

76% of AP and NWP teachers “strongly agree that “search engines have conditioned students to expect to be able to find information quickly and easily” 83% agree that “the amount of information available online today is overwhelming for most students” 71% agree that “today’s digital technologies discourage students from finding and using a wide range of sources for their research” 60% agree with the notion that “today’s digital technologies make it harder for students to find and use credible sources of information”

70% of teachers working in the highest income areas say their school does a “good job” providing teachers the resources and support they need to incorporate digital tools in the classroom, compared with 50% of teachers working in the lowest income areas 73% of teachers of high income students receive formal training in this area, compared with 60% of teachers of low income students 56% of teachers of students from higher income households say they or their students use tablet computers in the learning process, compared with 37% of teachers of the lowest income students 55% of teachers of higher income students say they or their students use e-readers in the classroom, compared with 41%  teaching in low income areas 52% of teachers of upper and upper-middle income students say their students use cell phones to look up information in class, compared with 35% of teachers of the lowest income students 39% of AP and NWP teachers of low income students say their school is “behind the curve” when it comes to effectively using digital tools in the learning process; just 15% of teachers of higher income students rate their schools poorly in this area 56% of teachers of the lowest income students say that a lack of resources among students to access digital technologies is a “major challenge” to incorporating more digital tools into their teaching; 21% of teachers of the highest income students report that problem 49% of teachers of students living in low income households say their school’s use of internet filters has a major impact on their teaching, compared with 24% of those who teach better off students who say that 33% of teachers of lower income students say their school’s rules about classroom cell phone use by students have a major impact on their teaching, compared with 15% of those who teach students from the highest income households

A dramatic shift is sweeping through our schools. The signs are all around us. Third graders texting on their cell phones. Kindergarteners who can navigate an iPod Touch better than we can. Middle schoolers who already have an Internet following on their blog or YouTube channel. These are not the same 21st century learners we came to know over the first decade of the new millennium. For these students, simply watching videos or images during class, playing an Internet multiplication game, or even taking turns at an interactive whiteboard is no longer enough. These new 21st century learners are highly relational and demand quick access to new knowledge. More than that, they are capable of engaging in learning at a whole new level. With the world literally at their fingertips, today’s students need teachers and administrators to re-envision the role of technology in the classroom.

Technology use allows many more students to be actively thinking about information, making choices, and executing skills than is typical in teacher-led lessons.

The student is actively making choices about how to generate, obtain, manipulate, or display information.

The teacher's role changes as well. The teacher is no longer the center of attention as the dispenser of information, but rather plays the role of facilitator, setting project goals and providing guidelines and resources, moving from student to student or group to group, providing suggestions and support for student activity.

Technology has become integrated in the classroom in so many ways, that we often don't even think about how we are using it. The Education World Tech Team offers lessons and activities to help educators make better use of technology tools for instruction, and to help students improve their technology skills within the context of the regular curriculum. Included: Integration activities that utilize the Web, PowerPoint, Excel, digital photography, SMART Boards, and more.

WEB SITES

POWERPOINT AND EXCEL

Timetoast

Capzles

Glinker

The Symbaloo above provides a vast assortment of digital tools you can use in your classroom. They are labeled and grouped by category. Suggestions and tips for using these tools in your classroom, as well as general information about what these tools are used for are listed below: Social Media Tools Collaboration Tools Publication Tools Video & Audio Tools Presentation Tools Global Collaboration Tools General Resources

#news_entries #ad_sharebox_260x60 img {padding:0px;margin:0px} if(HPAds.ad_check_page_config('sharebox_260x60')) { var adId = '93315218'; htmlAdWH(adId, "260", "60","f"); var debugadcode = ''; document.write(debugadcode); } setTimeout(function(){if(typeof social_campaign != 'undefined' && jQuery('.print-link')[0].href.indexOf(social_campaign) == -1 ) { var _print_href = jQuery('.print-link')[0].href; jQuery('.print-link').attr( 'href' , _print_href + '&comm_ref=' + social_campaign )} },3000) share this story .badges_v2 .badge_v2_facebook_ipad_app:after { content:'Share'; padding-left: 14px; text-align: center; width: 41px; } .badges_v2 .badge_v2_email_ipad_app:after { content:'Email'; padding-left: 22px; } .badges_v2 .badge_v2_comments_ipad_app:after { content:'Comment'; padding-left: 11px; } .badges_v2 .badge_v2_retweet_ipad_app:after { content:'Tweet'; padding-left: 20px; } 5727323 var inst_def = Badges.getUniqName(); window[inst_def.obj_name] = new Badges({ unique_id: inst_def.unique_id, holder_id: "badges_v2_1", human_readable: 0, panel_layout: 8, complete_callback_func_name: "", layout_bottom: false, share_details_callback: false, additional_panel_classes: "", entry_params: { "id" : 3228851, "title" : "Five Ways Teachers Can Use Technology to Help Students", "created_on": 1367930040, "vertical_name": "Technology", "tweet_comm_hash" : "", "tweet_comm_text" : "", "force_fb_like" : 1, "custom_tweet_text" : "" }, global_name: "window." + inst_def.obj_name }); // ===================================================== // Now goes logic for every layout var slices = {"1":"facebook_glamorous","2":"retweet_glamorous","3":"email_glamorous","4":"google_plusone_glamorous"}; if ((jQuery.browser.mozilla && (jQuery.browser.version Submit this story digg reddit stumble By Darrell M. West and Joshua Bleiberg Thomas Edison on

Thomas Edison once said, "Books will soon be obsolete in the public schools... our school system will be completely changed inside of ten years.

Teachers Administrators Lesson Plans Technology Prof. Development EdWorld Community Have Some Fun

teachers are

teachers are engaging students who are shy about participating in traditional classroom discussions, but who enjoy communicating online

the Internet is teaming with alternative programs, many of which are free, and tailored for classroom use.

Collaborize Classroom -- A free online collaborative platform designed to complement classroom instruction with additional activities, assignments and discussions that can be accessed online.

Cool Math -- A collection of games that are designed to be safe to use in the classroom, covering a variety of math subjects as well as reading, science and geography.

First In Math -- A schoolwide resource that teaches kids as young as kindergarten basic math skills via online games. Kids are encouraged to keep playing by earning stickers and other rewards from their teachers.

Technology has opened many educational doors to children, particularly to children with disabilities

Technology is providing more powerful and efficient tools to teachers who work with children with disabilities. These tools enable teachers to offer new and more effective means of learning while individualizing instruction to the broad range of student learning needs.

Text can be read electronically by a digitized voice synthesizer for a person who is blind. For persons with hearing impairments, amplification devices can filter extraneous noise from the background or pick up an FM signal from a microphone on a teacher's lapel.