Group items tagged

Click here to learn how LaShawn Ross and Tracy Smith are using their iPads in the MS/US Library. They describe how they've integrated the devices into their daily work routines. Tracy's Documentation: https://docs.google.com/a/riverdale.edu/document/d/1Wm0D86bnc3xG3VrGQC2cpka4pk_bxWruszCtzbAoqT4/edit

Un-peer-reviewed / un-published research, but potentially interesting as support of the U Utah study. Summary: "What we found is on average most people perform better when focusing on one single task," said Ms. Ulmer. "But this one group of people-the high media multitaskers-performed best when they are in a multitasking environment. The high media multitaskers actually excelled in the multitasking room."

Interactive resources for learning languages. Check out #5, Lingt Classroom.

3 great tips on how to use Google Docs for teaching and learning.

The National Archives Digital Classroom: Primary Sources, Activities and Training for Educators and Students (documents are organized by date/time period).

Great article about the role blogs can play in improving students writing ability. "I believe it's important for students to have their writing read by more people than just their teacher. When they know that their families, their classmates, and people from around the world can read what they write, the impact is measurable. Students pay closer attention to everything from the mechanics of writing to word choice to structure to clarity."

Excellent article about why emphasizing effort and behavior qualities has a powerful impact on student learning, motivation, and attitudes towards school.

A good article about how one college history professor used WikiSpaces to help his students become more engaged in the study of history and the writing process. With some modification for age/grade appropriateness this might be an interesting project idea for RCS history classes. This might also work well for learning in English classes (classes create Wikis based on novels/books read?). Key selections from the article: "Students did not agree on the merits of the wiki. Some were deeply offended when other students eliminated or modified their contributions. Others found the chance to pick apart other's words and conclusions exhilarating. Regardless, most students seemed to grasp the important lesson I hoped to share: that history is the conversation we have about the past. History is about the authorial choices scholars make. History is about the evidence included and the evidence excluded. By asking students to participate in a joint-writing exercise, they were compelled to pay attention to the language others used, the phrasings and structure employed, the anecdotes emphasized, the facts obscured." "The wiki, while not perfect, may help us change the way our students think about history. It may help them be more attentive to language and argument. Importantly, it may help them value civil discourse as a civic virtue."

Video introduction to Moodle rubrics. You can use these in your Moodle assignments!

Great new resources from PBS about famous American abolitionists. Includes a variety of interactive links (see the map), videos, and high quality content from a very trustworthy source.

Totally free, totally awesome resource for learning programming.

A must read article for all teachers who are interested in making peer assessment and feedback part of their students learning. The author, a high school AP Language teacher, uses Google Drive (especially the forms option) wonderfully to prepare his students for the AP exam. The amount of feedback each student and the teacher receives on each writing assignment is pretty remarkable.

A concise look at the role homework may play in student learning and academic achievement. Two key quotes: "Our results hint that maybe homework is not being used as well as it could be," Maltese said. "The results from this study imply that homework should be purposeful," Tai said, "and that the purpose must be understood by both the teacher and the students."

Link to the author's full study (very interesting): http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/high_school_journal/v096/96.1.maltese.html

From Infotopia: "Infotopia is an academic search engine accessing only trusted websites previously selected by librarians, teachers, and library and educational consortia. Infotopia is recommended for students, teachers, and especially, homeschoolers. Infotopia was created by, and is maintained by, Dr. Michael Bell, former chair, Texas Assocition of School Librarians, and Carole Bell, former middle school librarian and director of libraries."

"Official Google Earth Help Center where you can find tips and tutorials on using Google Earth and other answers to frequently asked questions."

"Visit this site to learn all the tips and tricks for using Google Earth as a teaching tool. You can view lesson plans for a variety of grade levels and subjects, discuss Google Earth teaching tactics with fellow educators, see student-created work, and read how other teachers are using Google Earth in the classroom."

From Free Technology for Teachers: "Using Blubbr you can create interactive quizzes that are based on YouTube clips. Your quizzes can be about anything of your choosing. The structure of the quizzes has a viewer watch a short clip then answer a multiple choice question about the clip. Viewers know right away if they chose the correct answer or not. Creating a quiz on Blubbr could be a good way to develop review materials for your students."