"create a rubric with a blatant challenge and ample encouragement for students to push themselves beyond the basic requirements"
- from Shawn McCusker of EdTechTeacher.org, on Free Technology For Teachers
From the site:
"Adobe Youth Voices Essentials provides free curricula and tools for educators to inspire young people to create digital media on issues they care about. Based on the best practices of educators from around the world, our curricula promotes youth expression, creativity, and engagement, helping young people build critical 21st century technology and life skills."
Totally free to educators.
"Can the expertise we have developed over the past 25 years enable us to produce technologies that enhance learning? The answer-an enthusiastic Yes-came only after deliberating with educators. SAS Curriculum Pathways is the result of those deliberations."
Not sure why he named it that, but it's an extension for Google Chrome that sends web pages to Pocket (nee Read it Later). Works great, and it's donationware so you can try it (or use it forever) for free.
A physics professor at SLU uses free software to deconstruct the physics of Angry Birds. He measures velocity and acceleration over time using Tracker Video Analysis. Nice way to connect science to gaming...
We purchased the client software version of arcGIS made for K-12 use and had it on all RCS PC's for about 4 years. We were not able to get any integrations with it launched. Dropped support for it two years ago due to lack of use. Maybe interest in GIS has changed since Google Earth has come on the scene?
Anyone interested in looking at GIS applications for RCS?
Truly amazing notetaking software. I've used it for my grad school classes and personal notetaking. We have this software installed on every RCS computer, and you can install it on your own devices for free.
From their site: "Save your ideas, things you like, things you hear, and things you see. Evernote works with nearly every computer, phone and mobile device out there. Search by keyword, tag or even printed and handwritten text inside images."
Blended learning in educational research refers to a mixing of different learning environments. It combines traditional face-to-face classroom methods with more modern computer-mediated activities.
Whether a course should be proposed as a face-to-face interaction, an online course or a blended course depends on the analysis of the competencies at stake, the nature and location of the audience, and the resources available.
The facilitator’s role can be broken down into the following four categories: 1. developing online course content and structure 2. communication 3. guiding and individualizing learning 4. assessing, grading, and promoting
Teachers need to be educated in both traditional classroom methods, but also enhanced training to develop skills targeted to online education.
The elements of teacher preparation for online learning fall into two categories. First, they need to be trained to use the available tools and technology. Secondly, they need to be trained in online pedagogy; particularly, how to communicate content without the use of contextual cues.
Fischer, Michael. [mf032.k12.sd.us/Porftolio/files/FischerMichaelPositionPaper.pdf "The Use of Online Learning Methods in the Traditional Classroom"]. mf032.k12.sd.us/Porftolio/files/FischerMichaelPositionPaper.pdf. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
Horn, Michael B., and Heather C. Staker. The Rise of K12 Blended Learning. Chapel Hill, NC: Innosight Institute, Jan. 2011. PDF.
skill-driven mixes interaction with a facilitator through email, discussion forums, and face-to-face meetings with self-paced learning, such as Web-based courses and books.