Technically Invisible

"When I asked my students recently how blogging in class makes a difference to them, they had lots to say. Blogging has allowed them to meet students from all over the world and discover new interests. It's also helped them improve their technology skills and write more on assignments than they could if they had to use paper and pencil."

This is Dan Callahan's blog. He is an exceptional technology integration specialist.

"Most of the teachers had been reluctant towards technology but Skype is one of those fantastic free tools that gets teachers new to technology motivated to try the technology. For this reason, I love to show teachers and administrators Skype. Skype is one of the top tools I introduce to teachers, administrators, and my students. This tool has tremendous learning potential, is free, easy to use, and has incredible buy-in."

"Newsletters can be made in Microsoft Word by starting off with a pre-installed newsletter template. Create a custom newsletter, complete with images and decorative titles, with help from a computer applications consultant in this free video about using desktop publishing software."

This author wrote for a Facebook Fan page, but these ideas work for blogs, too! "Once you've created your Facebook Fan Page it becomes a blank canvas and the issue of what to post for your school can become a bit intimidated. In order to help you overcome your fear I've created a list of 53 things to post on your school's Facebook fan page."

"Jennifer Wagner, creator of ProjectsByJen, has been succesfully encouraging teachers since 1999 to use online projects in their PreK-6 classrooms. Using various ideas, Jennifer will help you understand how online projects will help you make the most of your time in a variety of ways. Winning numerous awards for her creative ways in encouraging teachers to collaborate, her teaching style is very user friendly, creative, and personable. "

" I get at least one of these excuses when I am working with schools while trying to get more tech projects incorporated into the academic planning... Young students can't blog. Young students can't podcast. Young students can't make movies. etc. etc. etc. The truth is they can."

"Blogging is such powerful learning material and students should blog. Why?………………………Here are just 20 reasons"

"MTN has excellent online newspaper templates. These allow for really well focused and formatted group work and/or homework using either traditional tabloid or broadsheet layouts and formatting. They are suitable for literacy activities across the curriculum and appealing to most age groups, except the very youngest."

"Microsoft Word can be used to make a newspaper by browsing through the pre-installed templates, finding a newsletter template and inserting the desired text into the different fields. Create a custom newspaper document in Word with help from a computer applications consultant in this free video about using desktop publishing software."

"Get Your Students Hooked on Writing Imagine your students working cooperatively, motivated and staying focused on the task at hand. They're hooked on writing! They are writing real-world newspaper stories."

"How to Create a Newspaper Template with Publisher"

"We have just updated our popular editable PowerPoint newspapers. With these you can create your own news headlines, articles and insert your own pictures."

READWRITETHINK online printing press! SO COOL!!

There are other tools at this site including a movie clapper board, talking squirrels, writing ninjas and a few others! Have fun! www.fodey.com

"Ed tech adoption isn't about forcing new technologies on teachers or wearing them down in an effort to obtain grudging "buy in." On the contrary. In order for any technology-centered education initiative to have meaningful results, according to Rushton Hurley, it has to be born of a spirit of collegiality, teamwork, and openness. And, he said, it doesn't hurt to give teachers some time share their successes with one another."

"The National Elementary Schools Press Association is an organization dedicated to helping elementary and middle schools start new and improve existing class and school newspapers. The association serves as a clearinghouse for schools interested in sharing information and newspapers with member schools from coast to coast."

"Blog Tip 18 - Change up your posting form - find new blog topics - In the same way that it's easy to get 'stuck' in always posting in the same voice - it's also possible to get stuck in always writing in the same form or genre. "

" I was putting together my thoughts on why teachers should blog with their students when someone emailed me this excellent TeacherTube video. Needless to say, I've added it to my thoughts. "

"A recent Times article chronicled the struggles teachers, schools and districts are having when it comes to safe use of social media. SchoolBook followed by offering some advice for teachers, and today Facebook's consultant on education and parent matters provides five concrete tips. Many schools block Facebook in an effort to prevent students from accessing the social network while at school, but their efforts are much like shoveling snow in a snow storm - simply impossible."