UMUC-EDTC-WL

Digital stories push students to become creators of content, rather than just consumers. Weaving together images, music, text, and voice, digital stories can be created in all content areas and at all grade levels while incorporating the 21st century skills of creating, communicating, and collaborating

When it comes to searching for educational apps to install on your iPad it feels like you get drowned in an avalanche of apps and resources from which you emerge empty-handed. Everyday new apps go viral and to keep up with the updates in this field is really a daunting challenge. Thankfully, there are many trusted educational resources ( this blog is one of them ) where educators and teachers can get to discover and learn about new useful apps to use in education.

I was looking at the applications familiar to me under Bloom's Taxonomy for iPads and for some reason it was surprising to find Skype as an evaluating tool! How could Skype be used for evaluating!?

There is no denying the fact that the type of students we teach today are completely different from last century. Today, we need to look at some of the skills we, as teachers, need to equip ourselves with to better live up to the challenge. Among all the challenges we have in education, we need to catch students' focus and get them engaged in the learning process. Here is a list of some important digital skills that you, as a teacher, need to seriously consider if you want to pave the way for the 21st century teaching.

My favorite one is the use of infographics to visually stimulate students! I am aware of the importance of such a skill and it is the only skill that I haven't tried to acquire yet! I hope that those abe will get me there. Thanks for sharing.

An important conference on the use of different fonts.   

A new application by Google that can be used by teachers and students. Students can create, upload, assemble, and present their work.

This is very similar to the Evernote e-Portfolio at https://www.diigo.com/bookmark/http%3A%2F%2Fblog.evernote.com%2Fblog%2F2012%2F02%2F28%2Fhow-to-create-a-portfolio-with-evernote-education-series%2F?gname=umuc_edtc_wl Thanks for sharing!

Many free templates to create games, quizzes, activities and diagrams.

Especially interesting is the QR game that can be used in schools that allow mobile devices - check this out. Great active game for all subjects

The best free tools to create quizzes online.

Best online gradebooks to keep a record of students' progress and achievement.

Another gradebook you might be interested in is located at http://gradebookportal.com/ It is free and includes the following: --Free Online GradeBook for teachers to easily customize. Build customized weighted grading from anywhere at anytime 24/7. Grade anytime & anywhere with auto calculation term and final grades --Instant Progress Reports are intuitive and keep Students and Parents up to date --Track attendance and alert parents on absentees --Class Calendar keeps students, parents and teachers current on upcoming exams, meetings, events. Attach assignments, post homework and attach documents. --Build user logic to send email and text messages based on grades and attendance parameters --Communicate with all of your students and parents and build custom contact lists --100% secure and safe environment with several layers of encryption

What I like about it is the instant progress report! I use the gradebook of BlackBoard and I don't think that they have this feature.

This site provides guidelines on how cite in APA format.

This is UMUC's definition of copyright laws and fair use procedures.

This Wiki is rich in resources for language educators related to technology integration. It is maintained by the South Australian government.

This will come in handing for 615

A great way to start growing your PLN - several for the language learner

A good intro to starting a PLN with lots of resources