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Often we search for meaningful ways to integrate digital technology in project based learning activities given to our students. We also would like our students to develop a thorough understanding of the concepts underlying the work - after all this is the purpose of the project. Giving students the opportunity to complete and present their project through a digital lens has one great advantage - student engagement. This in turn causes students to develop a more in depth understanding of concepts.

The Networked Student was inspired by CCK08, a Connectivism course offered by George Siemens and Stephen Downes during fall 2008. It depicts an actual project completed by Wendy Drexler's high school students. The Networked Student concept map was inspired by Alec Couros' Networked Teacher. I hope that teachers will use it to help their colleagues, parents, and students understand networked learning in the 21st century.

From the American Association of School Librarians

Ideas on tech available to use.

Benefits for creating a classroom environment for student blogging begin with establishing a foundation for their success. Why is this important? Integrating blogs transforms a classroom into a learning community where students become self-directed learners and thinkers. This in turn, causes students to use higher order thinking skills as they create and post entries in their blogs, along with commenting on other student's blogs.

Why use Web 2.0 tools in science and math classes? The primary reason is they facilitate access to input and interaction with content through reading, writing, listening, and speaking. These tools offer enormous advantages for science and math teachers, in terms of helping their students learn using Web 2.0 tools. For example: * Most of these tools can be edited from any computer connected to the Internet. Teachers can add, edit and delete information even during class time. * Students learn how to use these tools for academic purposes and, at the same time, can transfer their use to their personal lives and future professional careers. * RSS feeds allow students to access all the desired research information on one page. * Students learn to be autonomous in their learning process.

In my second grade classroom, we will occasionally read articles from Ranger Rick during guided reading lessons, and during this particular week we just happened to be learning about an African mammal on the brink of extinction. One group of students had an assignment to write a letter to the world telling why this animal should be saved. As a teacher who routinely integrates technology into the classroom, my students are often curious about ways to share the knowledge that they gain. One particular student was especially curious about sending the letters to someone through email, so I decided to look up some information on the web. Within minutes, I had found a website with information about the animal and efforts being made to save it. For the following week, instead of taking part in indoor recess, this group of students chose to spend time learning more about this endangered animal on the computer. Watching them, I could see how much they were enjoying learning. I didn't think it could get much better, but I was wrong.

We believe that holistic development of students is only possible when you engage them with all activities and not only limit them to book learning. So, keeping this thought in mind, The Ummed School organised a picnic for all our students where students were engaged in swimming, playing etc. It was totally a fun learning day for our students where they learned cooperation, team spirit, value living, joyful living.

Energy Kids is a website produced by the US Energy Information Administration for the purpose of educating students about energy and its many forms. Energy Kids provides a wealth of easily accessible information about energy which students can use to play games, solve riddles, and take quizzes about energy. Some of the games students will find include Energy Sudoku, crossword puzzles, and riddles. Energy Kids also provides students of all ages with ideas and outlines for science fair projects around the energy theme. The science fair projects are available as free PDF downloads.

"Whether you're writing a paper or studying for a test, odds are you spend more time gathering the pieces than actually working. In my experience, getting all of my notes together, hunting for quotes, and tracking down bibliographical information takes at least as long, if not longer, as writing the paper itself. In a group situation, sharing research and collaborating on the production of one document is even more difficult without the proper tools. Enter Evernote. For students, it's an invaluable way to organize research and streamline the collaboration process. Here are some examples of how Evernote simplifies the student research process."

Great article detailing how screencasting can enhance and expand on your teaching and student learning. Outlines how screencasts can support learning. gives examples and ideas to use in education

This is a great interactive resource for my microscope unit. Students will be directly learning the standards that reference the tools of scientists. Students would use this website as a hands-on introduction before actually working with the real microscopes. This resource is engaging and ensures adequate background information has been obtained before I let the students work with expensive instruments.

This is also a great interactive resource for my microscope unit. Students will be achieving the standard to understanding how the microscope tool works. In this interactive site, students can click on different things (like beewings, blood cells, and leaves) and it will show them what it would look like under a microscope. This visual can really get students thinking about what a microscope does to an image using the lenses inside of it. There is also an interactive labeling microscope section too.

I love how this article is framed. "Still, is this shift in pedagogy and policy worth the effort? Will sound, traditional writing instruction still suffice, or do we need to reframe the way we teach students to write due to the global, online spaces they will frequent more in their lives? In an August 2009 Wired article, Andrea Lunsford, professor of writing and rhetoric at Stanford University, offered her own research to suggest that students are writing in environments far removed from those from even a generation ago. "I think we're in the midst of a literacy revolution the likes of which we haven't seen since Greek civilization," she says. According to her five-year study of student writing, technology is pushing writing literacy in new directions that educators must begin to make sense of. "

Pear Deck is an interactive presentation site. This combines some of the great features of other tools into one very interactive platform. You make your presentation and students can connect through their google accounts. They can respond to questions and checks for understanding. It can be used a quick formative assessment or to get students engaged. This can also be used as an exit ticket. As students respond, their answers are displayed anonymously on your front presentation. You can also import old PowerPoint and Google Presentation files to start with. Looks like an awesome tool to use in any content area!

Google is not just useful for conducting searches for information on the Internet. In fact, it can be used and manipulated with cool and tricks in ways which help you and your students search for information about science and math with more effectiveness. Along with all subject areas students are engaged in school. The tips and tricks designed to help you and your science or math students take advantage of Google's search engine.

Have you ever wanted to create short "how to" video for your students to use for homework, remembering facts, and solving math problems. How often have your students stated, "I could not complete the homework assignment, because I could not remember the steps and no one could help me." Well the answer is to create a screencast or video for posting on your class wiki or blog for students to view at home or anywhere else they have web access.

"Although mind mapping is already used by over 250 million people worldwide (According to Tony Buzan), it is still relatively little used in schools and unknown to students and teachers. However, once students and teachers get introduced to mind mapping, they find it a fun, engaging, and motivating approach to learning, and a great tool to manage information and increase productivity. In this two-part segment of education series, I'll describe how students (part 1) and teachers (part 2) can benefit from mind maps."