2011

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Simply Ridiculous

A Principal's Reflections

'I don''t know about all of you, but I am really getting tired about the relentless attacks on teachers as states grapple with their budgets. Are they kidding me? Really, educators and other state workers are to blame for out of control costs and spending? As long as I can remember anyone that went into the field of education was ridiculed for the main reason that the profession makes no money.

Examples 308
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Twitter In Schools-A Getting Started Guide

The Web20Classroom

'The end of the school year is upon us however many are looking forward to next year. You may be thinking what can you do differently next year? How can you stand out above the crowd? How can your school become a larger part of the school community? While Twitter is beginning to catch on with many educators, schools are lagging in their adoption of the platform.

Twitter 272
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Top 10 Signs Your School Is Caught in a Time Warp: List for School Leaders

The 21st Century Principal

'Ian Jukes, Ted McCain, and Lee Crockett write in their book Understanding the Digital Generation , "Schools have not recognized the changes that have occurred in the world around them and have continued to teach as if it were 1980." In the spirit of David Letterman, here''s my "Top 10 Signs Your Schools Caught in a Time Warp." A list for school administrators. 1.

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QR What?

The Mobile Native

'QR codes, also known as Quick Response codes, are starting to pop up everywhere, and now they are finding their way into classrooms. Here are some QR code resources and links.

Resources 110
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Can Brain Science Actually Help Make Your Training & Teaching Stick?

Speaker: Andrew Cohen, Founder & CEO of Brainscape

The instructor’s PPT slides are brilliant. You’ve splurged on the expensive interactive courseware. Student engagement is stellar. So… why are half of your students still forgetting everything they learned in just a matter of weeks? It's likely a matter of cognitive science! With so much material to "teach" these days, we often forget to incorporate key proven principles into our curricula — namely active recall, metacognition, spaced repetition, and interleaving practice.

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Governor Perry Is Wrong About Texas Teacher Layoffs & Public School Staffing Ratios

EdTechSandyK

'Official Photo of Texas Governor Rick Perry from governor.state.tx.us/about/ Yesterday, I listened to a radio interview Texas Governor Rick Perry did with KRLD 1080 AM radio in Dallas via Scott Braddock''s website. Today, I am writing to say he is wrong about the extent of educator layoffs in Texas and that he is also wrong about the staffing ratio of teachers to administrators in the school districts in our state.

Analysis 110
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QR Codes Part 1: What are QR Codes?

SpeechTechie

'I am excited to do a few "theme" series on SpeechTechie that will explore topics and strategies in more depth, as I did with Glogster EDU. To that end, over the next month we will be looking at QR Codes, a hot topic and emerging technology in education. What are QR Codes, you ask? Well, you probably have seen them already and wondered, "What the heck are those things???

iPhone 100

More Trending

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Bloom's Taxonomy and a Praying Mantis

wwwatanabe

'Several mentioned that even though they knew Bloom''s Taxonomy , they hadn''t put a Bloom''s microscope to their lessons until designing PBL. Once they designed a PBL, they realized a rigor boost in Bloom''s Taxonomy was needed. Some rights reserved by Mantid Man Bloom''s Taxonomy and a Praying Mantis About ten years ago, I had a third grade student bring a praying mantis to our class, and we placed it in a terrarium.

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A convenient untruth

Learning with 'e's

What do you think is the teacher's worst enemy? Some would say lack of time. Others would say unsupportive leadership, or the dreaded government inspection. Rigid curriculum, lack of resources and bad student behaviour may also be high on the list for many educators. For me, the worst enemy is bad theory. Bad theory, when accepted without challenge, can lead to bad practice.

Dropout 78
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May 25 - Interview with Sir Ken Robinson on Creativity

The Learning Revolution Has Begun

'Join me Wednesday, May 25th, for a live and interactive FutureofEducation.com webinar with Sir Ken Robinson about the extensively revised and updated version of his best-selling classic, Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative. We''ll talk about why it is essential to promote creativity, what happens in schools to make us think we are not creative, and what schools and organizations can do to develop creativity and innovation in a deliberate and systematic way.

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Lady GaGa Librarians Unite!

The Daring Librarian

'I was asked recently for a quote by a N.Y. Times editor for their opinion page : Here''s the question: "School librarians are on the chopping block as states and cities seek to cut their education budgets. Do superintendents and principals see librarians as more expendable than other school employees? If so, why?" Here''s my response: "From the Daring Librarian to Teacher Librarians everywhere with love, albeit tough love - but full on love!

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Reimagining Chickering & Gamson's Principles Post-Pandemic: Technology's Central Role in Modern Edu

This white paper examines and proposes revisions to the "Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education" introduced by Arthur Chickering and Zelda Gamson in 1987 for today's technology-driven world.

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Advancing Mobile Phones as Learning Devices

A Principal's Reflections

'This morning I read a great article on PBS Media Shift by Audrey Watters entitled " Why Schools Should Stop Banning Cell Phones, and Use Them For Learning." Up until this past year the rule of thumb was that students could bring their phones to my school, but they could not be on, seen, or heard. This rule applied throughout the school day, on or at any school-sponsored functions, and was strictly enforced.

Mobility 298
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Quick List Of iPad Resources For The Classroom

The Web20Classroom

'One question that comes into my inbox or on Twitter a lot lately is one dealing with iPads. Many schools and classrooms all over are investing in these devices and educators want to know how to use them effectively, apps to consider and more. In keeping with the "My Favorite Resources" theme ( last week I listed my favorite resources for talking about Twitter ) here are my go-to resources when people ask me about iPads in the Classroom.

iPad 262
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5 Indications Your Leadership Is Obsolete for 21st Century Schools

The 21st Century Principal

'In October, I posted “Top 10 Signs Your School Is Caught in a Time Warp: List for School Leaders.” Of course the whole idea behind that post was to call attention to those leadership proclivities that are actually hindering movement toward a 21st century learning environment. Now, let me be just a bit more direct in this post. Here’s the list of indications that your school leadership is obsolete and in need of a big upgrade. 1.

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5 Can’t Miss Mobile Learning Resources

The Mobile Native

'Guest Post for BrainPop Mobile Learning Integration via @kylepace If you are looking to integrate iPads and iPods into your classroom curriculum, this is the site for you! It has an entire section of apps that work well in the classroom. It also has user guides, pod casts and a user agreement. Another great aspect of this site is that it highlights tips and tricks for use in the classroom.

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Behind the Bell: The Underlying Impact of Tardiness in K-12 Schools

Managing a K-12 campus with constant pressure to meet performance metrics is challenging. And tardiness can significantly limit a school from reaching these goals. Learn more about why chronic lateness matters, and key strategies to address the following impacts: Data errors caused by manual processes Low attendance and graduation rates that affect a school’s reputation Classroom disruption, which leads to poor academic performance High staff attrition and “The Teacher Exodus” Unmet LCAP goals t

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Finding Hidden Talent in the New School Year

EdTechSandyK

'Summer break is over and schools are starting up again in the U.S. over the next few weeks. As you contemplate the upcoming school year, I want to issue you a challenge. But first, sit back and watch the video I have linked below. Watch it from start to end (six minutes isn''t a lot to ask). Watch even if you''ve seen it before - it''s probably been a while.

Video 92
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Steve Jobs, Visionary. 1955-2011

SpeechTechie

'I distinctly remember my first computing experience. My dad, the head of a public school "Library/Media" department, brought home an Apple ][ (2), and I was instantly hooked. The Apple computer offered a relatively user-friendly experience for the early 80s, and I quickly learned how to switch out floppy discs, endure the machine''s unforgiving "BRAAAAAP" sound that occurred when said discs caused an error, and enjoy games such as "Lemonade Stand" and " In Search of the Most Amazing Thing.

iPhone 100
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Google Moderator in the Classroom

The Electric Educator

'Mr. Aaron Hammers uses Google Moderator in his 10th Grade Bible class each week. Google Moderator is a simple crowd-sourcing tool that makes it possible to better understand the thoughts, idea, questions, or motivations of a group, crowd, or audience. One of the best things about Google Moderator is that it is simple. There aren''t many buttons to click and it doesn''t overwhelm you with features and options.

Google 87
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Projects are not Project-Based Learning

wwwatanabe

'A project may look appealing, but is it project-based learning? My answer to that without hesitation is no. The focus of a project is the product , while the focus of project-based learning is the learning that occurs through the development of the project. If that just sounds like pitter-patter , then let''s just focus on the quality of the project or project-based learning.

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The Battle of the Authoring Tools: A 10-Point Comparison for Picking the Right One

Speaker: Chris Paxton McMillin, President of D3 Training Solutions

There are plenty of great authoring tools for developing eLearning, but the one you select could directly impact your course's outcomes. Depending upon your learners’ needs and your organization’s performance goals, you could be overlooking considerations that impact the both effectiveness of your courses and how long it takes to finish them. From general capabilities to specific workflow structures, some aspects are critical when it comes to learning objectives and deadlines.

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A head teacher writes.

Learning with 'e's

We have had pencils in our school now for some time, and we were one of the first to adopt them, but it has been an uphill struggle. There aren't enough to go around, and often several of the children have to crowd around to use the pencils at the same time. But we are better off than many schools. We have a well equipped pencil suite where the chained desktop pencils are used in special sessions, and often, as a reward for good behaviour children are allowed to come into the suite (under teache

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Thursday, June 9th - Live with Troy Hicks on Digital Writing

The Learning Revolution Has Begun

'Join me Thursday, June 9th, for a live and interactive Future of Education with Troy Hicks, co-author of Because Digital Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Online and Multimedia Environments and author of The Digital Writing Workshop. We''ll talk about how to apply digital writing skills effectively in the classroom, since many students may be adept at text messaging and communicating online but do not know how to craft a basic essay.

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10 Super Geeky Tips for the New Year

The Daring Librarian

'I''m usually not one for new year''s resolutions. If I decide to do something the calendar doesn''t matter & I''ve blown too many good resolutions to believe an arbitrary day will make a diff. BUT.there are a few things that are easily done & feels great for a SUPER GEEKY SAFE.errm Aware! New Year. (There is no *safe* on the Interwebs, only Aware!

Wiki 77
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Chrome Extensions for Educators

A Principal's Reflections

'As a result of being off the entire week for spring break I have had the opportunity to explore the many extensions available for Google Chrome. These free extensions not only optimize my Internet experience, but also provide a great deal of enhanced functionality to my work as an educator (especially as a blogger). I have begun to compile a short list of extensions that I am currently using.

Education 298
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The Roses and Thorns of an LMS Strategy: How to Flourish with the Right LMS

Speaker: Amanda Davis, Chief Experience Officer and Liam O'Malley, VP of Association Solutions

The "new normal" is now a little less new, a little more normal. Does that mean your current LMS strategy is in need of a refresh? Is your organization or association leaning into the always-evolving eLearning environment to ensure you have the tools and content to remain relevant through all this change? There are many complex decision-making processes within your learning & development strategy and LMS lifecycle management, including: Selection.

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Quick List Of Mobile Apps For Administrators

The Web20Classroom

'When it comes to mobile learning there are loads of great sites for apps for kids and teachers. Everything from apps organized by Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy to apps organized by grade level and subject area. But what you might not know, especially if you are an administrator is that there are some great apps out there for you. What are they? Well my administrator friend, here are my Top 9 Apps For Administrators (All of these are for iPad but you can find many, or an equivalent, in the Android Ma

Mobility 239
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Teaching Students 6 Strategies for Responsible Online Behavior

The 21st Century Principal

'Note: I posted a variation of this to my parents in my Parent Weekly Email Update. This version, I address more to educators and 21st century educational leaders. In her book Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats , Nancy Willard states, "Cyberbullying and cyberthreats are new concerns that have not been fully addres by the academic community." In fact, our students are receiving very little instruction from anybody regarding responsible online behavior and being an effective online citizen.

Strategy 107
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Teaching in the 21st Century

A Principal's Reflections

'I came across a great video this morning that really does a nice job illustrating how teaching should be evolving to meet the needs of 21st Century Learners. Watching the video reinforced for me the direction that we are taking New Milford High School. The question now becomes are the pedagogical shifts described above taking hold in classrooms? If not, which I assume is the overwhelming answer, what has to be done?

Video 296
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Qualities of Effective Principals

A Principal's Reflections

'Cross-posted at the Huffington Post: Effective Leadership in the Age of Reform. School improvement efforts rely heavily on quality leadership. Educational leaders are tasked with establishing a collective vision for school improvement and initiating change to spur innovation, ensure student learning, and increase achievement. On July 13 th I had the pleasure of hearing Dr.

Data 293
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Building the Foundation for a Modern K-12 Classroom

K-12 looks different these days. But one thing remains the same: you need a reliable learning platform that serves as the foundation for teaching and learning––for all students, in a variety of learning experiences. Discover how the Instructure Learning Platform supports today's K-12 classroom through: A central, consistent, connected hub of the digital learning environment.

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Social Media is Not Just For Students

A Principal's Reflections

'Cross-posted at the NJ Principals and Supervisors Association. When principals hear the words Twitter and Facebook they cringe. Immediately, visions of excessive socialization, time wasted, and meaningless conversations in the form of updates come to mind. This is true, in many cases, when these tools are used for personal use. I am here to share ways in which principals can harness the power of these free resources to improve communications, public relations, professional growth, instruction,

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It's All About The Hashtag

The Web20Classroom

'If you remember, in my 3 part series on Twitter , I wrote about how I completely changed the way I do professional development on Twitter. In a nutshell, I no longer start with signing up and tweeting the first day. I always show how to use Twitter without ever signing up. I believe it''s important to establish the value in using it rather than using it and attempting to find the value.

Twitter 236
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Twitter Series-What I Wish I Knew Before I Started Twitter

The Web20Classroom

'This is the second in a series I am doing all about Twitter. You can read the first post here , where I discuss the need to change the way we teach about Twitter. Today, lets go back to the beginning and look at what we wish we had known. If you have read any of my leadership pieces before, you know I am big on reflection. As educators, looking back on our practice is one of the most important things we can do.

Twitter 234
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Taking Care Of Your Digital Self

The Web20Classroom

'One of the areas of focus for me in my district this year is teaching teachers and students how to take control of their digital identity and turn it into something positive and something they can be proud of. Too often each year students find themselves in situations that could be easily avoided if they understood what a positive digital footprint is and how to manage it.

Twitter 223
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Transform Your Classroom with Apple

Speaker: Aaron Webb, Jamf

Apple empowers educators and students by design. Whether using Macs, iPads, or Apple TV, Apple devices encourage creativity and can simplify teaching with apps to make the classroom more flexible, collaborative and personalized for each student. To unleash the full potential of the technology and create the best learning environment, you need to understand the tools and resources available, and develop an education-focused, comprehensive plan, from equipment purchase to deployment, management an