.:Blended Edu:.

How to Use Facebook in the Classroom

2011-08-31T20:47:00.000-07:00

I've recently partnered with Facebook and co-authors Linda Phillips and Dr. BJ Fogg to write the Facebook for Educators Guide!

The guide is also available in Spanish, Portuguese and German.

Facebook for Educators

Be the Curator of Knowlege

2011-08-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

Have you been thinking of new ideas for your classroom for the upcoming school year? I have and I have been wondering what new tools are worth adding to my 'carry-on" to teach faculty to use for this year.

One tool I really like is Scoop.it. But just because I like a technology doesn't mean it's worthy of going into my teaching "carry-on"; its got to enhance student learning or improve the way students do things to be included in my "carry-on".

I noticed everywhere on Twitter people publishing Scoop.it newspapers. Now that's one good idea, since Scoop.it is easy enough to use with even Middle Schoolers. But recently I heard a conversation on Twitter about how teachers would use Scoop.it for other purposes to enhance learning that makes Scoop.it worthy of going into my "carry-on".

Here's the scoop. Teachers can use Scoop.it:

as a research tool in English Classes
to gather ideas for writing in subject areas such as social studies, history, or science
to gather ideas for a specific topic such as World War II or Climate Change

It's easy to teach students to use Scoop.it; probably as easy to learn, if not easier to learn, than the Dewey Decimal System. So while students are learning to do research add in Scoop.it. It's a tool students can use to curate- to gather and keep all similar or related topics together. It will help keep their research organized for writing. It can replace the rubber band and index cards we all used to use.

Flurry Report: Mobile Devices & Web Apps Use

2011-06-22T12:57:00.000-07:00

Tech Crunch reports that analytics' firm Flurry released a new report this week on the use of mobiles in the US.

"Flurry says that daily time spent in mobile apps has now surpassed web consumption. The average user now spends 9% more time using mobile apps than the Internet. In June users spent an average of 81 minutes daily on mobile apps, compared to 74 minutes on the web."

Looking further into the data shows that users are now using their smart phones for more than just surfing the web and reading emails, they are spending more time on their mobile devices in social networking sites and on web apps such as games.

Educators can glean some useful information from this report. Since we know our students come to school with their cell phones 'in hand' and leave with them 'to their ear' why not find ways to incorporate learning with these, now, almost ubiquitous devices. One suggestion is to find free apps that help support learning in subject areas, such as Kaplan’s SAT Flashcubes for vocabulary learning, Macmillan’s Sounds for English Language Learning, or Project Noah for extending your science lesson outside the classroom.

Another way of making learning fun would be to encourage students to play one another using free game apps such as Scrabble Free, Words with Friends, or Hanging with Friends to develop their English vocabulary skills.

And if you’re using Facebook with your students for extended learning they can access this app as well on their mobile devices. Since Facebook is where students are currently spending a lot of time online why not meet them where they are?

Thinking about mobile apps for extending learning will take a mind shift in our teaching and learning pedagogy, but its worth the effort to extend classroom learning and will help make learning fun.

Schools Out- Plan Your Professional Development

2011-06-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

Since "SUMMER" officially starts tomorrow in the Northern Hemisphere most teachers are looking forward to relaxing, catching up on their sleep, and spending time doing all the things they put off doing during the school year. The few weeks of vacation go quickly, so make sure to take time to rest after the long school year and make sure to plan some time for your own professional development during your break.

Here are a few sites I have bookmarked that will help you with your learning:

The Florida Center For Instructional Technology has a great site for learning. While you're there check out Tech-Ease for just-in-time tech help for either Windows or Mac users…
In Pictures is another great resource site for you to learn computer subjects with pictures…
Atomic Learning is one of the sites I have used for years, so make sure to check out all their free tutorials.
Join IT4ALL for professional development courses using Moodle and learn via blended online learning courses and workshops on topics such as Online Facilitation, Web 2.0 Tools & Teaching, Web Quests, & Learning English Online among the many offered during the year....
Or enroll in one of PBS TeacherLine accredited graduate-level online courses in subjects varying from Math, Instructional Technology, Science and more….
For some good reading ideas during your break check out the summer reading list from the TLTgroup…

Enjoy your time off, relax, and learn some new things to take back to the classroom with you--before you know it the new school year will be at your door.

Lifelong Learning

2011-04-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

Learning can never stop for learning professionals, can it? We need to attend conferences to keep our knowledge fresh with best practices, in addition to attending webinars for continuous learning and when our situations don't allow us attend events face-to-face.

We also need to find ways to learn "just in time" when we find a gap in our knowledge base or when a need arises for us to learn a specific task or to use a specific technology tool. I came across this post "10 Top Self Help Sites for Technology" by Technology Tidbits: Thoughts of a Cyber Hero with some great sites to help you continue your lifelong learning journey. He lists professional development sites such as Atomic Learning and Lynda as well as Tech University for learning all things about 'macs'....

One of the greatest advantages of online sites such as these for learning is that you can learn any time and any place your laptop will travel --all you need is your laptop and an Internet connection.

Be sure to check out Cyber Hero's list out in your free time. I know I will.

Pay It Forward

2011-04-08T09:40:00.000-07:00

When reading Chris Pirillo's post "How to Pay It Forward" I began to think about the many resources we find online each day and wonder how many of us pass them along to others or do we stash them in our delicious or digg accounts just waiting for others to find them.

Sure it does take a bit longer to blog, tweet, facebook, or email site links to others we know who would benefit, but as Pirillio says, "doing something nice for others is a basic human rule we should all live by." And this is something you can do every day and it doesn't cost money. You don't have to pay someone back to 'pay it forward' -just be kind and pass along something you find online to others.

The Internet has an over-abundance of resources we find each day and each of us finds different resources due to our different network connections, so go ahead pass along that Phonemic chart to the ESL teacher, that Photoshop animation video to the IT teacher, that Math Playground game to the resource teacher, that Visual Blooms chart to the Curriculum Lead, and that GIS Elevation Tool to the Social Studies teacher. By sharing your enthusiasm for using technology you will be infusing others with ideas and your excitement. It's infectious, so share.

As a 'pay it forward' teach others how-to build a Twitter PLN so they can follow you and quickly find your 'pay it forwards', but emailing a site link to a less tech-savvy colleague is still a great way to 'pay it forward.' Hopefully others will soon reciprocate, sharing and actively building their personal learning networks.

All you need is a little bit of time to 'pay it forward' each day. It will brighten everyone's day, including yours.

English Language Learning Podcasts

2011-03-24T13:23:00.000-07:00

To add a few sites I came across for using podcasts as a listening activity with your students for learning English....

Podfeed Directory...English Podcasts
ESL Listening: English as a Second Language (ESL) Podcast
Podomatic Site: Podcasts for English Language Learning
ESL Pod: English for Everyone
Very Vocabulary: Learn English Words Podcasts
and even though its no longer updated check out: Podictionary

You also might want to peruse the archived BlendedEdu podcasts posts ...

Be sure to let us your favorite podcast sites for English Language Learning so we can add them to ours.

Podcasts for Learning- Curriculum Ideas

2011-03-21T13:31:00.001-07:00

Over the years BlendedEdu has been an advocate for the use of podcasts to enrich learning. As we know people learn in a variety of ways, not just from reading, nor do we all ‘see’ words put together in sentences in the same order. Listening, in itself, is a skill to be learned as well. Students, young and old, can greatly benefit from listening to podcasts in class and out, and on their mobile devices too.

For instance, podcasts can be used in any setting, for any educational purpose, for formal learning as well as informally. Podcasts can enrich learning in any subject area. English teachers can use podcasts for helping students develop their English language skills. For example, students can listen to Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing then use the tip with a homework assignment. That is one way to extend learning beyond the classroom walls while tapping into audio technology.

Podcasts can be very useful for online learning or distance learning classes as well as for face-to-face classes. Student can listen to a variety of teacher-made podcasts or teacher-selected podcasts to enforce a topic studied. For example, a distance learning class on Creative Writing could listen to one of “Rick Steve’s Audio Europe” podcasts and then write an essay from a ‘first-person” point of view. A graduate-level Communications Class could listen to The Hobson & Holtz Report: For Immediate Release podcast "Interviewing Robin Black and David Ferrabee on the Future of Social Media within Internal Communications" and then create a video on internal communications where they work. Now that would be quite an authentic task.

Listening to podcasts are helpful not only for older students but for any ages. Older students could listen to The History Chicks give their perspective on historical characters or listen to the Norman Centuries by Lars Brownworth, while early years learners could listen to a selection of Aesop’s Fables on Librivox benefiting each age group from a listening activity.

These are just a few thoughts to get your ideas flowing as to how you could use podcasts in your classroom. Try searching Podcast Alley or Podscope, a podcast search engine, to locate podcasts. Once you start using "listening activities" in your classroom you will discover many more ways to fit podcasts into your curriculum to reach the audio learners and to enrich student learning.

Be sure to share your ideas with us.....

Emerging Technology: 2011 Horizon Report

2011-02-10T13:28:00.000-08:00

The 2011 Horizon Report is out with the latest word on specific technologies for us to watch.

Here's a quick summary of The New Media Consortium's report-

Technologies to Watch:
in the near-term horizon (within the next 12 months):

e-books
Mobiles

in the mid-term horizon (in the next 2-3 years):

Augmented Reality
Game-Based Learning

in the far-term horizon (in the next 4-5 years)

Gesture-Based Computing
Learning Analytics

I definitely see a move (finally) toward adoption of e-books with the many benefits they hold now; since new e-readers, mobile devices, tablets, and the iPad are catching on with younger eyes and being packed in backpacks. Cost is just one benefit, but I see having the ability to get your hands on a book at anytime, anywhere, a tremendous asset for students in remote, isolated locations who study online, but don't have access to a library or mega-bookstore nearby.

In the mid-future look for games to be used for learning purposes. Finally! I have been hawking the benefits of games in learning almost since the beginning of my blogging career as research has proven it, and as many ESL teachers knew long ago. But rather than seeing educational software such as the familiar Reader Rabbit we will see new types of game-based learning such as role-playing games hosted on the Internet. Game-based learning, using games such as World of Warcraft, has already been introduced at Masters level courses to provoke creative and critical thinking, problem solving, and virtual collaboration, besides a host of other learning possibilities that are too many to go into in this post. Known as WoW to its' 12 million users, World of Warcraft holds the Guinness World Record for the most popular MMORPG (massively multi player online role-playing game). Games definitely make learning fun! Definitely a WOW for teaching and learning.

One of the technologies to watch for in the long-term is already in many homes. The X-box360 Kinect allows users to control the game by making gestures such as swinging their arms or moving their body in a specific direction. It won't be long till that technology is harvested for everyday computer use. Think about not having to use a keyboard or a mouse. Another WOW for teaching and learning.

It's truly a great time to be working in teaching and learning with the emerging technology that's on the horizon. Can't wait to try a few out. (download the 2011 Horizon Report PDF here)

Technology in a Suitcase

2011-02-02T21:55:00.000-08:00

Expanding on my post “Seeing Through New Eyes” I have been thinking more about inexpensive technologies that ESL teachers could bring to students in “tech-less” classrooms in remote areas of the world.

In addition to an inexpensive pocket projector that would turn an ordinary whiteboard into a video display for watching video clips, presentations, or playing games ESL teachers could bring an interactive technology such as an eBeam or a Mimio to capture ideas, visuals, and provide opportunities for communication and collaboration. These devices are inexpensive and could easily fit in an ESL teacher’s suitcase.

Today HP introduced their Digital Sketch and Pocket Whiteboa rd. These small devices open up a whole new world of technology turning any surface into an interactive learning space providing a collaborative space for students either on a flat desktop surface or a wall. The price isn't listed, but size-wise the sketch tablet or the pocket whiteboard could easily travel in an ESL teacher’s suitcase.

Instead of focusing on what technology your school doesn't have, switch your perspective and think about learning technology your suitcase can bring to your students.

Reverse your thinking- It’s a whole new way of seeing things.

iPads in Education

2011-01-11T17:45:00.000-08:00

Much is being researched and written already about Apple's new iPad device. They seem to be a great new tool that has the potential to revolutionize learning in the classroom with all ages, as well as with any subject.

Even before reading Barking Robot's post about the latest report by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center titled "Learning: Is there an app for that?" I knew the iPad was a great tool to be used by teachers. Its' portability and extensive capabilities are perfect for classrooms and learning anywhere and everywhere. And it's no doubt that young children are very interested in using technology- just try to get your cell phone away from a toddler....

Looking at the number of educational apps that are available on appSafari suggests that others besides educators have already noted what great learning tools iPads are. Check out Phonemica, The English Dictionary and Thesaurus, or Word Blocks for ESL/EFL students, Go! Word Power for quiz questions that seem right out of the SAT, Stack the States for Geography lessons, and Miniatlas Anatomy for learning about the human body.

Next talk to your school and Ed Tech department about getting iPads available for your students. It makes much more economical sense to outfit your students with one of these Wifi learning tools than the old dinosaur- the desktop computer.

I can see learning taking on a whole new landscape in classrooms with iPads and learning apps, don't you? How would you use them in your classroom? I would be interested in learning.

Seeing Through New Eyes

2010-12-15T15:08:00.000-08:00

Technology seems to be ubiquitous to teachers in the Ed Tech World, but technology is not always available in classrooms throughout the world. Oftentimes, electricity might not even be available in those classrooms and many ESL/EFL teachers have to teach 'technically unplugged' daily. Finding ways to use technology in these “tech-less” situations presents a problem to the teachers, so they opt out of using technology saying “well, it’s just not there yet.” Truth is, it might not be there in your lifetime, so instead of writing it off and robbing these students of the learning experience try to find ways to use it with your own laptop or iPad, and an inexpensive pocket projector you can bring in your backpack or briefcase. There are many ideas that work in a 1 computer classroom. For example, use 100 Useful YouTube Channels for Teachers so you can download and save videos to use in class or create your own 'Jeopardy-like' quiz games to use with your students. Your students will benefit from your investment.

When faced with ESL/EFL situations that aren’t allowed the luxury access to a computer lab or a 1-1 computer classroom think what you, as the teacher, can bring to the students rather than thinking what you don’t have access to. It’s just a switch in perspective…try seeing things through new eyes.

2011 Ed Tech Trends to Watch

2010-12-06T13:27:00.000-08:00

Reading the Journal's k12 Technology Trends for 2011 really didn't surprise me, but I was very happy to hear that others' eyes are finally beginning to open to the potential of technology in the classroom.

It seems that teachers, administrators and students are curious to know what technologies will 'stick' around next year. It's good to know that many technologies the article talked about are not just fads, but technologies that actually enhance student learning.

Last year we did an action research project at our college using 'Clickers.' Both faculty and students were excited to try them and saw their potential for monitoring students progress in English Language classrooms. Clickers, or any student response system, has the potential to engage learners in their lessons beyond mere memorization and worksheets, develop critical thinking skills, while at the same time providing real-time data to teachers. I see great potential and so do many teachers and administrators. Since these tools are still a bit pricey, I'm hoping to find some effective and viable alternative options to try.

It looks like many teachers, and administrators are also seeing the benefits and potential of "cloud" computing. Cloud computing has great monetary benefits as well a being a technology to enhance student learning. One nifty tool I use personally is DropBox. It's the easiest way to store, sync, and share files up in the 'cloud' I have found using my mobile phone, my laptops- both at home and at work. Try it out, it might help you to be a bit more organized.

Furthermore, both teachers and administrators are finally seeing the potential for web-based instruction at the k12 level. Here is where the potential of Moodle, a virtual learning environment, can move into k12 education. Moodle can enhance and enrich learning, both inside the classroom and at home.

Overall, a good outlook for technology trends in 2011. Teachers, administrators, and students will have more tools to learn to use next year. Remember, learning is a continuous process.

Meeting Expectations -Tackling #4

2010-11-26T09:36:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted to Blendededu.com in quite a while, but with good reason. I was busy tackling #4 on my professional development list previously posted on "Expectations" and receiving my TESOL Certification from Trinity College London. It was a great accomplishment.

For 5 weeks I attended the OxfordTEFL-Prague course. The course was intense, to say the least. I gained a wealth of knowledge that will be useful to me as an international educator, as a well as a TESOL certificate that is recognized worldwide. The course instructors were highly qualified and extremely knowledgeable in the field, Prague was enchanting, and the friends I made during the course will be colleagues for life continually sharing what works in our classrooms through email, Twitter and Facebook. It was quite an experience!

There was so much to learn during the course that my mind is just beginning to absorb and make sense of it all. I did teach many lessons 'technically-unplugged' which was quite a challenge, but a good experience for me. I have always supported the idea that technology should only be used to enhance teaching, and in English language teaching there are many ways to use technology to support the learning outcomes.

In addition, I have been reflecting on how technology can be used in remote areas with just one teacher laptop or a 1-computer classroom without an internet connection. Students should not be deprived of technology in today's world just because schools don't have technology or access, it's the teacher's responsibility to bring this 'new' world to their classrooms to prepare 21st century learners. It really is easy, teachers just have to think how to do things differently.

Begin exploring new ideas to infuse technology in your lessons by using Twitter to build a PLN, to follow #esl, #efl, #tefl, and #tesol to see how other teachers are using technology with their students and pick up a few ideas to tweak for your own classroom, or participate in a live Educators PLN Ed Chat on Twitter. Also, plan on attending an ESOL Technology conference next year for your own professional development.

Taking the TEFL course at this point in my career opened my eyes to a whole new world of teaching methods and strategies that will be useful not only to me, but to my students wherever I work in the world, whether it will be content specific or English language teaching.

I will be posting more frequently and sharing ideas now that I have some free time....

Expectations

2010-09-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

Somehow while reading the 5 things Ken Royal wants to learn to do this year in his blog post "Tech Willing To Do List" I began thinking about expectations…..

What expectations do we hold for ourselves or for our students, are they aligned?
We have a strong desire for motivated students and high achievers, who are always eager to learn, but are we high achievers and eager to learn new things as their teacher?
What new things have you learned or done this past summer?
What have you done for your own professional development? What new things do you plan to learn this year?
What expectations do you hold for yourself this school year? If we expect our students to be anxious learners shouldn't we expect the same of ourselves as their teachers?

One thing I have learned about learning and technology since I began my Ed Tech journey over the last 7 years is that the more I learn, the more I learn there is so much more to learn….

Social learning and informal learning is the best way to learn, when you want to learn. Learning isn't just for the classroom anymore.

Building a personal learning network on Twitter and Facebook can also help you learn, as well as using a site like MIT OpenCourseware to learn anything from Designing Mobile Technology for the Next Billion Users to Chinese.

Guided by the high expectations I hold for myself here's my list of things I want to learn this year:
1) More about Second Life and build my own professional learning community in Second Life
2) Learn to use Mahara (Moodle's new little sister) a new )opensource software to use for my own professional e-portfolio
3) Continue to learn more about developing my own personal 'brand'
4) Take an ESL course and get certified to teach English as a Second (or Foreign Language)
5) Find a new blogging platform that I like, and use it
6) Start developing "TECi" my new Ed Tech Consultancy business …..

What's on your list? I would like to hear. I'll keep you updated on all my social learning experiences this year.

2010-08-17T22:01:00.000-07:00

Last week the Cartoon Network announced further details of its multi-platform Bullying Prevention Campaign at the National Bullying Prevention Summit in Washington, DC.

Speaking to an audience comprised of government officials, business leaders and leading educators of bullying prevention, Cartoon Network unveiled the official title of the campaign—STOP BULLYING: SPEAK UP—which will serve to educate and empower young bystanders to take action to reduce/prevent bullying.

Learn more >>

The Art of Listening

2010-08-14T18:40:00.000-07:00

Recently a colleague shared a TED video with me, Evelyn Glennie Shows How to Listen, which, to me, illustrates a very good example of the 'art of listening'...

Listen carefully.....

When I first listened to the video my attention was really on other things- my mind was thinking about what could I post that would help my many teacher-friends who will be returning to work to begin a new school year soon. Of course, I wasn't listening- my mind was thinking about technology and about a million other things...

But, after closely listening to the video I realized how much of its' message relates to teaching. One of the most important tasks of any teacher is to really listen to our students and how we learn so much about being a teacher and about our students through listening & reflection; how we have to listen to ourselves to do what we think is the best way to support students in their learning, and how everything we do, little or big, has an impact on our students' learning and their lives.

As educators, we know that teaching is not just about teaching content, but about our passion for teaching, the relationships we build with our students, and how important it is to transfer our passion for learning to our students in those relationships. This video reminded me that teaching is not just about the technology we use, but so much more.

So begin this school year by listening to your students and yourself. It may take you and your students to unbelievable places.

Twitter- Addicted to Learning

2010-08-09T07:59:00.000-07:00

When I read “In Defense of Twitter” I thought “geesh did I write that? Recently a Facebook friend commented, “I gave up the Twitter thing. I'm not interesting enough to twitter AND fb.....” So I too have had to explain and defend Twitter to non-professionals and teacher-educators since I first started using the SM tool over 3 years ago. In Spring 2009 I gave 11 presentations in the UAE about using Twitter with students as a suggestion from my own students after I created a project introducing them to using Twitter as a new way to learn. I do see Twitter as a very useful learning tool; others see it as a way to self-promote themselves, their product, or their trade.

At first use I wondered why people were using Twitter; why would I want to use a ‘gossip’ tool or find out when people are “....having coffee at Starbucks in Santa Monica?” Then I figured Twitter out and began using it as a learning tool for my own professional development. How can teachers afford travel and going to conferences to learn, bearing time away from the classroom and the expense, when we can use Twitter for the times we can’t?

Learning to use Twitter for my own professional development has changed the way I work and learn. And as I repeat and I tell others “Facebook is for people you already know, Twitter is for people you want to know.” Aren’t there learning professionals, writers, nerdy techies, or others you would love to have dinner with and talk about something you love? Well that’s what Twitter is like to me. When I read a person’s tweet stream it’s like having a dinner conversation with them without having to leave my home. I can pick their brain and ask questions - WOW – and they reply with a RT (retweet), mention, or a direct message! When I got my first direct message I was shocked, but when I got a my first direct message from Howard Rheingold -@hrheingold -a guru in teaching & learning and author of Smart Mobs I was ECSTATIC- Howard Rheingold talking to me personally? And I’ve made some new friends to have dinner with like @dajbelshaw and @Black_Tomato. I am still in awe of the possibilities of what you can learn from others in Twitter. Every day with Twitter is a new learning adventure; you never quite know where you are going to go....

Thus far I have created a very small list (compared other Twitter users thousands) of professionals I follow. I am a passionate educator- passionate about using technology to enhance learning, and a passionate traveler. Blending my 3 favorite things- teaching, technology, and travel- I created lists of people to follow and to learn from. It’s really simple technology, seriously.

This summer I am doing a little experiment with social media tools. As an avid user and promoter of many new media tools including LinkedIn but never having been a real fan of Facebook I am blending my Twitter professional followers into a personal Facebook account (while managing my personal data privacy). Being passionate about teaching and learning is something my Facebook friends know about me personally, so why not spread a little learning onto them? Hopefully we will all learn a lot from my little experiment! I know I am learning a lot more about them.

Twitter never has let me down, every time I read a tweet from someone I follow I learn something new and it’s a great feeling to learn something new.

...Follow me @maranca

Power Point vs Prezi

2010-07-29T14:31:00.000-07:00

My students decided that Prezi was so good they taught me how to use it ....seriously.

So now having learned how to 'harness' the potential of Prezi I think it is something a lot of educators should be learning how to use this summer. Once you use it, as my students told me, you will see the difference between the two tools.

This "PowerPoint to Prezi" presentation will walk you through it.

But then, again, it's also "how" you use the tool. Create your Prezi presentation to question and make your students actively think during the 'lecture' period; stop and let them 'do'. Go back to your Prezi presentation for a summary to pull your students back together and wrap up the 'lecture'. You can capture their imagination with photos or videos to extend their learning as they leave the classroom....

Of course, Prezi does seem to lend itself as a constructivist tool, just in the way it forces you, the teacher, to you design your presentation. It forces you to think logically through your 'lecture' or briefing period and have all your resources in one place. By using a tool such as Prezi, you become a better teacher because of your own thinking and reflection.

Its not about the technology, its about you becoming a better teacher !

Present Your Portfolio on the Ipad

2010-07-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

Oftentimes when I was interviewing for positions I wondered what would be the best way to present my portfolio during the interview. Being that my work is online and on files on my laptop should I bring my portfolio on a flash drive to share with the interviewers or bring my laptop - with hopes that they would be able to connect my laptop with their wireless?... hmmm, when I read the post, Present Your Portfolio on the iPad, I knew the interviewing tables have turned in my favor.

In her post Ana talks about using Keynote for your Portfolio and making adjustments for it display properly on the iPad. But don't limit your thinking to just Keynote, think about using Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro for your Portfolio or Prezi. With a Wifi data plan & your iPad you are in control... you have the files, you have the Wifi; YOU are in control.

When you're the one interviewing, you want to be in control.

Social Media Gets to Work

2010-07-28T12:37:00.000-07:00

The Korn/Ferry Institute, a leading online voice in talent management and leadership issues, features publications on its site that are great resources.

The latest publication "Social Media Gets to Work" tells how social media has come of age in the business world and how businesses are learning to leverage this new tool.

Social Media tools are still often misunderstood and many people don't understand the differences between Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, but in the decade ahead, social networking "know-how" and social networking strategies will be “must haves” for chief executives and their key leadership staff if they are going to compete globally.

"The executives who surround themselves with social
media talent and knowledge will be at the forefront
of this important business revolution."

Download the PDF from Korn /Ferry

Open Letter to my 10 Daughters

2010-06-17T01:38:00.000-07:00

Over the past two years I have been involved with the education of 10 young women in the Middle East. These women are a group of genuine, talented, creative learners thirsting for knowledge, with a tremendous desire to do their best. Each one beautiful, inside and out. Highly competitive, yet they share and care for each other with deep love. I feel blessed to have been put in their path to guide and shape them into what they have become today.

These women have made great strides in their learning, and their accomplishments have astounded me. Coming from classrooms where rote memorization was the practice they have learned to be constructivist thinkers- to be able to think on their own; though sometimes they longed for someone to just tell them the answers so they could just do it. But this is no different than for all educators really. Don’t we all long for someone just to tell us what ‘works’ so we can do it? Five years ago they stepped into this teacher-education program as 'newbie babies' - today they are extremely knowledgeable, creative, vibrant women capable of holding many different career roles dealing with teaching, technology and learning, whether it be in business or schools.

They have kept me very busy over the last two years thinking of ways to help them think ‘outside the box’, to challenge them, and to help them become critical thinkers. Their Action Research Project Exhibition rivaled that of any Masters degree program in the US. They were able to meet the challenges that faced them and succeed. They gave me the best goodbye gift at their Action Research Project Exhibition, I could have not been more proud of them and their success stories.

Now today I have more challenges for them. Don’t become complacent, or think you have finished learning. This is only the beginning. Don’t mourn the loss of your constant companions -your classmates. Now that you have time, go and learn more, be with your dear classmates virtually. This is a perfect time to do the project ideas you put aside to complete your course assignments.

Here are a few suggestions to continue learning-

DEVELOP a Twitter PLN. Continue to learn from others. Twitter gives you the perfect tool to build an online professional learning network to have conversations with people you don’t know, but would like to. Location doesn’t matter, you can live in Ajman and connect with educators worldwide.

DEVELOP an RSS Reader. Find the sites and blogs to continue learning from; bring the information to you in your RSS, so you don’t have to go ‘looking’ for new ideas constantly. Let the technology do the work for you. Google Reader is still my favorite reader and I add new ‘finds’ each day. Build a collective intelligence through sharing with your classmates in Google Reader.

EXTEND your learning. Learn Online. Take Moodle classes online to learn more and share what you know. Build your Delicious or Diigo accounts.

LEARN something new. Second Life Education areas, find some online gaming sites and challenge your classmates to meet you online. Think about the possibilities of these new virtual learning environments and tools in education.

JOIN. Online PLNs such as the Educators PLN and the Global Education Collaborative. Learn from experienced educators, but remember to contribute.

DESIGN. a Professional Blog. Share what you know and continue to share as you learn more.

READ. Books. Get a Kindle, iPad , or a smart phone– download books and READ.

WATCH. Movies Ahh! ….there is much to learn from movies and listening to them in English will improve your English speaking skills.

DREAM. Dream BIG.

My dream - en’shallah- is that you continue to grow, learn, become more knowledgeable and wise, and in turn “be the change” that education needs. Your children and the world will benefit from your efforts.

Thank you for being a part of my life's journey!

The Shortie Awards: Student Film and News Festival

2010-03-04T09:37:00.000-08:00

via www.shortie.org

The Shortie Awards: Film & News Festival is the premiere film festival for students ages 7 to 18 and their teachers!

Established in 2001, The Shortie Awards: Student Film and News Festival recognizes original digital media productions created by student filmmakers, ages 7-18, and their teachers. The Shortie Awards focuses on nurturing imagination and choice making in students.

The Shortie Awards is part of MHz Networks' Education Department. The event grew out of the Department's EAT (Education Arts and Technology) program for young filmmakers in the Washington D.C. area and has since blossomed into a national and even international event, featuring submissions from all over the world.

Last years competition received nearly 400 entries, created by close to 3,000 student filmmakers, from 23 states throughout the U.S. and 13 countries including: Canada, Cuba, Spain, Italy, Finland, Denmark, UK, UAE, India, Poland, France and Kenya.

Many more of the Shortie Awards videos are also now available to view on YouTube. You can watch past winners and finalists, filmmaking tips and tricks, the best broadcast news programs, and much more.

Apple iPad: Magical & Revolutionary

2010-01-31T05:44:00.000-08:00

All the frenzy recently over Apple's iPad has educators wondering "if" the new device has as educational purpose rather than just providing a means for users to consume news and information.

Apple calls the iPad a "magical and revolutionary device." I am still wondering about the magical and revolutionary. Of course, as an avid reader and educator in need of books while living in remote places where adequate libraries are not nearby the iPad does appear to be magical because of its' ability to download and store many books in digital format. Having a library in your hands instantly would seem like magic to some. But then that's not much different than the Kindle, is it?

But when I start thinking about the iPad pedagogically, that's where I don't think I have enough information yet as to th iPad's capability to enhance or extend the learning of students. I haven't had one in my hand, but it would be good to begin imagining how it might be used.

Also, using the TPACK Model of Technology Integration helped me to put this new device's use into a different perspective for educators. We should be thinking of ways the iPad can support content and pedagogy, rather than whether we are disappointed in the new product's features.

Yes the iPad would be helpful for developing countries' schools to put a whole library of books quickly into the hands of students. And, yes information is powerful. It would help students quickly access journals, articles, and newspapers to talk about current events or historical events. My own students would love the availability of many books they don't have quick access to.

Yes the iPad does have a larger interface that would make playing educational games better for students ergonomically. It would be definitely easier for younger students to play MMORPGs on a larger screen.

An iPad could provide opportunities for students in the field to upload pictures to Flickr, post to blogs, and contribute to Wikis -provided there is Internet access. Definitely the iPad will play a big role in mobile learning and cloud computing will become more advantageous with the wide spread use of these devices. So my mind is just beginning to formulate some ideas about how the iPad could fit into education.

It may seem magical to some, but revolutionary- I 'm not so sure about. It will take more research on the product and time to decide if it is revolutionary for technology integration into educational purposes.

Planning a New Semester

2010-01-21T23:42:00.000-08:00

Back now from semester break and looking at all the new ideas to use with my students in the next semester. So many to choose from, I have decided to use 1 new tool a week with my freshman- just to expose them to what's out there.

Which ones will I use? Well recently I joined in an online course "Easy Web 2.0 tools that you can use in your classroom" offered by SEETA, South Eastern European Teachers Association and facilitated by Nik Peachey. Nik is incredible! with an abundance of tips and ideas for ESL/EFL teachers using technology in the classroom. I joined in for the camaraderie and ended up learning a lot more than I expected and inspired to try out some new technologies. These are just some of the new tools I learned about from Nik and the others participants that I plan to use this semester:

Back in the early years of BlendedEdu we set out to tell our readers about all of the new web 2.0 tools until the number of these tools massively exploded and with so many bloggers taking on that role that now we let the others tell you about the great new tools and we focus more on "how-to" use these new tools in some of our posts.

Try one of these tools with your students and let me know how you have used them.

Have a great second semester.....and try to enjoy the ride.

Introduction to Creative Commons

2009-12-17T17:54:00.000-08:00

Creative Commons is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to making it easier for people to share and build upon the work of others, consistent with the rules of copyright.

The Commons provides free licenses and other legal tools to mark creative work with the freedom the creator wants it to carry, so others can share, remix, use commercially, or any combination thereof.

This printable guide provides an overview of how to use Creative Commons along with additional information regarding technical implementation on the Web.

Additional Resources

LearnHub & Creative Commons

Mozilla, Peer 2 Peer University & Creative Commons Launch OER Program for Educators

Educator Guidelines: Fair Use in Media Literacy

Call for Action: One Day for One Goal

2009-12-11T10:16:00.000-08:00

Queen Rania of Jordan gave a speech at Le Web 2009 calling for taking action in the world to bring about real-world change by moving our virtual voices and persona into reality.

Very tech-savvy herself, Queen Rania truly understands this exciting phase of the participatory web and how social networks are not just a mouthpiece for our ideas but a network that allows users to life stream our existence. The web has the potential to drive real change by making life streaming- life changing.

Rania proposes that the "Digital Darwins", those who are pushing the web's boundaries today, not only become digital activist , but use the web and its' tools to bring about real change, not just talk. She wants digital activists to utilize networking tools like Blogs, Twitter, My Space, and Facebook to help solve social problems. She specifically calls for webs' users to "unlock" the doors to education by flooding the 'net for Education for All.

Beginning April 19, 2010 Digital Darwins can commit to helping educate the world. All that is needed to do is dedicate "One Day for One Goal." Tweet, blog, or post about education, loudly all day, so leaders everywhere will have to listen. Queen Rania says, "whatever you do, do it online and do it big"

Bring virtual activism into real-world action...take action.

Converting Text to Sound

2009-11-27T23:35:00.000-08:00

When I read the Wired Campus article "Too Much Reading? Try Listening Instead" my mind began to think off all possibilities for text-to-audio software in learning contexts.

For many years working in academic research I have been focused on finding the best audio-to-text-conversion for transcribing data from recorded devices such as input received from interviews and observations. But reading this article and looking at the Kurweil 3000 software forced me to think how text-to-audio software can benefit learners in the their coursework. It's more like Textcasting as opposed to Podcasting. Why not? Podcasting has great benefits to students using audio. So this type of text-to-audio software could have great potential in schools and college campuses to benefit student learning.

With my students in mind I quickly came up with a short list of how it could benefit them:

Students who are just tired of reading so much text for so many classes
Students with different learning styles who prefer to 'listen'
Students with reading difficulties, such as students with dyslexia
English Language Learners (ELL) are just learning to use the English language
Listening can assist students who ride on buses to and from school for long hours where reading is difficult over terrain such as bumpy, rocky desert roads
Students who are working on research projects which is 'reading intense'
Research students collecting data from surveys, questionnaires, and interviews where listening may be used in addition to reading the participants answers to help researchers 'perceive' the bigger picture through the auditory sense
It would help develop the students working vocabulary of a language without frustrating them or develop students vocabulary within a specific Community of Practice (CoP)
This type software could be used for students in addition to reading, therefore it would offer additional opportunities for learning

These were just my initial thoughts. I would be interested to hear others ideas....

Action Research: Creating Change in Education

2009-11-20T03:31:00.000-08:00

Being involved in Action Research projects with my students in the UAE for the last 2 years really reinforces the saying that "actions speak louder than words." All the blogs posted and all the time spent saying, "teachers could do this or teachers should be doing that" are not going to make changes happen. "Shift Happens" and teachers are the ones who can make changes teaching a new generation of students by taking action.

I started on the path to taking action when I left grad school. I picked up the mantra "The greatest end of life is not knowledge, but action. "Taking action with my students to make small changes has really been exciting for me as for them.

Teaching my students about Action Research and seeing what they can accomplish reinforces my belief that teachers need to be armed with real tools that they can use to improve their practice, their classrooms. and their schools. Action Research is one tool any teacher anywhere can use to make change.

As an Educational Technologist I know its not about the technology, but rather it is what teachers will do with the technology that will bring about the change in the way we educate the next generations.

This year students' projects are exciting prospects at bringing changes to local schools and public organizations. l will be sharing these with you over the next year as my students move from being in the classroom thinking how teachers could make changes to becoming practitioner-researchers taking action.

Domain Nonsense - A Logic Free Zone

2009-11-05T00:42:00.000-08:00

As we said earlier we have been having domain issues, and in talking with others I know we are not alone. It's been a nightmare trying to untangle the mess and just when we thought we were out of the darkness it seems now our archived files are not working at all. We are working on it, so please bear with us.

In the meantime..... I came across this video session recently on Awakening Creativity I wanted to share...

Helping develop students’ creativity is a hard task, finding time for students to do a creative activity is an even harder task for teachers. Teachers often leave this task undone hoping students will find their own creative outlet. However, not all students around the world have ample opportunities to use their creativity, to be challenged to think outside the box or think upside down. Sometimes teachers can make room in the busy day by simply providing a quiet time, along with a stimulating idea, or a challenge to awaken their dormant creativity and give students have the freedom to create.

An easy way for teachers to awaken creativity is to have their students keep a design journal to quickly sketch ideas wherever they are, whenever. Teachers can also start their teaching day by giving the students a quote to draw visually, or simply a “word” for students to visually illustrate, then provide a few quiet minutes for students to create in their design journal. It’s a great way to stimulate students thinking early in the morning.

The future won’t be a world of rote memorization tests; but rather a world where the successful students will be ones who have had chance to awaken their creativity.

Tips for Using Facebook with Students

2009-10-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

Facebook just posted some useful tips for educators who use the popular social networking service to communicate with their students.

These are pretty basic tips that are good reminders for any adults who work with kids as a teacher, scout master or youth pastor. And parents too.

Privacy is important, especially on social networking services like Facebook. Even more so when you're communicating with young adults. Here's another great resource with tips to safeguard your Facebook privacy.

So, once you get their attention, what do you talk about? Good question. Paging Hey Josh....

Back Just in Time

2009-10-27T10:06:00.000-07:00

The new US Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan says,

teacher-education programs need "revolutionary change

—not evolutionary tinkering."

Its been long time coming, but it needs to be done.

Is it right to keep teaching teachers to teach in the same way teachers taught 20 or 30 years ago ? Haven't we noticed (and research proves) that kids today are very different learners than 30 years ago?

A few years ago the call was for taking baby steps to change the education system to fit the new learners, but has that been enough? Personally I think it's about time for another "giant step for mankind." We have to begin teaching student-teachers in new ways, not the same old ways. Research shows that teachers teach in the way they were taught. If you keep doing the same old thing, you will come out with the same old thing. Why arent we paying attention to the research in front of us - our students--? How will they they teach in 20 years?

Read more about what Arne Duncan has to say about teacher-education>>>>

And We're Back....

2009-10-15T13:20:00.000-07:00

We've had a rough couple months here on BlendedEdu (waves fist at GoDaddy!), but hopefully we're back up and running smoothly again.

Thanks for your patience.

Twitter Tutorial

2009-04-18T07:12:00.000-07:00

Great Tutorial on Twitter via Viddler

Newspapers in Education

2009-01-12T09:54:00.000-08:00

I have always used newspapers in my classes with my students as a resource for their subjects.

When I first started teaching I would have paper ones delivered each morning to my classroom and we used them for Social Studies, Economics, Language Arts, Math, and many times I caught students actually reading them without my telling them too.

As the years passed I had students access newspapers online daily and continued to use them as a vital resource.

A friend passed along this great site, Newseum, with links to newspapers all over the globe. Just click on the Middle East from the top menu, then click on Dubai (you do have to know where that is or be a good guesser) - the Gulf News appears with the latest news at your fingertips. In today's world of global interconnectedness this is a great site to keep you and your students aware and up-to-date with the latest news worldwide.

Newseum is a great resource for educators. I just had to pass it along to you....

Seeking: Organizational Ability

2009-01-03T07:36:00.000-08:00

Determined to get organized in 2009? That's one area all educators need help in.

30 Boxes looks like a good site to start organizing your work and you life...So give it a trial.

Have you discovered any sites or software that are helpful for organizing projects or work-related tasks? Why don't you share your ideas with us...

Twitter vs Facebook

2008-12-26T12:31:00.000-08:00

"Facebook is about people you used to know; Twitter is about people you'd like to know better."

Perfectly stated.

Read more about Teeny Tiny Posts

Gen Y, Social Media and Digital Learning Styles

2008-11-23T22:16:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce that the book chapter that I co-authored with Dr. Mercedes Fisher, "Pedagogical Mashup: Gen Y, Social Media, and Digital Learning Styles," has officially been accepted for publication in the Handbook of Research on New Media Literacy at the K-12 Level: Issues and Challenges, to be published by IGI Global later this year.

Dr. Fisher and I wish to thank the co-editor of the book, Professor Subramaniam at the National Institute of Education at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, for his hard work and direction during the writing and peer-review process.

In addition, we appreciate all the members of the peer-review committee for their feedback, suggestions and collaboration on this chapter. It's been a wonderful experience to work with members of the international education technology/media community.

We've saved the links for all the resources and references cited in the book chapter over on the social bookmarking tool delicious, which you can find here: http://del.icio.us/mashup.edu

Related Publications by Mercedes Fisher & Derek E. Baird

Tech Grants for Washington State Teachers

2008-11-19T10:17:00.000-08:00

Washington State K-12 educators are invited to apply for a 2009 Qwest Foundation Learning Technologies grant. This grant application is the first step in a competitive process that will award $10,000 grants to individual public school teachers or teacher teams.

These grants reward learning projects that integrate technology into standards-based curricula. The grant is managed by Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Educational Technology unit.

Completed grant applications are due at OSPI no later than 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 21, 2009. For more information or to download the application materials, click here.

Thanks to Julia Fallon for the scoop!

Educational Video Games Fun?

2008-11-18T03:11:00.000-08:00

We sure have gone far since Reader Rabbit!

Over the years BlendedEdu has written a few persuasive posts about the tremendous pedagogical value of video games in education. My own children wished I had come to this conclusion earlier while they were growing up so they could have tasted the waters -sorry I'm a late bloomer - and other followers have been converted into believers- won’t mention names, but she lives in Rome now in a very prestigious role.

Finally – I can now say 'finally' rather than 'hopefully'- as more educators are coming to this realization on their own through empirical studies we are going to see more of these game ideas developed and developed for specific content specific areas- or do they really need to be developed in specific content areas? -- what do you think about this?

As the students in my own classes tell me- we have to make learning fun - so I think we are on to something fun with the direction educational gaming is heading in.

While you’re thinking about the gaming topic check out the Brainy Gamer - it is worth reading …

Or visit “Video Games and Human Values Initiative” ning group from UConn....and think about the connection between oral storytelling and the video game narrative today... A very interesting connection to make.

Linkage: Meet Pixton, Mobile Films, Xbox Research & Chinese

2008-10-22T13:22:00.000-07:00

Meet Pixton For Schools: Last week I attended the Innovative Learning Conference (ILC) in San Jose, California. Like most conferences there was an exhibition hall with lots of vendors touting their goods and services as the latest and greatest learning tool. But what really intrigued me the most was a web-based comic strip generation tool called Pixton.

Microsoft to Fund Video Game Research: Microsoft announced that they would invest $1.5 million dollars in educational video game research. The investment is part of a larger, NYU led initiative to "to find scientific evidence that supports the use of games as a learning tool."

Mobile Filmmaker: Mankind is No Island is a short film created by Jason van Gendren using his mobile phone. This 3 minute film cost $57 to make, was shot in New York and Sydney, and won first place at the New York Tropfest Film Festival.

The Killer 21st Century Skill? Chinese: Gen Y students who want to be competitive in the global workforce, will need have to have more than just a college degree and technology skills.

US Presidential Election

2008-10-22T05:35:00.001-07:00

Common Craft crafted a short video to help your students understand the US electoral voting process.

The US Presidential Elections only happen every four years, so make sure your VOTE gets counted.

Using Game Design to Teach Information Literacy Skills

2008-09-30T11:18:00.000-07:00

Take notice of The University of Michigan, they might be onto harnessing the potential that games have for teaching students concepts and skills.

A research team at the University have designed a prototype web-based board game for teaching undergraduate students about Information Literacy Concepts and Skills. Students play the game to learn how to conduct library research.

They chose a game for the task for many research-based reasons, but also because

"Games can be with the student when an information expert cannot be. Games can be in the dorm room, at the coffee house, and anywhere else that the Internet can be accessed. Games are a way to bring information expertise to the users where they are already working."

The game called the Defense of Hidgeon: The Plague Years scaffolds the students learning beginning with showing students how-to start their research using encyclopedias and handbooks to develop a broad understanding of their topic, then shows students how to deepen their understanding through bibliographies and databases, and then finally shows students how to use specific tools to find cutting edge research.

Students played in teams adding in the social learning and peer collaboration component of gaming.

For the project evaluation students were surveyed and provided ideas to redesign the game for future use.

It would be interesting to find out if the game actually improved the research ability of the students who participated. I would think so. After all, learning can be fun.

Pew Report: American Teens Play Games

2008-09-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

A recent survey "Teens, Video Games and Civics" conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project finds that a significant number of American teens play video games.

" The primary findings in the survey of 1,102 youth ages 12-17 include;
Game playing is universal, with almost all teens playing games and at least half playing games on a given day.
Game playing experiences are diverse, with the most popular games falling into the racing, puzzle, sports, action and adventure categories.
Game playing is also social, with most teens playing games with others at least some of the time and can incorporate many aspects of civic and political life."

Teachers already know that their students love playing video games and I think many educators would also be interested in knowing how to harness the potential of gaming for educational purposes with their students. Don't you agree?

Thank You Mr. Newman

2008-09-27T14:56:00.000-07:00

Maryanne and I have a special soft spot for Paul Newman. So it was with great sadness that we learned about his passing early this morning.

Thousands of children around the world, through Newman's Own Foundation and Hole in the Wall Camps, have been the recipients of Mr. Newman's generosity, compassion, and commitment to the common good.

Paul Newman has always inspired me to always do more, give more and to find happiness through service to others.

Thank you Mr. Newman, for a life well lived.

Related Resources

Linkage: Starbucks, OLPC & Google Docs

2008-09-07T16:11:00.000-07:00

Free Coffee For Teachers: Starbucks is offering educators a free cup of coffee!

Amazon.com & One Laptop Per Child Team Up: The Buy One, Give won program is back!

Google Docs & Student Privacy: Online writing tools like Google Docs, Adobe Buzzword & Zoho are amazing free tools that are used by many educators. But who owns your online documents? Are there any laws or issues that you need to be aware of before using these tools in your classroom?

Animoto for Education: The service proved to be so popular among the education community that the Animoto team just launched a new micro site just for educators.

Teens & Meningitis: Did you know that adolescents, aged 11-18, are at an increased risk of contracting meningitis? Did you also know that meningococcal disease, while rare, can potentially kill an otherwise healthy teen in 48 hours or less?

25 Tools for Learning Professionals

2008-09-03T04:08:00.000-07:00

How many do you know or " use" ?

25 Tools

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: learning tools)

Clip Art Resources for Teachers

2008-08-07T16:43:00.000-07:00

It's back-to-school time and many of you are looking for clip art that you can use in your classroom. Here's a list of sites that offer free clip art:

Related Resources

2008 PBwiki Program for Educators

2008-07-30T22:58:00.000-07:00

"PBwiki knows that budgets are going to be tight, and we don’t want a lack of funds to deter educators from using collaborative technologies like wikis with their students.

To this end, PBwiki is giving each teacher or librarian who signs up as part of the program between August 18 and November 31, a free premium wiki (regular price: $250/year).

For example, if you sign up for a free wiki on November 1, you would receive a premium upgrade that lasts until October 31, 2009. Each fall, PBwiki plans to offer additional programs that will let participants retain their premium status free of charge."

You can learn more and sign up for the program by clicking here.

Related Resources

Linkage: How Boomers Use Tech, Expansion of eLearning & Digital Storytelling

2008-07-22T19:00:00.000-07:00

Facebook Doesn't Forget: Editorial piece in last weeks LA Times all about lifecasting and Facebook.

HP Launches Mini Laptop Program: HP announces that they are deploying 7,000 of their HP Mini Note laptops in the Fresno Unified School District.

71% of School Districts to Expand eLearning: The results of a joint survey conducted by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and U.S. Department of Education (DOE) were released earlier this month and provide more insight into the totally wired world of Gen Y students'.

Digital Storytelling Project: Penguin Books UK recently launched, We Tell Stories, an ambitious digital reading project aimed squarely at the reading styles of Gen Y students.

Nintendo DS in Japanese Schools: In a pilot program aimed at increasing English language skills, teachers in Japan are integrating the wildly popular Nintendo DS into the curriculum.

Research from the Digital Futures Project shows that the online behavior of older Americans (50+) is rapidly mirroring, and in some cases exceeding, that of younger Gen Y users.

Netlingo + Plurk

2008-07-21T19:33:00.000-07:00

Have you tried Twittering your life's events? Now there's Plurk.

Verb. plurk (plüer-kh) - To chronicle the events of your always on, action-packed, storybook, semi-charmed kinda life.

Whether you Twitter or Plurk the NetLingo Internet Dictionary will help you. With the limited number of characters that Twitter and Plurk allow per post, the NetLingo Online Dictionary will help you say anything in just a few short letters or words to get your point across.

Twittering and Plurking are just 2 new ways to keep connected to your CoP circle and see what your colleagues are thinking and doing.

Free Online Conference on Web 2.0

2008-07-16T19:31:00.000-07:00

The Knowledge Bank online conference out of Australia this year is focused on Web 2.0 in education: what it is, how it’s being used today and its potential to radically change education.

Steve Hargadon will be giving the keynote address on why "Web 2.0 Is the Future of Education."

General Conference Information

Topic: Learning in a changing world - Web 2.0 and beyond
When: Six sessions held over July 21 and 23 2008 (depending on time zone!)
Where: Online in Elluminate
Sign Up: The conference is free but you need to Sign Up.

Abstract

Web 2.0 is not new - many of us have used social networking sites like YouTube, TeacherTube and Facebook. We know about Wikipedia, Skype and podcasting. We read, even write, and comment on blogs. But what might happen to education as Web 2.0 becomes mainstream?

* Introducing Web 2.0. Who are you? Where have I met you before?
* How can reading and writing a blog change your way of learning?
* How does a direct connection with an expert shift your relationship to knowledge?
* Who are the content experts?
* What skills should we be teaching to young people, and what can we learn from them?

Who should attend?

Primary and secondary school teachers, education policy officers, researchers, further education professionals and other educators - anybody interested in Web 2.0 and education.

Related Resources

Lessons from NECC 2008 for Media & Marketing Professionals

2008-07-10T19:34:00.000-07:00

YPulse is a leading source of daily news, commentary about Gen Y for media and marketing professionals. The site is edited by Anastasia Goodstein, the author of Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens Are Really Doing Online.

This week I had the pleasure of writing a guest post for YPulse titled "Five Things Marketers Can Learn From NECC 2008." Here's an excerpt:

"One of my former colleagues at Yahoo! used to have a mantra: "We can do good and do well." Gen Y students are totally wired and the "Flat World" isn't an abstract view of the future, it's their reality. Increasingly teachers are looking for ways to interject global, local and other types of social awareness programs and curriculum into their classroom.
Educational programs that provide avenues for teachers and students to connect with other classrooms to "do good" can also provide you with an opportunity to build brand awareness with youth and allow you to "do well" at the same time. Tiger, Oprah, MTV, Target and Microsoft are already doing it, why aren't you?"

You can catch the whole post by clicking here. Thanks to Anastasia and the YPulse team for the opportunity.

Related Resources

Linkage: NECC, Web Safety & Gen Y Research

2008-07-06T22:33:00.000-07:00

Report on Gen Y, Technology & Learning: A new report from Blackboard and Project Tomorrow provides new insight into the sociological impact of online learning on education.

NECC 2008: Social Media & Education: Check out this transcript of a back channel chat from NECC 2008 where teachers talk about the challenges of using social media in the classroom.

Teachers.tv: Check out this video to learn some common sense classroom activities related to student use of social networks, chat and social media.

Call for YPulse Youth Advisory Board

2008-06-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

Anastasia Goodstein is an award-winning blogger and expert on how American tweens, teens
and twentysomethings consume technology, new media, social networks and life on the web.

She is also the creative genius behind the Ypulse blog and Ypulse Mashup conferences. She is the author of a book about teens and technology called Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens are Really Doing Online.

In her book Anastasia explores what Gen Y is doing on the Internet and with social media and mobile technology. She also delves into issues around cyberbullying, MySpace (and other social networks), as well as how all this technology is impacting schools and educators.

Today Anastasia announced that YPulse is forming "a Ypulse Youth Advisory Board made up of 10 young people between the ages of 13 and 24 from diverse backgrounds and geographic locations."

This is an excellent opportunity for teens to share their ideas, insight and feedback on what it means to be a teen in the 21st Century. It's also a big opportunity for college-bound teens to list one of the leading youth media organizations on that college admissions form!

So if you are a teen, or know a teen who's interested in joining the YPluse Youth Advisory Board, send them here for all the details.

Related Resources

Linkage: Social Media, EdTech4Obama & Mobile Web

2008-06-23T20:28:00.000-07:00

Social Media Hits Critical Mass: "Although age is the driving force behind usage patterns of these technologies, it is clear that a fundamental shift has taken place in all of our lives about what it means to communicate in the 21st Century." -Media in Mind (MiM)

Meet Mr. Basler: Check out my interview with an award winning teacher and expert at integrating social media into the science classroom.

EdTech4Obama: If you're going to NECC, come join us!

Call for Papers: This year’s conference is scheduled for October 20-24 and October 27-31 of 2008, and will include a pre-conference keynote during the week of October 13. The conference theme for 2008 is "Amplifying Possibilities."

Gen Y & Mobile Internet: ""The children of the mobile internet generation are getting used to being connected – to their music, their videos, their social networking sites – wherever they go. And that means we are all going to have to think hard about how we rewrite the rules."

WebSlides + Diigo

2008-06-23T19:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a good idea for a 'lesson' to work on this summer while you have some free time.

Go to Webslides

Open an account and start saving a few Web2.0 sites on Diigo that you want your students to use for a project. Maybe there are sites you want your students to use for a video project or maybe they are news sites with articles that you want students to read for a 'current events' class to write an essay. Bookmark any sites of a particular interest for an assignment or project.

When you have saved the bookmarks you want for the 'lesson' begin narrating each site in Webslides. Virtually take your students on a web tour of web 2.0 tools, tell them what you want them to know about each tool for the project they will be working on. If it's news articles you saved record a brief synapses of each article.

Keep bookmarking and narrating the sites until you feel you have provided enough background or technical information for your students to begin the assignment.

By the end of your Webslides presentation your students should have gained the knowledge-base needed to begin the project or write the essay without you even being there. That's called constructivist learning.

This might be a good 'lesson' to save for a day when you need a substitute teacher, your students might not even miss you....Go get started now.

Wikimania 2008

2008-06-12T07:05:00.000-07:00

Do you want to learn how to work with the collaborative tool "WIKI" and meet Wikimedians throughout the world? Then plan on attending Wikimania 2008, the annual conference for Wikimedians.

July 17-18 at the Library of Alexandria in Egypt.

AACE - ED MEDIA 2008

2008-06-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

If you're not attending NECC in San Antonio, Texas then plan on attending AACE - ED-MEDIA 2008 World Conference on Educational Mutimedia, Hypermedia, & Telecommunications in Vienna, Austria June 30- July 5th. ED MEDIA 2008 will be hosted by the Vienna University of Technology.

This annual conference gathering is the perfect conduit for the exchange of informational research on the latest topics in new media, telecommunications and distance education.

Attendees can choose from a large selection of workshops, panels, round-table discussions, corporate showcases and demos. Be sure to attend the poster demonstrations where a very large number of presenters will be presenting their latest research and projects.

Keynote speakers include:

Alan Amory, University of Johannesburg- "Playing Games: Hegemony as Enemy"
Geetha Narayanan, Srishti School of Art, Design, and Technology, India "Moving beyond the Plentitude: An Indian Fable"
Peter J. Scott, Open University, UK "Where is the Mentor?" New Ways of Supporting Learning"
Patricia Manson, European Commission, Luxembourg- "Technology Enhanced Learning in the 21st Century- The Role of European Research"

Invited Speakers include:

Peter Purgathofer- Vienna University of Technology, Austria
James Dalziel- Macquarie University, Australia
Rob Koper- Open University of the Netherlands, The Netherlands
Rob Phillips- Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia
Lizbeth Goodman- University of East London, UK

Follow the Ed-Media Blog to keep up-to-date on conference events.

ED MEDIA is truly a gathering of great minds in the world-wide Educational Technology Community. Learning is social; you will learn from the company you keep at ED MEDIA 2008.

NECC 08 Workshop

2008-06-06T16:26:00.000-07:00

If you plan to attend NECC 2008 (National Educational Computing Conference, June 29-July 2 in San Antonio, or if you are working with any teachers who plan to attend, the following may be of interest to you or to them.

WIPTE (Workshop on the Impact of Pen-based Technology on Education) is sponsoring a series of mock classes that will be taught in Tablet PC classrooms at NECC on June 30.

The goal is to show, in a hands-on-manner, how Tablet PCs and supporting software can provide an engaging classroom experience while also sharing information about the annual WIPTE conference. There will be ten classes in total. The content will range from computer science to foreign language.

If you or anyone you know would like to learn more, you can see the sessions times posted on the WIPTE web site.

Related Resources

Linkage: Web Predator Myths, Twitter & Oprah

2008-06-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

Study DeBunks Sexual Predator Myths: Sorry Chris Hansen, but a new study reveals that much of what people "know" or report about social networks and sexual predators is, well, just wrong.

Twitter and NASA: The Mars Rover is sending live updates to Twitter.

Virtual WWII Exhibit: The online collection features items and stories selected from a collection of World War II materials housed at the Lee Library at Brigham Young University.

Constructing Modern Knowledge '08: The Constructivist Consortium is sponsoring a four-day institute focusing on "intensive computer-rich project development with peers and a world-class faculty." The conference will be held at the Radison Hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire.

O Ambassadors: Oprah Winfrey, in partnership with Free the Children & Oprah's Angel Network, have announced the launch a new social change organization for youth called O Ambassadors.

Want to Reach Teens? Think Mobile: Teens are already totally wired, so it's natural that teens will use their mobile devices as a way to connect with the brands they love. And advertisers are all too happy to oblige.

Acrobat & Buzzword: Move over Google Docs

2008-06-03T23:16:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week Adobe launched Acrobat.com a new suite of web-based services that includes, Buzzword, an online word processor that will--especially in the education 2.0 community--go head-to-head with Google Docs.

According to the Acrobat blog the new Acrobat Suite is comprised of three distinctive applications:

Adobe Buzzword for creating and reviewing documents together.
Adobe ConnectNow for holding full-fledged online web conferences/video conferencing with up to three people.
The Acrobat.com organizer for sharing 5GB of files with others online, including the ability to convert 5 documents to PDF and embed your documents in blogs, wikis or other web pages.

Read more about Acrobat and Buzzword by clicking here.

WWII: Online Exhibit

2008-06-02T20:33:00.000-07:00

Medals, newspaper clippings, video, letters, and the story of an American flag created by Clarance Bramley, a survivor of the Bataan Death March—all this and more can be found in an online exhibit, “Remembering World War II: Pearl Harbor and Beyond."

The online collectionfeatures items and stories selected from a collection of World War II materials housed at the Lee Library at Brigham Young University.

Related Resources

Moodle on the Web

2008-06-02T18:26:00.000-07:00

NineHub-a social learning network where people teach & learn online.

Teaching and learning online just got easier. NineHub provides a social community setting for learning while hosting your Moodle course site for teaching. Now there are no more excuses for not web-enhancing your classes or moving your content online.

2008 Crystal Light College Tour

2008-05-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

Crystal Light presents the 2008 Step Up Women's Network National College Tour, giving girls in at-risk neighborhoods a first-hand look at college life, and encouraging all to aspire to secondary education.

Related Resources

Big Tree Learning Fellows

2008-05-22T14:18:00.000-07:00

Big Tree Learning is looking for dynamic US high school teachers, college instructors, and experienced tutors to help build innovative learning materials in the following subjects:

Math:Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trig/Pre-Calc, Calculus
English: Writing/Composition, American Lit, British Lit
Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics
Social Studies: World History, US History, US Govt, Economics
Test Prep: SAT, ACT, AP Tests

2008 Summer Teaching Fellows receive a $2000 stipend for 3-4 weeks of curriculum development, including 8 days of work in San Francisco, CA.

Click here to learn more and get an application.

Merging Web 2.0 Tools with Moodle

2008-05-04T19:50:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been doing a lot of research on blending web 2.0 technologies into course curriculum and focusing mostly from the side of students. It's so easy for students to use these innovative tools for assignments, collaborative projects, or for inquiry-based learning.

Naturally I thought about teachers using them too, but it wasn't until I read this blog post from "Golden Bytes" that it became clear how important it is for faculty use these productivity tools.

Golden Bytes tells us "in a nutshell" why he wanted to upload a PowerPoint for his 5-6th graders to view from Moodle and how he found that by using Google docs and Zoho he suddenly found a way to make his life much easier...

Guess you'll just have to read Golden Bytes to see how these tools can make your life simpler too....

Open Yale Courses

2008-04-28T17:10:00.000-07:00

Yale University has joined the OpenCourseWare (OCW) movement and is now offering free courses through Open Yale Courses. These courses are free and open to anyone who would like to participate.

Seven departments (astronomy, English, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology and religious studies) at Yale are among the first at the university to offer classes via the Open Yale Courses initiative.

The Open Yale site describes the program as follows:

"Open Yale Courses provides free and open access to seven introductory courses taught by distinguished teachers and scholars at Yale University. The aim of the project is to expand access to educational materials for all who wish to learn.
Open Yale Courses reflects the values of a liberal arts education. Yale's philosophy of teaching and learning begins with the aim of training a broadly based, highly disciplined intellect without specifying in advance how that intellect will be used.

This approach goes beyond the acquisition of facts and concepts to cultivate skills and habits of rigorous, independent thought: the ability to analyze, to ask the next question, and to begin the search for an answer.
We hope these courses will be a resource for critical thinking, creative imagination, and intellectual exploration."

The Open Yale Courses have been funded and supported through grants from the William and Flora Hewitt Foundation, as well as the Yale Center for Media and Instruction. Open Yale Courses have also integrated Creative Commons licensing into their course materials.

Additional Resources

Podscope -Podcast Search Engine

2008-04-28T16:29:00.001-07:00

Podcasts are great learning tools but sometimes finding podcasts to use in your curriculum can be can be an arduous task for educators. Not if you use Podscope.

Podscope is an audio-video podcast search engine that searches podcasts for "key" words.

If you're a Nursing Educator searching for podcasts about nutrition, thats easy with Podscope. If you're an elemenatary level teacher looking for book reviews you're in luck, you can find them easily with Podscope.

To seach Podscope all you need to do is enter 1 word or more for a word search. Then before you can blink Podcope searches podcasts for those spoken words and the search results with links to the actual podcasts appear.

Podscope makes it so easy to find podcasts for your teaching and for student learning. But be careful, you might find yourself listening to hours of super podcasts....just be forewarned...

2008 Webware 100 Winners

2008-04-23T18:53:00.000-07:00

The 2008 Webware Top 100 Winners have been announced- go check them out.

Now you have plenty time to brainstorm ideas for projects to use these Webware Winners for your own productivity or creativity, or with your students.

Library of Congress- New Interactive Website

2008-04-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

Take your students on a field trip to the Library of Congress .

"This Library of Congress Experience will offer “hands-on” interaction with rare cultural treasures in ways that inspire and engage"

While you're going why not invite another class to go along? Then come back to an Elluminate Live Vroom and have the classes share their Library of Congress Experience with each other virtually. Neither class has to be in the same school or on the same continent.

Virtual Field Trips and communication software like Elluminate are a great way to connect kids to experiences they could have never had before without leaving school. Now new technologies provide the means to open our classroom doors to a world of experiences.

Ecto for Social- Collaborative Learning

2008-04-07T07:59:00.000-07:00

EctoLearning is a Personalized Learning Environment for organizing class content for students to access online.

"Ecto lets you create interactive learning items and entire courses using your own content including RSS, YouTube, and Wikis. Content is user-generated, user-rated, and shared in the vast open Ecto library."

Ecto also you to share content and connect with others globally.

And best of all, access to EctoLearning is free.

Community + Web 2.0 = Learning

2008-04-02T08:57:00.000-07:00

In a recently published article in the April 2008 Sloan-C View Patricia McGee, Associate Professor of Instructional Technology at The University of Texas at San Antonio focuses on Community + Web 2.0 = Learning. Professor McGee poses, “The question really becomes: How can we facilitate the natural formation of community regardless of the technology available to us?

Here is my reply ….We, humans, are social, gregarious beings. We love to talk with others, seek information from others to solve problems, and learn new things that excite and motivate us to create, innovate and invent. We have evolved and progressed over time, but always find a way to meet that basic human need for social gathering. What also has evolved over time is how we gather together.

Remember when gathering around the water cooler was a means to connect socially with people in your office and learn inadvertently from coworkers? I do, but most of the ‘Net Generation doesn’t. They have grown up digitally with some type of technology at their fingertips. Today ‘s Digital Natives connect with others differently than the digital immigrants, preferring social networks like Second Life, MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connecting and meeting virtually now is common place to Digital Natives who text friends to find where or when to meet or go online to a friend’s MySpace page to see what the friend has been doing lately. Learning is social. People now gather information from others through online social networks, and inadvertently learn about many new things. Information that was once gathered around the water cooler is now gained through a cell phone, mobile device, or computer.

People are already beginning to wonder what will be the next MySpace or Facebook tool that we, being 'social beings', embrace to connect with others? Whatever the tool, it will need to be easy-to-use, integrate with the devices that are already in the hands of the Digital Natives - something they are already familiar with- that will send them to the next dimension where they will continue to learn from others, but in a new way. The device itself will be the platform for new social networking software that allows for social interaction just like discussion forums, listservs, and email allowed us to exchange information, keep in touch, and learn en-route.

Technology's innovative tools provide a new means to do something people have always done- learn from others in a community of practice and from communities they choose to join. We are social creatures, gregarious in nature. It’s not really about the way in which we interact- online or face-to-face, but about meeting our need to be social. The technology serves as the tool that allows us to meet around the water cooler in IM, Facebook or Second Life and learn from others. It provides the opportunity for social learning.

Educators, on the other hand, need to be knowledgeable of these tools and use them in learning situations to reach the Digital Natives with their tools of choice. An educator’s job is to help student on their path to lifelong learning. Whether we use SMS texting, Twitter, Meebo, Second Life to connect students doesn’t matter, but providing an option for “the water cooler” is important for the students entering into a community of practice and for their continued learning within the community. Technology will continue to evolve and student’s ‘tech-a-tuitive-ness’ will rapidly increase in response. But the students’ need to be social and learn from others will persist. They will just do it through different mediums. Educators need to keep abreast of the new innovative communication and social networking tools and see how they can utilize them with their students. Learning doesn't take place in a vacuum, but through interactions with others.

Over the years ‘techies’ flocked to the James Bond 007 movies to see what new far-fetched technology gadgets Sean Connery would use. The gadgets helped him connect to others and allowed him to brave new worlds. The openness of the Web 2.0 provides the environment ripe for innovation of new technologies even more 'far-fetched' than Bonds. It’s just a matter of time till someone reaches over to try something, find it exciting, and then connects to others in their social network to share what they found. We will just have to wait.

But in the meantime, educators should utilize these new tools in the context of their curriculum and embed them into their course design through interactive learning activities that keep students engaged, connected, interacting, and learning socially.

Create Google Docs Forms

2008-04-01T13:19:00.001-07:00

Try sending your field trip parent forms using Google Docs -Forms.

"Create a form in a Google Docs spreadsheet and send it out to anyone with an email address. They won't need to sign in, and they can respond directly from the email message or from an automatically generated web page....

Creating the form is easy: start with a spreadsheet to get the form, or start by creating the form and you'll get the spreadsheet automatically....Responses are automatically added to your spreadsheet."

You can even make your life easier by adding the Google Docs Forms gadget to your iGoogle homepage for easy access.

Google Forms is a slightly different twist on an old task. It might help you be more efficient and organized than trying to keep track of all those paper forms.

Using Wikipedia to Re-envision the Term Paper

2008-03-31T14:44:00.000-07:00

What about using Wikis & Wikipedia for student term papers?

A good idea discussed in Scholarship2.0 is a report on "Using Wikipedia to Reenvision the Term Paper" by Andreas Brockhau and Martha Groome from the University of Washington, Bothel - Why not have students add to Wikipedia pages on a specific topic for a term paper or have them make a major revision to a needy page already in Wikipedia?

Blogging's instant publication capability opened up the audience for student writing from just the Instructor to anyone on the Internet. Now having students create pages for their term papers in Wikipedia provides the perfect match for "peer review", publishing student's work, and provides the opportunity for students to add a major contribution on the global scale.

This assignment will turn the ordinary student term paper into an exciting project to be viewed by many others rather than just the instructor and the student's backpack.

Creating a Collaborative Syllabus Using Moodle

2008-03-25T19:17:00.000-07:00

Having students guide their own learning by "Creating a Collaborative Syllabus" is an innovative way to get motivated students in your classes rather than having to "wake up the dead" in your classes each day.

Spend time planning with students in advance and get them excited about the learning to come. This also provides an opportunity for students to access prior knowledge about that they know and what they want to know, so you can determine what they need to know.

Collaboration, Social Learning, and Constructivist Pedagogy creates motivated students.

Podcasts and Classroom Use

2008-03-23T20:05:00.000-07:00

Task pre-service student teachers to research integrating technology into classroom use and they will produce an overwhelming source of ideas!

To share their ideas for using Podcasts in the Classroom:
Teachers can use podcasting to share lecture information with students. Teachers can have students create podcasts to share information that they gathered. This type of assignment would have students use voice recordings, sound effects, and photos. This will definitely engage students if they are taught how to create one. Students and teachers can also use podcasting and add it to a website or blog. I think I'll do that with mine smile. Teachers and students who use podcasting learn content in a creative way. In addition, they are also learning new communication skills.

I like the idea that students can access information from the web and not have to only read. This could help with auditory learners, students who like to listen to music, and those students who love to use computers.
~Elena

A few examples of how podcasts can be a learning tool for learning are that podcasts make most educational needs accessible, such as lectures and speeches, audio-guides, case studies, audio-notes/feedbacks, music, news and course updates, etc..
~Clare

I looked at Brown University’s website—it was cool how they put up podcast about activities that took place and we can view them with a windows media player, itunes or download it into your iPod.
MY IDEA… This gave me that idea that in your class—you may use this to document special days/presentation in class or in the school and this can be a way to have parents view it at home or when internet access in nearby. It is a new way students may learn how to access information and/or have them create a podcast as a culminating project.

Some other ideas for podcast can be “How-to-do” podcasts- for example, grammar, writing a story or letter, read-aloud, storytelling, step by step completing a science project, making a blog or website, etc…
~Diane

When I was looking through some teacher blogs about podcasting I read about one teacher that uses podcasting for students to record their reading. This way progress can be tracked and teachers or specialists can listen to the podcast to see what areas need to be addressed.

I was thinking that it would be neat to have the students create portfolios that could be accessed by their parents at home. It would work just like engrade.com but lots of other things could be included. Students would also be able to access their recordings at home and work on improving their reading if they wanted to. Just like teacher portfolio or the paper portfolios in the classroom.

I was also thinking that a teacher could use podcasts as part of the weekly or daily routine. At the beginning of the year the teacher and students would/could listen to the same podcast together and learn how to take notes or listen for key words. Since Saipan has so many (mostly) ELL students I would start out with video webcasts so that students could see along with hear but quickly move into the listening only realm. The teacher could easily modify the lesson by providing some with worksheets to fill in as they listen while the higher level students would have a worksheet too but have to take better notes and fill in more information. Students would rather listen to a podcast from a specialist or celebrity than their teacher!

When I was looking through the social studies podcasts I got the idea that it would be fun to have the class do a year-long project about their community. It could be bundled together so that people could listen and learn about Saipan from the students’ perspective. I got the idea from listening to students in a social studies classroom question a guest speaker about his trip to Egypt.

I never realized all of the uses for podcasts in the classroom. Laurence mentioned a lot of great ideas that address multiple intelligence, thinking styles, and learning styles. One of the great things I learned from this assignment is that if done properly podcasts can reach students at their level and where they are at with their background knowledge. Wouldn't it be great to have time on Friday's for students to be able to put podcasts on their ipod to listen to over the weekend! They would not even realize they are learning! State of flow all on their own!

Maybe the new yahoo for teachers website will have podcasts bundled by levels and content so that a teacher could just put it on the computer for the students and not have to look at 50 different places before getting just 3 different leveled podcasts addressing the same content.
~Erin

Podcasts can be created from original material by students and teachers or existing audio files can be downloaded for classroom use. Creating a podcast allows students to share learning experiences. It provides them with a worldwide audience that makes learning meaningful and assessment authentic. Teachers can use the technology to provide extra and modified material to students to download and evaluate at a time that suit them. The flexibility that such time-shifting offers makes podcasting a valuable educational tool.

Podcasts are a great way for using student products to share learning, sharing school news with parents, faculty, community members, and other people, and for teachers to provide professional development with others. By providing students with an authentic audience, teachers increase motivation to write. Students improve fluency and listening skills. Podcasts give students a view of journalism in the making, tutorials, and encourages interactive collaboration with others that is creative, fun and FREE.

Here are some educational techniques we could use podcasts and incorporate them into our classroom and lessons/teachings.

* Talk and music shows
* Interviews with pupils and staff
* Story telling and audio books
* Tutorials and instructions
* Commentaries
* Sharing information with parents and the community
* Providing updates on forthcoming school events
* Sportscasts
~Laurence

Some sites they wanted to share with others looking to incorporate podcasts:

SIGTel Online Learning Award

2008-03-21T11:29:00.000-07:00

Have you and your students been involved or are you involved in an original, online learning activity? If so, we encourage you to enter the 2008 SIGTel Online Learning Award competition.

Deadline for submission is March 31, 2008 . Awardees will be announced in April 2008.

All awardees will receive an invitation to present their project during a web poster session at the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) in San Antonio, Texas in June/July 2008.

Awardees will need to provide project information and photos for online and/or conference publications; deadlines to be provided when awardees are announced. Project contributors or partners are welcome to participate in the NECC poster session but only the author will receive an award.

All expenses relating to registration and travel to NECC are the responsibility of the honoree, contributors, or partners planning to attend. Awardees will be given a one-year standard membership in ISTE and concurrent membership in ISTE's Telelearning Special Interest Group.

SIGTel will publish the winning entries, and the respective authors' reflections in its online publication, SIGTel Bulletin, and archive the work as exemplary projects on the SIGTel Web area. All awardees will be required to supply a reflection about their project when contacted by the SIGTel Bulletin editors.

SIGTel will provide press release information and photo opportunities at NECC 2008 for winners to publicize their award via their local media.

For more information click here.

Why Web 2.0 Isn't Relevant for the (Education) Masses...Yet

2008-03-19T17:39:00.000-07:00

Forrester Research analyst Charlene Li spends her time between two worlds: the early adopter Web 2.0 crowd and the broader business users who don't quite get them.

Here, she explains why all that Facebook-MySpace-Twitter-Digg excitement aside, most of the world just doesn't find Web 2.0 relevant and what entrepreneurs need to do to fix that.

10 Sites for Finding Wonderful Things

2008-03-17T14:35:00.000-07:00

This article "10 sites for Finding Wonderful Things" should really be named 10 to the 10th Power. Each site founded by a creative bricoler has more power than just 1.

Read it and browse the sites while you have time over Spring Break. It will be a fun experiment with bricolage and be sure to pass along the wonderful things you find to your students.

You just never know what bricolage will spawn..

Learning 2.0

2008-03-16T18:16:00.000-07:00

The participatory and collaborative tools of the Web 2.0 have paved the path for Learning 2.0. The Internet provides the means for students to learn informally through online social networks and groups where they 'learn to be'. Students participate in online social networks, meeting with others to share information and learn. Learning 2.0 is the way in which we learn or acquire new information on the Web.

We can learn about anything we desire- at anytime of the day or night. Access to the Internet has provided us with the greatest set of encyclopedias - the Web. What would you like to learn about? Just go online and join a group. Learning is easy. Others will let you join their group, add your ideas, and in turn they will provide a learning opportunity about anything you want.

While reading Jason Seeley Brown and Richard Alder’s Minds on Fire: Open Education, the Long Tail, and Learning 2.0 I reflected on my own history as an educator using the Internet and computers in my classes since the 90’s.

Surfing the WWW first I used the Internet to search for information, then progressed to providing students with computer access to complete project-based learning activities and WebQuests. As technologies evolved I used the Internet to bring experts to the classroom using communication technologies at first texting in IM, then advanced to audio enhanced iChat that allowed authors and other experts to speak to my students from a distance. Today in my Ed Technology class students use web2.0 tools to complete projects and upload their projects to personal reflective blogs. They are learning to be -by participating and collaborating in an online class designed to open their minds to the new Web 2.0 tools, joining social networks, learning through an alternative course delivery, while exploring the abundance of online resources, and discovering answers to their own problems through online communities. Learning 2.0 is second nature to this group of students already and they probably aren't even aware.

The evolution of the web now provides learning opportunities for anyone to learn anything through informal, social networks making the possibility of lifelong learning a greater 'virtual' reality. A great time to 'learn to be'.

PB Wiki for Educators

2008-03-14T16:54:00.000-07:00

PB wiki for Educators. Just for teachers and students.

Check out all the tools PB Wiki has added right at your fingertips. Student won't have to go looking all over the web for tools like jing and Camtasia, find them right in the sidebar.
Share the PB Wiki Etiquette with your students. Educate them on proper way to act in a Wiki and the Web2.0.

Wikis for student collaboration whenever - wherever they desire to do their work. No more excuses either- "The dog ate my homework."

Nothing But Nets

2008-03-09T17:57:00.000-07:00

NothingButNets is a excellent example of using various social media for a great cause. The Net A Life: Fight Against Malaria website is a mash-up of various social media tools like Flickr, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube. Sites that young people frequent. A great way to attract the energy of young people to solve some of the world's problems.

In Gambia alone malaria accounts for over one million deaths each year. Buying a net and educating families on how to use them could offer a chance for hope and opportunity for all of Africa.

Two tech-savvy Seniors from Mount Saint Mary College browsing the net and social network sites have chosen the Nothing But Nets Campaign as their senior thesis project. They will host a fund raising event March 27th to raise money to purchase bed nets to help the children of Africa and their families facing this disease.

To save the world- start with saving one life. These Seniors are taking baby steps. Starting with educating the Mount community about this problem and hoping others will follow their path and continue educating others around the world to aid this country in need.

These 2 graduating seniors are exhibiting the values they have learned and integrating the college mission to educate others and save lives through the Nothing But Nets Campaign.

Follow their lead. Donate - Buy A Net-Save A Life

More Moodle, Please

2008-03-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

Here is a short video showing how Moodle can be used to 'web-enhance' or enrich any course.

Moodle is not just for e-learning from a distance, but a very useful tool for any course curriculum or any delivery method.

Teaching & Learning Celebration

2008-03-05T09:04:00.000-08:00

Attend a great event this weekend- The Worlds Fair Of Education. Two full days of professional development in New York City.

A collaborative opportunity for educators provided by Thirteen- New York Public Television.

WBE 2008- Web-Based Education

2008-03-02T14:56:00.000-08:00

The International Association of Science and Technology for Development's (IASTED) International Conference on Web-Based Learning in Innsbrooks Austria - March 17-19 will create an International Forum on Online Education. Put it on your conference agenda.

The keynote address by Dr Susan Aldrich - President, University of Maryland University College, "Bringing the World to Higher Education: A Paradigm for Global Learning" is of special significance since the physical structure of higher education is taking on a new shape right before our very eyes and the culture changing.

Of equal importance, and not to be missed, is the Tutorial Session by Annette Baumann, of the Technical University of Munich, Germany "Web-Based Communication and Collaboration Tools to Support Collaborative Learning and Knowledge Exchange Within University Education."

This Tutorial Session reminded me of my work currently with a Sociology Professor and his research students. The students are using Web2.0 tools for collaboration and communication to complete their work. His students are building a "Learning Toolkit" with tools such as Google Docs for sharing and wikis for collaborating on research asynchronously, while at the same time using web-based communication tools like Skype and Sight Speed for VoIP conferencing, and investigating Virtual Learning Environments such as WizIQ, DimDim, and Vyew. Building a "Learning Toolkit" will familiarize students with new, easy-to-use tools to collaborate and communicate with other researchers anytime, anywhere. Tools such as these facilitate knowledge sharing and learning in the information era.

Web2.0 tools bring new methods to research and there is no better way for student learning than through hands-on application.

WBE 2008 should be a great learning experience.

Digital Natives

2008-03-02T10:33:00.000-08:00

Over heard on the Metro train last night from New York City:

A group of young mothers talking-

"...I don't take TV away from my kids for punishment when they do something wrong. I take away their nightly computer time, and their IM ing- -oh they live for IMing their friends- and for my oldest- I take away text messaging on her cell phone.... I don't take away TV because my kids dont watch TV at all...."

Kids are changing- just listen to parents talk. But are teachers really listening?

Creating a Culture of Innovation

2008-02-27T14:50:00.000-08:00

Recently I was very fortunate to hear Nick Donofrio speak about "Creating a Culture of Innovation" at Mount Saint Mary College in New York.

Nick Donofrio, the Executive Vice President- Innovation & Technology of IBM worldwide fame, emphasized how important it is to educate students to think creatively. His comment "Only a few will invent, but everyone can innovate" is an idea to reflect upon as educators.

In the global world students will face fierce competition in their career lifetimes. Innovative thinking need to be developed and nurtured in students in order to advance them in front of others who are unable to address concerns in new ways and problem-solve solutions to old problems. This is their ticket to the head of the class. Innovators find new solutions.

Using Discussion Forums in your classes is one method to develop critical thinking skills. Discussion Forums provide students an opportunity to delve deeper into the subject matter. Students have time to reflect and think. They are allowed time to read and learn more about a subject before they respond. Discussion Forums extend your class conversation beyond the 60-minute class time. Discussions can last as long as needed, as long as students want, as long as anyone has something to add to the topic. Conversations don't have to stop when the bell rings.

Using new communication technologies available today is another way to expose students to other ideas and nurture critical thinking skills. Communicating synchronously provides a perfect opportunity to bring experts to your classroom virtually, no need for travel.

Or invite an expert to participate in a discussion forum topic or field questions from students about a specific topic or idea. Bringing ideas from others through asynchronous tools provides an opportunity for students to hear others point of view and also extends student learning beyond the classroom walls.

Teaching today’s students requires a new way of looking at the way we teach. Innovative thinking is a developmental process. Educators can nurture critical thinking skills with innovative teaching strategies using new technologies. Creative Thinking Skills can be developed, they just need to be practiced.

Innovation - think about it.

Educause Podcasts

2008-02-27T14:36:00.001-08:00

Subscribe to the Educause Podcasts and bring learning to you.

Keep updated in Education and Technology. Hear what experts, visionaries, and your peers have to say - anytime, anywhere.

Subscribe now !

Online Communication Tools

2008-02-27T13:55:00.000-08:00

Two communication tools we are currently testing in conjunction with Elluminate Live are WiziQ and DimDim for use as online classrooms, faculty office hours and for student conferencing. We are doing our own comparison of how these tools match up for faculty teaching through blended and online delivery methods.

These tools are getting tested by our faculty as a means to reach students through new methods for virtual classes or for additional learning sessions to help students understand a new software or to understand a new concept. DimDim and WiziQ provide a free or very inexpensive alternative to the well know communication tools, Elluminate Live and Adobe Connect. There are many more on the web today.

In distance learning hearing the instructors voice connects the student with the teacher and allows instructors to verbalize instead of just using text-based chat. These virtual classrooms provide a white board for class use, a text chat window, and the opportunity to see the instructor via a web cam and to hear the instructor's voice among many other features. Using these tools for synchronous learning provides a unique learning experience for the student as well as the instructor.

Test them out yourself. You can find one to fit your budget. And be sure to tell us which ones you are using.

Conference: Blending With Purpose

2008-02-22T14:06:00.000-08:00

Join the University of Illinois in downtown Chicago for this year’s workshop "Blending with Purpose" on April 6 through 8, 2008. "Blending with Purpose" examines blended learning as a platform for introducing teaching innovations,resolving resource concerns and facilitating the learning of students in the digital age.

Administrative leaders, faculty members, instructional designers and researchers will gather to network, consider effective practices and discuss assessment strategies. Break out sessions will center on three primary areas – administration, pedagogy and assessment/evaluation.

Register for this exclusive blended learning workshop, where multiple opportunities for learning, sharing and networking take place during the highly interactive workshop sessions.

Institutions are encouraged to register teams of administrative leaders, faculty members, instructional designers and researchers. Each track provides participants with strategies that can be adapted and implemented at their home institution.

Learn More: http://www.blendedworkshop.uic.edu

ManyVoices For Darfur Project

2008-02-18T12:49:00.000-08:00

Learn more about the Many Voices for Darfur project. This is a great way to get your students involved in world events. This project was started by Mr. Mayo, a teacher from Rockville, Maryland.

Get Involved!

Related Resources

The Horizon 2008 Report- Emerging Technologies for Teaching & Learning

2008-02-14T20:50:00.000-08:00

You just might want to read The Horizon 2008 Report by the New Media Consortium and Educause on the key emerging technologies or practices that will impact higher education in the next 5 years.

The collaborative report from NMC and Educause draws on current research and identifies 6 technologies that are likely to have a large impact on teaching, learning, and creative expression at learning institutions.

The six technologies are divided into adoption horizons :

1st Adoption Horizon- Grassroots Video & Collaborative Webs- found on most campuses
Mid-term Horizons- Mobile Broadband and Data Mashups- beginning to appear at leading edge organizations
Far-term Horizons- Collective Intelligence & Social Operating Systems- hints at academia use 4-5 years down the road

The report takes a close look at each of the 6 technologies, tells how it is being used and how it could be used, and tells why it is relevant to teaching and learning. An annotated list follows each technology description with links to tagged resources.

I think you will find the direction 'learning' technology will take over the next few years an interesting ride.

The Case for Open Access

2008-02-13T12:22:00.000-08:00

Harvard has taken the lead to 'free' knowledge.

The Harvard Faculty of Arts & Sciences has proposed a new policy to support open-access of the scholarly articles written by the FAS faculty members.

Open Access would provide 'free' access to journal articles and publications to the world that would otherwise cost schools and individuals, sometimes outrageous prices, to read. Open Access to articles and publications would allow the social exchange of information without regard to money.

Hopefully Harvard's lead will inspire others to spread the wealth of information freely so everyone can learn.

Year of the Rat- Happy New Year

2008-02-07T14:04:00.000-08:00

Even teachers in urban areas like New York have trouble sharing videos with their students due to lack bandwidth in their schools.

Finally I found a solution. Download Helper is a Firefox plugin that allows you to save videos to your computer from sites like YouTube to show in your classroom without having to wait for the video to download. Besides Download Helper all you need is a viewer or player, such as VLC, to play the video for your students right from your computer, no waiting- no more choppy videos.

Now students can watch videos such as Year of the Rat, then discuss topics such as empathy, compassion for others, or how another culture welcomes a New Year.

Thanks Manny for sharing this lifesaver application!

Common Craft: Online Photo Sharing in Plain English

2008-01-28T17:04:00.000-08:00

Catch this video from the commoncraftshow and share it with your students.

After watching the video your students will have a much easier time understanding photo sharing. The video spells out in "plain english" how sites such as Flickr and Photobucket work. It even provides a good explanation of 'tags'-something many people have trouble understanding.

From someone who lost all her childhood and family photos in Katrina- share this with your students. Then create a photo-sharing project so your students will 'learn by doing.'

Innovative Thinking :: Low-Cost Multi-touch Whiteboard using the Wiimote

2008-01-25T05:14:00.000-08:00

Scanning youtube I came across this great idea from a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon.

Johnny Chun Lee is an example of innovative thinking. In this video he shows how to make an inexpensive interactive whiteboard by using a wii remote and infared LED light pens.

And who said "youtube" isn't educational?

Get your students thinking creatively and see what they can create. Pose questions and see their innovative ideas. The world needs innovative thinkers and it is critical for us to develop innovative and creative thinking skills in our students. It's necessary for their future, and ours too.

Check out Johnny Lee's website to see more of his innovative thinking.

Thanks Johhny- keep thinking.....

The Davos Question

2008-01-20T18:36:00.000-08:00

Can Social Media lead to a better world?

This year YouTube is joining with the World Economic Forum to answer the Davos Question in hopes that it can.

Think about: "What one thing do you think that countries, companies or individuals must do to make the world a better place in 2008?"

Each year top leaders meet in Davos, Switzerland to discuss ideas of how to make the world a better place to live. Everyone now has the chance to contribute their ideas through a video uploaded to YouTube and the leaders will listen to these voices!

Check out the videos submitted- people have some great ideas. Submit yours.

Discuss the videos with your students....and rank them.

Then take your students to the Davos coverage in Second Life. This is a chance for your digital native students to participate in a world event that definitely will lead to great class discussions.

Social media is participatory media that benefits from the innovative ideas of the collective community....we hope to make a difference - so do your students!

Related Sites:

Digital Literacy

2008-01-15T23:26:00.000-08:00

Four Instructional Technology graduate students at the University of Mary Washington collaborated to create this video defining and guiding students and teachers through information literacy including the premier of their innovative DISCOVER approach to teaching information literacy.

Focus the Nation: Global Warming Solutions for America

2008-01-15T07:32:00.000-08:00

Set aside January 31st. It is a national teach-in day based upon the Focus the Nation website set aside to engage millions of students and citizens with political leaders and decision makers about Global Warming Solutions.

Check out: Focus the Nation: Global Warning Solutions for America

Mount Saint Mary College will participate in the nation-wide event by offering campus-wide activities on January 30th and 31st. The Mount will join in the 2% solution, hold a panel debate, view the Inconvenient Truth in the student theater, and hold various discussions on climate change, evidence, consequences, political and social issues, and what you can do about these issues.

For a quick idea for engaging your class in the discussion about climate change add a project to your curriculum and have your students use digital technologies in their project presentation....

Students can create a video and upload it to Teachertube or YouTube for everyone to view, not just the students in your class.
Students can create an audio podcast. Students can write their own play or skit about climate changes and its' effect and upload the podcasts for anyone to hear online.
Students can put together photo slideshows and upload them to Flickr or a create PowerPoint slideshows and upload the completed presentation to SlideShare or Photobucket.
Students can create a Wiki listing all the resources available locally and online as a collaborative class project or create an individual Wiki with suggestions about global issues dealing with climate changes.

These are just a few ideas, there are many more Interdisciplinary/Multidisciplinary Resources available on the Focus the Nation website.

By using technology in your course activities students will be engaged actively - they will 'learn by doing' and remember what they learned.

Since climate change is a global issue using new digital technologies that connect the world virtually would allow the world to hear or view these projects and allow student voices to be heard wide-wide.

If you do a project using a new technology be sure to share it with your colleagues and with us. Everyone will benefit by hearing your ideas too.

Related Links: