tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54853953248446364372024-03-07T06:19:46.381-08:00The Innovative EducatorAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.comBlogger1231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-87000106686227758832013-01-13T01:07:00.001-08:002013-01-13T01:07:25.811-08:00Custom Papers Done Perfectly with Writing Service Help<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com96tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-27569659658689422292012-11-01T04:18:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:38.635-07:00Group work doesn't have to suck<br /><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 23px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://laufenberg.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/img_20101204_083940.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-569" height="224" src="http://laufenberg.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/img_20101204_083940.jpg?w=300&h=224" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgb(204, 204, 204) 4px 4px 12px; background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; box-shadow: rgb(204, 204, 204) 4px 4px 12px; display: inline; float: left; height: auto; left: -4px; margin: 0.5em 1.666em 1.625em 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_20101204_083940" width="300" /></a>Guest post from <span class="by-author" style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-size: 12px; font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span class="author vcard" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="url fn n" href="http://laufenberg.wordpress.com/author/dlaufenberg/" rel="author" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #675f34; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts by dlaufenberg">diana laufenberg</a></span></span><span style="color: #555555; font-size: 12px; font-variant: small-caps;"> | <a href="http://laufenberg.wordpress.com/">Cross posted at Living the Dream</a></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 23px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Editor's note: Group work can suck because teachers sometimes do a poor job of giving credit where credit is due. Innovative educator Diana Laufenberg has some thoughts on how to make group work better. </i></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 23px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I will be working with a group of roughly 65 professors at West Chester University. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to talk to the about PBL and the pedagogical foundations that support such learning. The organizers of the event did a survey and asked if the attendees had any requests or questions. One consistent theme ran throughout the submissions: How do we create functioning, collaborative groups? So I did a little thinking about the pieces of the puzzle the I consider when to facilitate effective collaboration and searched for <a href="http://www.delicious.com/dlaufenberg/groupwork" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #990000; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">some reputable sources for more ideas</a>.</div><a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 23px;">My thoughts on group work and collaboration:</span><br /><ol style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 23px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Group work is tricky. For me there are two goals with group work: individually assess student capabilities and fostering more effective collaboration skills. In order to accomplish this goal I grade a portion of the group work as individual and the other portion as group. For instance, at SLA we use a common rubric. There are 5 categories and for most group projects I assess the students individually on Research, Knowledge and Process while assessing the group grade through Design and Presentation. This allows for students to evidence individual learning while also collaborating on a group endeavor. I find that this lessens the… I’ll do everything myself syndrome that plagues group work.</li><li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Another idea is to contract for the work… I create a work contract that identifies the different roles/products the group members are responsible for completing. All members of the group sign the contract. When there are concerns or questions, the contract is referenced and used to settle confusion or disputes.</li><li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Allow students to identify one person in the room they would like to work with and then pair up the partners. Choosing to work with at least one person they know or trust goes a long way to moving the collaborative process along.</li><li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Allow for mid-project reflection. Ask them how it is going. Let them tell you when it is going successfully or poorly and you should have some suggestions for course correction.</li><li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Let students self-assess work. This gives you an interesting insight into how the student views their accomplishments while also providing some context to the whole learning endeavor.</li><li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Use a project management tool to keep track of the progress. There are any number of project management tools out there to pick from – http://www.wrike.com/ or https://trello.com/ or http://www.zoho.com/projects/ or… google it, the list goes on. having the work process out in the open provides a level of transparency between group members and the instructor to communicate what is happening in the day to day working of the group.</li><li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Call out the free rider. It is incumbent upon the instructor to address issues of the ‘free rider’. I have often severed them from a group and given them an adjusted (and hefty) individual version of the work if they persistently underperformed after multiple conversations about improving the working relationship.</li><li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Don’t make every project group work. It is completely possible to have meaningful collaboration with your class while creating an independent project. Class time can be used to workshop ideas, assist in thinking, run scenarios, etc. Just because someone is working independently, doesn’t mean the classmates can’t collaborate on their work.</li><li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Try to work on a group project yourself. Own the fact that it is challenging, and have some compassion for the difficulty that comes from working with others.</li><li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Be prepared to keep tweaking your approach, talk to your colleagues, adjust the parameters… tinker. This is a process much like anything else and there is no list with all the special tricks that if you complete, you will have the perfect groups. This is learning as much for the instructor as the students.</li></ol><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> What ideas do you have in the way of suggestions for effective collaboration and group work?</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-29609888532397615322012-10-30T03:42:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:38.642-07:00Free digital citizenship materials for innovative educators <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tidesinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/digital_citizenship1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://www.tidesinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/digital_citizenship1.png" width="320" /></a></div><b id="internal-source-marker_0.4008899556938559" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students interact with music, video, apps, social media and other digital content each day, but do they understand the rules that govern this content? To help teachers with this increasingly relevant topic, Microsoft has released a free curriculum that addresses digital citizenship, intellectual property rights, and creative content rights. </span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><a href="http://www.digitalcitizenshiped.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Digital Citizenship and Creative Content</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> program is aimed at secondary students and offers cross-curricular classroom activities that align with the </span><a href="http://www.ala.org/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/standards"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">American Association of School Librarians</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.iste.org/STANDARDS">National Education Technology Standards</a>. </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The program is designed to work to support students in becoming respectful digital citizens and provides <a href="http://www.digitalcitizenshiped.com/StudentViews.aspx">insights and advice from other students</a>. </span></span></b><br /><a name='more'></a><b id="internal-source-marker_0.4008899556938559" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The program is broken down into four comprehensive units that can be used together or independently: </span></span></b><br /><ol style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.4008899556938559" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><li style="list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Creative What?”</span></li><li style="list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“By Rule of Law”</span></li><li style="list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Calling All Digital Citizens”</span></li><li style="list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Protect Your Work, Respect Your Work”</span></li></span></b></ol><b id="internal-source-marker_0.4008899556938559" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can check out an overview of the curriculum </span><a href="http://www.digitalcitizenshiped.com/curriculumOutline.pdf"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and the program is free to download after registering </span><a href="http://www.digitalcitizenshiped.com/Registration.aspx"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-77487337536404758362012-10-29T03:42:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:38.648-07:004 things you need to know to help your students manage their online reputationWe often hear complaints about what students say and do online, but we often neglect to look into educators helping them manage their online reputation. This infographic is geared toward adults, but it can serve as a great starting point for conversations and activities that educators can engage in with students to help them to establish an active digital footprint that represents who they want to be perceived as online.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-787713" height="4539" src="http://4.mshcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/e-rep-infographic.png" title="e-rep-infographic" width="600" /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-19516993859469281362012-10-28T04:25:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:38.654-07:00Mobile devices can help us take the necessary steps to keep kids healthy<br /><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://photos2.demandstudios.com/DM-Resize/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/41/170/89793452_XS.jpg?h=10000&w=400&keep_ratio=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pedometer Steps for Children" border="0" class="image" src="http://photos2.demandstudios.com/DM-Resize/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/41/170/89793452_XS.jpg?h=10000&w=400&keep_ratio=1" /></a>Here a step, there a step, everywhere a step step. You may have noticed that today, steps matter.<br /><br />So, how many steps have you taken today:<br /><br />If you haven't caught on, the latest data tells us adults need at least 10,000 steps a day to remain healthy and steps they are a taking. From walking the stairs, to parking further away to taking a few laps around the block while reading the latest research paper.</div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Pedometers are on the rise and considering that they're built into many of the mobile devices teachers and students own and love, it's no surprise that this healthy and affordable trend has taken off.</div><br /><br />So, how are our students doing? <br /><br />Ummm...<br /><br />Uh...<br /><br />Well, no one cares about our child obesity. Life/death-Peh! We measure student achievement not by how healthy young people are, but on how well they've mastered the finger exercise of drill, kill and bubblefill on standardized tests.<br /><br />Interestingly, if we allowed children to <a href="http://www.myhealthnewsdaily.com/outdoor-playtime-lessens-adhd-symptoms-1914/">get up and move as nature intended</a> we'd find that activity, movement and play is not only crucial for boosting brain power, it also is a great way to alleviate ADD/ADHD symptoms.<br /><br />Parents, teachers, and young people would agree that health and movement is important. Let's refocus priorities from memorization and regurgitation to ensuring our students reach their optimal daily movement of <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/380715-pedometer-steps-for-children/"> about 12,000 steps a day</a> for young people. Let's restore a move to the <a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2011/09/bring-back-play-and-disorganized-sports.html">endangered practice of free time or recess</a> and let our children get out and do, run, play.<br /><br />Let's close down schools who keep our students sedentary and don't respect their personal fitness. <br /><br />If you are an educator who is concerned about the health of yourself, your colleagues, and your students, start a knowledge movement. Track steps. Chart steps. Take a step in the right direction so that adults and young people can beat this obesity epidemic and move toward the road to a healthy life.<br />______________________________<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">You can find even more ideas for using mobile devices in the classroom by reading </span><span style="background-color: white; border-style: none; color: #0b7fb4; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.teachinggenerationtext.com/" style="border-style: none; color: #0b7fb4; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Teaching Generation Text: Using Cell Phones to Enhance Learning</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 20px;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-77176458325155275802012-10-27T04:03:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:38.667-07:00The hottest posts that everyone's reading!<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px;">Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog this week. Below you’ll see the top weekly posts along with the number of pageviews. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you. If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired, share it with others and/or leave a comment.</span><br /><table __gwtcellbasedwidgetimpldispatchingblur="true" __gwtcellbasedwidgetimpldispatchingfocus="true" cellspacing="0" class="GFUQPS5BM0" style="border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><tbody style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tr __gwt_row="2" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GFUQPS5BF- GFUQPS5BM-" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG- GFUQPS5BH- GFUQPS5BN-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-374" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="GFUQPS5BAO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2012/10/should-new-math-be-financial-literacy.html" style="border: 0px; color: #1155cc; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Should the new math be financial literacy?</a></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oct 21, 2012</div></div></td><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG- GFUQPS5BN-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-375" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1704</div></td><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG- GFUQPS5BB0 GFUQPS5BN-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-376" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><table style="border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tbody style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 44px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 44px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 44px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 45px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 21.600000381469727px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; 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vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG0 GFUQPS5BH-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-374" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="GFUQPS5BAO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2010/12/editors-note-those-who-follow-my-blog.html" style="border: 0px; color: #1155cc; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Why Using Interactive Whiteboards May Be Smart for...</a></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dec 8, 2010, 1 comment</div></div></td><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-375" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1624</div></td><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG0 GFUQPS5BB0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-376" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><table style="border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tbody style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 44px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 44px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 44px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 41.400001525878906px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; 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display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr><tr __gwt_row="4" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GFUQPS5BF-" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG- GFUQPS5BH-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-374" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="GFUQPS5BAO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2010/05/why-smartboards-are-dumb-initiative.html" style="border: 0px; color: #1155cc; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Why Smartboards are a Dumb Initiative</a></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">May 12, 2010, 67 comments</div></div></td><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-375" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1491</div></td><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG- GFUQPS5BB0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-376" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><table style="border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tbody style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 44px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 44px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 44px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 5.400000095367432px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; 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font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2012/10/make-your-flipped-classroom-interactive.html" style="border: 0px; color: #1155cc; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Make your flipped classroom interactctive</a></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oct 17, 2012, 2 comments</div></div></td><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-375" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1475</div></td><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG0 GFUQPS5BB0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-376" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><table style="border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tbody style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 44px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 44px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42.233333587646484px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr><tr __gwt_row="6" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GFUQPS5BF-" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG- GFUQPS5BH-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-374" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="GFUQPS5BAO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2012/10/6-ideas-for-using-twitter-storify-to.html" style="border: 0px; color: #1155cc; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">9 Ideas for Using Twitter & Storify to analyze the...</a></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oct 22, 2012</div></div></td><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-375" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1464</div></td><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG- GFUQPS5BB0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-376" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><table style="border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tbody style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 44px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 44px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42.233333587646484px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr><tr __gwt_row="7" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GFUQPS5BF0" style="background-color: #f3f7fb; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG0 GFUQPS5BH-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-374" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="GFUQPS5BAO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2010/07/8-real-ways-facebook-enriched-ms.html" style="border: 0px; color: #1155cc; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">8 Real Ways Facebook Enriched Ms. Schoening’s Firs...</a></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jul 15, 2010, 23 comments</div></div></td><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); 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border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 3.5166666507720947px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50px"><div class="GFUQPS5BKN" style="background-color: #5b8fc3; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr><tr __gwt_row="8" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GFUQPS5BF-" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG- GFUQPS5BH-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-374" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="GFUQPS5BAO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;"><br /></div></div></td><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></td><td class="GFUQPS5BE- GFUQPS5BG- GFUQPS5BB0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-25080917143169812502012-10-25T04:02:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:38.676-07:00Common core ignores the power of the interests and ideas that come from our students and teachers - Deborah Meier<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">Editor’s note: I feel fortunate to be living during a period in our history where for the first time we can easily form social learning circles that bring together from around the world, experts, authors, and others that share passions and can engage in rich and meaningful dialogue. The power of the technology to connect in ways never before possible is a game changer when it comes to learning. I have brought together one such amazing network of people who come together to think about and grapple with issues of ed reform and alternatives to the status quo with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheInnovativeEducator/">The Innovative Educator group</a>. Here is a piece of that learning where education icon Deborah Meier shares some of her thoughts on the common core. </span><br /><div><span id="internal-source-marker_0.36282112961634994" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=538058227" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #3b5998; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deborah Meier</span></a><span style="background-color: #edeff4; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"> - Shares</span></b></span></span><br /><div style="color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.36282112961634994" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-51-100x100.png" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; clear: left; float: left; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" src="http://blogs.edweek.org/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-51-100x100.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Its a nice thought--that it [Common Core] is offering a "common language". I wish it were. But common core as presently understood is a 13 year mandatory curriculum (</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2010/03/they-here-common-core-standards.html"><span style="color: #000099; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">developed largely by experts in testing, not the subject matter being tested)</span></a><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> of what is to be taught--and in what sequence. It </span><span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ignores the power of the interests and ideas that come from students and teachers</span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> as the basis for forming curriculum"--or of picking up from the world around us our "curriculum". Starting "where we are" intellectually and moving out from there--a common approach to thematic studies, for example. Or spending months on one "small" part of history or science, in order to be able to ask deeper questions and make deeper sense--rather than covering" a lot in order to be prepared for shallow tests. (Uncovering vs covering as we sometimes say.) etc, etc. </span></span></b></span></span><br /><a name='more'></a></div><span id="internal-source-marker_0.36282112961634994" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the schools I’ve worked in we were able to spend months on the Constitution (if we chose to) and thus less on other aspects of American history. We could focus long enough and deeply enough to engage in projects, to question the evidence, to weigh one source over another, to imagine other possibilities, to look for patterns, to acknowledge disagreements, etc, etc. We could return to last year's themes and subject matter as it cropped up gain in the context of this year. It enabled Mission Hill to study the same topics in all grades, Kgtn to 8th grade at the same time and thus turn the whole school community into a shared learning experience, and to lie out the idea that we're never "done", there is always more to learn about the same subject in new and different ways. </span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It also enabled us to give younger students the experience of watching older students and vice versa as they observed each other's work. It turned our hallways into lively places for common study, made it easier to have a wide range of books on the same topics, bring in experts from outside, and on and on. In all the schools I've worked in and with we've also been able to set aside time from the exploration of our private, personal passions and see where they took us individually or as a group. It meant, of course, a different way of assessing young people's work. What we developed instead was a "common" set of questions, habits of mind we called them, for getting at what we were trying to make sense of. It also meant that we spent two years covering "less" than one year's high school physics course. And on and on. </span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reading The Power of Their Ideas or In Schools We Trust may give you some sense of what such a curriculum might look like. Or read an old book--36 Children by Herb Kohl. Suggestions, from others?</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deborah</span></span><br /><span id="internal-source-marker_0.36282112961634994" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our conversations never die. You can join in anytime </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheInnovativeEducator/" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-88153818032747627962012-10-24T03:25:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:38.686-07:00Call for Innovative Educators to become Common Sense Media reviewers<br /><div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #252525; float: left; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2765/4384579907_05e1288fc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2765/4384579907_05e1288fc1.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; background-color: transparent;" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Common Sense Media is embarking on a new learning ratings initiative to rate and review apps, games, and websites for learning potential. <a href="http://click.commonsensemedia-email.org/?qs=7d253d8b12e8378c6ec85734715160527f008998ec5dfb06949c8291eb7088e8" style="color: #249a10; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">They're seeking 50 of the nation's most innovative educators to help rate and review!</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Expert reviewers will be named a Common Sense Expert Reviewer, honored at our annual awards in March 2013, and much more!</span></span><br /><a name='more'></a></div><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Applicants should have:</span></div><ul style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 17px;"><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strong education and pedagogy experience</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Excellent web writing and editing skills</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Experience writing reviews or blogging about kids' educational products</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deep knowledge of apps, video games, and/or websites for education</span></li></ul><div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Interested? <a href="http://click.commonsensemedia-email.org/?qs=7d253d8b12e8378c6ec85734715160527f008998ec5dfb06949c8291eb7088e8" style="color: #249a10; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Apply today!</a> Deadline is <strong>October 26</strong>. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not sure you want to apply? You can get early access</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to the ratings and reviews by taking </span><a href="http://click.commonsensemedia-email.org/?qs=7d253d8b12e8378cee107d45b707e49e568434bb14e538f5ccd67009430c1c14" style="background-color: transparent; color: #249a10; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">this short survey</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-80779094620337741892012-10-23T04:32:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:38.694-07:00Parents consider the value of Twitter during the presidential #debates <a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/ca/u/0/?ui=2&ik=92d90a5642&view=att&th=13a8adaa5d9365ea&attid=0.1&disp=thd&realattid=f_h8m8ccws0&zw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Moms Party and Random Court Photos 023.jpg" border="0" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/ca/u/0/?ui=2&ik=92d90a5642&view=att&th=13a8adaa5d9365ea&attid=0.1&disp=thd&realattid=f_h8m8ccws0&zw" /></a><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.693477783119306" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.693477783119306" style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Editor's note: Social media has changed how many innovative educators have watched important current events such as the presidential debates. What about their parents? </i></span></b></b><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.693477783119306" style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></b></b><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.693477783119306">Guest post by Jennifer Bond @teambond </b><br /><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.693477783119306" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I watched the Presidential Debate at my parent’s house with my iPad as a companion I opened up TweetCaster and started reading the tweets from my personal learning network (PLN) as well as from those tweeting with the hashtag #debate. </span></b><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the debate began I shared some Tweets with my parents who acknowledged them but didn’t really say much. As the debate progressed I shared some more tweets. My mom seemed intrigued and took my iPad. She read through the feed and was excited to find a commonality with my Tweeps sharing, “I said that same thing a couple minutes ago!” “Yes mom,” I replied. “Twitter allows you to validate your thoughts.” </span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her interest piqued, she started asking me questions. I gave her the general tour and started with something close to home, my younger sister’s tweets. </span></b><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we continued watching there were many tweets we found interesting as well as those not appropriate that were trending on #debate. We discussed the value of the ability of people to freely share their thoughts on social media as well as how that should be balanced with a level of civility and respect. That led us to discuss the importance of digital identity. </span></b><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the final debate came upon us, I asked my mom what she thought about following Tweets during the debate. She responded, “I think you should pay attention to the debate and not twitter.” “But,” I reminded her, “we are paying attention to both.” She said, “That’s how you do kids do it now, but it is not for me. I am old-fashioned that way.” </span></b><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, as much as my mom was curious and was able to experience a different twist to watching the debates, as of now she says the twitter interaction is not her thing. Perhaps I need to bring my iPad more often and expose her to the interactions that take place, whether it be for a debate, a sport’s game, or even a favorite sitcom. </span></b><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I did see a speck of curiosity, which is where it all begins. Who knows…maybe I can make a Tweeter out of her someday! </span></b><br /><hr /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.693477783119306" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.693477783119306" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; white-space: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jennifer Bond is a 3rd grade teacher, innovative teaching and learning cheerleader, and advocate for teaching to and from the heart! She regularly presents at tech conferences around Michigan, and will be one of the teachers in the upcoming educational documentary, Look I'm Learning, which will focus on technology in elementary classrooms. </span><a href="http://edtechcheerleader.com/"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://edtechcheerleader.com</span></a></b></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-80346046081215485612012-10-22T17:19:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:38.700-07:009 Ideas for Using Twitter & Storify to analyze the presidential #debates in your classroom <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.urbanbraincreative.com/wp-content/uploads/twitter-and-debates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://blog.urbanbraincreative.com/wp-content/uploads/twitter-and-debates.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’re an innovative educator who cares about addressing issues that are relevant in the world, you're talking to your students about the debate. Analyzing the #debates tweets is one great way to take a look at the presidential candidates and utilizing the free </span><a href="http://storify.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Storify</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> tool is a great way to tell the story they want to share.</span></span></b><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Storify lets you turn what people post on social media into compelling stories. With Storify, you collect the best photos, video, Tweets and more to publish them as simple, beautiful stories that can be shared anywhere. Storify is a great way to make meaning of and remember important events. </span></span></b><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are ideas for doing that.</span></b><br /><ol><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><li><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">If you or your students have Tweeted during the debate, create a </span><a href="http://storify.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline;">Storify</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"> of student, teacher or class Tweets.</span></li><li><a href="http://storify.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline;">Storify</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"> #debates Tweets of someone (or more) they know and tell the story of this person’s political views.</span></li><li><a href="http://storify.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline;">Storify</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"> the #debates Tweets of a celebrity they admire and discuss that person’s political views.</span></li><li><a href="http://storify.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline;">Storify</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"> each candidate and discuss what each stands for.</span></li><li><a href="http://storify.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline;">Storify</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"> #debates along with an area of interest i.e. #edreform, #prolife, #immigration, #gayrights and see what the candidates are saying about that topic.</span></li><li><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://storify.com/">Storify</a></span></span> accounts like <a href="http://twitter.com/factcheckdotorg" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #00b7f3; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal;" target="_blank" title="Twitter page ">@factcheckdotorg</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #7a7575; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; white-space: normal;"> and </span><a href="http://twitter.com/politifact" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #00b7f3; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal;" target="_blank" title="Twitter Page ">@politifact</a> to see whose facts are right and wrong. </li><li><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://storify.com/">Storify</a></span></span> student education reform author @<a href="https://twitter.com/nikhilgoya_l">Nikhil Goyal</a> and #debates to get a young person's take on the best candidate for our students. </li><li><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://storify.com/">Storify</a></span></span> reporter <s style="background-color: white; color: #bbbbbb; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal;">@</s><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; white-space: normal;">Joy_Resmovits </span>and #debates to get an education reporter's take on our candidates.</li><li><a href="http://storify.com/">Storify</a> your favorite quotes from a debate like <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2012/10/23/10-great-education-tweets-from-debate/?wprss=rss_answer-sheet&utm_source=buffer&buffer_share=b0c4f">Valerie Strauss did about education for the Washington Post</a></li></span></ol><b style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;">A lesson such as this is not only a terrific way to analyze current events, it is also a real and relevant way to empower your students to understand how the power of social media in conveying a message, creating a brand, and winning or losing an election.</span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-12650344127652709562012-10-21T16:38:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:38.707-07:00Should the new math be financial literacy? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://undergrad.osu.edu/buckeyes_blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/I-hate-math.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://undergrad.osu.edu/buckeyes_blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/I-hate-math.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.33573460183106363"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Regardless of which side you fall on when it comes to the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Math_wars"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">math wars</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, most will agree that many students leave high school, and even college, unprepared to handle their own finances. Some would agree that we have become distracted with the potential ability of math to predict future academic success or support critical thinking? In the meantime, we have lost focus on preparing young people for what will matter in their real lives. If the education system were to provide some financial literacy classes for kids, it could make a tremendous difference in the economic success of society.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why it Would Help</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If the educational system provided financial literacy classes, it could change the way that people operate later in life. People would be know how to save money, how to invest, and how to avoid debt. If more people were able to hold onto their money, society would be much wealthier overall, which would lead to fewer problems.</span></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b><a name='more'></a><b id="internal-source-marker_0.33573460183106363"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Helpful lessons</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Financial literacy courses that provide background <a href="http://www.smartmoney.com/borrow/debt-stategies/how-to-teach-kids-about-money-1307550799926/">on simple financial matters</a> would make a positive difference in the lives of students. Here are some important areas of focus:</span></span></b><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.33573460183106363"><li style="list-style-type: disc; margin-left: -24px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Investing<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br class="kix-line-break" />Provide a basic understanding of investing and how it works. They don't necessarily have to know how to pick stocks or mutual funds yet, but having a basic overview would be helpful. For example, show them the power of compound interest, and how regular investing can help them take advantage of it.</span></span></span></li></b></ul><b id="internal-source-marker_0.33573460183106363"><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><li style="list-style-type: disc; margin-left: -24px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Credit Cards<br class="kix-line-break" /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Educate young people on how to use credit cards responsibly. For example, they should understand how to find the <a href="http://www.nerdwallet.com/low-apr-credit-cards">lowest interest credit cards</a>, so that they don't have to pay that much for interest charges. They should also understand the <a href="http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/credit-card-data/average-credit-card-debt-household/">average credit card debt</a> of each household. This way, they can avoid getting into debt problems when they get a little older. </span></span></span></li><li style="list-style-type: disc; margin-left: -24px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Financial games<br class="kix-line-break" /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Traditional games like Monopoly, Pay Day and video games like RollerCoaster Tycoon allow students to role play possible real-life financial scenarios. Embeded in this can be lively discussions and lessons on what decisions make the most sense. </span></span></span></li><li style="list-style-type: disc; margin-left: -24px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Entrepreneurship<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br class="kix-line-break" />When we help young people tap into their passions and provide them with entrepreneurship opportunities, many financial literacy lessons fall into place. For example they can consider how much to charge for services, where and how to invest money, profit/loss, etc. </span></span></span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Providing students with a financial literacy education prepares young people to be more secure and when they get older. While money isn't everything, having a grasp of basic financial matters can make a world of difference in the lives of students.</span></span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-70237194395046915402012-10-20T04:35:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:38.714-07:00The hottest posts that everyone is talking about<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px;">Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog this week. Below you’ll see the top weekly posts along with the number of pageviews. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you. If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired, share it with others and/or leave a comment.</span><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.9517701820004731" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br /><div dir="ltr"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="362"></col><col width="82"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Article</b><span style="color: #1155cc;"> </span><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2012/10/12-ways-to-educate-yourself-without.html" style="color: #1155cc;">12 Ways to Educate Yourself Without College</a></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oct 12, 2012</span></td><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Views</b> 2177</span></td></tr><tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2012/10/make-your-flipped-classroom-interactive.html"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make your flipped classroom interactive</span></a><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oct 17, 2012, 3 comments</span></td><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1908</span></td></tr><tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2010/05/ten-no-nos-of-teaching-with-projector.html">10 No Nos of Teaching with Interactive Whiteboards...</a></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May 10, 2010, 39 comments</span></td><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1902</span></td></tr><tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2010/12/editors-note-those-who-follow-my-blog.html"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why Using Interactive Whiteboards May Be Smart...</span></a><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dec 8, 2010, 1 comment</span></td><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1728</span></td></tr><tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2012/10/students-you-should-be-following-on.html"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students you should be following on Twitter...</span></a><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oct 15, 2012</span></td><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1726</span></td></tr><tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2011/02/cure-adhd-with-these-resources-from.html"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cure ADHD without Drugs with These Resources from ...</span></a><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feb 5, 2011, 23 comments</span></td><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1701</span></td></tr><tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2012/10/free-guide-mobile-devices-for-learning.html"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Guide! Mobile Devices for Learning ...</span></a><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oct 14, 2012, 2 comments</span></td><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1668</span></td></tr><tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2010/07/8-real-ways-facebook-enriched-ms.html"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8 Ways Facebook Enriched First Grade...</span></a><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jul 15, 2010, 23 comments</span></td><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1564</span></td></tr><tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2012/06/friendly-guide-to-deploying-ipads-at.html"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Friendly Guide to Deploying iPads at Your School...</span></a><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jun 24, 2012, 7 comments</span></td><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1563 </span></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-62853662256183821712012-10-19T04:22:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:38.804-07:00Get Down and start flipping with videos for primary school students<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://api.ning.com/files/78ZmM5luAMKUxWLFWthu*ABK8ICH0C7PCr5UEs6I9Xw_/podcast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://api.ning.com/files/78ZmM5luAMKUxWLFWthu*ABK8ICH0C7PCr5UEs6I9Xw_/podcast.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b id="internal-source-marker_0.7454857307020575"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Guest post by Shawn Rubin</span></b><br /><b><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whether you're flipping your classroom, or enhancing learning, there’s no denying that instructional video can be a powerful tool in the classroom. With older students video has the ability to stimulate conversation or elucidate a complex concept, but with younger children we don’t “sit down” to watch video. We use video to “get down” or more appropriately to get up, move around the room, sing, dance, and act. In grades k-2 video is more than a digital method of conveying information it’s an engaging catalyst for learning that is used to grab attention. This allows for repetition or practice, which leads to retention of information as well as the expansion of ideas, thoughts, and conversations. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are many skills that are valuable for early readers and mathematicians. Focused attention is important in order for that initial concept acquisition to begin. When channeled properly this focused engagement allows children who may be struggling on pencil and paper the ability to flourish through visual stimulus. Whether it’s vocabulary acquisition, concept memorization, item sequencing, story retelling, or simply learning a song, video has the power to imprint visual cues and mental bookmarks onto teacher lessons. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unlike most teacher-centered introductions of skills and content, video has a clearly defined start and end point. Students understand that they must bring their attention forward at the time the play button is clicked and for the next few minutes they know exactly where their focus should be. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are some great videos, like this </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il668hQs1BU" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">children’s song</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or this </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icaGIeOY9gc" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">nature clip</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that have the ability to imprint themselves in students minds the first or second time they watch them. But teachers who let the video do all the work while the children just sit and watch will ultimately limit how often video can go be used in their classrooms because eventually the new “fantastic videos” will replace the learning that was derived from the previous clips the students watched.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, when teachers combine the power of digital media with the kinesthetic reinforcement of movement, dance, acting, sign language and finger play they double the video’s impact and give it stand-alone capability. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By creating unique movement based features for each video that enters the classroom the teacher allows the child a greater chance at recalling the content, process, or skill, while increasing the student’s ability to apply and own this learning for later application. </span></b><br /><hr style="font-weight: normal;" /><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shawn Rubin serves as the Director of Technology Integration at the </span><a href="http://highlanderinstitute.org/" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Highlander Institute</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in Providence, RI. Shawn oversees the Institute’s blended learning and technology integration professional development programming. Shawn is also the CEO of </span><a href="http://mymetryx.com/" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Metryx</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, a start-up mobile software company that is building flexible assessment tools for educators to use on tablets and smartphones. Shawn began his education career as a founding faculty member of the </span><a href="http://goog_1646850087/" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Highlander Charter</span></a><a href="http://highlandercharter.org/" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> School</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> teaching a range of grades including four years of kindergarten during his 11 years in the classroom. Shawn lives in Providence with his wife and two sons. You can find Shawn @shawncrubin or </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">srubin@highlanderinstitute.org</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-60896252520380199242012-10-18T03:27:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:38.894-07:00Mobile Learning Summit for NY / NJ Educators <a href="http://ebmedia.eventbrite.com/s3-s3/eventlogos/32011891/3741791800-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ebmedia.eventbrite.com/s3-s3/eventlogos/32011891/3741791800-1.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; cursor: move;" /></a><b id="internal-source-marker_0.7886865613982081" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On November 2 innovative educators will gather at the</span><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/mobilelearningsummit/location"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">STEM Building</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at</span><a href="http://www.kean.edu/"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kean University</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in New Jersey for the inaugural</span><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/mobilelearningsummit"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mobile Learning Summit</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to share their experiences using mobile devices and BYOD initiatives.</span></b><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keynote Sp</span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">eaker, Lisa Dawley, Ph.D., will be presenting "</span><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/mobilelearningsummit/"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Creating a Successful Mobile Adoption in the Classroom and Beyond!</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">" and then attendees will select</span><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/mobilelearningsummit/home/conference-sessions"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sessions</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of their choosing. I will present </span><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/mobilelearningsummit/home/conference-sessions/7buildingblocks"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The 7 Building Blocks for Success with Your Mobile Devices for Learning</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></b><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Mobile Learning Summit is offered through the</span><a href="http://sgei.kean.edu/"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">School for Global Education and Innovation</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (SGEI) and is designed for the K-20 education community to discuss, learn and share best practices in regards to Mobile Learning. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Visit the</span><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/mobilelearningsummit"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Summit website</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for more information. You can </span><a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4324863784"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">register here</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The conference fee is $139. Contact </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lisa Thumann</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Assistant Director, <a href="http://sgei.kean.edu/">SGEI</a> with any questions.</span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-11599841956816743312012-10-17T03:38:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:38.986-07:00Make your flipped classroom interactive <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.youtube.com/vi/iwhaEA8j7bo/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/iwhaEA8j7bo/hqdefault.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Another reason <a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2011/10/five-reasons-im-not-flipping-over.html">I'm not flipping over the flipped classroom model</a> is that passively watching videos isn't great pedagogy. Now there's a product that remedies this by allowing you to</span></span><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> turn YouTube videos into online classes. </span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://teachem.com/">Teachem</a> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is a free teaching platform that allows users to create time-stamped flashcards and review quizzes right on the videos themselves. The flashcards can not only help viewers check their understanding of the material being presented—like traditional flashcards, these can contain a question on the front and the answer on the back—but they can also serve to organize the information in the video, sort of like a table of contents. </span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Classes are created within a school making it easy for innovative educators to organize all the classes that they want to share with their students. Professional development providers can keep all of their training videos together in one convenient spot.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teachem is free, simple to use, and gets the information that is already out there into a more concise, organized platform. Check it at at Teachem.com and learn more by watching the video below.</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYnTvVOxvZU?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-55422135111446510052012-10-16T04:08:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:39.075-07:00Connect students to industry thought leaders with LinkedIn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://blog.linkedin.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/richardbransonpromo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://blog.linkedin.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/richardbransonpromo.png" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.6812215680256486" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LinkedIn has recently introduced the ability for members to directly follow over 100 of the world’s most influential industry thought leaders who will be sharing content about professional issues and topics. This provides a new way for young people to tap into the insight and professional advice of leaders from a variety of fields, including </span><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20121002115242-204068115-five-top-tips-to-starting-a-successful-business?goback=.ptf_*1_*1_*1"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Richard Branson</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20121002121856-101706366-what-do-marc-cuban-zappos-steve-wynn-have-in-common-the-core-qualities-of-leadership?trk=mp-details-pymf-mpost"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Tony Robbins</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20121002125913-3279-how-to-create-time"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Caterina Fake</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20121002115340-5062-your-vote-anyone-can-do-it-and-everyone-should-do-it?goback=.ptf_*1_*1_*1"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Craig Newmark</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20121002115820-11932467-a-plan-to-move-us-forward?goback=.ptf_*1_*1_*1"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">President Barack Obama</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span></b><span id="internal-source-marker_0.6812215680256486"><h3 class="follow-name" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; display: inline !important; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20121011182510-86654142-hope-unhinged?goback=%2Eptf_*1_*1_*1&trk=who_to_follow-b" style="border: 0px; color: #0073b2; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cory Booker</a><span id="internal-source-marker_0.6812215680256486" style="background-color: transparent;"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20121002115907-184479969-5-point-plan-for-a-stronger-middle-class?goback=.ptf_*1_*1_*1"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/whoToFollow"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">many more</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. This is a great way for students to kickstart their own professional and personal success.</span></span></span></h3></span></div><b id="internal-source-marker_0.6812215680256486" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These leaders will post content that includes videos, photos, and Slideshare presentations. </span></b><div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some of the first topics to be addressed include:</span><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><li style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20121002115428-204263538-the-six-lessons-i-live-by?goback=.ptf_*1_*1_*1"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The six lessons I live by</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” by William Morris Endeavor Co-CEO Ari Emanuel</span></li><li style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20121002120850-203080237-eating-and-unemployment?goback=.ptf_*1_*1_*1"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Impact of poverty on nutrition</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” by celebrity chef and author Marcus Samuelsson</span></li><li style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20121002130958-22330283-it-s-not-just-who-you-know-it-s-what-they-know"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s not just who you know, it’s what they know</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” by LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner</span></li><li style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20121002122119-16553-it-s-not-about-you-the-truth-about-social-media-marketing?goback=.ptf_*1_*1_*1"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s not about you: the truth about social media marketing</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” by Code for America adviser and O’Reilly Media CEO and founder Tim O’Reilly</span></li><li style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/se/original"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And the list goes on and on</span></a></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What’s nice is that this isn’t just one way communication. There’s interaction via a section for comments where they can have discussions on LinkedIn or share and discuss the content using social media or email.</span></b><br /><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div><div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can see what leaders are available to follow <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/whoToFollow">here</a>. </span></b></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-6427905054878177752012-10-15T03:56:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:39.167-07:00Students you should be following on Twitter to stay in the know this school year<i style="color: #555555; font-family: Bitter, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;">Editor's note: Social media is a tremendous way for students to engage in meaningful work and causes. This is why it is so important for educators to be in the know when it comes to guiding and supporting all students in making a difference using this powerful resource. In the post below Stephanie Rivera shares some students worth following. </i><br /><div class="byline" style="margin: 0px 0px 1.7em;"><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: Bitter, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 0.8461538461538461em; line-height: 1.692307em; word-spacing: 2px;">Guest post </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 0.8461538461538461em; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.692307em; word-spacing: 2px;">by <span class="author vcard" style="font-family: Bitter, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://teacherunderconstruction.com/author/stephrrivera/" rel="author" style="color: #aaaaaa; text-decoration: none;" title="Posts by stephrrivera">stephrrivera</a></span> | <span class="edit"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; word-spacing: 2px;"><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><i>http://teacherunderconstruction.com </i></span></span></div><div class="entry-content" style="color: #555555; font-family: Bitter, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/twitter-eco-gloss1.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #dd5424; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-1939 aligncenter" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/twitter-eco-gloss1.jpg?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 1.692307em !important; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="twitter-eco-gloss" /></a><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 1.692307em;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.692307em;">Students are waking up and using social media to make their voices heard for their rights, especially when it comes to education. Two students, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/zakmal" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;">Zak Malamed</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/allisonswu" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;">Allison Wu</a> took initiative and partnered up with <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/DellEDU" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;">Dell Education</a> to revolutionize the way students use the social media site, Twitter. Every Monday night at 8:30 EST, students, and those who support them, from all across the globe join in to discuss issues in education with the hashtag #stuvoice (previously #studentvoice). To learn more about what a TwitterChat is, <a href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-27/features/ct-tribu-twitter-chat-20120627_1_twitter-chat-hashtag-twitter-account" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;">check this out</a>.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.692307em;">With that being said, one #stuvoice supporter, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/InnovativeEdu" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;">Lisa Nielsen</a>, suggested we compile a list of the Twitter handles of those who represent\support student voices. Zak Malamed went ahead and made a <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/zakmal/student-voice" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;">list on Twitter</a>, and the below list will also bring attention to some youth who deserve to be heard.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>Just click the student below and it will direct you to their Twitter page.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.692307em;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/zakmal" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" height="88" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/zak1.png?w=316&h=88" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Zak" width="316" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/allisonswu" style="color: #ff4b33; line-height: 26.666667938232px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1887" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/allison.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="allison" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.692307em;"><div dir="ltr"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.8627294600009918" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.8627294600009918" style="font-weight: normal;"><div dir="ltr"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="333"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(183, 183, 183); padding: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><img height="48px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/7Jy9LAFWmN-Yf6sAgseoPCxnK0cnAjHE3JmRiznCxOTuuopYPS8wvYQrgCq3bulFTQ7nL-V8l7KyTdNxlXXQpJh5RFZX-x4sSDzsbvpSvG9YSn7zjmQ" width="48px;" /><a href="https://twitter.com/nikhilgoya_l"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nikhil Goyal </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bbbbbb; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">@</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">nikhilgoya_l</span></a><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #777777; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">17 Year Old | Author: One Size Does Not Fit All: A Student's Assessment of School | Columnist </span><a href="https://twitter.com/good"><span style="background-color: white; color: #6666ff; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">@</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">good</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> | NYTimes | WSJ | MSNBC | FOX | NPR | ngoyal2013@gmail.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></b></b></div><b id="internal-source-marker_0.8627294600009918" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br /></b><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Tara_SuperSub" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="90" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/tara.png?w=319&h=90" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; line-height: 26.666667938232px; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Tara" width="319" /></a></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.692307em;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/JoeyAhmadi" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1882" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/joey.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Joey" /></a><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Marvin_Mathew" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1883" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/marvin.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; line-height: 26.666667938232px; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Marvin" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.692307em;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/MaxwellJohnLove" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1926" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/max.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Max" /></a><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1884" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/nathan.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; line-height: 26.666667938232px; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Nathan" /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.692307em;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1885" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dominick.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Dominick" /><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1894" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/alex-wirth.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Alex Wirth" /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.692307em;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/MatthewAResnick" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1893" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/matthew.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Matthew" /></a><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1915" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/avantika2.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Avantika" /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.692307em;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1924" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/david.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="David" /><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1922" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/clement-2.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Clement 2" /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.692307em;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1878" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/lucia.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Lucia" /><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1923" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/isabella.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Isabella" /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.692307em;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/AP_Silverman" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1917" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/alex-s.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Alex S" /></a><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/shrapnel1989" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1929" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/lee.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="lee" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.692307em;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/adorasv" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1942" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/adora.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Adora" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.692307em;"><strong>Student Groups:</strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.692307em;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/StudentPower12" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1925" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/student-power.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Student Power" /></a><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/nystudentsrise" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1916" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/ny-students.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="NY Students" /></a><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Youth_Justice" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1918" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/urban.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Urban" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.692307em;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/youthrightstx" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1921" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/youth-rights-tx.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Youth Rights TX" /></a><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/215studentunion" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1919" scale="0" src="http://stephrrivera.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/philly-student.png?w=640" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.692307em; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Philly Student" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.692307em;">If any students\student voice supporters would like to be added to this list, <a href="http://teacherunderconstruction.com/2012/07/05/students-you-should-be-following-on-twitter/twitter.com/stephrrivera" style="color: #dd5424; text-decoration: none;">send me a Tweet</a>!</div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-41601919078172378172012-10-14T03:50:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:39.258-07:00Free Guide! Mobile Devices for Learning: What You Need to Know <span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Cell phones in the classroom: a boon or blight? That's the question many educators are facing these days.<br /><br />Edutopia helps educators find the answer with their latest Classroom Guide, <strong style="color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none;"><i><a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?TheGeorgeLucasEducat/85f5a49a1d/447489cc77/aa02ececb1" style="color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Mobile Devices for Learning: What You Need to Know</a>.</i></strong> Not only is the guide packed full of resources and examples that show you how to effectively use mobile devices in the classroom, but it also features material from The Innovative Educator blog. <br /><br />Innovative educators know that mobile technology is here to stay. The author of the Guide agrees writing, "Put simply, mobile devices are becoming as essential to students' daily lives as, say, breakfast." </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?TheGeorgeLucasEducat/85f5a49a1d/447489cc77/a538455f67" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><img alt="Fact: 77% of 12 to 17 year olds have cell phones." border="0" height="228" src="http://pr.ak.vresp.com/67732e020/www.edutopia.org/files/existing/images/blast/cell_phone_fact-1_0.jpg" title="Fact: 77% of 12 to 17 year olds have cell phones." width="400" /> </a></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?TheGeorgeLucasEducat/85f5a49a1d/447489cc77/eb58dc5253" style="color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong>Download the Guide today</strong></a> to see how the use of iPads, smartphones, e-book readers, and a variety of cool apps are enhancing the classroom environment and engaging students like never before. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">You can find even more ideas for using mobile devices in the classroom by reading </span><span style="background-color: white; border-style: none; color: #0b7fb4; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.teachinggenerationtext.com/" style="background-color: white; border-style: none; color: #0b7fb4; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Teaching Generation Text: Using Cell Phones to Enhance Learning</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 20px;"> </span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-47033529190162266942012-10-13T03:15:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:39.347-07:00The hottest posts that everyone is talking about.<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px;">Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog this week. Below you’ll see the top weekly posts along with the number of pageviews. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you. If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired, share it with others and/or leave a comment.</span><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.9376668219920248" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br /><div dir="ltr"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="385"></col><col width="235"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><b>Article</b><br /><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2012/10/14-interesting-facts-about-text.html">14 interesting facts about text messaging</a></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oct 7, 2012</span></td><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Views</b></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2065</span></td></tr><tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2012/10/12-ways-to-educate-yourself-without.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12 Ways to Educate Yourself Without College</span></a><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oct 12, 2012, 3 comments</span></td><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1948</span></td></tr><tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2012/10/cell-phones-tools-of-engagement-or.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cell Phones; Tools of engagement or distraction?</span></a><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oct 8, 2012</span></td><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1814</span></td></tr><tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2010/07/8-real-ways-facebook-enriched-ms.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8 Ways Facebook Enriched 1st grade...</span></a><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jul 15, 2010, 23 comments</span></td><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1722</span></td></tr><tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2011/02/cure-adhd-with-these-resources-from.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cure ADHD without Drugs with These Resources from ...</span></a><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feb 5, 2011, 23 comments</span></td><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1611</span></td></tr><tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2012/06/friendly-guide-to-deploying-ipads-at.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Friendly Guide to Deploying iPads at Your School...</span></a><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jun 24, 2012, 7 comments</span></td><td style="border: 3px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 3px 15px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1609 </span></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-89381174942610131582012-10-12T03:55:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:39.437-07:0012 Ways to Educate Yourself Without College<span style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Guest post by Blake Boles. Cross posted at </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/blake-boles/12-ways-to-educate-yourse_b_1657521.html" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">The Huffington Post</a><br /><div style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />It's popular to criticize college today. No matter which way you look, somebody is writing about <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/business/student-loans-weighing-down-a-generation-with-heavy-debt.html?_r=4&hp&pagewanted=all" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_hplink">a student loan horror story</a>, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/18/45-of-students-dont-learn_n_810224.html" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">declining academic standards</a>, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/higher-education-network/blog/2012/apr/16/forget-business-online-courses-learning" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">disruptive technological change</a>, or the <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/04/53-of-recent-college-grads-are-jobless-or-underemployed-how/256237/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">narrow work options available to graduates</a>.</div><div style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Criticizing is easy, of course. Offering solutions is hard.</div><div style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">The reality is that college fills many valuable roles today. It offers young adults the chance to build hard skills (e.g. writing) and soft skills (e.g. teamwork), be part of an exciting community, live independently, get exposed to new ideas, and signal employers with an (increasingly devalued, but still valuable) college degree. College is pretty much the only place that bundles all these good things into one convenient package deal. That's why, despite the voluminous criticism, college as we know it won't disappear anytime soon.</div><div style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">But in an era of skyrocketing tuition fees combined with widespread economic austerity, millions of students will find themselves unable or unwilling to finance the college package deal. Yet they'll still want, and need, to gain a higher education.</div><div style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Luckily, higher education doesn't have to be delivered by a college institution. You can gain skills, community, independence, exposure, and work opportunities by piecing together a self-directed, <em style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a la carte</em>curriculum of real-world projects. It's a like a design-your-own-college-major program — but without college or its inflated costs.</div><div style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Self-directed learning is one solution to the college debate, and certainly not the only one. But unlike other solutions, you can begin self-directed learning immediately, without spending a ton of money or waiting for policy makers or university administrators to change their ways. And perhaps most importantly, self-directed learning builds serious personal entrepreneurship: an incredibly valuable "soft skill" in an era of rapid economic change.</div><div style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Here are 12 ways to begin pursuing your own self-directed higher education, right now, without college:</div><ol style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style: none; margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><li style="border: none; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Kickstart something</strong>. Organize a <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Kickstarter</a> or <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">IndieGoGo</a> campaign to raise money for one of your creative projects, upcoming trips, or educational ventures. You'll learn how to develop a product line, manage a budget, and market yourself with social media. <a href="http://www.blakeboles.com/2012/05/dreamfunding/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Here how to get started</a>.</li><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: none; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Write for an audience</strong>. 19-year-old <a href="http://theblogofjasonlovett.com/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Jason Lovett</a> publishes short Kindle guidebooks; 20-year-old <a href="http://eduventurist.org/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Weezie Yancey-Siegel</a> interviews people she admires; 24-year-old <a href="http://onewanderingpoet.wordpress.com/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Cameron Lovejoy</a> shares poetry from his life on the road. No matter how you do it, writing for an audience sharpens your mind and helps you figure out what other people find valuable. (For fastest learning, work with a<a href="http://www.the-efa.org/res/rates.php" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">professional editor</a> and solicit as much reader feedback as you can bear.)</li><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: none; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Take free or cheap introductory courses in multiple subjects</strong>. Introduce yourself to fascinating new ideas, people, and potential career paths using <a href="http://www.coursera.org/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Coursera</a>, <a href="http://www.floatinguniversity.com/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">The Floating University</a>,<a href="http://www.skillshare.com/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Skillshare</a>, <a href="http://www.khanacademy.org/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Khan Academy</a>, <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">TED talks</a>, <a href="http://www.dolectures.com/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">DO lectures</a>, <a href="http://www.academicearth.org/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Academic Earth</a>, <a href="http://www.udemy.com/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Udemy</a>, or local community college classes.</li><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: none; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Compose a goal list and share it publicly</strong>. Think of this as your self-directed syllabus. Sharing it publicly will help keep you on track, as you'll feel accountable to the friends and family who read it and get excited about your projects. (<a href="http://www.blakeboles.com/goals/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Here's my list</a>.)</li><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: none; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Recruit a mentorship team</strong>. Assemble a small team of trustworthy and knowledgeable people from whom you can seek guidance for your self-directed journey. If possible, include someone who currently works in your field of professional interest. Search <a href="http://www.ztcollege.com/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Zero Tuition College</a> to find mentors who understand the self-directed path.</li><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: none; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Develop a hands-on skill</strong>. Think: cooking, electrical work, sports instruction, or automotive repair. Such skills aren't easily offshored or automated and therefore offer an excellent part-time or fall-back work option (as well as much-needed relief from a computer screen). Don't dismiss such work as intellectually devoid; <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/magazine/24labor-t.html?pagewanted=all" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">it's not</a>.</li><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: none; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Couchsurf and volunteer your way across a country</strong>. International travel can be an incredible learning experience if you take the time to immerse yourself in the local culture. Do this—and save lots of money in the process—with the websites <a href="http://www.couchsurfing.org/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Couchsurfing</a>, <a href="http://www.helpx.net/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">HelpX</a>, <a href="http://www.wwoof.org/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">WWOOF</a>, and<a href="http://www.workaway.info/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">WorkAway</a>.</li><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: none; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Start a tiny business</strong>. It doesn't cost a lot of money to start many types of businesses —<a href="http://www.blakeboles.com/2012/05/book-review-the-100-startup-by-chris-guillebeau/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">perhaps $100</a> — and you don't have to think of it as a long-term venture. Whether you succeed or fail, you'll learn powerful lessons that most colleges can't teach.</li><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: none; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Teach</strong>. Record a series of instructional videos (they might land you a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/science/18prof.html" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">New York Times piece</a>),<a href="https://p2pu.org/en/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">offer a free online course</a>, lead a hands-on class, tutor someone, or create a workshop for a conference.</li><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: none; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Enhance your peer community</strong>. Face-to-face community is a vital part of higher education. Without being formally enrolled, you can find community through <a href="http://www.meetup.com/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">online interest groups</a>, local events, and workplaces. If you're seeking a huge concentration of 18- to 25-year-olds, simply move to a college town and join an off-campus student house.</li><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: none; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Practice, deliberately</strong>. "Deliberate practice" (DP) is the psychological process <a href="http://www.freakonomics.com/2011/05/04/deliberate-practice-how-education-fails-to-produce-expertise/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">through which people attain deep expertise</a>. Unlike regular practice, DP involves custom-tailored instruction accompanied by immediate, high-quality feedback. You can use DP to become a better violinist, swimmer, artist, or businessperson. But more importantly, you can learn the methodology behind the process and apply it to everyday learning situations. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Talent-Overrated-World-Class-Performers-EverybodyElse/dp/1591842247" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Start here</a>.</li><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: none; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Build an online portfolio</strong>. Demonstrate your capacities to potential employers by creating a website that tells your story, displays your biggest accomplishments, and highlights the value you've created for other people. When someone asks you what you've been doing with your time instead of college, point them here. And keep your eyes on <a href="http://degreed.com/about/what-is-degreed" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Degreed</a>, <a href="http://radmatter.com/about/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">RadMatter</a>, and <a href="http://knowitapp.com/" style="border: none; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Knowit</a>: new ventures that may help you quantify your self-directed learning and enhance your portfolio.</li></ol><div style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">These are just a few ways to start giving yourself a well-rounded higher education without college. Do you have other suggestions? Please share them in the comments below.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-3097811855020999922012-10-11T04:08:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:39.527-07:005 Building Blocks for Success with Mobile Learning - Featured in Edutopia!<br /><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://d3t11qjpnf3c9u.cloudfront.net/sites/all/themes/hextopia/images/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="logo" border="0" src="http://d3t11qjpnf3c9u.cloudfront.net/sites/all/themes/hextopia/images/logo.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">T</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">he mobile learning revolution is alive and growing in popularity every day. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">As schools begin to consider the movement towards mobile learning, it's important to support teachers with strategies for success, particularly if they are new. </span></span></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Toward that end, my </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">friend </span><a href="http://www.edutopia.org/user/7360" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lisa Michelle Dabbs</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> asked my </span><a href="http://www.teachinggenerationtext.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Teaching Generation Text </a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">co-author Willyn Webb and I to write a piece for Edutopia about</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> how a new teacher might begin to use mobile learning in the classroom.</span></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check it out at </span></span><a href="http://www.edutopia.org/blog/mobile-learning-support-new-teachers-lisa-dabbs" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 25px;">Mobile Learning Support for New Teachers</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> where we share the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">five building blocks that will help ensure you have just what you need in place for a smooth integration of mobile devices into your teaching, learning, and connecting with students and parents.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-4946957396609155942012-10-10T03:52:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:39.617-07:00Tech Forum NY Provides Insight, PD, & Networking Opportunities for Innovative Educators<a href="http://www.techlearning.com/images/logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" src="http://www.techlearning.com/images/logo.jpg" /></a><b id="internal-source-marker_0.40603028424084187" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br /><h3 dir="ltr"><span style="background-color: white; clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.40603028424084187" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></h3><b id="internal-source-marker_0.40603028424084187" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tech Forum New York, Tech & Learning magazine's annual event, is a terrific professional development opportunity for innovative educators. This high-powered, one-day event provides K-12 educators with thought-provoking content on the hottest topics of the day in education technology.</span></b><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unlike some larger conferences, what I enjoy about Tech Forum is it provides an engaging experience in an intimate setting, with expert presentations and plenty of networking opportunities that ensure participants leave with practical tools and key contacts for continued rich communities of practice.</span></b><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the conference I'll be hosting a roundtable on Twitter in the Classroom where I’ll share how this can be a powerful tool to engage learners. The opening keynote will be delivered by Patrick Higgins who discusses Edubranding via Social Media. He discusses the commonly held belief in the business world that if you are not in front of the publicity for your brand, someone else will determine how it is viewed by the public. Do schools fall under that same umbrella and, if so, what does it mean to have a brand for a K-12 institution? How has your school/district leveraged social media to grow its brand? Is it time for those of us in education to take a lesson in media branding?</span></b><br /><div><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: none; margin-left: -24px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></li></b></ul><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br /><a name='more'></a><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who Should Attend:</span></b><br /><ul><b style="font-weight: normal;"><li><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">District and Building-Level Administrators</span></b></li><li><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Technology Directors </span></b></li><li><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Technology Coordinators</span></b></li><li><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Librarians and Media Specialists</span></b></li><li><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mentor Teachers</span></b></li><li><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Board of Education Members & other education staff involved in Technology planning </span></b></li></b></ul><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Event Details:</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tech Forum New York: Insight and Innovation for Technology Leaders</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friday October 19, 2012</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Westchester Marriott</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">670 White Plains Rd.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tarrytown, NY 10591</span><br /><span style="background-color: #0099cc; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Registration and breakfast (included) are served from 7:00 - 8:00. The opening keynote begins at 8:00 a.m. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Readers of The Innovative Educator receive a discount registration fee of $195 (instead of $289) with the code </span></b><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">NY12FT</b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by visiting </span></b><a href="http://www.techlearning.com/events/techforum/newyork12/register" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;" target="_blank">http://www.techlearning.com/<wbr></wbr>events/techforum/newyork12/<wbr></wbr>register</a><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. For more details on the event visit </span><a href="http://www.techlearning.com/events/techforum/newyork12/overview"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.techlearning.com/events/techforum/newyork12/overview</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-89506255362422527242012-10-09T04:20:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:39.708-07:00The rigor (?) of kindergarten!<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">Editor's Note: How would you like a job with the following in the description? Severity, strictness, demanding, difficult, extreme conditions, exhaustive. I suppose some enjoy such jobs, but many of us would not like to be forced into such work. Unfortunately, this is exactly what our schools expect of our children...starting in kindergarten!!! Read on to learn more.</span><br /><div class="asset-header" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="asset-meta" style="border-top-color: rgb(216, 232, 245); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, hirakakupro-w3, osaka, 'ms pgothic', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.25em; padding-bottom: 0.3em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px;"><span class="byline"><br /></span><span class="byline">By <span class="vcard author"><a class="fn url" href="http://www.learningsuccessinstitute.com/" style="color: purple; font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">LearningSuccess Coaches</a></span> | <a href="http://www.learningsuccessinstitute.com/blog/2011/12/the-rigor-of-kindergarten.html">Cross posted at Learning Success Institute</a></span></div></div><div class="asset-content entry-content" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, hirakakupro-w3, osaka, 'ms pgothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static; text-align: left;"><div class="asset-body" style="clear: both; height: 934px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">There was an article in our local paper explaining a change in the birthday cut-off date for entering Kindergarten. By 2014 California children will have to turn five by September 1 to enter Kindergarten that year. And beginning next Fall, a new state law will allow children to take two years of kindergarten classes.<br /><br />The title of the article was: Learning at Pace of Leisure - New prekindergarten law to allow<br /><div class="zemanta-img mt-image-right" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 310px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Finger_painting_01553.JPG" style="color: purple; font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><img alt="Finger painting" class="zemanta-img-configured" height="225" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Finger_painting_01553.JPG/300px-Finger_painting_01553.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; border-width: initial;" width="300" /></a><br /><div class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Finger_painting_01553.JPG" style="color: purple; font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Wikipedia</a></div></div>children more time to pick up skills.<br /><br />So far, fine. But here's what spoiled the story: <i>"This is much better for making sure the kids who enter kindergarten are ready for the rigor of kindergarten,"</i> said Rose Dunn, director of instruction for the Las Virgenes Unified School District, adding that kindergarteners are expected to master more advanced skills than in years past.<br /><i><b><br />The rigor of kindergarten???</b></i><i><b>Are your serious?</b></i><br /><br />This reminds me of a clip of the comedian Sinbad talking about the ridiculousness of having to pass tests to get into kindergarten. It went something like this: If the kid can eat a cookie and take a nap, he passes!<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><span style="background-color: white;">What happened to "Learning at pace of leisure?" When are we going to stop this kind of forced education and allow kids to be who they are supposed to be developmentally? When are we going to stop causing stress and anxiety to young children and their families, for no good reason?</span><br /><br />Four and five-year-olds are supposed to play, nap, laugh, explore their surroundings, tinker, finger paint, and experiment with musical instruments like drums and cymbals.<br /><br />The thinking that is summarized in Ms. Dunn's statement above is precisely why we wrote, <a href="http://midlifecrisisbeginsinkindergarten.com/" style="color: purple; font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><i>Midlife Crisis Begins in Kindergarten</i></a>. The title is funny, but what is happening is tragic.<br /><br />More and more, kids "are expected to master more advanced skills than in years past." And who made that rule?<br /><br />Calling all parents and teachers...stop this madness, make your voice heard!<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 0.8em;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">__________________________________________________</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 0.8em;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">copyright 2011 by Willis & Hodson, Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC</span></span></div><span style="font-size: 0.8em;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 0.8em;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://www.solimaracademy.com/" style="color: purple; font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">www.solimaracademy.com</a> - we customize learning programs to meet individual student needs</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.learningsuccesscoach.com/" style="color: purple; font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Join our newsletter list and get your free downloadable gift: our ebook, Midlife Crisis Begins in Kindergarten! </span> </a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Contact us: <span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-position: 0px 0px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; border-collapse: separate !important; border: 0px none rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; bottom: auto !important; clear: none !important; clip: auto !important; color: #49535a; cursor: pointer !important; direction: ltr !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: 14px !important; left: auto !important; letter-spacing: 0px !important; line-height: 14px !important; list-style: disc outside none !important; margin: 0px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; page-break-after: auto !important; page-break-before: auto !important; page-break-inside: auto !important; position: static !important; right: auto !important; table-layout: auto !important; text-decoration: none !important; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; white-space: nowrap !important; width: auto !important; word-spacing: normal !important; z-index: 0 !important;" tabindex="-1"> <span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr" skypeaction="skype_dropdown" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-position: 0px 0px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; border-collapse: separate !important; border: 0px none rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; bottom: auto !important; clear: none !important; clip: auto !important; cursor: pointer !important; direction: ltr !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; height: 14px !important; left: auto !important; letter-spacing: 0px !important; list-style: disc outside none !important; margin: 0px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; page-break-after: auto !important; page-break-before: auto !important; page-break-inside: auto !important; position: static !important; right: auto !important; table-layout: auto !important; text-decoration: none !important; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; word-spacing: normal !important; z-index: 0 !important;" title="Call this phone number in United States of America with Skype: +18056481739"><span class="skype_pnh_left_span" skypeaction="skype_dropdown" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: url(chrome-extension://lifbcibllhkdhoafpjfnlhfpfgnpldfl/numbers_common_inactive_icon_set.gif) !important; background-position: 0px 0px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; border-collapse: separate !important; border: 0px none rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; bottom: auto !important; clear: none !important; clip: auto !important; cursor: pointer !important; direction: ltr !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; height: 14px !important; left: auto !important; letter-spacing: 0px !important; list-style: disc outside none !important; margin: 0px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; page-break-after: auto !important; page-break-before: auto !important; page-break-inside: auto !important; position: static !important; right: auto !important; table-layout: auto !important; text-decoration: none !important; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: 6px !important; word-spacing: normal !important; z-index: 0 !important;" title="Skype actions"> </span><span class="skype_pnh_dropart_span" skypeaction="skype_dropdown" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: url(chrome-extension://lifbcibllhkdhoafpjfnlhfpfgnpldfl/numbers_common_inactive_icon_set.gif) !important; background-position: -11px 0px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; border-collapse: separate !important; border: 0px none rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; bottom: auto !important; clear: none !important; clip: auto !important; cursor: pointer !important; direction: ltr !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; height: 14px !important; left: auto !important; letter-spacing: 0px !important; list-style: disc outside none !important; margin: 0px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; page-break-after: auto !important; page-break-before: auto !important; page-break-inside: auto !important; position: static !important; right: auto !important; table-layout: auto !important; text-decoration: none !important; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: 27px !important; word-spacing: normal !important; z-index: 0 !important;" title="Skype actions"><span class="skype_pnh_dropart_flag_span" skypeaction="skype_dropdown" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: url(chrome-extension://lifbcibllhkdhoafpjfnlhfpfgnpldfl/flags.gif) !important; background-position: -5849px 1px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; border-collapse: separate !important; border: 0px none rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; bottom: auto !important; clear: none !important; clip: auto !important; cursor: pointer !important; direction: ltr !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; height: 14px !important; left: auto !important; letter-spacing: 0px !important; list-style: disc outside none !important; margin: 0px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; page-break-after: auto !important; page-break-before: auto !important; page-break-inside: auto !important; position: static !important; right: auto !important; table-layout: auto !important; text-decoration: none !important; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: 18px !important; word-spacing: normal !important; z-index: 0 !important;"> </span> </span><span class="skype_pnh_textarea_span" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: url(chrome-extension://lifbcibllhkdhoafpjfnlhfpfgnpldfl/numbers_common_inactive_icon_set.gif) !important; background-position: -125px 0px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; border-collapse: separate !important; border: 0px none rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; bottom: auto !important; clear: none !important; clip: auto !important; cursor: pointer !important; direction: ltr !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; height: 14px !important; left: auto !important; letter-spacing: 0px !important; list-style: disc outside none !important; margin: 0px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; page-break-after: auto !important; page-break-before: auto !important; page-break-inside: auto !important; position: static !important; right: auto !important; table-layout: auto !important; text-decoration: none !important; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; word-spacing: normal !important; z-index: 0 !important;"><span class="skype_pnh_text_span" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: url(chrome-extension://lifbcibllhkdhoafpjfnlhfpfgnpldfl/numbers_common_inactive_icon_set.gif) !important; background-position: -125px 0px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; border-collapse: separate !important; border: 0px none rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; bottom: auto !important; clear: none !important; clip: auto !important; cursor: pointer !important; direction: ltr !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; height: 14px !important; left: auto !important; letter-spacing: 0px !important; list-style: disc outside none !important; margin: 0px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px !important; page-break-after: auto !important; page-break-before: auto !important; page-break-inside: auto !important; position: static !important; right: auto !important; table-layout: auto !important; text-decoration: none !important; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; word-spacing: normal !important; z-index: 0 !important;">805-648-1739</span></span><span class="skype_pnh_right_span" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: url(chrome-extension://lifbcibllhkdhoafpjfnlhfpfgnpldfl/numbers_common_inactive_icon_set.gif) !important; background-position: -62px 0px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; border-collapse: separate !important; border: 0px none rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; bottom: auto !important; clear: none !important; clip: auto !important; cursor: pointer !important; direction: ltr !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; height: 14px !important; left: auto !important; letter-spacing: 0px !important; list-style: disc outside none !important; margin: 0px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; page-break-after: auto !important; page-break-before: auto !important; page-break-inside: auto !important; position: static !important; right: auto !important; table-layout: auto !important; text-decoration: none !important; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: 15px !important; word-spacing: normal !important; z-index: 0 !important;"> </span></span> </span>, info@learningsuccesscoach.com</div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-46882560114073162272012-10-08T10:38:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:39.804-07:00Cell Phones: Tools of engagement or distraction? <span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.teachhub.com/sites/default/files/phone%20learning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cell Phones as Learning Tools" border="0" class="alignleft" src="http://www.teachhub.com/sites/default/files/phone%20learning.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">I have the opportunity to speak with Greg Graham author of <b id="internal-source-marker_0.2572789138648659" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2011/09/cell-phones-in-classrooms-no-students-need-to-pay-attention264.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline;">Cell Phones in Classrooms? No! Students Need to Pay Attention</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"> on </span><a href="http://bamradionetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=35&Itemid=65"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline;">BAM Radio’s Educator’s Channel</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">. As the author of </span><a href="http://www.teachinggenerationtext.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline;">Teaching Generation Text</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">, which encourages students to use the devices they own and love for learning, it is no surprise we disagree on the subject. </span></b></span></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.2572789138648659" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Graham is one of those educators who has yet to update his outdated practices and is holding students prisoners of his past. To justify this, he uses advice that creative thinker, speaker, and writer </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Rheingold"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Howard Rheingold</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><ol style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><li style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.2572789138648659" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rule Number One is to pay attention. </span></b></li><li style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.2572789138648659" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rule Number Two: Attention is a limited resource, so pay attention to where you pay attention.</span></b></li></ol><a name='more'></a><b id="internal-source-marker_0.2572789138648659" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Graham goes on to use these rules to support his belief that we must ban students from using the devices they need for success in their worlds. Oh how disappointed </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Rheingold"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rheingold</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> must be in having his advice misconstrued by an educator who hasn’t a clue about how technology can be used to engage learners.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Had Graham gone beyond the 1997 advice, he would have found that in his article </span></b><b id="internal-source-marker_0.2572789138648659" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.thefeaturearchives.com/topic/Culture/M-Learning_4_Generation_Txt_.html">M-Learning 4 Generation Txt?</a></span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b><b id="internal-source-marker_0.2572789138648659" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rheingold </span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">laments the outdated educator who doesn’t bother to instruct students “on how to use the online backchannel to augment class discussion, conduct concurrent search or group note-taking during a lecture.” In the article he acknowledges that there are “students that arrive at our campuses with such experiences already under their belts” but points out that, “In the absence of instruction in IT etiquette, students IM, chat, game and find their own way through the pedagogical cyberscape while lecturers try to cope.” </span></b><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, whose fault is it that these lectures haven’t updated their classroom management skills and turned these tools of distraction into tools of engagement? </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my technology innovation work in public schools the teachers and leaders I work with marvel at how much more engaged their students are when they allow their students to use mobile devices. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Graham asks </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Always-Language-Online-Mobile-World/dp/0195313054"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a6eb6; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Always On</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> author Naomi Baron about her thoughts and she says, "A classroom is many places at once, a room for sharing ideas, a space (literally) for contemplation, a setting for social interaction. None of these functions harmonizes with intrusion from the outside."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m frightened by one who thinks of connecting to and making meaning with the world as an intrusion. Heck, Rheingold himself shares that he is </span><a href="http://www.smartmobs.com/2008/02/23/why-im-hooked-on-twitter/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hooked on Twitter </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">which is an amazing tool to use with mobile devices for reasons such as, it is:</span></b><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><li style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> way to meet new people</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></li><li style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A </span><span style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">way to find people who share interests</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></li><li style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A window on what is happening in multiple worlds</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></li></ul><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My advice to Graham and the rest is that it does not make sense to issolate yourself and your students from the world. Stop fighting and start embracing the tools students own and love for learning and if you don’t know how, you can start by reading </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2011/04/6-solutions-for-educators-who-want-21st.html">with this</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.teachinggenerationtext.com/">.</a> Those who do, not only will you be better able to connect with students, but they’ll also be more prepared for success in the connected world in which they live.</span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485395324844636437.post-20430580302477293062012-10-07T04:06:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:43:39.894-07:0014 interesting facts about text messagingWhy are texts limited to less than 160 characters? Does texting result in less talking on the phone? When do people feel texting in public is acceptable? How often do teens text? Check out the handy infographic below to find out the answers to these questions and more.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cellphones.org/blog/facts-about-text-messaging" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Text Messaging" border="0" src="http://images.cellphones.org.s3.amazonaws.com/texting.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>Via: <a href="http://cellphones.org/">CellPhones.org</a><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Discover how to use texting for learning. Check out </span><span style="background-color: white; border-style: none; color: #0b7fb4; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.teachinggenerationtext.com/" style="background-color: white; border-style: none; color: #0b7fb4; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Teaching Generation Text: Using Cell Phones to Enhance Learning</a>.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652536733620134629noreply@blogger.com0