So, yesterday I posted 3 great educational technology ideas from some superb blogs. Back at it today…and now I will share 3 more ideas from the blogs I have been following the past few weeks: The Innovative Educator by Lisa Nielsen, Pursuit of Technology Integration Happiness by Michael Zimmer, and Educational Technology Guy by David Andrade. These are all information blogs about the innovation of technology. If you are a teacher or administrator searching for ways to enhance technology at your school, take a peek. SO many amazing ideas on these sites!
The Innovative Educator
4. Screentime – Focus On Quality, Not Quantity
5. “How to change your Facebook administrator from a personal to professional account”
I’ve subconsciously been avoiding Facebook for some time now. As much I have come around to the idea of students using their personal tech devices in the classroom, I am still so skeptical of the social media end of it. I am a former Facebook-er turned exclusive Instagram-er. BUT…kids loves it- and if there’s a way to integrate it into a classroom as an encouraging teaching device, then I’m all for it. Maybe it’s just that kids need to be taught how to funnel their social media into something for the good! Well, to start out, you need to know how to monitor the settings and this post can help with that. Facebook pages could be started for athletic teams, yearbooks staffs, or drama clubs- and it could a fun addition to any school!
6. “Newsflash: Social media is real life”
Along with this idea, here is another great post about social media, and specifically, how Facebook is the new norm. Nielsen and co-author Lisa Cooley state, “Adults need to wake up. We need to take a step back from the notion that online communication is interaction in a world that is not real or is somehow less valuable than face-to-face life. This impulse to dismiss social media as a “distraction” is detrimental to both ourselves and our children.” Hard to deny that statement.
The Pursuit of Technology Integration Happiness
My name is Krissi, and I’m an English teacher. I’ve been keeping my posts related to general education, but I need to share these links with you today from Zimmer’s blog. On the menu bar, he has resources for core teachers and they are AWESOME. Within each link, there are a multitude of links and ideas for classroom use. Find your subject and take a look!
8. Elective Subjects Resources
Educational Technology Guy
4. “Android Smartphone and Apps I use as an educator”
This post is not relevant to me at all, because I have an iPhone, but…other educators and students may have one, so if so, this is a valuable post to look at. Andrade has an entire section of posts devoted to Android for Education and this particular post is perfect for ideas using Android as a teacher.
5. “Guest Post – How to Create Stunning Visual Aids for your Lessons”
Just yesterday, Andrade featured a “guest post” from Terry Smith (he does so every now and then) about visual aids. Although many of the ideas I have discussed are related to cell phones, social media, and other new wave innovations, sometimes educators just need new ways to visually display lesson plans and assignments. Smith says, “…visual aids and pictures boost children’s creativity.”
6. “STEM – description, ideas and resources for educators”
Now this is an area that I know very little about, but my husband does! He is a former science teacher and current principal, and talks about this all the time. For other educators like me that are limited in their knowledge of STEM, this is a helpful link. Andrade mentions that the White House’s Educate to Innovate Campaign’s goal is “to improve the participation and performance of America’s students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).” Other companies, like Discovery, are part of this movement as well.
Tomorrow…I will compile my TOP 5 list of BEST PRACTICES IN EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS. See you then!
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