I am currently building a sister site to Jamael's Shorts called Jamael's Shortcuts :-) It is a technology toolbox, a hodgepodge of tools for tech integration. It is still in its infancy, but please check it out- there are some things up that you may find useful. Hope to see you there!
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Oh, Google. You really do have it all, don't you? While looking for good blogs to find lesson plans for math and science, what do I come across? Google for Education! A little-known Google app for integrating technology in the classroom. This is LITERALLY what I have been spending the last 3 years of my life learning how to do, and here it is, right in Google. The lesson plan part searches just like any other Google search, but the site is really a resource guide for teachers, parents, students, and administrators for integrating technology in education, *AHEM* excuse me, integrating GOOGLE: hangouts, drive, YouTube, scholar, translate, etc. All the Google lovelies, but forming a perfect union for the sake of education. Shall I quote my former employer again? "If I could, I would totally marry Google." Some things I learned from 517:
How are we supposed to know what we don't know? It's always interesting to learn something new, but what if it's your JOB to be the first to know about something? How do you learn about it? I recently set up a professional development system for myself. It was necessary for me to have everything come to my phone, because I rarely have time to sit in front of a computer for whatever reason. So here is what I came up with: Twitter: A great RSS feed with great educational and technological minds tweeting about cutting edge research, techniques used in the classroom, and what works and what doesn't. Some great people/groups to follow: @edutopia - "Inspiration and information for what works in education" @InnovativeEdu - Lisa Nielson, "Educator. Innovator. Author. Blogger. Speaker. Passionate about #StuVoice #EdTech #BYOD #Homeschooling #mlearning #Authentic-Assessment " @JaneBozarth - "World's Oldest Millenial, E-learning Coordinator, Author: Social Media for Trainers & more, Positive deviant, Doctor of Learnin' Stuff" TED Talks and the TED Ed blog. Boy, do I love TED Talks. I know I've mentioned it here before. So many great ideas, so many great lectures, it really is just mind-blowing. I would love to go to a TED convention sometime, but I saw that it costs like $950 to go... Umm not on my daycare teacher salary... TED stands for Technology, Education, and Design and it is a conference where educators, scientists, engineers, ohmygosh geniuses of all trades come together and share their brilliant ideas and research. They are typically 15 minute presentations and there is something for everyone. Choose which one strikes your fancy! TED Ed is just for educators- not videos of talks like the TED conferences, but LESSON PLANS. I had a teacher once that said in this day and age, a good teacher should never have to write his/her own lesson plans because there are so many great ones on the Internet. TED Ed is right where you find those. It is also a blog that can be followed via RSS feed or email subscription. Yes, please! Finally, I think this video sums up how Professional Development should be formatted. No more of those workshops. Please, who reads those packets anyway? I keep all my "important documents" from those things in the trunk of my car... ~ Jamael
I knew this would be a tough semester. I really did. Perhaps I'm coping better than I thought I would. But it has so far been nothing short of crazy. Why didn't anyone tell me working full time and going to school full time would be ridiculous?? Oh yeah, they did. Anyway, I'm launching into another semester of Educational Technology as my major at Baldwin Wallace University. The class that you guys are concerned about is the one where they prepare their students to overcome resistance and obstacles as leaders in technology. It has so far been a really intriguing class. I am LOVING the new tech tools we have been introduced to. They are different than the types of tools I have reported on in the past. Before I dive into a few of these tech tools, check out my Prezi on ISTE Coach standards :-) Cute, huh? Anyway, what I loved about my former Technology class at Akron was that it was inspiring. I started this blog (which admittedly I'm pretty terrible at keeping up on), and we were introduced to real and practical technology tools that kids love in the classroom. This class is about introducing tools that are useful to us as teachers and prepping us to deal with administration in making classroom technology accessible.
I will be posting more this semester. That's a promise (and a requirement). *innocent smirk* Jamael |