Blogs I Follow

2centsworth – A website that deals with a variety of things. From experiments detailed through videos, to how to deal with the ever evolving technology change in classrooms.

Dangerously Irrelevant – Scott McCleod has some very interesting takes on technology and education. I agree with him completely on student driven education with the aide of technology is the biggest game changer in education.

Education ReThink – This is a great site with unbelievable resources. From ideas for lessons and strategies to use in the classroom to podcasts that show John and Chad’s passions.

Cool Cat Teacher Blog – Vicki Davis has put together a pretty, pardon the pun, cool website. From tips for teachers to use for reflection, her opinions on education and the direction it is heading and everything else under the sun.

The Innovative Educator – Another great blog to get ideas of how to incorporate technology into the classroom. I found the tips and tools that Lisa Nielson discusses to be very interesting and things that I see myself trying to implement. Her post regarding the use of Twitter really caught my eye. Twitter is no longer a tool just for vain people, athletes or celebrities to tell everyone what they are doing. It is a tool for educators to share resources, ideas and the amazing things they are trying and doing in classroom all over the country.

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Why We Need Common Core

Came across this video and thought it was great.

New Year, New Outlook

The start of a new school year brings excitement, nervousness and a whole new set of challenges. This new school year also brings with it a completely new outlook on some of the teaching methods used in my classroom. Out with the old and in with the new. In this case the new is me embracing technology and all that it can do to enhance the students’ learning process. Some of the videos that I have seen through TED have really opened up my eyes and mind. Gone are the days of telling students to put their cell phones away at all times, and power point presentations completely self directed by me and in with allowing the students more autonomy and control over their learning process. It is has been a gradual shift so far this year and I am still finding it difficult to let go of all my old ways, but it is a process that I am excited to undertake. I realize that education is evolving and one must evolve with it or get left in the dust. A peek into my classroom during the first three weeks and one might see students using their smartphones to conduct research using QR codes, completing projects using new technology to them such as Meograph, and in my Health class students creating personality collages all using digital tools. Where it will go from here I do not know, but I will tell you one thing I am excited about the journey.

Many using Meograph for the first time!

students creating their project with Imovie and uploading to YouTube.