Eclectic Technology

We're hoping to save you some time by personally trying out these free video editing tools in hopes of making your life and projects a bit more magical.

It starts with an image. Present ideas. Pack it full of content. Create links to amazing sites. Explore, share and create with ThingLink in the classroom!

There's a new way to teach using wordle. It involves actually withholding a bit of information and making students think a bit harder. What fun!

If you are looking for a way to use word clouds in your classroom here is one idea. The post asks you to look at a list of quotations and at the word cloud (pictured above) and consider "which is more powerful."

Good design - what is it and how does it impact our classroom? This post explores the principles of design, providing many ideas on how we might incorporate them into our classroom, stating "Well designed classrooms and educationa plans can have a positive impact on educational outcomes."

Twenty-five design principles are listed with an explantion and how you might incorporate it in your room. 

Today we are pushed to determine what is working in education? Data is being collected and in the U.S. teacher evaluations will involve the use of data from a variety of sources. This infographic, Learning Analytics 101, presents a visual representation of what it means to leverage education data looking at issues such as:

* What can data do?

* When can it be used?

* What is "effective learning"?

* What are the limitations and costs?

* How will it affect the future?

If you are trying to wrap your head around learning analytics check out this inforgraphic.

Is your school district considering deploying iPads? There are many issues to be considered and this articles discusses issues to consider prior to deployment as well as after deployment. The author "went through each of these cases and tried to ascertain the biggest takeaways." Learn from the experiences of others!

Some of the sections in Before You Deploy iPads include:

* Take Your Time

* You'll Want to Beef Up Security (Online & Offline)

* Be Able to Defind the Decision

Some of the sections in the After You Deploy iPads include:

* Apps? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Apps!

* It Ain't Easy Bein' Synced

There's a lot more to online research than Google. This handy flowchart we've lovingly dubbed 'The Students Online Research Cheat Sheet' should help.

Are you looking for a resource that might help you determine if you are "correctly integrating technlogy" in your classroom? If so, you may want to check out the Technology Integration Matrix (TIM) put out by the Arizona K-12 Center at Northern Arizone University.

"...the TIM is designedto assist schools and districts in evaluating the level of technology integration in classrooms and to provide teachers with models of how technology can be integrated throughout instruction in meaningful ways.”

Briefly, the TIM "illustrates how teachers can use technology to enhance for K-12 students. The TIM incorporates five interdependent characteristics of meaning learning environments: active, collaborative, constructive, authentic< and goal directed."

The full version of the matrix also contains some lesson plans and a short video of the lesson.

iPads are quickly becoming a popular and powerful educational tool for classrooms. Beyond the immediate benefit of engaging students, iPads can improve education efficiency and standards.

This post provides a short description of eighteen case studies with links for additional information. The case studies cover a range of areas including:
* Showing math processes, not just answers (specfically algebra
* Going on virtual field trips
* Providing interacation with math and physics concepts (with a link to a list of 10 interactive iPad apps)
* Engaging the disengaged
* Enhancing physical education
* Assisting special needs learning
With another 12 studies provides chances are good you will find something of interest!

What can we do to make our students better at online searching? Here is an article that provides tools to help your students learn to be better online researchers. Students need to lear to focus and 'distill [the] idea into a few key specific search terms', a skill we must teach.

The post provides suggestions on how to teach digital literacy skills. The levels that need to be taught are (quoting from the post):

* It begins as a critical thinking and language skill...

* Utilizing various "search help" tools that may search engines offer...

* Critically sorting through the results...

* Sometimes, supply your kids with the internet resources you want then to use...

A list of useful links is also included.

Although these four questions are written for a district to answer they are also questions we as teachers should answer before we consider ways to use technology in our classrooms. The first question, "What are the ultimate goals for student tech proficiency? In the area of technology, what would a well-educated student from your district know and be able to do with technology by the end of 12th grade?"  Take the time to read the article and additional questions and how they may impact your classroom this year.