Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 29, 2015

I’ve been on the hunt for a good– scratch that : excellent –Learning Management System for several months. There are a lot of options out there, but none had enough of the characteristics that most teachers I know look for with an LMS, namely: delivers content to students in a variety of formats. tracks student progress on assigned activities. assesses student learning (both formative and summative). provides for teacher-student and student-student communication. intuitive to u

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Communications Mobile Learning Accessibility Curriculum 387

Educators Technology

JUNE 2, 2015

June 2, 2015 Today’s selection features some very good Android apps that you can use with students to create comic strips and cartoons. The apps provide a variety of integrated features and tools to.read more.

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The Innovative Educator

JUNE 17, 2015

You've heard the stories. Raunchy images that get people fired, kicked off the team or less than attractive potential mate. But what if you could make the images people find, great? You can with a headshot. This is something I discussed with librarians last week in a workshop about taking control of your digital image. For the workshop, I also was able to secure a teacher with a passion and profession as a photographer to take headshots.

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Science Teaching Junkie

JUNE 25, 2015

Being organized and prepared for whatever may come my way is pretty important to me. If you're anything like me, you think you've got it all together and ready to teach tomorrow's lesson, until the WORST THING POSSIBLE HAPPENS.your child wakes up in the middle of the night SICK! At my house, since my husband and I are both teachers, as soon as we clean up the vomit from the carpet, the clothes, the bed-sheets, the walls, etc. we immediately start discussing who can take off the next day to stay

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Math Teaching Science Sciences 52

Speaker: Andrew Cohen, Founder & CEO of Brainscape

The instructor’s PPT slides are brilliant. You’ve splurged on the expensive interactive courseware. Student engagement is stellar. So… why are half of your students still forgetting everything they learned in just a matter of weeks? It's likely a matter of cognitive science! With so much material to "teach" these days, we often forget to incorporate key proven principles into our curricula — namely active recall, metacognition, spaced repetition, and interleaving practice.

Teaching

Technology Tidbits

JUNE 3, 2015

CodeQuest is a super fun iOS app that is currently free designed for teaching young students how to code in CSS or HTML. The way this works is like most games where a user progress from level to level learning the basics of coding. Once they complete the level they earn badges and unlock more of the game. Best of all there is a parent section where they can signup to get emails of detailed progress reports.

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Teaching Learning Education Education 58

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 4, 2015

Eduporium ‘s Andy Larmand is the newest contributor to Ask a Tech Teacher. He graduated from Suffolk University with a Bachelor’s degree in Print Journalism. His knowledge of and interest in both the EdTech world and the importance of a STEM education highlight the importance of inquiry-based education, DIY cultures and technology for enhanced learning as crucial 21st century activities.

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Education Education Robotics Construction 296

Educators Technology

JUNE 30, 2015

June 30, 2015 Game-based learning is a learning trend with an increasing attraction in today’s classrooms. At its core, game-based learning deploys learning principles incorporated in the gaming.read more.

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Learning 254

The Innovative Educator

JUNE 28, 2015

At the #HackED15 pre-conference at #ISTE15 I spoke with Peggy Sheehy ( @PeggySheehy ) about what she is doing to create an environment that inspires fun and meaningful learning with her middle school humanities students. I already knew she was inspiring student learning via games like World of Warcraft ( here's her wiki that shows how ), but it's not just about the learning that happens behind the screens.

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Innovation Learning Computer Schooling 84

Science Teaching Junkie

JUNE 8, 2015

Well you know the rest. As many classrooms around the country are taking a break for the summer, it's time for teachers to reflect on the previous year and start planning for next year. My science department is meeting this week (before we get into full vacay mode) to start planning for the new school year. While many people are ready to flee the campus and not step foot into their classrooms until the fall, it really is a good time to do some reflecting on what worked and what didn't while it's

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Primary Flexibility Science Sciences 52

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Mathematics, a subject steeped in abstract concepts, often poses challenges to students, especially those in grades 5-10. But imagine a bridge that transformed this intricate maze into an interactive adventure.

Math

Technology Tidbits

JUNE 24, 2015

FlipQuiz is an excellent new site for creating Jeopardy style board game quizzes. Everything is very user friendly and allows users to create a game through the use of a template or search through previously created quizzes/games. Also, a user can share games via a link or through social media and there is even a handy built in timer/stopwatch when answering a question.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 26, 2015

Most elementary age kids I know love math, but that changes when they matriculate to middle school. If you ask seventh and eighth graders what their hardest subject is, they’ll hands down tell you it’s math. And that opinion doesn’t improve in high school. In fact, Forbes reported that 82% of public high schoolers in the well-to-do Montgomery County Maryland failed Algebra.

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Math Gamification Algebra Computer 293

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 30, 2015

When a colleague tells you she heard about a new tech tool from someone in her PLN, do you first wonder what she’s talking about–not the tool but the three-letter acronym? Or maybe you think, ‘Of course [Amanda] has a PLN. She’s a geek.’ You might even understand the purpose of a PLN–to provide educators with a collaborative learning environment–but think you don’t need one, or staff development provided by your school is all you can handle.

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Curriculum Communications Teaching Elementary 275

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 9, 2015

After twelve years of teaching K-8, I know as sure as I know August comes earlier every year that kids will try harder if its fun. The challenge for us as teachers: How do we make a the geeky side of technology ‘fun’? The answer is keyboard shortcuts–aka shortkeys. According to Wikipedia , keyboard shortkeys are: a series of one or several keys that invoke a software or operating system operation when triggered by the user. .

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Computer Curriculum Problem Solving Technology 275

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These easy-to-use design briefs outline student objectives, challenges, and materials needed to complete each 30-minute to 4-hour lesson. ITEEA’s Integrative STEM curriculum, Engineering byDesign, includes many more standards driven hands-on activities just like these!

STEM

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 17, 2015

Besides iPads and Chromebooks and a plethora of free websites that enable students to collaborate, share and publish, education’s tech explosion has resulted in a wide (and increasing) variety of tools that extend the teachers reach, making it easier to differentiate for the varied needs of students even in a busy classroom. Tech-infused alternatives to granular education activities such as note-taking, math, and reading allow students with specialized needs to use their abilities (strengt

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Math Mathematics Computer Curriculum 267

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 3, 2015

Ecolleague Mike Daugherty has over seventeen years experience in educational technology serving a variety of roles. He was recently awarded the OETC (Ohio Educational Technology Conference) Technology Innovator of the Year award and received honorable mention in the national DILA awards. In his current position, he is the director of technology for a high-achieving public school district in Ohio.

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EdTech Curriculum Technology Achievement 265

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 2, 2015

The internet is unavoidable in education. Students go there to research, access homework, check grades, and a whole lot more. As a teacher, you do your best to make it a friendly, intuitive, and safe place to visit, but it’s challenging. Students arrive there by iPads, smartphones, links from classroom teachers, suggestions from friends–the routes are endless.

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Flexibility Accessibility Curriculum Computer 246

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 5, 2015

These are mostly for MS, a mixture of flashcards, games and simulations. Very effective: Argument Wars. Branches of Power. Civics Game Room. Civics games. Congress. Congress for Kids. Court Quest. C-Span –Congress at work in video. Elections—the Game. Electoral College—humourous video. Executive Command. How Laws are Made. Law Craft. Legislative and Executive Branch Quiz.

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Argumentation Government Publication Curriculum 234

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 19, 2015

In the not so distant past, two types of computers battled for supremacy in the classroom: Macs or PCs. Both were desktops and both did the same things, but in hugely different ways. Today, whether it’s a Mac or a PC, a desktop is only one of the digital devices available in the education toolkit. First laptops eased their way into schools, pricey but popular for their portability and collaborative qualities.

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Schooling Computer Curriculum Professor 233

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 22, 2015

I’ve read several nonscientific studies that concluded students type equally well whether they use iPads or traditional keyboards ( click here ; scroll to ‘ Keyboarding: iPad vs. Traditional’ ). These results are counter-intuitive to what common sense says is true: that the flat, non-tactile nature of the iPad onscreen keyboards make them less accurate and slower than standard keyboards.

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Equality Curriculum Professor Computer 206

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 10, 2015

High school senior at Newton North High School in Newton, MA, Yishai Barth, feels strongly about the importance of Universal Design Language (UDL). He explains his specific learning needs and calls on all educators to see life from his and millions of other students’ perspective. By sharing his specific needs with teachers, needs that are faced by millions of students across the world, he hopes to provide help in supporting their learning.

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Technology Learning UDL Curriculum 204

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 15, 2015

Last chance–class starts Monday, June 22nd! Summer PD. Three spots left for Weekend Hangouts. Summer Keyboarding. Filling up so sign up now. More on Summer PD: Top Ten Reasons to sign up for Summer PD. Summer PD–Questions We’ve Gotten. 11 Take-aways from Summer PD. Summer Tech Camp–Everything You Need. Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-8 technology for 15 years.

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Curriculum Professor Computer Technology 203

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 8, 2015

This assessment is comprehensive, designed not to test students. but assess their knowledge as an aid to you in determining where to begin. Use it when you start a new class or to determine where are the holes in their learning. All of these skills are covered in a multi-year once-a-week project-based program, such as described in other parts of this blog.

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Curriculum Computer Professor Technology 203

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 6, 2015

How to Make Differentiation Fast and Easy with Tech. Starts Monday! Last chance to sign up. This Ask a Tech Teacher online class is only offered for college credit.

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Education Education 204

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 1, 2015

Every month, subscribers to Ask a Tech Teacher get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. This month: Summer Keyboarding Online. Description. Summer keyboarding–Online – -a self-managed online keyboarding class you complete in your own time, at your own pace. Join us for three weeks, fifteen classes, one hour a day–or spread it out as it works for your summer plans.

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Accessibility Curriculum Computer Technology 190

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 23, 2015

This assessment is comprehensive, designed not to test students. but assess their knowledge as an aid to you in determining where to begin. Use it when you start a new class or to determine where are the holes in their learning. All of these skills are covered in a multi-year once-a-week project-based program , such as described in other parts of this blog.

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Curriculum Computer Professor Technology 189

Educators Technology

JUNE 1, 2015

June 1, 2015 Flocabulary is an excellent educational platform we discovered through Graphite. Flocabulary provides teachers with a digital library of educational music videos (hip-hop songs) to use.read more.

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Education Education 206

Educators Technology

JUNE 8, 2015

June 8, 2015 Below are some useful apps kids can use to learn about creating origami, or ‘the art of folding paper into decorative shapes and figures’. Origami creation engages students' creative.read more.

Learning 204

Learning 204

The Innovative Educator

JUNE 23, 2015

Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot of what people are trying, but not succeeding, to convey to others. They complain: “I tried to tell him…” (How to do that right. Not to do that. It wasn’t a good idea. This person was trouble, etc.) And, they think it is the fault of the person they tried to tell, for not listening. However, when I ask how they tried to convey their message, I find sometimes the problem likes with the person “trying” to convey their message, idea, warning, or lesson.

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Teaching 80