Ask a Tech Teacher

AUGUST 13, 2021

My Secret EdTech Diary. by Al Kingsley. 4/5. Al Kingsley’s My Secret EdTech Diary (John Cott Educational 2021) is a big-goaled, meandering overview of edtech (educational technology) available and pertinent to teachers and students. It is almost stream of consciousness told in a friendly, affable voice, where the author starts with a specific topic and then addresses that and many tangential ideas, showing how they are related and interconnect.

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ED Surge

DECEMBER 29, 2021

With President Biden’s signature turning the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill into law, our nation is poised to make historic investments in its highways, public transit, railways, airports, ports, water systems, broadband networks and electric grid. Even in our hyper-polarized political climate, the bill garnered widespread bipartisan support. A key reason?

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Educators Technology

DECEMBER 4, 2021

Top teacher movies is a list I compiled based on ratings from various authority sites such as Amazon Prime Video, Show Times, Ranker, among others (see the list of sources at the bottom of this.read more.

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Cool Cat Teacher

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter. Tiffany Wycoff, the co-author of the bestselling book, Blended Learning in Action , talks about the state of blended learning today. She shares how some teachers are battling blended learning burnout but that it is necessary for learning today and how we move forward. Sponsor: Screencastify.

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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

Ask a Tech Teacher

DECEMBER 11, 2021

This week, I’ll post my updated suggestions for three holiday activities that will get your computers and technology ready for the blitz of teaching that starts after the New Year. Here’s what you’ll get (the links won’t be active until the post goes live ): For regular readers of Ask a Tech Teacher, these are yearly reminders. For new readers, these are like body armor in the tech battle.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

MARCH 15, 2021

Getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day? Try these fun websites with activities for different grade levels, different classes: Puzzle–St. Pat’s Puzzle. Puzzle–St. Pat’s drag-and-drop puzzle. Puzzle–St. Pat’s slide puzzle. Puzzles and games. Physical Education St. Patrick’s Day Activities from Elementary PE Teacher.com.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

MARCH 19, 2021

There’s still time this school year to help high school students learn the skills they’ll require to thrive in Higher Education. Here are basics you don’t want them to graduate without–from one of our Ask a Tech Teacher contributors: 4 Ways to Help High School Students Develop the IT Skills They’ll Need for Higher Education.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

JANUARY 22, 2021

In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies to address most classroom tech situations, how to scaffold these to learning, and where they provide the subtext to daily tech-infused education. Today’s tip: 10 Most Important Keyboard Keys. Category: Keyboarding.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

OCTOBER 19, 2021

Artificial Intelligence has made its way into our classrooms. Good or bad, only time will tell but some early reports say there are some real positives about using AI-powered program to boost literacy. Here’s an article from Hechinger Report , a national nonprofit newsroom that reports only on education, that’s pretty interesting: Can an AI tutor teach your child to read?

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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

Ask a Tech Teacher

FEBRUARY 8, 2021

Every month, we’ll share five themed posters that you can share on your website (with attribution), post on your walls, or simply be inspired. This month: Problem-solving. –for the entire collection of 65 posters, click here. If this link doesn’t work (we’re redoing the website), visit Ask a Tech Teacher’s Free Posters page or search ‘Posters’ on StructuredLearning.net.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

MARCH 5, 2021

In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies to address most classroom tech situations, how to scaffold these to learning, and where they provide the subtext to daily tech-infused education. Today’s tip: Create Shortkeys for Windows Tools.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

AUGUST 17, 2021

Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Christian Miraglia, taught for 36 years before retiring. He has some interesting reflections on technology’s place in education: Remember the days of Oregon Trail on the old Apple IIe’s or students drawing pictures with Kid Pix. Much has changed since technology has made inroads into education, and much has not.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

JANUARY 27, 2021

Through the Midwest Teachers Institute , I offer four college-credit classes that teach how to blend technology with traditional lesson plans. They include all the ebooks, videos, and other resources required so you don’t spend any more than what is required to register for the class. Once you’re signed up, you prepare weekly material, chat with classmates, respond to class Discussion Boards and quizzes, and participate in a weekly video meeting.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

FEBRUARY 10, 2021

Thank you so much to Norah Colvin for inviting me as a guest on her wonderful education blog, Norah Colvin. Norah covers so many great topics, I’ve been a long-time subscriber, always coming away a little smarter and up-to-date on teaching our youngest learners. A topic dear to me–and one I get lots of questions about–is teaching Kindergartners to Tech.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

MAY 14, 2021

At the beginning of the 21st century, the definition of digital equity revolved around the provision of a digital device to every student. Usually, that meant desktop computers, iPads, and laptops, either in small groups or 1:1. As digital equity discussions matured and hyperbole became reality, educators found that those loudly-touted digital devices often became paperweights.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

DECEMBER 3, 2021

December 6-12th, 2021, Computer Science Education will host the Hour Of Code–a one-hour introduction to students on coding, programming, and why they should love it, designed to demystify “code” and show that anyone can learn the basics to be a maker, a creator, and an innovator. Coding is that mystical geeky subject that confounds students and teachers alike.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

JANUARY 1, 2021

Every year, January 1st, is P ublic Domain Day. This is an observance of when copyrights expire and works enter into the public domain–free for all to use. According to Duke Law Center for the Study of the Public Domain, here are some of the newly-available artistic works you might like a/o January 1, 2021 : F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

OCTOBER 23, 2021

Three holidays are fast-approaching–Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If you’re a teacher, that means lots of tie-ins to make school festive and relevant to students. Here are ideas for Halloween projects, lesson plans, websites, and apps ( check here for updated links ): Websites and Apps. 30-day Halloween fitness challeng e. Build a Jack-o-lantern (in Google Slides).

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Ask a Tech Teacher

DECEMBER 15, 2021

Teaching the days before big holidays is challenging. Students and teachers alike are ready for a break. Both struggle to pay attention regardless of how innovative and engaging are the lesson plans. I’ve been there often. As a result, I’ve come up with fun ways to support learning while students power through the last few days of school.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

AUGUST 5, 2021

I’ve collected a series of back-to-school tips that are suited for in-person or remote learning. Pick those that work for you: 8 Tech Tools to Get to Know Your Students for Back to School. 3 Apps to Help Brainstorm Next Year’s Lessons. 11 Back-to-school Activities for the First Month of School. Great Back to School Classroom Activities. Plan a Memorable Back to School Night.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

JULY 26, 2021

At a time when coding careers continue to flourish – despite the Covid19 pandemic and its adverse effect on the world economy – it is not surprising to see kids learning programming at an early age. And the coding language of Python has won what can only be described as a growing following over the years. Not just among grownups but kids too.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

APRIL 26, 2021

In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies to address most classroom tech situations, how to scaffold these to learning, and where they provide the subtext to daily tech-infused education. Today’s tip: 16 Spring Cleaning Steps for Computers.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

JANUARY 29, 2021

Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in February: Subscriber Special. 100th Day of School Activities. World Read Aloud Day. Free Posters. Why Kindergartners Must Learn Tech. Math Word Problems. Shortkeys. Great Websites for Remote Teaching. Websites to Enhance Social Studies. How Fast Schould Kids Type. Keyboarding Hints.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

OCTOBER 7, 2021

Tract is a peer-to-peer, on-demand, project-based learning platform designed for grades 3-12. It includes classes and lesson plans, even themed clubs. It focuses on building student creativity, critical thinking, and independence–skills students need to become prosperous, happy adults. Overview. If you haven’t heard of Tract, that’s alright.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

AUGUST 10, 2021

Here are a few of the popular resources teachers are using to reinforce Drivers Ed in High School courses: Crash Test Simulator. Driver Education and Training Videos. Edriving –driving simulations. Operation Lifesaver. Simulated driving (fee). Driving and Texting. It can wait — video showing simulation of driver distracted by texting. Texting etc–Chicken Road YouTube.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

AUGUST 9, 2021

Often, students are expected to work independently at school and on their homework. That is a great idea for learning if you provide simple guidelines that allow them to be more effective, less frustrated. Here are tips to help your children get more out of homework time: Helping Your Child with Homework: 5 Tips to Help Kids Get Better Grades. Homework is a key part of the school experience.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

DECEMBER 7, 2021

Over the next week, I’ll share ideas that will get you ready for Hour of Code. This includes (links won’t work until the articles are posted) : Hour of Code? Here’s why you should participate. Long list of websites by grade. 15 Unusual Projects. The Easiest No-coding Way to Build an Education App. Here are ten unusual projects (each, about one hour in length) you can use in your classroom to participate in this wildly popular event: Alt Codes.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Lots of kids think technology is technical, another word for complicated/difficult/math-like. Here are six websites students can visit that will change their minds: Note: Mr. Picasso Head is no longer available. Click image to enlarge if it’s blurry. –from 55 Technology Projects for the Digital Classroom. Here are more online art websites: BigHuge Labs.

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Ask a Tech Teacher

JULY 12, 2021

Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Christian Miraglia, taught for 36 years before retiring. He has some interesting reflections on the year that was the pandemic: A Year to Remember, A Year to Reflect: Pandemic Instruction. Feeling Overwhelmed. Over the past year teachers have been bombarded by colleagues, administrators, and social media pundits on which platforms can best serve them and their students.

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