http://www.powtoon.com/p/dPk9HLLIVmQ/ Have you flipped your classroom, but find giving simple instructions online to be difficult and boring? Would you like to begin your classroom presentations with a motivational video hook? Powtoon is the answer for you. I discovered this product in the Beta stage and fell in love with it. I started with a free [...]
Be the first to get a look at upcoming enhancements to Discovery Education! This sneak peek will showcase integration strategies for leveraging new tools, content, and resources, including Discovery Education Student Board Builder and the new Discovery Education Streaming Plus with model lessons, assessments, and digital content designed to address specific Math and ELA Common [...]
These are the rankings for the top colleges from around the world that competed in the international Collegiate Programming Contest in 2012. Students from universities from around the world competed for bragging rights and prizes at The 36th Annual ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest World Finals sponsored by IBM on May of 2012. The contest pits [...]
Will be be in the West Baton Rouge area this Saturday? Looking for some great technology ideas, activities or just want to hang out with some awesome educators then you must attend the REGION II TECHNOLOGY SLAM Come ready to share ideas as we “slam” on our favorite technology topics. Saturday March 9, 2013 8:30 [...]
SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: This post contains links to songs from the 80s so listening may result in Dancing With Myself (Billy Idol) Remember the first time you saw Michael Jackson dance in “Thriller“? The 80s decade was ruled by music and for music junkies like myself it was Just like Heaven (The Cure). There were [...]
What does it take to change, grow, and/or create? Innovation is part of the answer. And then another question becomes: What are the qualities of innovation? Jeff DeGraff says that – Innovation: is not defined by what it is; but rather what it is not happens in the future for which we have no real [...]
As I read the introduction to Stephen Johnson’s new book, Future Perfect: The Case for Progress in a Networked Age, 2012 I find myself thinking about the interconnectedness of today’s outcomes to the work of many in the years past. In the process of setting up his book, Johnson retells about the story of the [...]
State and National Perspectives on the Digital Transformation of Education: A Conversation with Gov. Bev Perdue and Gov. Bob Wise Wednesday September 26th 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (ET) I received this invitation through The Alliance for Excellent Education. This Webinar is being sponsored by both the Alliance and the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation. Because we [...]
Do we want to be part of a society where education truly benefits all? Where education can lead toward upward mobility? Do we want more students learning at higher levels? How can we as a society dramatically increase the numbers of young people who achieve at high levels in language arts, math, science and social [...]
Influential leaders are effective communicators! Knowing your audience is a basic pillar for successful communicators. When a superintendent wants to connect directly with students – it may be time to be creative. Anthony Habra is a superintendent of Rudyard Area Schools in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Rudyard is a district of 900 students. Tony wanted to [...]
For optimal learning to transpire schools must be safe places. As leaders we are responsible for “safety” above other missions. How do you feel about being responsible for school safety as it relates to bullying and specifically – cyber-bullying? Let’s think about what schools can do to be intentional about being environments safe from bullying. [...]
As I attend more and more conferences, I’m pleased to see the number of educators with technology at their fingertips — iPads, notebooks, laptops, smartphones — educators are CONNECTED! Even better is the number of school districts providing that technology to their teachers and students. I’ve run across a few apps that make me wish [...]
When I see young people – I see potential! Currently there are too many students that are left behind. Dropouts, underachievers, and minimal learners are all too common. The current system for educating society’s youth is broken: Broken if we agree that there is student potential that is not being tapped. Yet, there are those [...]
The Washington Post recently ran a comprehensive article on two area schools with vastly different approaches to education. The Flint Hill school is a technology mecca, with students being immersed in tablet computers and ultrabooks. This is, of course, completely intentional since teachers view these types of technology as important to making lessons more interactive and [...]
Doug Reeves has presented five educational MYTHS that beg to be dealt with head on. We educators are just the right folks to tackle the myths. As you read the myths please think about what role technology could play in busting that myth. The following five myths are based on page 91 – 99 of [...]
At today’s Admin Day of Discovery Kyle and I facilitated conversations about the free resources Discovery Education provides through our many partners, as well as the essential tools and ideas educators can access and use. As we had multiple discussions with principals and tech specialists, the recurring theme became: “I’m going to send this stuff [...]
Technology is an asset when it comes to schools meeting the challenge of insuring that more students learn at higher levels. Whether you are a formal or informal leader in schools I believe it is important for you to know what you value when it comes to technology and learning. Then it is important to [...]
“Welcome to the Not in Words’ website: explaining things with a universal language, the language of pictures.” ~http://www.notinwords.com/ This video is very good at explaining the “Evolution of the Web through Web 2.0″ to those that still just don’t understand. More importantly, it has NO WORDS; thus, the title of the website. Even though most [...]
Arlington Public Schools will be hosting a Technology for Learning Symposium JULY 25-27. This event is a great opportunity to share your skills, ideas or lessons by submitting a proposal. Call for Proposals – Deadline May 4, 2012 The Technology for Learning Symposium is a three-day professional learning event focused on educational technology. Click this [...]
What follows is a section of Levinson and Grieder’s book: Following Through:A Revolutionary New Model for Finishing Whatever You Start p. 35 & 36 (2007). I am fascinated by their example of how a squirrel’s brain is ‘hard wired’ to accomplish certain very specific tasks. Mr. Squirrel collects acorns for the winter because he’s pre-programmed [...]
Over 4 years ago this short video first appeared. I saw it during that first year and I am showing it now, some four years later with a few questions. Has much changed for school aged learners? Are there more opportunities for ‘engagement’ with each other by way of technology? Is it common throughout the [...]
I have just returned from two weeks in India. We had the good fortune to spend time in many sectors of modern India. We visited a k – 12 school and talked with a the principal and the state commissioner of education. They spoke of the fact that they would be providing every tenth grader [...]
During the week February 6-10, 2012, the Texas Computer Educator Association’s convention was held in Austin, Texas. The opening keynote was Discovery’s own Mythbuster’s co-host, Tory Belleci. He provided a poignant, hilarious look at his own struggle at education and explained why he not only desired to learn science but to ‘do’ science. Tory explained [...]
Digital Learning Day might be a kick-off to the month of February but when I think of this month I always picture big red hearts. I consider this month the time of love, chocolate, lacy doilies, valentines and online tools. You might be wondering if online tools are online dating sites but NOT in this [...]
A bright future for student learning isn’t just a dream!! For effective and helpful leaders – having a clear vision or dream is an essential! In a very simple sense – developing a shared dream or collectively embracing a clear vision – is the work of leadership. “Shared dreams” or a “common vision” provide for [...]
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