Integrate Technology Into Your Classroom With New Web Portal!!!

Free online tech resources grouped by subject and device

A new website called K-12 Tech Tools features more than 1,000 free online technology tools. The tools are categorized by subject, grade level, and standards. Teachers can share their own tech tools, success stories, and can learn from one another. Subject areas include art, English, language arts, health, math, music, science, and social studies. The site’s “Etc.” category features links to resources pertaining to internet safety, kid-friendly search engines, YouTube and alternatives, educational games, social media tools, and time management tips. Users can view tips and resources based on which technology tool they are using, such as computers, iPods and iPads, and video. http://edutechdatabase.wikispaces.com/

How the Internet is Revolutionizing Education...

We are seeing the commercials, the stats, and the plethora of choices our students now have to be able to learn and teach anywhere, any time, and in most cases any place. Our students and teachers have a vast amount of choices for content and information.

Access is still our largest gap in bridging our educational divide. In our public schools we still have a challenge in allowing our teachers and students to access and use all the wonderful resources, tools, and information that is available online. By blocking students from the digital world, the jobs of administrators and educators are made easier, but if people became teachers, education leaders or parents because it was easy, they migt have selected the wrong profession. While it is true that banning is an easy way out, doing so is short sighted and not visionary. It does not approach the innovative status that we hear so much about.  If you’re wondering how to navigate these waters and what is really allowed, read on to find a simple policy that addresses the three main acts: FERPA, CIPA, and COPPA explaining can be seen here:-)

The following graph represents how long we have come in the past few decades but we are stil a long way in making these oppertunities mainstream for all of our students.

Motivating & Leading Learners with iPads:-)

TriCUE iPad in EducationI would say that I'm inspired by many things that are happening in our schools. Educators now have multiple opportunities for teaching & learning. This is the first time in human history that somebody sitting in their classroom or office has a chance to contact more than just the students in front of them or a few people at a time.

We have an innovation revolution that's going through our world right now is opening more doors for more people than ever before. When I look at the combination of those two things, I see opportunities, and I get up up every morning hoping WE as educators won't waste it.

As many of you know I'm totally addicted to helping people grow and watching the power that breakthroughs have with people, when you can see somebody doing something that they used to be afraid or used to believe they couldn't do. I find that really at the core of what it means to be a successful person:-)

On our last workshops I saw superintendents, directors, principals,  teachers, mentors, coordinators, counselors, assistants, and many more educators who learned to lead, collaborate, connect, contribute, laugh and play with a new community. 

I know this is what I do on a daily basis but there is nothing that excites me more than seeing people who teach our future for a living get inspired and motivated to go back into our educational instututions with vigor, joy, and new possibilities for teaching and learning:-)

My Boy is Digitally Hungry!!!!!

From TheTechProfe.com Pics

I know that there are many reasons that my son should have a higher usage of his mobile phone data than I but this really solidyfies it for me!!! I roam the various worlds of the internet for hours at a time on a daily basis. This is my professional work. I also am online most of the time at home, on the go, and everywhere. Yet... It seems that even though my son has less time than I do to be online he has surpassed my usage on a mothly basis since he had his first smart phone! 

The data from the pic above is from our service with AT&T. I now look back and think of how silly it was for me to get my son a 200 text a month limit when I first signed him up for a data plan:-) Ohhhhhh yeah..... he went through the 200 limit in less than a day!!! I used to go through that in about a month and a half. That was 3 years ago.

Now, I realize that there are many factors that contributes to my son using his phone like he used to use his laptop or computers at school. You see, it's not a phone he's carrying with him 24/7. It's an extension of who he is. His phone is like his second or third home. He communicates, connects, collaborates, creates, analyzes, learn, research, illustrates, edits, and every so often talks on it. I have taught my son to be a self learner using the tech tools  that surround his environment and has become very proficient in doing so. But nothing can compare the mastery he know has wherever he goes with his iSELF-phone:-)

Being Mindful of Your Digital Footprint: How Facebook is Reshaping College Admissions

Courtesy of: Schools.com