May 2011 Blog Posts (45)

Have you asked any of these questions about discussion forums?

• What is it like to take part in online discussions?
• How do moderators and contributors create active and successful conversations?
• How is the technology employed in the management of discussion forums evolving?
• What could be achieved through discussion forums in the future?

This free article at …

Originally posted here - http://bit.ly/jwGKzg

I’m always interested in reading about educators who are trying to make a difference. I read a lot of blogs that teachers write, but I had never seen a principal with a blog until I discovered The Principal of Change by …

With virtual server technology gradually becoming mainstream, the next big leap is the virtual desktop.

Many academic institutions are getting on board with the use of virtual server technology, and I’m proud to say that The College of Westchester is no exception (more on that in a minute). Right behind the implementation of virtual servers is the next big leap in virtual computing technologies – the virtual…

Mike Schmoker’s new text Focus (2011) offers a passionate, persuasive call for a return to some old-school methods of teaching, especially with regard to the teaching of English. As a teacher at a school that is moving (finally) to a 1:1 computer environment, the risk is that we could forego much of the reading and writing we do in favour of more ‘creative projects’. What Schmoker calls for is simple: plenty of reading. He suggests that in each English course, students should…

This was originally posted on Assessment FOR Learning.

My daughter's 7th grade English teacher at Andrew Lewis Middle School uses a time-tested easy-to-apply simple AFL strategy that motivates my daughter to work, helps her to learn, and ensures that her grade is an accurate reflection of that learning.

Every Monday the students are given a pre-test on that week's spelling words.  If the student spells 100% of…

We are wrapping up the first year of an IPod Touch Pilot Program with our 4th and 5th graders.  Many of our experiences and resources can be found on our blog:

http://iteachthererforeipod.blogspot.com/

Check us out and consider following us.  We'd like to reach out a "touch" like minded IPod enthusiasts.

You've got to check out my teacher's mobile websites created through Wirenode.  They are too cool.

http://iteachthereforeipod.blogspot.com   

Cross-posted from TechChange Blog

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Whether you think of HTML as a familiar friend or a terrifying alien monster, we can all agree that sometimes code just takes too much time.  In an attempt to help a friend build her web presence, and …

Yesterday we had the last mentor meeting, that mostly consisted of the students presented their complete project to their mentors, as a mock Exhibition and a practice for the big day.  It was truly amazing to see how far along some of the groups had come and that they are solidified their understanding of their topic and were able to articulate it to an adult audience. 

The mentors used the oral presentation rubric and gave their group feedback, including the positive and the points…

Concluding our look at this social learning project with a sampling of student reflections, and curriculum tie-ins.

Last week I published part 1 of this article, introducing this fun and well executed project, developed…

We live in an era of bells and whistles and razzmatazz, the 30 second sound bite, flash animations and “edutainment”.   For a message to “hit home” it has to be delivered with all the “bells and whistles” that are possible. Right?  Wrong.



Educational consultant Alan November proves that powerful thoughts, spoken softly in the most traditional manner of all - a teacher in front of some students with only some slides (still images) to help him, can be riveting.…

If you have not seen this yet, check out the latest Verizon TV ad.  I saw it last night and had to pass it on as I thought it truly captured this new generation of kids we are teaching.

http://iteachthererforeipod.blogspot.com/