The 8 Components of A Digital Learning Environment

November 1, 2014
Another great read but this time from BYOT Network. In this paper entitled " The Components of a Digital Age Learning Ecosystem", Dr Tim Clark suggests 8 elements as being constitutive of a digital learning environment. And though I have some remarks on the use of the term ecosystem as being too complex a term for capturing the learning intricacies that take place in a learning environment I would rather disregard this comment and focus more on the 8 elements the article features . These elements are :

Source of the image: http://goo.gl/lnvVAB

1- A sense of community
2- Essential questions
3- Captivating digital content
4- Assessment for learning
5- Multiple teaching tools
6- Designs for differentiation and accessibility
7- Supportive classroom environment
8- Engaging instructional strategies

Here is my take on the first two elements and I invite you to check the original article to learn more about all the 8 components of a digital age learning ecosystem and share with us what you think of them.

The first element is "a sense of community". This is probably the equivalent of Lave and Wenger's communities of practice. At the core of it is the idea of  enhancing the spirit of collaboration in class and transforming the traditional roles of teachers from experts to facilitators and explorers.
The second element is "essential questions". This one aims at constructing an inquiry-based instructional strategy in class where students get to formulate and develop their learning experiences with the help of thought provoking questions.

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The Science of Storytelling Visually Explained

November 1, 2014
I have recently come across this beautiful visual entitled " The Science of Storytelling" and was really taken aback by some of the stats it included. These stats come in the context of highlighting the importance of storytelling in marketing but for me I view them  from an education vantage point. for instance, in comparison with words, the human brain has the ability to process images 60 times faster.This shows how much our brains crave the visual component. Also, a majority of 92% of consumers want brands to make ads that feel like a story. You probably have already noticed this trend  on YouTube, so many brands now are marketing video ads  in the form of stories narrated by a given character. But why do we tend to favour stories and how does storytelling affect our brain?

This is what this section from the infographic below tries to explain.

How Storytelling affects the brain

1- Neutral Coupling
A story activates parts in the brain that allows the listener to turn the story in to their own ideas and experience thanks to a process called neutral coupling.
2- Mirroring
Listeners will not only experience the similar brain activity to each other, but also to the speaker.
3- Dopamine
The brain releases dopamine into the system when it experiences an emotionally-charged event, making it easier to remember and with greater accuracy.
4- Cortex activity
When processing facts, two areas of the brain are activated (Broca�s and Wernicke�s area). A well-told story can engage many additional areas, including the motor cortex, sensory cortex, and frontal cortex.

Here is the full infographic.


Source: onespot

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New Bloom's Taxonomy Sheet with Over 80 Web Tools to Try Out

November 1, 2014
I am not sure if you have seen it before or not but this is absolutely among the best works I have seen on Bloom's Taxonomy. Since the time Bloom's Digital Taxonomy was released, several versions of this new taxonomy have seen the light with each one slightly different from the other in terms of the tools or apps it integrates with each thinking level. The Bloom's Taxonomy Wheel is something to remember here but the present resource I am sharing with you today is a work in progress which means it is growing and getting bigger. And guess what, you can also take part and contribute if you want.

Bloom's Taxonomy Tools is a Google document created by NJ superintendent Scott Rocco and it features a list of 89 web tools and mobile apps that correspond with every thinking level of Bloom's taxonomy. This work is a collective effort from different teachers and educators who have come together and crowdsourced ideas and tools to help teachers make the best of  Bloom's digital taxonomy in their instruction. As you can see below, the document features five columns: one for the name of the app, the other specifies the level of Bloom's taxonomy the app addresses, the third column is for links of the apps, the fourth  is on what the app does and the last one captures some ideas on how the app can be used. I invite you to have a look and contribute with an app or tool to the list. Enjoy

Click here to access Bloom's Taxonomy Tools Google doc.

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A Handy Search Tip Students Should Know About

October 31, 2014
Here is a pretty basic but very important search tip I want to bring to your attention today. Some of you might already be using it but I want you to share it with your students and help them search for information more efficiently. Using this search hack, students will be able to quickly find anything on a document, email or a webpage. This search tip involves the use of two keyboard buttons to bring up a small search box that will allow you to look for anything on the page you are on. Simply enter the word or phrase you want to look for and hit "enter". All the instances of that word will be highlighted in yellow. The combination for Mac users is "Command" + "F", and for Windows users "Control"+ "F".

 This search hack has several uses : You can use it to look for key words in an article, search for a specific term within page, look for the name of an author or character in a passage , and pretty much anything else you want to look for in a web page. Students can also use this hack when conducting a query in a search engine. They can click on search results and do a quick search to see whether the page has the search phrases they are looking for. Pretty basic but time-saving.

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iPad Library of Educational Videos to Spark Kids Imagination

October 31, 2014
A few days ago I shared here PBS Kids Video app that provides a wide variety of educational videos for kids. Today I am adding another wonderful iPad app in this direction. Brainfeed is one of the top ranked apps in the iTunes store. Designed to inform, entertain and inspire, Brainfeed provides children 7+, tweens, teens and even inquisitive adults with a safe corner of the web to explore a universe of educational videos.

Each video in Brainfeed  is handpicked by a team of enthusiastic educators from around the globe who are tasked with finding short (under 10 minutes) and documentary style videos that meet the following criteria:Curriculum-based, entertaining & engaging, visually stimulating, high quality content, age-appropriate , and child-friendly.

With over 1,400 videos and counting, your children will always have something new and wonderful to watch. And every week new videos are added to the  SEARCHABLE LIBRARY to keep Brainfeed fresh, engaging and interesting. Your children will get lost in a world of learning as they get answers to questions that spark their imagination.

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6 Good Chromebook Apps for Recording and Editing Audio

October 30, 2014
Awhile back I received couple of emails from some teachers asking about some app recommendations to record and edit audio on Chromebooks. Below are some of the good tools I would suggest for this purpose. Please have a look and share with us what you think of them.

1- SoundCloud

This is one of my favourite web tools for audio recording. Soundcloud is very easy to use and with once click you can start recording your own track. You can also upload sound tracks you have saved on your computer. Soundcloud also allows you to add comments to your audio tracks and share them with your students and friends.

2- Voice Recorder

Online Voice Recorder is a free simple application which records sound from microphone. After recording you can trim the sound and save it to your computer.

3-Vocaroo

Vocaroo is another web based tool that allows users to easily make audio recordings and share them with others. Vocaroo does not even require a sign-up and to start recording your audio, just head over to Vocaroo main page, click on record and there you go. Audio recording made by Vocaroo can be downloaded or shared using an embed code.
4- Twisted Wave

TwistedWave is a full featured audio editor that allows you to:  Edit audio files from your computer or your Google Drive, apply effects,  save in one of many supported file formats, and export the file back to your disk, Google Drive or SoundCloud.
5- Mic Note

Mic Note is a great tool that allows you to both record audio and take notes in the same time. Perfect for Lectures, Meetings, Conferences, Interviews, Brainstormings, Quick Notes, To-Do Lists, Plannings and more.

6- Spreaker

Spreaker gives you the chance to take part in a rich community of audio creators broadcasting thousands of shows, tracks, and playlists. Listen to rising talents, or upload your own creations to share easily with blogs, sites, and social networks. Step up to the mic by using the professional and easy to use DJ console, allowing you to mix voice, music, and effects that you�ll find in the cloud.

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Beautiful Visual Featuring 7 Ways to Do Formative Assessments in Class

October 30, 2014
Below is an excellent visual that features some handy ideas on how to carry on formative assessments in your class. Squareheadteachers took this original chart and remade it into a more reader friendly format which is also available for free download from this link.

Related: Formative Vs Summative assessment

As  refresher on formative assessment. This kind of assessment is usually referred to as assessment  for learning which is completely different from summative assessment which is assessment of learning. Formative assessment is used to check students understanding and to plan subsequent instruction. The information gained from this type of assessment aims at helping teachers make the next step in their instruction. Also, insights gained from formative assessment is meant to be integrated into an instructional model that allows for responsiveness to students need.

Check out the visual below for more ideas on how to go about assessing your students formatively.

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9 Interesting Tips A Parent Can Help With Reading

October 29, 2014
Here is a good visual I came across in my archive featuring 9 ways a parent can help with reading. The ideas are pretty basic and and some are commonsensical but they are really a good refresher of what you, as a parent, should pay attention to in order to help your kids become better readers.The only thing missing from this visual is the digital component for instance suggestions on apps and web tools to helps kids with their reading).

Here is a round-up of the 9 ways a parent can help with reading:

1- Let your child see you reading
2- Help your child find appropriate word and reading games on the computer. Keep a dictionary on hand. Help your child look up new words they read or hear.
3- Read mysteries with your child and try to figure out the clues together.Movie version coming out? 4- Read the book together first, then talk about which you liked better.
5- Set aside a time and place for your child to read, like a comfy chair and a reading light in a quiet place.
6- Visit your public library regularly. Look for and read together the books that were your favourites when you were a kid
7- Encourage your child to write: letters, thank you notes, emails, journals, lists, stories about their own trips, events, and daily life.
8- As your child questions about what he/she is reading, such as :

• What is the story about? 
• Who are the important characters in the story? 
• Where does the story take place? 
• Why did that happen? 
• How did you know about�? 
• Would you recommend this book to your friends?

9- Ask your child to draw a comic strip about what happened in the story. Provide word searches, crossword and other word games and puzzles, or help your child make his/her own.

Source of the infographic : For The Teachers Blog

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3 Great Search Engines Designed Specifically for Students

October 29, 2014
Being able to conduct efficient searches using different search engines is one of the essential component of the digital literacy we talked about earlier.Together with this, students are also required to develop necessary skills that will enable them to evaluate and assess the authenticity and reliability of web resources they are drawing on in their research. The net is teeming with all kinds of content and some of it is nothing but junk or, to borrow Howard Rheingold phrase, "information crap". EdTech and Mlearning has a whole section dedicated to search tips, ideas and tools to help your students become "smart  searchers", check it out to learn more.

Today, I am sharing with you three search engines I learned from Getting Smart designed specifically for students. These search engines are manned and monitored by librarians, search experts and in the case of iPL2 by students.

1- iPl2

ipl2 is a public service organization and a learning/teaching environment. To date, thousands of students and volunteer library and information science professionals have been involved in answering reference questions for our Ask an ipl2 Librarian service and in designing, building, creating and maintaining the ipl2's collections. It is through the efforts of these students and volunteers that the ipl2 continues to thrive to this day.

2- SweetSearch

SweetSearch is operated by a team of research experts, librarians and teachers who evaluated and approve anything that you find on the website. SweetSearch helps students find outstanding information, faster. It enables them to determine the most relevant results from a list of credible resources, and makes it much easier for them to find primary sources. SweetSearch  excludes not only obvious spam sites, but also marginal sites that read well, but lack academic or journalistic rigor.

3- Kids Click

KidsClick is owned and run by the School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) at Kent State University. KidsClick! is a web search site designed for kids by librarians - with kid-friendly results!

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Two Handy Web Tools to Develop Students Reading Comprehension Skills

October, 2014
A few weeks ago I posted here in Edtech and Mobile Learning a list of useful web tools to enhance students reading comprehension. Today, I am adding two other tools to the list. Check them out below:

1- ReadWorks

ReadWorks is an excellent platform that provides effective free resources to enhance students reading comprehension. It also gives teachers a bunch of research-proven tools and support they need to improve the academic achievement of their students.
ReadWorks also provides a wide variety of reading materials that are aligned to the Common Core Standards. These materials include both non-fiction and literary passages that students and teachers can access online for free. There is also a section on ReadWorks called " Lessons & Units" that features a plethora of lesson plans and comprehension worksheets for teachers to use with different grade levels. The lesson plans are arranged into four main categories: skills and strategy units, comprehension skills, novel study units, reading passages. 

2- Reading Bear

Reading Bear is a great tool for helping kids learn to read. Reading Bear integrates both vocabulary practice (over 1200 vocabulary items) and phonetic awareness ( covering different phonetic principles and patterns of written English) into their lessons. All of these lessons are provided in the form of narrated presentations playable either as a video or as an interactive slide show. Presentations are available in seven different versions. In the fullest version, the narrator sounds out a word slowly and quickly, then blend it slowly, and finally (after an optional prompt) blend it quickly. As sounds are pronounced, the corresponding letters are highlighted. Then a picture is displayed illustrating the word, show a sentence (with the individual sounds again highlighted, karaoke style), and finally show a video illustrating the sentence.

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The 5 Main Fluencies of The 21st Century Learning

October 29, 2014
Today I want to share with you this awesome read I came across in Global Citizen Education. The article is entitled " 21st Century Fluencies" and is basically based on Crockett et al.'s book Literacy is Not Enough. The main argument in this paper is that 21st century fluencies are process skills that students need in order to thrive in a rapidly changing world. These process skills include things such critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and innovation to mention but a few. "The 21st century fluencies", as the authors of this work state, "are not about hardware, they are about headware and heartware".

Image source: http://goo.gl/GJKHzD

The article talks at length about five main fluencies. Here is a brief overview of each of these fluencies and you can check the original article for more  in-depth analysis of each of these fluencies.

1- Solution Fluency
" Solution Fluency is the ability to think creatively to solve problems in real time by clearly defining the problem, designing an appropriate solution, delivering the solution and then evaluating the process and the outcome."

2-Creativity Fluency
Creative Fluency is the process by which artistic proficiency adds meaning through design, art, and storytelling. It is about using innovative design to add value to the function of a product though its form

3- Collaboration Fluency

"Collaboration Fluency is team working proficiency that has reached the unconscious ability to work cooperatively with virtual and real partners in an online environment to solve problems and create original products".

4- Media Fluency

" There are two components of Media Fluency. Firstly, the ability to look analytically at any communication to interpret the real message, and evaluate the efficacy of the chosen medium. Secondly, to create original communications by aligning the message and audience though the most appropriate and effective medium."

5- Information Fluency

Information Fluency is the ability to unconsciously and intuitively interpret information in all forms and formats in order to extract the essential knowledge, authenticate it, and perceive its meaning and significance.

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Two Excellent iPad Apps to Help Students with Math Homework

October 29, 2014
Here are two excellent iPad apps for providing Math homework help for students. In fact, these apps should be used only after students have tried all their best to solve their math problems. Both of these apps offer automatic solutions to mathematical expressions. The difference between the the two apps is that PhotoMath supports only printed math expressions while MyScript Calculator supports handwritten math formulae. PhotoMath allows learners to easily solve math problems by simply pointing their iPad's camera to them. Conversely, students can handwrite their math expressions on the screen of MyScript Calculator and automatic solutions will show up.

1- PhotoMath

PhotoMath is the world's first camera calculator. Just point the camera towards the mathematical expression, and PhotoMath instantly displays a correct result. By pressing the steps button, you can see the full step-by-step solution. Use it to get help when you're stuck solving a math problem. Children can use it as a tool which helps them to learn Math, while parents can use it to check the homework to their children. With PhotoMath, you can have a Math teacher in your pocket.

Watch this video to learn more abut PhotoMath

2- MyScript Calculator

Easy, simple and intuitive, just write the mathematical expression on the screen then let MyScript technology perform its magic converting symbols and numbers to digital text and delivering the result in real time.
The same experience as writing on paper with the advantages of a digital device (Scratch-outs, results in real time, �). Solve mathematical equations by hand without actually having to crunch the numbers yourself.

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10 Tips for Close Reading Success

October 28, 2014

Reading well requires much more than just decoding textual input, it is rather a process of making meaning of text using a wide range of critical and intellectual skills and drawing on different cues . Close reading is one example of a theory that explicates the intricacies surrounding effective reading. In close reading, readers need to consider a set of criteria for a better comprehension of the text. Some of the these criteria include: Language, Narrative, Syntax, and Context.

Language
Close attention to the diction or word choice ; identify the words the author chose to repeat or emphasize ?
Narrative
Close attention to the voice in the story, who is telling the story and how it is told?
Syntax
Examine the grammatical structures of utterances and the order in which the words appear.
Context
Every text is wrapped within a given context, pay close attention to the historical context and the author background.

In the visual below which I discovered through CoolcatTeacher, ten tips are provided for successful close reading activities. Check them out and weigh in by leaving a comment below.

Here is a quick round-up of the ten tips for close reading success:

• Select Short Passages
• Make Your Focus Intense
• Extend Focus Through the Text
• Students Markup the Text as They Read
• Encourage Exploratory Discussions
• Encourage Rereading
• Read in Every Subject Area
• Annotate the Text
• Use Close Reading Marks Independently
• Use Close Reading Strategically in Small Bites

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A Beautiful Visual on The 4 Ways Technology Is Changing The Ways We Learn

October 28, 2014
No two could argue over the drastic changes technology has brought upon our learning habits. Gradually, we are moving towards a whole new learning culture that lends itself to the ethos of digitality. Here is one personal example of how technology has changed one of my learning habits which is reading. Few years ago printed-based materials (books, newspapers, academic journal articles..etc) were the norm in my reading lists; however since I started using Kindle app three years ago most of my readings are done electronically. I have a growing digital library of more than 300 non-fiction books and I hardly ever read a paper version. I find the features provided by these reading apps (in this example Kindle) way more practical and useful . I could easily highlight any section I want in a book, use integrated dictionary to explain any word with one click,  add notes to passages and access them anywhere anytime.

you might think of other examples of how technology affects your learning but the key point here is that digitality has definitely transformed some aspects of our learning and will probably continue to do so in the future. In this context, Shift Learning has some other suggestions to cite here. For them technology's impact on the way we learn is manifested in these four main changes:

• A shift from individual learning to collaborative learning
• A shift from passive to active or brain-based learning
• The rise of differentiated instruction
• The phenomenon of multitasking

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Great iPap Apps for Students to Show What They Have Learned

October 28, 2014
Here is a list of some good iPad apps I have compiled over the last weekend. This list is specifically curated to include apps that will enable students to exhibit their learning in  multimodal ways. Students can use them to create tutorials, explanatory guides, record videos, or for digital storytelling purposes. Most of these apps have been featured in previous lists and in different contexts here in EdTech and Mlearning and the common thing among all of them is that they are student-friendly and are very simple to use.

1- 30 Hands: Create and Show What You Know

30hands Mobile is a fun, innovative storytelling app that allows students, teachers and anyone with creativity to easily create narrated stories or presentations based on photos, images, drawings or video clips using an iPad, iPhone or iPod.
2- Puppet Pals HD

Create your own unique shows with animation and audio in real time! Simply pick out your actors and backdrops, drag them on to the stage, and tap record. Your movements and audio will be recorded in real time for playback later.

3 - Sock Puppets

Sock Puppets lets you create your own lip-synched videos and share them on Facebook and YouTube. Add Puppets, props, scenery, and backgrounds and start creating. Hit the record button and the puppets automatically lip-synch to your voice.

4- Shadow Puppet

Shadow Puppet allows users  to:

• � Explain an idea with photographs or teach someone something new.
• � Share their experiences with friends.
• � Record kids talking about their adventures and sharing with grandparents.
• � Capture the stories behind old photographs.

5- Explain Everything

Explain Everything is an easy-to-use design, screencasting, and interactive whiteboard tool that lets you annotate, animate, narrate, import, and export almost anything to and from almost anywhere.

6- iMovie

iMovie puts everything you need to tell your story at your fingertips, with a beautifully streamlined interface and Multi-Touch gestures that let you enjoy your videos like never before. Browse your video library, quickly share favorite moments, and create beautiful HD movies and Hollywood-style trailers. And with iCloud, you can enjoy them in iMovie Theater on all your devices.

7- Educreations

Educreations turns your iPad into a recordable whiteboard. Creating a great video tutorial is as simple as touching, tapping and talking. Explain a math formula... Create an animated lesson... Add commentary to your photos... Diagram a sports play...

8- Doodlecast Pro

Doodlecast Pro is the easiest way to create presentations on your iPad. The app records your voice as you draw to create quick presentations. Doodlecast Pro saves videos to the camera roll making it easy to import them into popular video editors or presentation tools such as iMovie, Keynote, or iBooks Author. Perfect for teachers, students, business people and anyone needing an elegant way to share ideas.

9- ScreenChomp

A simple doodling board, markers, and one-click sharing tools make spreading your ideas and know-how easy and fun! Just - Record It. Sketch It. Share It. - to create a sharable, replay-able video that tells your story clearly.

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Great Resources and Lesson Plans for Teaching Kids about Ebola

October, 2014
Since the time World Health Organization (WHO) declared it an epidemic, Ebola virus has been making the news all over the world. As a deadly virus, Ebola has killed hundreds of people all of them in west Africa ( barring the one who died a few weeks ago in the States) and more specifically Liberia where the outbreak was first detected. As Ebola continues to make the front page news, it becomes imperative that teachers should be well-informed about this epidemic in order to help in raising  awareness among their students about the different aspects of this virus. I have done some research into this topic and compiled for you this list of resources that you can use to teach your kids and students about Ebola. I only included materials from highly trusted websites.

Note: Some images and descriptions contained in the Ebola resources below may not be suitable for all ages. Teachers should use their discretion.

1- What is Ebla
Here is an excellent video from CNN that explains Ebola in a very clear and comprehensible language.

2- New York Times Resources on Ebola
In this section, you will find some  quick ideas for teaching about the Ebola outbreak in one or two class periods, all grounded in The Times�s continuously-updated Ebola Q & A.

3- PBS Lesson Plans on Ebola

In this section you will find a set of lesson plans from the popular PBS on the Ebola virus.

4- BrainPop movies

In this movie, you�ll learn about germs and how to wash your hands the right way�with soap and warm water. You'll also learn when you should wash your hands, like before and after eating, after playing with a pet, and after going to the bathroom. How long should you take to wash your hands? Watch the movie to find out!

5- Student Discussion Guide
Education World has this excellent page where you can learn more about the history of Ebola together with some resources to use with your students.

6- Washington Post Ebola Tips
This is a great article from Washington Post featuring 5 tips for talking to your kids about Ebola.

7- American Academy of Pediatrics
This one contains tons of resources and materials to help your students better understand and learn about Ebola.

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Awesome Poster On Digital Literacy

October 28, 2014
Since the uptake of digital media and the boon in internet technologies, digital literacy becomes at the centre of literacy discussion. Digital literacy is not an aim in and of itself but a means to achieving a general goal: enhancing students learning in a digitally focused context.  In other words, by being digitally literate, students will be able to capitalize on the diverse resources provided by the net to create optimal learning experiences.

On a fundamental level, digital literacy involves a mysterious mixture of different "knows": know-how (practical knowledge), know-what (factual knowledge), know-why (critical knowledge),  and know-who (communicational knowledge). Some people confuse digital literacy with computer literacy or with computation and technical skills. To them digital literacy is summarized in practical knowledge which is a blatant fallacy. Being a digital literate requires more than just possessing digital and technical skills, it also calls for many other skills such as synthesizing, evaluating, critiquing, and presenting information. In the visual below, Mark Carbone suggests some really excellent ways to develop digital literacy. I invite you to have a look and share with us what you think of them.

Click here to see the full original visual.

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Top 60 iPad Apps for Teaching STEAM Organized by Grade Level

October 27, 2014
Looking for some good iPad apps to teach STEAM in your classroom? This collection created by We Are Teachers is definitely a must see. It provides about 60 iPad apps categorized under different subject areas, all of which are geared towards enhancing your kids' STEAM knowledge. The app recommendations are also arranged in such a way that you will be able to access apps for different grade levels (k-12). I have spent sometime going through this collection and find it really worth sharing with you here. Have a look and share with us what you think of it.

Click here to access the original post where you can access and download the apps. Enjoy

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Excellent Timeline Printables and Graphic Organizers for Your Class

October 26, 2014
A few days ago, I shared with you here in EdTech and Mlearning a great source of graphic organizers where teachers can access and download printables to use in their class. Today, I am sharing with you these excellent free Timeline graphic organizers and sequence charts to help you teach your kids sequencing and organizing ideas and events  chronologically.

It's Your Turn to Sequence 

Sequencing skills are practiced in this cooperative activity. This printable is customizable. Tailor the PDF to your teaching needs by typing in the highlighted fields before printing.

Story Sequence 

This organizer will assist students in ordering the events of a story and understanding the concepts of beginning, middle, and end. This printable is customizable. Tailor the PDF to your teaching needs by typing in the highlighted fields before printing.

Picture the Order 

This flowchart will help students organize many ideas and projects. Use it as an English language arts graphic organizer to help students sequence the key events in a story they read or plan to write.

Cycle Organizer 

Use this graphic organizer to sequence things that repeatedly cycle. This printable is customizable. Tailor the PDF to your teaching needs by typing in the highlighted fields before printing.

Time Line 

This ready-to-use time line is a helpful tool for organizing ideas and events chronologically. It's helpful when teaching sequence of events in reading, social studies, science, and any subject in which students need to identify chronology

 Timelines and Sequence Charts

Browse through this huge collection of Timeline and Sequence  graphic organizers  and see what you can find there.

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Great Tools and Apps for Teacher-Parent Communication

October 26, 2014
Students with parents who are up-to-date on their child(ren)'s lives tend to perform better in school. Fortunately, technology offers a variety of ways that can save teachers time as well as keep parents engaged. Here are some notable tools used by teachers and parents.

ParentSquare 

Gives teachers a host of ways to collaborate with parents, like newsletters, calendars, fundraisers, and volunteer requests.

Kaymbu 

Automatically shares classroom photos, notes, and other documents with parents for real-time updates.

Kidzloop 

Helps parents meet other parents in their neighborhood for playdates, as well as share photos with relatives.

Kidfully 

A new service that provides reviews and guides for local kids' activities. Currently offered only in part of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Want more? Check out these collections of tools.

Parent Communication 

 This list is curated by educator Shannon Jackson.

Summer Links for Parents 

 This one is curated by instructional technologies teacher Kate Reece.


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Helpful Resources for Using iPad in Education

October 25, 2014
Looking for innovative ideas and tips for using iPad in your class? Apple's iPad in Education website is a good place to start with. The website offers a wide range of resources and materials to help teachers make the best use of iPad in education. It provides a ideas and tips on how to make your lessons more engaging, relevant and fun for students through the use of iPad apps.

Content in iPad in Education is arranged into four main sections:

1- In the classroom
This section features some powerful iPad apps together with tips and instructions on how to use them with students.

2- Apps and Books
In this section, you will find links to pages where you can access and find curated popular educational apps organized by both subject and grade level.

3- Teaching with iPad
This is where you will get to see how teachers are using iPad and iTunes in the classroom to engage their students. There is also a section on teachers' stories where you can learn how other teachers have been using iPads to inspire their students and transform learning.

4- Resources
This page contains some really great resources to help you tap into the educational potential of iPad in your classroom.

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New- Portfoliogen Allows You to Create and Download Your Portfolios in PDF Format

October, 2014
Portfoliogen is a great web tool  for teachers. It  allows teachers to create their own customized portfolio webpage. This means that you have a user friendly platform designed specifically to host and organize all your materials into one place. You can also share your portfolio with your colleagues and peers using the generated URL.

Some of features of Portfoliogen
Here is a list of the main features that Portfoliogen offers to its users :

• It is free
• It is easy and simple to use
• It lets users create Portfolio online
• It generates a personal URL for each portfolio created
• It lets users post information, certifications, work related photos and many more
• It allows users to upload documents and add work related links to use useful websites
• Users can customize the design and layout of their webpage

Today, Portfoliogen.com has launched a new feature allowing members to download their content and show their artifacts locally in a variety of formats including PDF, PowerPoint, and Flash. Click on this link to see a sample PDF download . Here is a sample portfolio website.

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A Good Way to Create and Save Mind Maps to Google Drive

October 25, 2014
MindMup is an excellent web tool that allows you to create beautiful mind maps. Mindmup does not require registration and is very simple to use. It is also integrated with Google Drive so you can save your mind maps straight to your Drive account. MindMup also provide a set of good extensions to enhance your mind mapping. Some examples include:

Realtime collaboration:
This is a good feature to use with students in class. Realtime collaboration allows multiple users to collaborate synchronously work on a mind map. All changes are visible to collaborators.

Progress
Progress allows you to manage hierarchies of tasks faster by propagating statuses to parent nodes. For example, when all sub-tasks are completed, the parent task is marked as completed automatically.

Straight lines
This extension converts funky curve connectors into straight lines, which makes it clearer to see what connects to what on large maps.

When you are done working on your mind maps you can then save them to your Dropbox or Google Drive. Alternatively, you can share them  via email, embed link, or through social media websites such as Twitter, Facebook,and Google Plus. You also have the option to export them  in PDF or PNG format.

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The Best Dr Seuss Reading Apps for Your Kids

October, 2014
Theodor Seuss Geisel  ( known by his pen names Dr.Seuss and Theo LeSieg  ) was one of the authors who had profusely contributed to the advancement of kid's literature. During his lifetime ( 1904- 1991 ) Dr Seuss published 46 children's books the most popular among which include : Green Eggs and Ham ,  The Cat in the Hat,  One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish ,  Horton Hatches the Egg,  Horton Hears A Who!,  How the Grinch Stole Christmas!,and  /Horton Hears a Who and many more familiar to millions of parents and children. . Some of his works were adapted into the world of television and cinema.

We have featured several of Dr Seuss visuals and posters to use in class. However, today we are sharing with you this excellent list created by  Katherine Page Burdick  where she compiled 19 iPad Dr Seuss reading apps organized by reading level. We invite you to check out and share with us what you think of it. Enjoy.

Dr. Seuss Reading apps leveled easiest to hardest

View more lists from Katherine Page Burdick

Courtesy of Teachthought.

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