I for one, will not, and will never, bash an educator for not being on a certain program or doing a certain thing. That's just not sound leadership. Telling everyone that they need to be doing something for afar may be effective in the short term but in the long term, what is lost?
The same can be said when it comes to connected-educators and those who are not (let's call them, non-connected educators). Telling everyone that they need to be on Social Media is not sound leadership. But all too often, I have seen it recently.
It goes something like this:
Connected-Educator - " I don't get why more people aren't on such and such, they need to be or they will get fired." (BTW, that was said on Twitter, in a tweet).
Non-Connected Educator - "I don't get or have the time to go on these sites. I have all the resources I need and my school will provide me with everything I need." (Said in Lunchroom).
So you have these two sides nuking it out in forums where their only audiences are those who have similar feelings and interests. Its like an echo chamber. No one can reach the other side because we are speaking in places where they aren't.
Instead of doing that, we need to be leaders and we need to be CONNECTION Educators. These are people who connect with one another is many different areas, in person, online, in small groups and in large groups. They know how important face-to-face interactions are. They know and understand that PD opportunities happen all the time, whether LIVE, Recorded, or archived.
They reach across the aisle to both sides and bridge the gap. They are CONNECTION Educators. They make the connections with staff on all fronts. They share the wealth on information they have, instead of keeping it to themselves or re-posting it in a place where only those who know the info already are. When presented with two extremes, the middle is often the best bet and most reliable option.
Let's be that for our colleagues. Let's be that for our staff. Let's be that for our students.
FYI - Just in case you do want to join an online chat, check out this list of hashtags!
List of Twitter Hashtags For Students and Teachers - EdTechReview: List of Twitter Hashtags for Students and Teachers. As monitoring the hashtags and getting the needed information easily, is simply a gift in the age of knowledge bombardement.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Super, ridiculously large iPad infographic!
I love iPads. I love what they can offer to students and teachers. But sometimes, their "coolness" gets in the way of what they can really do, transform learning for students and educating for teachers. Here is a great info-graphic (information graphics) that lays out EXACTLY what they can do. I wish I came up with it but I didn't, so I will share it.
Via Tony Vincent @ http://learninginhand.com/blog/2013/4/7/ipad-as-the-teachers-pet-infographic?buffer_share=9875c&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer%253A%252BICTEvangelist%252Bon%252Btwitter
Via Tony Vincent @ http://learninginhand.com/blog/2013/4/7/ipad-as-the-teachers-pet-infographic?buffer_share=9875c&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer%253A%252BICTEvangelist%252Bon%252Btwitter
Friday, April 26, 2013
App-O-Da-Week #4
As a good friend and fellow Social Studies teacher once said to me - "In the end, history matters."
Some students dread coming to Social Studies, while others are as excited as can be.
And while Social Studies (or history if you still teach or call it that) gets NO LOVE on state assessments (I'm looking at you, NJ ASK, PARCC, and anything else), we do get some massive love in the APP world.
So, in this weeks edition of our App-O-Da-Week, we are highlighting the apps that are filled with a bunch of maps and old dead people from history, that's right, the SOCIAL STUDIES APPS. We will be highlighting two apps this week, one for elementary school students and the other for middle school students. Both apps will deal with Geography.
One of the lost arts today is looking at, and figuring out maps. Well, there is a great app for that!
Its called Stack the States - $0.99 -
Stack the States has great educational and entertainment value. Kids will fall in love with its ease of use that should keep them entertained and learning. Enough said. Take a look!
"History and geography (duh) collide on this very popular resource, which provides access to maps past and present so users can watch how borders and projections shift over time." - Edudemic, 50 Must-Download Apps For Lifelong Learners
Here are the key features:
- Wide variety of historical displays
- Support for Category/Era view
- Keyword Search
- Displays the source about each map
- Zoom in/out (zoom-in/out with pinch, zoom-in with double tab, and zoom-out with two-fingers tap
A local school district in Alabama came up with this great video on the App - check it out!
I like this app because it gets to the point - there is no need for an Atlas. Students have historic, geographic, and others maps at their fingertips.
So, for our recap:
App #1 - Stack the States - $0.99
App #2 - History: Maps of the World - FREE
While I may be biased on these apps (and oh yes, I am), I think both are great pickups that will enhance learning and won't cripple your wallet.
Remember - in the end, HISTORY matters. Plus, we rock.
Some students dread coming to Social Studies, while others are as excited as can be.
And while Social Studies (or history if you still teach or call it that) gets NO LOVE on state assessments (I'm looking at you, NJ ASK, PARCC, and anything else), we do get some massive love in the APP world.
So, in this weeks edition of our App-O-Da-Week, we are highlighting the apps that are filled with a bunch of maps and old dead people from history, that's right, the SOCIAL STUDIES APPS. We will be highlighting two apps this week, one for elementary school students and the other for middle school students. Both apps will deal with Geography.
One of the lost arts today is looking at, and figuring out maps. Well, there is a great app for that!
Its called Stack the States - $0.99 -
While not entirely free (there is a FREE lite version that I would recommend trying before making this huge purchase...) it is a great app that teaches state recognition and capitals and the like in a progression like fashion, unlocking states as they go along. Perfect for kids in grades 1-4. It's fun and addictive, which is the crux of any good educational app. Make it fun and they will want to learn even more!
Even Commonsensemedia.org wrote a nice piece about it! Here is what they said:
- Help kids search for interesting facts or landmarks in each state to keep learning fun.
- Plan imaginary visits to state capitals. Map out the trip and sights to see.
- Encourage kids to dig deeper into the history of their own state, or states where relatives live.
Stack the States has great educational and entertainment value. Kids will fall in love with its ease of use that should keep them entertained and learning. Enough said. Take a look!
The second app is aimed at older students - particularly in middle school. This app is FREE. Yes, we love the word FREE in education and this one is a good one.
It's called History: Maps of the World.
The maps are rendered in beautiful HD quality. There are literally hundreds of maps. Even Edudemic thinks its a great app!
Here are the key features:
- Wide variety of historical displays
- Support for Category/Era view
- Keyword Search
- Displays the source about each map
- Zoom in/out (zoom-in/out with pinch, zoom-in with double tab, and zoom-out with two-fingers tap
A local school district in Alabama came up with this great video on the App - check it out!
I like this app because it gets to the point - there is no need for an Atlas. Students have historic, geographic, and others maps at their fingertips.
So, for our recap:
App #1 - Stack the States - $0.99
App #2 - History: Maps of the World - FREE
While I may be biased on these apps (and oh yes, I am), I think both are great pickups that will enhance learning and won't cripple your wallet.
Remember - in the end, HISTORY matters. Plus, we rock.
PS - join us on Twitter for this gem of a chat!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Learning wherever, whenever!
Last night during our weekly #njed Twitter chat (and subsequent teachercast.tv live video feed), we discussed how and why you should take learning outside.
We came up with, as current and former teachers, a number of reasons. Learning shouldn't be confined to the four walls that surround you. In fact, the only thing walls are good for is keeping bugs out.
When it comes to learning - you can learn anywhere as long as there is a group of people who want to learn and there is someone there willing to facilitate. Some of my best lessons were outside, walking the campus and asking questions to students. There minds weren't pent up looking at the same thing. They were learning via nature.
I bring this up because our students just went on a trip to the local Apple Store. And while it wasn't nature, it was a trip. The useds iMacs, Mac Books, and iPads to crunch numbers and use that app to figure out real world finance issues.
It was fantastic. The staff was helpful, the kids wanted to use the tech, and the trip went better than planned. Learning can happen anywhere, as long as you have the drive to learn.
Kudos to the people at the store - you did a great job!
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The Frustrations of Failure why you shouldn't give up
In education, failure is a nasty word. Like he who should not be named.
Since the start of schools in history (I know, that's a long way back), we have had a system of passing and failing. This system of benchmarks has indicated to the teachers, students, and parents, what a certain individual has learned or has not learned. How that individual has done throughout a certain amount of time in school.
We are moving towards a new era in accountability, nearly 30 years after the publication of "A Nation at Risk." Not only are our students beholden to this grading system, but our teachers, and likewise administrators, are behold to it as well. The new system for them is basically a wolf in sheep's clothing - its a system of pass or fail to render it down to its lowest denominator.
Teachers are graded via observations and test scores to render to reflect a passing or failing score on a body of work over a certain amount of time.
Students are graded via test scores and performance based assessments to reflect a passing or failing score on a body of work over a certain amount of time.
Its the basic foundation of our grading system that hasn't changed in nearly, well, forever.
Until now.
I want to take back the word FAILURE. All too often, I hear in hallways or publications or broadcast memos that Failure is not an option. That we need to be keeping up with schools from around the globe. That we need to enhance math and science. We need STEM. No, we need STEAM. No, we need STEAM plus reading, plus this.....
You get my point.
But no one is really talking about failing at its root. Everyone talks about how to prevent students from failing or to bump those who are on the cusp from failing to passing to improve an overall body of work over a certain period of time.
But no one is talking about failing in its most true sense. At it's heart.
I'm gonna say it... loud and clear.
Ready...
Are you sure?
IT'S OKAY TO FAIL.
Wow. Now admit that to yourself and say it aloud. Feel better? Good. Now read this quote.
I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.
Michael Jordan
If His Highness of Hangtime believed that, why can't we? Failing is okay. Its not trying again that I can't stand. We lump these two words together and demonize those students and teachers who do fail. It's okay to fail - show me the first person to never make a mistake and I will show you the biggest liar on the planet.
Everyone fails. It's how we respond that counts the most. I'm not advocating mass failure, don't get me wrong. What I am saying is that let's reclaim failing.
If a student fails, lets not make them feel like its just about the number or bottom line (or the Gentlemen's "D" - and I know we all know what that is). It's about the student.
To Fail = First Attempt In Learning
Stop preventing kids from failing - help prevent them from giving up.
How can I help you figure this out? Forget the number.
How can I help you succeed? Forget the statistics.
How can I help you get back up? Forget the negativity.
How can I help you fail so that you learn from your mistakes? #letsfail
Thursday, April 18, 2013
App-O-Da-Week #3
In a galaxy, far, far away, there was this blog. And on this blog, there was this weekly post. And in this post, there was a review of an app that can be used in education.
(cue scrolling text).....
This week in our APP-O-DA-WEEK segment, we are going to discuss and review an app that will make even Trekkies jealous, its STAR WALK.
When I went to school, one of the best parts about learning science was astromnomy. For most kids today, that is still one of the best parts. Learning about planets, moon landings, stars, and places they have never heard of, let alone will ever visit or see.
With Star Walk, the Milky Way gets a little bit closer and more personal than ever before.
(cue scrolling text).....
This week in our APP-O-DA-WEEK segment, we are going to discuss and review an app that will make even Trekkies jealous, its STAR WALK.
When I went to school, one of the best parts about learning science was astromnomy. For most kids today, that is still one of the best parts. Learning about planets, moon landings, stars, and places they have never heard of, let alone will ever visit or see.
With Star Walk, the Milky Way gets a little bit closer and more personal than ever before.
What Star Walk does is it allows the user to open up the app and point the device towards the sky. With some really intuitive engineering and real time GPS functionality, it can pinpoint where you are and transpose the nights sky onto your device.
It will allow you to see everything that is up there (besides UFOs), Constellations; Solar System, Deep Space; Stars; and Satellites.
For $2.99 - (I know, two paid apps in a row? What are you doing to our wallets?!?), it is a steal and a great addition to the classroom for students who want to gaze at the stars during school. The best part? No internet or wifi is required. Star Walk shows visually appealing maps of the heavens (in the direction you're pointing your iPhone when Star Spotter is enabled), and has social media integration, image galleries, and more.
Here is the official app description:
Star Walk is an award-winning Education app that allows users to easily locate and identify 20,000+ objects in the night sky. The 360-degree, touch control star map displays constellations, stars, planets, satellites, and galaxies currently overhead from anywhere on Earth. Highly praised and the winner of a 2010 Apple Design Award, the latest update allows users to enjoy unprecedented eye candy and interactivity of the star map, achieved with the new camera and high resolution of the new device. *No Internet connection required*
Latest additions:
The new version includes comprehensive stargazing calendar that shows all visible celestial events for your area, explains their nature and sets a reminder in iCal for ones you chose to see. Other additions include comet tracking and iridium flares.
Augmented Reality allows users to point-and-display the sky as on any device with digital compass and camera. The same mechanism helps calibrate iPhone 4 compass to eliminate error margin completely.
Main Features:
- Stargazing Community - Twitter integration for iOS 5.1
- Augmented Reality
- Satellites Tracking - find out where exactly the ISS is right now! (8000+ satellites)
- Calendar of Celestial events
- TELRAD: advanced feature to help you measure angular distance between nearby stars. Can be turned on/off in Settings menu.
Until we can get interplanetary space travel down, use this app! Heres some tunes to get you in the mood while you download it!
The blog in all of us!
Let's talk about blogging. Well, even better, lets talk about blogging while writing a blog. Even better than that, lets talk about blogging with writing a blog whilst also looking at other blogs for ideas!
Its like a tv, inside of a tv, inside of a tv...
But again, I digress.
Blogs (what a funny name) transformed me. The transformed the way I teach, the way I learn, and the way I interacted with my students.
I had used a blog within my classroom for nearly four years before I moved on to the current position am in today. It was appropiately named: charlestonsclass.blogspot.com ! This was before I truly understood why 24/7 learning was important. I really just wanted my students to engage in a forum outside of school where they all could participate (and not feel like their voice wasn't heard or overshadowed) on their own time with their own devices.
My first blog posts were never really the in depth mantras that most blogs were all about. You know the ones. The ones that talked about their days, what they had to eat, and where they wanted to vacation. No, mine had none of that - the were makeshift educational forums for students. We bantered, debated, and participated in some pretty amazing discussions.
I posted articles to read, videos to watch, and games to engage in - and my kids would take it all in and bring that knowledge to the table the next day to get down and do some serious work.
Even before the phrase entered my vision, I knew that I was doing something different. I had flipped my teaching and therefore, had flipped my classroom.
By the time I was ready to join the Tech ranks, I had over ten-thousand visits and at times, nearly 200 posts in an hour! (our Fast and Furious study guide hours - thanks to http://waterforsixthgrade.blogspot.com/ and Mr. Dan Klumper for tons of inspiration: and he doesn't even know it, until now!)
I taught Professional Development about blogs to my district and shared the wealth of what I did with my students. I created a Terms and Conditions sheet for parents and students to sign and my students had to hand that in before they could even step into the digital realm of our class blog.
Need some ideas on why to blog? Check out this list from EDUblogs.com
I bring this up because blogging is just so important for education and serious learning.
Writing (or typing if you see it that way) is not going to go away - it will just evolve.
Engaging your students is never going to go away - it will just evolve.
Teaching will never, ever go away - it will just evolve.
How will you evolve?
Its like a tv, inside of a tv, inside of a tv...
Blogs (what a funny name) transformed me. The transformed the way I teach, the way I learn, and the way I interacted with my students.
I had used a blog within my classroom for nearly four years before I moved on to the current position am in today. It was appropiately named: charlestonsclass.blogspot.com ! This was before I truly understood why 24/7 learning was important. I really just wanted my students to engage in a forum outside of school where they all could participate (and not feel like their voice wasn't heard or overshadowed) on their own time with their own devices.
My first blog posts were never really the in depth mantras that most blogs were all about. You know the ones. The ones that talked about their days, what they had to eat, and where they wanted to vacation. No, mine had none of that - the were makeshift educational forums for students. We bantered, debated, and participated in some pretty amazing discussions.
I posted articles to read, videos to watch, and games to engage in - and my kids would take it all in and bring that knowledge to the table the next day to get down and do some serious work.
Even before the phrase entered my vision, I knew that I was doing something different. I had flipped my teaching and therefore, had flipped my classroom.
By the time I was ready to join the Tech ranks, I had over ten-thousand visits and at times, nearly 200 posts in an hour! (our Fast and Furious study guide hours - thanks to http://waterforsixthgrade.blogspot.com/ and Mr. Dan Klumper for tons of inspiration: and he doesn't even know it, until now!)
I taught Professional Development about blogs to my district and shared the wealth of what I did with my students. I created a Terms and Conditions sheet for parents and students to sign and my students had to hand that in before they could even step into the digital realm of our class blog.
Need some ideas on why to blog? Check out this list from EDUblogs.com
I bring this up because blogging is just so important for education and serious learning.
Writing (or typing if you see it that way) is not going to go away - it will just evolve.
Engaging your students is never going to go away - it will just evolve.
Teaching will never, ever go away - it will just evolve.
How will you evolve?
Friday, April 12, 2013
App-O-Da-Week #2
Back again, huh? Still looking for those great education apps? (You know there are over 40,000 of them in the iTunes App Store).
How the heck are you supposed to find an app in a haystack the size of that?!
Never fear - The APP-O-DA-WEEK is here!!!
In conjunction with our great #appyhour discussion on Twitter (Fridays @2pm est) (Shameless plug) - we again, have broken down the apps that you most talked about and most revered.
The discussion this week centered around Reading, Spelling, Grammar apps to use for ELA (or LAL, or English for those who remember when it was called that) class.
With so many great apps to choose from, it was a tough choice - though a last minute RT (re-tweet) helped to sway the judges (me).
And the winner is.....
Wait, don't you mean the show that was on PBS for over two decades? Yes, I do mean that one. Mr. Burton and the crew are off TV now but have jumped into the mobile fray.
As the Huff Post Tech wrote: "Switching over to the tablet may prove beneficial for advocating literacy with today's younger generation. According to the New York Times, 46 percent of children ages five to eight use a computer more than once a week and 50 percent of children under eight have access to a mobile device."
The app allows teachers and parents to monitor progress and check out books. Unfortuantly, the app isn't free but for 150 books and 16 video "field trips", parents can pay $9.99 a month or $29.99 for a six-month subscription to receive unlimited access to frequently updated content.
To check out more about this app, hit up: http://www.rrkidz.com/
To download the app, hit up: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reading-rainbow/id512350210?mt=8
For educators, there is even some plans that go along with it, hit up: http://www.rrkidz.com/educators
How the heck are you supposed to find an app in a haystack the size of that?!
Never fear - The APP-O-DA-WEEK is here!!!
In conjunction with our great #appyhour discussion on Twitter (Fridays @2pm est) (Shameless plug) - we again, have broken down the apps that you most talked about and most revered.
The discussion this week centered around Reading, Spelling, Grammar apps to use for ELA (or LAL, or English for those who remember when it was called that) class.
With so many great apps to choose from, it was a tough choice - though a last minute RT (re-tweet) helped to sway the judges (me).
And the winner is.....
READING RAINBOW - you don't have to take my word for it, but read on if you do!
Wait, don't you mean the show that was on PBS for over two decades? Yes, I do mean that one. Mr. Burton and the crew are off TV now but have jumped into the mobile fray.
As the Huff Post Tech wrote: "Switching over to the tablet may prove beneficial for advocating literacy with today's younger generation. According to the New York Times, 46 percent of children ages five to eight use a computer more than once a week and 50 percent of children under eight have access to a mobile device."
The app allows teachers and parents to monitor progress and check out books. Unfortuantly, the app isn't free but for 150 books and 16 video "field trips", parents can pay $9.99 a month or $29.99 for a six-month subscription to receive unlimited access to frequently updated content.
To check out more about this app, hit up: http://www.rrkidz.com/
To download the app, hit up: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reading-rainbow/id512350210?mt=8
For educators, there is even some plans that go along with it, hit up: http://www.rrkidz.com/educators
And those of you who just want to hear the old theme song - this one is for you
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Interactivity with Tech - Skype
Keeping with this week’s theme of bringing technology and telecommunications to our classrooms, I am proud to reintroduce SKYPE to our district!
Skype is a software application that enables its users to make voice and video calls over the internet. Calls to other Skype users are free, while calls to both traditional land line telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system. Skype can also be used for instant messaging, transferring files, and video conferencing.
So…why are we talking about this?! Because – you have all Skype installed on your computers. Skype is instant messaging and video conferencing.
For instance – if you have an issue, we can communicate with you REAL TIME.
Imagine – going on a Virtual Field Trip with an explorer in the Arctic! The possibilities are endless.
How Classroom Video Conferencing Works
Not every child wakes up eager to go to school. But if that child's day involved visiting with other school children in Zimbabwe, touring a Brazilian rainforest or interviewing an astronaut, she might be more inclined to get out of bed. Enter the classroom of video conferencing, an evolving teaching method that is enhancing learning from kindergarten to graduate school. Video conferencing enables people at separate locations to communicate using video and audio transmissions and it isn't just for corporate meetings and television broadcasters anymore. With the advancements in technology that have occurred in the last several years, more educators are pulling video conferencing into their classrooms.
Video Conferencing Education
At its most basic level, video conferencing in education connects remote students to teachers. On a more exciting level, it also leads students on virtual tours, brings far-away experts on camera for interviews and allows kids to try out their fledgling foreign language skills on their peers from other countries. While such activities might have been difficult in the past due to travel costs, time constraints and inconvenience, classroom video conferencing can offer a work-around solution. Video conferencing lessons for schools can also ignite an interest and enthusiasm for learning that traditional teaching methods sometimes can't.
At its most basic level, video conferencing in education connects remote students to teachers. On a more exciting level, it also leads students on virtual tours, brings far-away experts on camera for interviews and allows kids to try out their fledgling foreign language skills on their peers from other countries. While such activities might have been difficult in the past due to travel costs, time constraints and inconvenience, classroom video conferencing can offer a work-around solution. Video conferencing lessons for schools can also ignite an interest and enthusiasm for learning that traditional teaching methods sometimes can't.
The Adventure Science Center in Nashville, TN is one of many educational institutions that deliver educational programs via video conferencing. The Adventure Science Center creates opportunities for children to learn while having fun.
Tips for Using Skype
Before the Skype session
- · Test the microphone, speakers and camera settings to make sure everything is working properly. Involve students as much as possible by assigning roles.
- · Have students practice speaking slowly and clearly.
- · If students are communicating about a prearranged topic, have a list of the students names on the board so they know the order they are participating.
- · Have students practice what they are going to say ahead of time.
- · If questions are going to be used in the skype session, prepare the questions ahead of time.
- · Organize the desks so that students can easily get to the microphone and/or camera and so that they can also be easily seen by those you are skyping with.
- · Place a "speaker chair" or mark a specific spot on the floor where students will sit/stand in order to be seen on the camera.
- · Set up an established time for the Skype session. Make sure you and your collaborator are clear on dates and times, taking into account time zone differences.
- · Arrange who is going to initiate and end the call.
- · Before placing a call, send a chat message to see if the participating class is ready. This way you’re not interrupting them if they’re busy. Even if you have an established time, it is courteous to send a quick message to make sure your collaborator is ready for the call.
- · Students should speak clearly and slowly so they can be easily understood.
- · Try not to use 'slang' language that is only from your country or region unless the meaning is explained to the participating class.
- · Make sure students don't speak too loud. This is a major cause of feedback with the microphone and speakers.
- · Only have one person speaking at a time.
- · Encourage students to say who they are before they begin speaking.
- · Have an order in which students will speak.
- · Have a set procedure, i.e. one class asks a question, the other class answers then asks their question, etc.
- · Make sure to click on the End Call button to disconnect a session. Closing or minimizing the Skype window will not end a call.
Ideas for using SKYPE
| One to One | One to Class | Class to Class |
Pen Pals
|
Calling an expert
|
Games
|
Tech Support
|
Interviewing an author
|
Debates
|
Communicate with parents/students
|
Inclusion of homebound students
|
Learn about lives/cultures
|
Job Interviews
|
Virtual Field Trips
|
Collecting data
|
Collaborate on projects
|
Professional Development
|
Learning a language
|
Collaborate with other teachers
|
Students presenting information or performing for other classes
| |
Provide mentoring or homework help
|
Sharing stories, riddles, math problems, or class artifacts
|
Inclusion with homebound students - 5th grade classroom at Agnes Risley Elementary School - Sparks, NV
Connect Nebraska - 4th grade classrooms in Nebraska who have connected with each other via Skype or iChat. Students learn about different regions of the state from kids their own age.
https://education.skype.com/
http://www.teachthought.com/technology/50-ideas-for-using-skype-in-your-classroom/
Friday, April 5, 2013
App-O-Da-Week - #1
So, you are looking for a new app?
You want it to be easy to use and understand?
You want it to be FREE?!
Well, here you go - after our great #appyhour discussion on Twitter (Fridays @2pm est) (Shameless plug) - we will be pulling the most talked about and loved app of the week for you to all!
The discussion this week centered around Productivity and Organizational apps to use in your classroom for yourself or for your students. When it came down to all the nooks and crannies of the apps talked about, one kept popping up.
http://evernote.com/penultimate/
http://blog.evernote.com/blog/2013/01/31/penultimate-4-the-best-handwriting-app-just-got-better-and-its-free/
And the +The Next Web - http://thenextweb.com/apps/2013/01/31/evernote-penultimate/
If you are looking to get one free app for organization and productivity, this one is it!
PS - The ART-O-DA series is something that I used for years with my students for extra credit - will be carrying over the practice when I first saw +Jay Eitner use it in his blog! Got to give credit where it is due!
Best,
Mr. C
You want it to be easy to use and understand?
You want it to be FREE?!
Well, here you go - after our great #appyhour discussion on Twitter (Fridays @2pm est) (Shameless plug) - we will be pulling the most talked about and loved app of the week for you to all!
The discussion this week centered around Productivity and Organizational apps to use in your classroom for yourself or for your students. When it came down to all the nooks and crannies of the apps talked about, one kept popping up.
Evernote and Penultimate!
These two apps are both FREE, use the same login and password (great for educators who can't remember one more password as it is!) and helps keep organized and tabs on your students, classrooms, and projects all at the same time.
You can input pictures from your camera, use the Notability pad as a sketch book for multiple classes, and make folders for all your students work. It takes the place of Office Apps and even Apple apps, like pages.
Don't take my word for it - check out what +Evernote has to say about it!
http://blog.evernote.com/blog/2013/01/31/penultimate-4-the-best-handwriting-app-just-got-better-and-its-free/
And the +The Next Web - http://thenextweb.com/apps/2013/01/31/evernote-penultimate/
If you are looking to get one free app for organization and productivity, this one is it!
PS - The ART-O-DA series is something that I used for years with my students for extra credit - will be carrying over the practice when I first saw +Jay Eitner use it in his blog! Got to give credit where it is due!
Best,
Mr. C
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