Recent articles
9 ed tech tools to help boost essay writing
11/10/2016
Topics: Literacies, Tools
Essay writing is an important skill, not just for English language arts, but across subject areas because it gives voice to students’ thoughts and ideas. You might not have the opportunity to teach writing in your science or social studies classroom, but that doesn’t mean you can’t help…
5 ways to crowdsource ideas for choosing the right technology
10/14/2016
In the spring of 2015, our school district passed a bond that included over $5 million for a student mobile device initiative. For the previous 4½ years, we’d been a 1:1 K-12 district with iPads as our device of choice. With the passing of the bond, we had an opportunity not only to…
3 ways to engage introverted students
10/04/2016
Topics: Personalized Learning, Tools
I love discussing books even more than I love reading them. When I can’t figure something out, I do best by talking it through. I get more energy from whole class discussions than from any other teaching activity because I am an extrovert myself.
So, in a classroom…
Google CS First ignites interest in computer science
12/28/2015
Topics: Coding & robotics, Computational Thinking, Digital storytelling, Literacies, Personalized Learning, STEM & STEAM, Tools
I am always looking for ways to inspire my students — especially middle school girls — to grow their knowledge and skills in STEM subjects, particularly in the realm of computer science. So it was a great find when I discovered Google CS…
Teach locally, share globally on a multilingual Twitter chat
11/18/2015
Topics: Gaming, professional learning, Tools
Global project-based learning allows students to collaborate with experts and other learners around the world. Hailed as way to…
Twitter in the classroom? Make formative assessments fun with digital tools
10/27/2015
Topics: Assessment, Tools
The emphasis on assessment in education isn’t going away anytime soon – and that’s a good thing, says Patricia Brown, elementary technology integration coach at Old Bonhomme Elementary School in Olivette, Missouri.
“Right now, there’s a lot of emphasis on data, a lot of…
Learn something new with the ISTE Professional Learning Series
10/16/2015
Topics: Advocacy, Curriculum, Digital Citizenship, Digital storytelling, Gamification, Project-based learning, STEM & STEAM, Tools
Ready to learn something new? Expand your digital toolkit and explore new ideas for learning and teaching with the latest season of the ISTE Professional Learning Series. Presented by members for members, these free web events deliver new ideas and strategies right to your computer so you can…
Flip reading assignments and make them interactive
10/02/2015
Topics: Flipped learning, Tools
English language arts teachers often say they are the original flipped learning advocates. After all, they have always assigned books to students to read at home and asked them to come back the next day to discuss the readings in class.
They are absolutely right, of course. But…
Know the ISTE Standards for Coaches: Create a digital portfolio
09/30/2015
Topics: professional learning, Tools
ISTE Standards for Coaches 6: Content Knowledge and Professional Growth
As educational practices have changed over time,…
Better (and easy) ways to connect to parents
09/23/2015
Topics: Parent engagement, Tools
You hear it all the time: Kids are often more tech-savvy than their teachers. And these days, it’s not uncommon for their parents to be just as comfortable using new communications technologies. That’s why, if you want to stay connected with your extended classroom family, it’s…