In May, I wrote about MOOCs (massive open online courses) that are available for new teachers through the New Teacher Center. At the time, their First Year Teacher series was not available, but it is now!
The NTC's First Year Teacher Success from the Start series is available, on demand. There is a secondary and an elementary course offered. Each course has 6 modules with presentations and assignments. You can start the courses at any time. The course is free, but in order to receive a certificate of completion, there is a $49 cost associated. Check with the professional development and/or continuing education credits office in your district before paying for the certificate to see if the credits will count towards license renewal credits or professional development for you.
What a great way to get back into school mode and ready for the year!
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Monday, August 17, 2015
Monday, May 25, 2015
MOOCs for teachers
Have you tried a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course)? While they;ve been around since 2008, it's only been the last 2 or 3 years that they've really exploded and more and more people, including teachers, have started taking advantage of the opportunity.
The New Teacher Center has partnered with Coursera to offer some MOOCs especially designed for new teachers. Right now, their three main series revolve around the Common Core in Math, Common Core in ELA with the Literacy Design Collaborative, and the First Year Teaching series.
There aren't any starting immediately, but their First Year Teaching series usually begins in July. So definitely make a note to check back towards the end of the school year to see when a start date for that course might become available. And check with your Teaching & Learning department - these hours for the course might contribute towards PD or course credits for lane changes based on the completion certificate.
Additional MOOC offerings that might be worth looking into can be found here and here.
The New Teacher Center has partnered with Coursera to offer some MOOCs especially designed for new teachers. Right now, their three main series revolve around the Common Core in Math, Common Core in ELA with the Literacy Design Collaborative, and the First Year Teaching series.
There aren't any starting immediately, but their First Year Teaching series usually begins in July. So definitely make a note to check back towards the end of the school year to see when a start date for that course might become available. And check with your Teaching & Learning department - these hours for the course might contribute towards PD or course credits for lane changes based on the completion certificate.
Additional MOOC offerings that might be worth looking into can be found here and here.
Monday, July 14, 2014
preparing to start
The most successful people I know got that way by ignoring the race to find the elusive,
there's-only-one-and-no-one-has-found-it right answer, and instead had the guts to look
at the infinite landscape of choices and pick a better problem instead.
- Seth Godin
When I first started teaching, every new situation I encountered seemed like a monumental problem to be solved. I was exhausted all the time from solving problems, most of which stemmed from just not knowing enough. I struggled to keep up with the pace of planning, instruction, assessment, reflection, planning, instruction... and balance committees and parents and find time to learn more about the areas in which I needed further professional development. I didn't know how to pick the better problem, because I did think there was one right answer and I was sure to mess it up. I know now, of course, that this is not true. And that even the solution to a problem one time is not likely to fix the situation the next time. So it is more important to spend energy on the big picture.
Summer break is a wonderful time to reflect on the past year and plan for the future year. For teachers unsure where they will be teaching in the fall, the summer, though, can also be a time of anxiety. One thing that you can consider doing is joining one of the free MOOC (massive open online course) for new teachers through the New Teacher Center. The New Teacher Center is offering MOOCs designed specifically for new elementary and secondary teachers to provide them will some tools to start the year successfully. Each 4 week course starts July 21st, with an expected work load of 2-4 hrs/week. Not too much time involved, it's free, and it might be a way to channel any nervous energy for new teachers.
If you decide to try it, stop back and comment on this post to let us know how it went!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
tech talk - iPads
I came across some great resources for considering iPads in education.
For those of you ELA teachers out there, you might be interested in the twitter chat focused on iPads and English coming up on Monday, Apr 1 from 7-8 EST. Cassie Scharber, assistant professor of Learning Technologies in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction as well as a Co-Director of the Learning Technologies Media Lab at the University of Minnesota, will host "The iPad invasion into English Education" at #engchat to focus on iPads and other technologies used in ELA instruction.
Speaking of iPads, I came across this article about iPads in Social Studies classrooms. The article shares a case study of a teacher's integration of iPads into instruction in Social Studies, and discusses some of the ways this technology can enhance instruction.
The point, too, is that iPads alone won't improve instruction, that it is what you do with them using effective instructional practices that transforms teaching and learning. Educators know this, of course, but the point is also stressed in the article "Students first, not stuff" in the latest Ed Leadership issue. Also in that issue is an article by Larry Ferlazzo with lists of great online resources for teachers. Another great resource is the wiki at Teach With Your iPad.
Do you have iPads at your school to use? What apps and resources have you found useful for teaching?
For those of you ELA teachers out there, you might be interested in the twitter chat focused on iPads and English coming up on Monday, Apr 1 from 7-8 EST. Cassie Scharber, assistant professor of Learning Technologies in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction as well as a Co-Director of the Learning Technologies Media Lab at the University of Minnesota, will host "The iPad invasion into English Education" at #engchat to focus on iPads and other technologies used in ELA instruction.
Speaking of iPads, I came across this article about iPads in Social Studies classrooms. The article shares a case study of a teacher's integration of iPads into instruction in Social Studies, and discusses some of the ways this technology can enhance instruction.
The point, too, is that iPads alone won't improve instruction, that it is what you do with them using effective instructional practices that transforms teaching and learning. Educators know this, of course, but the point is also stressed in the article "Students first, not stuff" in the latest Ed Leadership issue. Also in that issue is an article by Larry Ferlazzo with lists of great online resources for teachers. Another great resource is the wiki at Teach With Your iPad.
Do you have iPads at your school to use? What apps and resources have you found useful for teaching?
Friday, October 12, 2012
Apps_Documenting learning
With EM break coming up (for those of you in Minnesota), perhaps you'll have a few moments to check out some apps to incorporate into your teaching. Today, I'll share some cool apps used to create, document, and share learning in a variety of formats.
educreations is a free app that allows users to create files combining images, text, and audio on a whiteboard like surface. It can be used as a way for students to create a video documenting their learning about a particular topic, and it can also be used as a way to teach a certain topic to students. Create a free profile and videos can be uploaded and viewed publicly on the educreations website!
ShowMe is another app used to create tutorials. Similar to educreations (and also free!) I think this one is really easy to use right away. It's a way to document and record what you know about something. It provides a great template for students to use when presenting new learning, or to share with others about something they already know about. Like with educreations, tutorials can be uploaded to the ShowMe website and shared with others.
Skitch is an app that allows users to annotate and edit photos, screenshots, or other images and email or upload to other apps to incorporate into presentations. It is linked to Evernote, which is another tool for creating tutorials like ShowMe and educreations. Which means, that when you edit an image in Skitch, it automatically shows up in your Evernote files, ready to incorporate into a new presentation. Cool, huh?
Idea Sketch is a mind-mapping, outline creating tool. It allows users to create a visual representation of learning. It is pretty intuitive to use, and once completed, sketches can be emailed to the teacher, other students, or themselves for future access. This is helpful, given that most teachers have access to carts of iPads and don't have 1-to-1 iPad options for students.
What other apps are you using to document learning?
educreations is a free app that allows users to create files combining images, text, and audio on a whiteboard like surface. It can be used as a way for students to create a video documenting their learning about a particular topic, and it can also be used as a way to teach a certain topic to students. Create a free profile and videos can be uploaded and viewed publicly on the educreations website!
ShowMe is another app used to create tutorials. Similar to educreations (and also free!) I think this one is really easy to use right away. It's a way to document and record what you know about something. It provides a great template for students to use when presenting new learning, or to share with others about something they already know about. Like with educreations, tutorials can be uploaded to the ShowMe website and shared with others.
Skitch is an app that allows users to annotate and edit photos, screenshots, or other images and email or upload to other apps to incorporate into presentations. It is linked to Evernote, which is another tool for creating tutorials like ShowMe and educreations. Which means, that when you edit an image in Skitch, it automatically shows up in your Evernote files, ready to incorporate into a new presentation. Cool, huh?
Idea Sketch is a mind-mapping, outline creating tool. It allows users to create a visual representation of learning. It is pretty intuitive to use, and once completed, sketches can be emailed to the teacher, other students, or themselves for future access. This is helpful, given that most teachers have access to carts of iPads and don't have 1-to-1 iPad options for students.What other apps are you using to document learning?
Friday, June 22, 2012
Apps_social bookmarking, free books
A growing number of teachers have iPads for their own use in the classrooms, and many students have access to iPads in schools as well. With thousands and thousands of apps out there to use on these powerful tools, how do you decide? From time to time, I'm going to recommend some apps that will help you and/or your students. So here's the first installment, but please add to the list in the comments section with your favorites. For today, I'm going to focus on an eclectic mix of apps to help with social bookmarking and books/stories.
Social bookmarking has become very popular - many of you out there likely have Pintrest accounts and like to keep track of all the awesome cooking, gardening, parenting, decorating etc. ideas you come across on the web. There are also some education-specific social bookmarking sites that you might want to check out. This can be really handy if you're thinking ahead to the coming year - whether it will be a new position or rethinking what you did last year.
Social bookmarking has become very popular - many of you out there likely have Pintrest accounts and like to keep track of all the awesome cooking, gardening, parenting, decorating etc. ideas you come across on the web. There are also some education-specific social bookmarking sites that you might want to check out. This can be really handy if you're thinking ahead to the coming year - whether it will be a new position or rethinking what you did last year.
- Diigo - You probably already know about Diigo, but just in case you haven't checked out this social bookmarking tool, there are several app options for bookmarking through Diigo. Diigo also provides info on using Diigo in the classroom.
- Symbaloo - On Symbaloo, find links to great teaching sites in many content areas and interest areas. Add to the site or just take from what is already there.
Books. Now, I know that iPads provide really interesting ways to engage digital literacy skills, reading non-traditional texts. But there are also some great apps to access free(!!!) books and stories, for yourself or your students.
- ICDL - the International Children's Digital Library. The app gives you and your students access to all the books available in the ICDL database.
- Narrative Magazine is a nonprofit organization that publishes amazing short stories accessible through their app. You have to sign up, but it is free.
- There are a number of apps for teen and adult reading: Kobo, Wattpad, Manybooks, and Project Gutenberg.
Such a brief list, one that is only beginning. Will be reporting regularly with app recommendations for you and your students.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
explain it to me series
I recently came across the "Explain it to me" series of videos on CNN.com. I think these videos could be really helpful introducing some of the more complicated current events (the Eurozone debt crisis, for example).
At 2-4 minutes a video, these could easily be included in lessons, or as review for students to view at home. The videos are probably most appropriate for middle or high school students. Videos explain things from North Korea to concussions to campaign finance to the Kardashians.
It's a site worth a look. If not for your classroom - maybe just for you!
At 2-4 minutes a video, these could easily be included in lessons, or as review for students to view at home. The videos are probably most appropriate for middle or high school students. Videos explain things from North Korea to concussions to campaign finance to the Kardashians.
It's a site worth a look. If not for your classroom - maybe just for you!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
more tech links
We all know the benefits of technology. It can be a motivating feature of instruction and supplemental support for students. It can extend and remediate lessons. It cannot replace an effective teacher, but it can enhance instruction if used well.
I have a few links to share. It’s an eclectic list of sites and games, and I’m hoping you’ll add to the list with your comments.
First, Edutopia has a New Teacher Channel on YouTube. There isn’t a ton there, but there are a few videos that you might find helpful. You can subscribe to the channel to be updated when there are new videos posted.
Khan Academy has an amazing list of video tutorials for everything from solving basic algebra equations to half-life to currency effect on trade to SAT prep. Mostly high school level content, this site can be incorporated into instruction or provide support for students at home.
Two of my favorite sites are Wonderopolis and Sound Learning. Both include videos that can be incorporated into lesson plans. I like Wonderopolis as a model for students to create their own wonders.
More tech to come. Leave a comment with your favorite links!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
thinkfinity
Have you visited Thinkfinity yet?
Verizon has partnered with National Geographic Education, AAAS Science Links, Econ Ed Link, Read Write Think, Arts Edge, Smithsonian History Explorer, NCTM Illumination, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Wonderopolis to create a hub of lesson plan ideas, blogs, student interactives, and professional development opportunities. As you can see, the partners in this project are all really top organizations.
One of the greatest parts of the website is that you can search for lesson plans by grade level, subject area, and even specify the partner websites to search, and Thinkfinity does the searching for you. There is a specific link to 21st Century Skills lessons and activities. I also like the "Today in History" calendar.
Also, you can search MN specific standards to see what lessons and activities support particular standards at each grade level.
In the time I've played with the site, I've been impressed with what comes up. You can sign up to receive their newsletter highlighting different aspects of the resource and updates to the site. You can follow Thinkfinity on twitter if you're so inclined.
Check it out!
Verizon has partnered with National Geographic Education, AAAS Science Links, Econ Ed Link, Read Write Think, Arts Edge, Smithsonian History Explorer, NCTM Illumination, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Wonderopolis to create a hub of lesson plan ideas, blogs, student interactives, and professional development opportunities. As you can see, the partners in this project are all really top organizations.
One of the greatest parts of the website is that you can search for lesson plans by grade level, subject area, and even specify the partner websites to search, and Thinkfinity does the searching for you. There is a specific link to 21st Century Skills lessons and activities. I also like the "Today in History" calendar.
Also, you can search MN specific standards to see what lessons and activities support particular standards at each grade level.
In the time I've played with the site, I've been impressed with what comes up. You can sign up to receive their newsletter highlighting different aspects of the resource and updates to the site. You can follow Thinkfinity on twitter if you're so inclined.
Check it out!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)