All Blog Posts (9,941)

Wendy Light, National Education Consultant, USCJ Praises Toolbox for Teachers Wendy Light, National Education Consultant, USCJ Praises Toolbox for Teachers

More Praise for Important New Publication:

Wendy Light, National Education Consultant, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism writes:

We all agree that there is a significant demand for qualified teachers in Jewish day schools and congregational schools. There is concern as to where the next generation of Jewish educators will come from. Dr. Richard and Elaine Solomon have sensitively addressed this challenge in their new book, just released, and entitled… Continue

Added by Richard D. Solomon, Ph.D. on August 30, 2009 at 10:52am — No Comments

Rabbi Dr. Moshe P. Weisblum, author of Ruth Talk, and Table Talk: Biblical Questions and Answers Endorses Toolbox for Teachers

Rabbi Dr. Moshe P.Weisblum, spiritual leader of congregation Kneseth Israel, Annapolis, Maryland and author of Ruth Talk and Table Talk:Biblical Questions and Answers offers this endorsement of Toolbox for Teachers and Mentors: Moving Madrichim to Mentor Teachers and Beyond.

"One of the best books on the subject...offering hope and help, this groundbreaking book is an ideal source for the transitions that… Continue

Added by Richard D. Solomon, Ph.D. on August 30, 2009 at 10:48am — No Comments

Engaging Students in Virtual Space Exploration through Second Life

As our district embarks upon Web 2.0 implementation for our 21st Century learning enviroments, we are looking for the right tools to engage our digital learners. There is a company called Daden Limited in the UK which has created an Apollo 11 Tranquility Base Simulation in Second Life. I had recently learned about this sim region from one of my PLN colleagues on… Continue

Added by David Ligon on August 30, 2009 at 9:00am — 7 Comments

The Wait (WEIGHT)

As summer winds down, I am once again excited about what technology has to offer, -especially in education. I love the interactive white boards, updated phone systems, and of course internet open source software. I locate these at home on my home computer and excitedly develop and share and swap ideas with other like-minded people online. But when I return to the workplace, the filter blocks these sites, or ITT just can't make them function within the network, "configuration issues" . Then… Continue

Added by Paul Hardt on August 29, 2009 at 9:30am — 3 Comments

Busy Year Ahead!

The high schools I serve welcomed the students last week, and right from the start, I've been in meetings. This will be a busy, busy year, as my district has fewer psychologists and more schools. So we will do "more with less".

I was so busy last week that I did not have time to interact with a single SmartBoard- several were installed in classrooms at one of my schools.

Maybe there will be a lull?

Added by Lynn Marentette on August 29, 2009 at 6:34am — No Comments

How are the textbooks accepting accountability for their shortcomings?

I just read a line from a teacher who said this (and oh, it's so telling)...

I love my school, but this year I'm trying real hard to be positive. I've taught novels the past two years and am now being told I must adhere to the textbook curriculum because of low test scores. Wow! Boring textbook anthology and worksheets are going to help my students do better on a bubble test? ARGH!

For me, I wonder where the data is to prove that sticking to the "textbook… Continue

Added by Alan Sitomer on August 29, 2009 at 6:00am — 3 Comments

Blogging and teens

So I'm just at the beginning of this particular online area. I would like to figure out how to integrate some blogging into our creative writing workshops....but I'd like to make it less about just entering casual blog entries, and more about getting the students to deliberately create a theme-based blog where they write about some area or interest where they have some expertise or at least curiosity. I know this is perhaps a more formal way of looking at it, but I would like to challenge the… Continue

Added by Keren Taylor on August 28, 2009 at 11:00pm — 1 Comment

Do web 2.0 tools affect student motivation?

This past year, I tried to incorporate many web 2.0 opportunities in my lessons. I have the challenge of my district blocking and/or preventing student work to be published online. I, however, volunteered to pilot several web 2.0 tool activities with my students. Each experience required that I provide feedback on possible concerns or explain how the tool benefited my students' learning. I was thrilled recently when my district's technology director said he was going to propose changes to our… Continue

Added by Glen Westbroek on August 28, 2009 at 5:30pm — 6 Comments

Spelling City

Here is a great website for helping your students with spelling. Just create a word list and students can practice at school or home. The program pronounces the word and says it in a sentence for the student. Play games with the word list or even download a handwriting worksheet. Students can also access the link from home. Here is the link to the site. It's FREE, just register and start creating your spelling list… Continue

Added by Letia Cooper @techwithtia on August 28, 2009 at 12:34pm — No Comments

What is the Relationship Among These Structures: A Congregation of Life-Long Learners, a Jewish Professional Learning Community (JPLC) and a Jewish Community of Cooperative Learners?

The ideal educational setting in which to be a mentor teacher is within a congregation that is committed to life-long learning, a school that is a Jewish professional learning and within a classroom that is a community of cooperative learners. Let's explore these structures and their connections more thoroughly.

A congregation of life-long learners is one that studies and lives Torah. A Jewish professional learning community is a school in which the administration, teachers and… Continue

Added by Richard D. Solomon, Ph.D. on August 28, 2009 at 7:21am — No Comments

Is there a way to force public schools to be as good as private schools are apparently forced to be?

I wonder if I would send my child to private school if I could easily afford to do so. And I bring it up because, for the parents who can afford it in America today, private school is where they (for the most part) are generally sending their kids.

Even if the local public school is good.

And why? Because if the local public school is good, I am assuming the private school is forced to be better if they are going to be able to charge the crazy fees that they do.… Continue

Added by Alan Sitomer on August 28, 2009 at 6:30am — 1 Comment

What new Internet technologies will you introduce in the classroom this year?

With the new school year upon us, I thought it would be interesting and informative to learn what types of Internet technologies you are considering using for the first time in this coming school year. There are so many engaging and potentially helpful technologies available via the web. In addition to the types of technologies you may be introducing to the instructional process, how do you envision these tools improving learning… Continue

Added by Kelly Walsh on August 27, 2009 at 7:56am — 2 Comments

In too many ways, August can be the tail that wags the dog.

One of the biggest problems I have with our current national assessment system is that they have almost mastered the art of shaming and belittling those who do not make the cut while doing an exceptionally poor job of of recognizing those who have made strides in a positive direction or really give an exceptional effort at doing more with less. It's as if under-performing the task of meeting their objectives deserves a SHOUTING DOWN FROM THE ROOFTOPS while those that make gains,… Continue

Added by Alan Sitomer on August 27, 2009 at 6:30am — No Comments

Digital E-learning

Though class room education cannot literally be replaced by e-learning online education has its own advantages. Students are familiar with the digital tools and given an assignment they use online resources effectively and learn in self directed manner. Today's net generation like to discover new things and learn from hands on experience. when they look for information online, not only will they try different search engines, they will also search for interactive materials. From the educator’s… Continue

Added by judy jacob on August 27, 2009 at 4:09am — 2 Comments

School Policy and Student Expectations - Diverging Realities

Reposted from Meg's Notebook

A review of a couple of research papers which cover the role of Web 2.0 in education from very different perspectives: one looks at school administration and policies, the other at student / youth… Continue

Added by Meg H on August 26, 2009 at 9:44pm — 1 Comment

Learning Design Tool

Hi everyone

I’ve just joined and am looking forward to being part of this group. I've been busy developing a recently released product – the Learning Design Tool. This is an online product designed to assist users write quality instructional design. Currently this is in a Beta format - I'm collecting feedback until the end of September at which time the Tool will be redeveloped and released later in the year. Here's the link for anyone who would like to have a look -… Continue

Added by jo jenson on August 26, 2009 at 6:17pm — No Comments

School Technology Discussion

My school was assigned a new principal this year. He and I have chatted several times about what technology is in the building. He came from a technology rich high school. As he has walked our building, he has been surprised at the lack of technology many classrooms.

I was tasked to provide my principal with ideas on what technologies we should add at our building. Currently, there are two classrooms that are very technology rich. Many classrooms do not have more than a teacher… Continue

Added by Glen Westbroek on August 26, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

The "If Only" Chip I'd Gladly Cash In: KIds Coming in as Blank Slates

There are a lot of "if only" type scenarios when it comes to reaching teen readers -- especially reluctant teens readers -- but I'd say if there was one "if only" chip I could be given to cash in and nevermore be able to moan about how difficult the task can sometimes be to get kids to read books, I'd say that I'd lay claim to the "If only our students came to us as blank slates" chip, take my winnings and shut my trap.

Because the truth is students don't come to our… Continue

Added by Alan Sitomer on August 26, 2009 at 6:30am — No Comments

Screen Recorder Software in Computer Science Teaching

Abstract: This paper introduces the main functions of the screen recorder software. Combined with the characteristics of computer science courses and teaching methods commonly used, screen recorder software is playing a more and more important role. Practice has proved that screen recorder software improves the learning and teaching effectiveness. It is a helpful tool to facilitate teaching of professional computer science courses.

As students of the major of… Continue

Added by Tim on August 26, 2009 at 1:00am — No Comments

GradePad “Pro” Version submitted to Apple

Last week, on Friday August 21, we submitted the updated version of GradePad. This is a very exciting update for us in that it allows users of GradePad on an iPhone or iPod touch to use a GradePad.com account to import and export data.

GradePad 1.2, an iPhone app for teachers, will make it easier for teachers to import class lists, create GradePads, share GradePads with others, and export your assessment data to… Continue

Added by Mike Palmquist on August 25, 2009 at 11:53am — No Comments