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Blogs on Technology Integration

Technology Integration

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Discover fresh ideas for using technology in the classroom and at home to improve learning, encourage collaboration, and increase student engagement.

How My School Is Transitioning to Digital Textbooks: Organizing (Step 1 of 5)

Andrew MarcinekAugust 4, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Curriculum, Mobile Learning, Technology Integration, High (9-12), Massachusetts

Overview: The Role of iPads

There is no denying iPads are becoming a dynamic tool for education. However, with the integration of new tools into the classroom, there is a learning curve. The evolution of the iPad has created more than just a learning curve, but a cultural shift in the way we access information and connect with the outside world.

Rethinking COPPA in the Age of Social Media

Audrey WattersAugust 3, 2011

Tags Primary (K-2), , Technology Integration, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8)

Audrey Watters is a technology journalist specializing in education technology news. You can follow her on Twitter at @AudreyWatters.

Earlier this year, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg caused quite a stir when, speaking at the NewSchools Venture Summit, he indicated that he wanted to see kids under 13 be able to join his giant social network. According to Forbes, Zuckerberg said that COPPA prevented Facebook from allowing children on the site but "that will be a fight we take on at some point." "My philosophy," Zuckerberg said, "is that for education, you need to start at a really, really young age."

What Tech Tools Should Be Required Knowledge for Teachers?

Mary Beth HertzAugust 3, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Primary (K-2), Technology Integration, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12)

A recent #edchat discussion was about what amount of technology teachers should be required to know. What ensued was a great discussion without talk of a lot of specific applications or tools. I found this very telling.

New Teacher Boot Camp Week 5 - Using Blogs

Lisa Michelle DabbsAugust 2, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Formative Assessment, Free School Supplies, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12)

Editor's note: See the full archive of the five-week boot camp.

Welcome to our fifth and final week of New Teacher Boot Camp! Today we're going to be exploring blogging. Not only for students, but for educators as well.

Making the Case for Open Source Software

Dr. Chris CraftAugust 1, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Digital Divide, Open Education Resources, Technology Integration, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12)

Dr Christopher Craft is a world language teacher and advocate for open source technologies in Columbia, SC. Find him at @crafty184 on Twitter.

As budgets contract, it is becoming more and more important for schools to consider alternatives to expensive proprietary software. Open source software can provide a viable alternative to traditional software at a fraction of the cost. It is available for free, and is as stable as traditional commercial software (provided schools choose mature software packages). Furthermore, most open source software packages have large communities of developers and users who work towards the common goal of improving the software. This collaborative environment mirrors the style of work educators often seek to create in the classroom.

New Teacher Boot Camp Week 4 - Using Wetoku

Lisa Michelle DabbsJuly 26, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Teacher Development, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12)

Editor's note: Unfortunately, Wetoku is no longer available. Lisa Dabbs suggests trying out Skype's side-by-side functionality to achieve a similar result. Since Skype has no built-in recording function, there are a variety of third-party software options you can use. Lisa has worked with Evaer Video Recorder for this purpose, and in this blog post, "How to Create a Split-Screen Video Call Recording on Skype," consultant Danielle Keister explains the process using either Super Tin-Tin for PC or E-camm for MAC. These links are provided for convenience, and are not an endorsement from Edutopia.

See the full archive of the five-week New Teacher Boot Camp.

Week 4: Using Wetoku in the Classroom

Welcome to our fourth week of New Teacher Boot Camp! Today we're going to be exploring Wetoku.

Radical Curriculum Sharing at the Open High School of Utah

Todd FinleyJuly 25, 2011

Tags Common Core Standards, Curriculum, Online Learning, Open Education Resources, Teacher Development, High (9-12), English Language Arts, Utah

With flippy red hair, Emily Anderson looks like post-millennial Yvonne Craig (a/k/a Batgirl) -- with a mic headset instead of a mask, and posing as an English teacher at the virtual Open High School of Utah. Talking to me via Skype, her face is poised, but kinetic. She is probably tapping her toes and simultaneously managing twelve student chat rooms.

Using Blogs to Engage English-Language Learners

Jon SchwartzJuly 14, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Digital Divide, English-Language Learners, Literacy, Online Learning, Parental Involvement, Student Engagement, Technology Integration, Upper Elementary (3-5), English Language Arts, California

Jon Schwartz teaches fourth grade in Oceanside, CA. He is also a writer and a professional photographer. You can learn more about his blogging program at Kids Like Blogs.

"Robbie doesn't write," his mom told me. When he first came into my fourth grade class, asking him for 20 words was like pulling teeth. He actually scribbled a number on top of each word to keep track so he wouldn't write any more than the absolute minimum. Four months after I introduced him to blogging, he's consistently writing more than 100 words per post. Not only that, Robbie turned from a shy, introverted kid to a source of inspiration and information for his peers. He sees himself as a writer.

Great Tech Expectations: What Should Elementary Students Be Able to Do and When?

Mary Beth HertzJuly 13, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Comprehensive Assessment, Formative Assessment, Performance Assessment, Primary (K-2), Technology Integration, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8)

First off, let me clarify that I am not a proponent of expecting all children to learn at the same pace. Why all third graders are expected to be at x reading level by January is beyond me. That said, I think it's a fair assumption that there are certain skills that we hope our students have by a certain age in order to help them reach their full potential. This also applies to tech skills.

Trendspotting at ISTE11

Suzie BossJuly 8, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, , Technology Integration, All Grades

Sensory overload comes with the territory at an ISTE conference, and this year's ed-tech gala in Philadelphia was no exception There was plenty to see, between the exhibits, presentations, and must-have devices that attendees were wielding in the Bloggers' Cafe. You couldn't turn around without spotting another QR code to snap.