Do you live by your calendar? With birthday reminders, meetings, events, and the ability to always be accessible, the modern, mobile calendar is far different than the wall version of old. And to make your mobile calendar even more of an asset, PCWorld recently highlighted 9 ways to make the most of your Google calendar for android and iOS. The list is full of tips and tricks, but also details some of the lesser known features of the mobile version of Google calendar. Here’s the abbreviated list but make sure to check out all the details now!
A perennial favorite, the 2016 New Media Consortium (NMC) Horizon report for Higher Education is out! In it, they talk about “six key trends, six significant challenges, and six important developments in educational technology” and “their likely impact on the core missions of universities and colleges.” Interestingly we are seeing many of these trends affecting academic libraries in the CMLE region. A new library at SCTCC and new work on a Learning Commons at CSB/SJU reflect a focus on “redesigning learning spaces” and “rethinking how institutions currently work.” Check out the table of contents below to get a quick snapshot or check out the whole report now.
Key Trends Accelerating Technology Adoption in Higher Education:
Do you need a quick and easy way to share your screen? Maybe you find yourself needing to show students, or present, or even helping someone with tech support. Well, leave it to Richard Byrne at FreeTech4Teachers.com to give us a list of some of the best options for sharing your screen. All three options are free and require little to no technical knowledge. Check out the whole article now for all the details or use the quick links below to jump right in!
Much is made of the effect a 1:1 move has on students in a school district. But what about the teachers and administration? How are they affected and what can they do to better handle the change? This is the premise behind Edutopia’s piece about bringing professional development into a 1:1 district. In the article, they focus on the Salisbury Township School District and its mission to not only bring 1:1 devices to the students in the district but also change the mindset of its teachers and administration as well.
[1:1] requires a shift in mindset and in the daily practices of school leaders, teachers, and students. In order to support school leaders and teachers to become their most effective at using digital technologies with new pedagogies, it is vital that a district support the digital transformation through varied building-level and district-level professional learning opportunities.
Changing the mindset and daily practices is no small task, but Edutopia gives us some helpful hints:
Align PD goals with 1:1 program goals – with goals clearly defined, professional development efforts can be fine-tuned.
Rethink use of human resources – rethink the human and financial resources dedicated to supporting change.
Personalize the PD program through differentiation and choice – adult learners come to the work environment with a variety of knowledge.
Instructional Technology Cohorts – professional development took the form of a cohort model over three years.
Summer Academy – professional learning offerings has been provided for professional and support staff.
Conferences and Workshops – encourage staff to attend conferences and workshops offered outside the district.
Learning for School Leaders – school and district leaders meets monthly in a lunch and learn format.
Evaluate PD efforts to meet developing needs – professional development should be monitored and evaluated to stay relevant.
2016 seems to be the year of virtual reality. From Google Cardboard to Oculus Rift, VR is all the buzz! But how can you get started without spending a day filled with VR research? PCMag recently highlighted the best virtual reality headsets that can fill your vision with 360 degrees of reality. From mobile to tethered options, they do a deep-dive into all the current VR favorites.
Do you live by your calendar? With birthday reminders, meetings, events, and the ability to always be accessible, the modern, mobile calendar is far different than the wall version of old. And to make your mobile calendar even more of an asset, PCWorld recently highlighted 9 ways to make the most of your Google calendar for android and iOS. The list is full of tips and tricks, but also details some of the lesser known features of the mobile version of Google calendar. Here’s the abbreviated list but make sure to check out all the details now!
