Free Technology for Teachers recently published a great post that is sure to help any number of librarians rise to the “information guru” status they truly deserve. The article is geared toward using YouTube in the classroom, which more schools are now unblocking for teachers. Read the full post to get instructions and access to easy tools so you know how to:
Remove sidebar distractions,
Show just a portion of a video,
Create a playlist of videos to use at a moment’s notice!
Tip: If you have access to YouTube in your school, consider using tools like ViewPure and Watchkin to display videos without showing the “related” videos comments from YouTube.
Can’t use YouTube? No problem, check out this post with 40 alternatives to YouTube… Remember, where there is a will, there is a way!
Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/pa2wv2g, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Many schools are exploring the use of Twitter in the classroom for engagement and instruction. Recently Forbes suggested that Twitter is no longer optional but required for schools. But how to best use Twitter in the classroom? David Sornberger’s infographic to the rescue! It lists 20 possible ideas on how to use Twitter in the schools:
Many schools are acquiring – or trying to acquire – tablets for classroom use. The hope is that tablets can be used as classroom tools and improve learning. Studies vary on what percentage of students currently have access to tablets, but those students that do are primarily using tablets from parents or through a tablet program at their school. While the tablets are used for all sorts of subjects, the most popular apps on tablets are for reading and literacy. In an interview by Ben Johnson with Adriene Hill of Marketplace Tech, Hill says that only about one third of 4th grade students are considered “proficient” in their reading skills.” Apps on tablets can help – they are more engaging and seen as more fun by students. Technology is also more “personalizable,” Hill says – it is easier to tailor the app to the student’s needs. You can listen to the full 3-minute interview here.
Looking for apps to use? Look for our weekly ‘Recommended App’ post, which features a new app each week that has been recommended by the American Association of School Librarians. So far, we have featured Monster Physics, Duolingo, Brian Cox’s Wonders of Life, Subtext, and Notability.
Google’s been at it again! They’ve recently released Google Classroom, a program designed to conserve time and paper, and to help keep you organized. Like the rest of Google’s Apps for Education services, Google Classroom has no advertisements and is free for schools. Google provided two case studies that give examples of the program’s functionality. The Clarkstown Central School District Case Study illustrates the ways the program has increased student engagement and classroom organization in a suburban public school. The second case study, done at Fontbonne Hall Academy, shows how positively it was received by students, faculty and staff at a small private school. All these possibilities really get the mind going!
CMLE found this easily read infographic about the issues surrounding the 1:1 digital classroom. Visit this link to get answers to the following questions….
“What devices are vying for 1:1 dominance in a digital classroom?
What devices are teachers and students primarily using?
What are the critical issues districts need to consider before going to a 1:1 model?”
Created by Troxell and MDR’s WeAreTeachers, this infographic addresses all of these questions and more!
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Free Technology for Teachers recently published a great post that is sure to help any number of librarians rise to the “information guru” status they truly deserve. The article is geared toward using YouTube in the classroom, which more schools are now unblocking for teachers. Read the full post to get instructions and access to easy tools so you know how to:
