The Hottest Posts Everyone's Reading

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog.

Holding the lead for another week is a post from my book Teaching Generation Text. This post outlines the building blocks for BYOD success. Next up is an article that shares five free tools for those trying to learn a new language.

Some of the other posts that round out the top include one that looks at 4 edtech tools I discovered at the #TLTechLive event as well as one that looks at using social media to improve events.  I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired use one of those icons below the post to share it with others and/or leave a comment.

Entry	Pageviews
7 #BYOD Building Blocks for Success Oct 11, 2015,	3335
5 Free Digital Resources For #ELL #ESL #TESOL Stud... Oct 4, 2015,	3262
4 #EdTech Tools I've Never Used Before The #TLTech... Oct 25, 2015,	3235
Ideas for Using Social Media to Improve Live Event... Oct 18, 2015,	2296
10 Tips For Teens Using Social Media #HavetheTalk ... Oct 13, 2015,	2127
New Screentime Recommendations from the American A... Oct 6, 2015,	1903

How Tech Using Teachers Can #HavetheTalk with Administrators

There are several quality free programs available for schools. Part of my work is helping teachers use platforms such as the ones below in the classroom.

Using technology in the classroom is a change from conventional teaching and learning. That's a good thing, but educators face a problem when being evaluated if their administrator does not know how to evaluate a teacher whose students are learning in such an environment. Regardless, teachers must be armed with the knowledge of how to prepare for such evaluations.

In cities like New York teachers are evaluated using the four Danielson Domains. This means teachers must be prepared to explain to administrators what they are doing through the lens of each of the following Domains.

Here is what that looks like.

Domain 1: Planning and preparation. When using a quality program, it is planned and prepared well. What this looks like - The programs are delivered using materials developed by world-renowned experts. This means the content is coherently delivered and created by many of the most knowledgeable in the field.

What teachers must be prepared to do – Know who created the program and the research behind it.  Be prepared to discuss the instructional design and elements that make this program a success for student learning.

Domain 2: Classroom Environment What this looks like - Teachers and students are interacting but it doesn’t look like conventional interaction. Additionally, students may be interacting with others around the globe. Innovative educators must know how to explain this.  Students are engaging digitally.

What teachers must be prepared to do - Be ready to explain how you are building and developing responsible digital citizens.  Have examples handy of teacher – student and student – student interactions.  Know how to show student behavior, how it is monitored, and what you do if there are behavior issues.

Domain 3: Instruction What this looks like - When technology is used all students are able to participate all the time in ways never possible in conventional classrooms.  Students are grouped and placed in a way that is instantly assessed based on their ability. Pacing is individualized. Student assessment and feedback is instant.   

What teachers must be prepared to do – Consider putting together a slide deck that outlines some of the elements that support instruction with real student samples. This would include the sort of questions and prompts students receive. The way discussion is fostered. Show a dashboard that captures student participation.  Provide a graph of the class that shows the structure and pacing of students based on individual progress.  Give examples of the type of instant feedback students receive as well as how student can assess and monitor themselves. 

Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities One of the wonderful attributes on online platforms is that they have professional learning networks tied to them. Participate in the network created by the platform or create your own. These are places where educators are discussing best practices for teaching and learning. They share what works, challenges, and tips and tricks. 

What teachers must be prepared to do – Capture links that represent your engagement in these communities. Show how you have grown from feedback given by others and how you have helped others with your feedback. If the platforms have webinars or Twitter chats, engage and make sure you keep a record of those in which you participate.  

What do you think? Are you prepared to have these types of conversations with administrators where you work? What else have you had success with when being evaluated using innovative practices. Have you had these conversations? What worked? What didn't? How does your role change in such an environment. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.  

4 #EdTech Tools I've Never Used Before The #TLTechLive Cool Tool Duel

There were lots of cool tools introduced at Tech + Learning Live "Cool Tool Duel" this week. The format was really fun. Here is the description:

During this lightning-paced smackdown, presenters will make their cases for apps, add-ons, and other edtech tools while the audience votes on their favorites. Who will be left standing at the end of this battle?

Participants voted for their favorite tools while presenters made a case to explain why what they presented was the best.  This is a terrific professional development format that schools can use to highlight innovative educators and the tools they use.  

Here are the four free, platform-agnostic tools shared that I've never-used but plan to investigate.

The Hottest Posts Everyone's Reading

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog.

A new post takes the lead this week outlining how to succeed when students are empowered to use their own devices. Next up is an article that shares five free tools for those trying to learn a new language.

There are a few more posts to round out the top including one that addresses how to integrate social media into learning. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired use one of those icons below the post to share it with others and/or leave a comment.

Entry	Pageviews
7 #BYOD Building Blocks for Success Oct 11, 2015,	2321
5 Free Digital Resources For #ELL #ESL #TESOL Stud... Oct 4, 2015,	2171
Don't Compete with Social Media. Integrate It! Sep 27, 2015,	1529
My Makeaways from #makeEDU #makerED #MakerFaire Sep 26, 2015,	1276
Ideas for Using Social Media to Improve Live Events... Oct 18, 2015,	1270
10 Tips For Teens Using Social Media #HavetheTalk ... Oct 13, 2015,	1131
New Screentime Recommendations from the American A... Oct 6, 2015,	998

#TLTechLive - What Worked + Conference Takeaways

Today marks the conclusion of another terrific live event hosted by Tech & Learning magazine. From the keynote to the breakout sessions, this year was marked by more opportunities for engagement among participants. One person put it this way: It was great not to be "talked at" by experts but rather have the opportunity to "talk with" experts and other attendees.  The day was more about conversations than about having knowledge imparted onto the attendees. The approached worked well. It seemed participants had more of an opportunity to make meaning and build relationships.

Karen Blumberg kicked off the day with a keynote that provided a conversational climate. She posed questions to the audience that enabled attendees to get to know each other and see the expertise in the room. The keynote entitled, "Our PLNs, Ourselves" was a play on her childhood favorite "Our Bodies, Ourselves." The book advised women to claim their sexuality for their own pleasure. Blumberg's talk advised listeners to claim their professional learning networks (PLNs) for their own learning and to share that learning with others.  She asked the audience to think about who has influenced them and how they could positively influence others. "Don't just be a sponge soaking up knowledge from others," she advised. "Also, think about how you can contribute to learning for others."

The breakout sessions consisted of a few influencers in various areas who introduced themselves, then had a dialogue with those who choose their session.  Our session was, "You've got devices. Now what?" Once each of the three panelists gave a brief background, the audience and panelists engaged in a dialogue.  After the session, a participant shared this with me. In two minutes, you answered my one question in a way that will transform and inform how we spend our districts multi-million dollar smart bond grant.  I shared 3 lessons learned from tech deployments:

Video Games, Social Media, + Screentime. Oh My! @CommonSenseEdu Helps You #HaveTheTalk

It's not uncommon to hear adults complain about kids and their online activity, yet often parents and teachers don’t spend time supporting young people in becoming responsible digital citizens.

Ideas for Using Social Media to Improve Live Events

Most people think of social media as a distraction during face-to-face gatherings. But can it be used to enhance face-to-face experiences?  

Yes!

Whether you have a group going on a trip to a museum, a fair, a conference, or a show, there are ways you can use social media to deepen the event experience and also build relationships of those attending the event. 

The Maker Faire Education Forum where I implemented these ideas.

Here’s how.

The Hottest Posts Everyone's Reading

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog.

Class Story continues to hold the lead as the hottest post.  Class Story is a new free tool which can be used to strengthen the home-school connection from Class Dojo. Next up is a post that addresses an important issue. Educators need to stop competing with social media and start integrating it.  Rounding out third place is a post about my takeaways from the World Maker Faire.

There are a few more posts to round out the top including one that explains a learning model with no tests, teachers, or curriculum and ideas for making your school more welcoming to the community.  I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. Share it with your networks. If you're inspired, leave a comment. 

Entry	Pageviews
Class Story (an Instagram for Parents) Helps Stren... Sep 6, 2015,	5054
Don't Compete with Social Media. Integrate It! Sep 27, 2015,	4451
My Makeaways from #makeEDU #makerED #MakerFaire Sep 26, 2015,	4255
6 Updates to Welcome Your School Community + Prepa... Sep 13, 2015,	3508
A Learning Model with No Tests, Teachers, or Curri... Sep 15, 2015,	3148
Tools, Practices, + Structures, to Guide Self-Dire... Sep 20, 2015,	2127

10 Tips For Teens Using Social Media #HavetheTalk #Being13 #BeingThirteen

Photo Credit: 10 Practices for Connected Students
CORWIN connect

...Kids these days. They don't know how to speak face-to-face anymore.  All they do is spend their days, heads glued to cell phones -- texting. They need to learn how to communicate in the real world. 

Adults who share these sentiments are missing the fact that digital communication is real. Kids aren't texting fake people. They're communicating with real-world friends in their real digital worlds.  

The problem is that, even though they know should be ensuring their children are using digital resources effectively, few adults feel prepared to do that. Given that, is it any wonder that on exposés such as #BeingThirteen / #Being13, young people are engaging in unsavory behavior?  

It's not that social media is causing teens to act in inappropriate ways, it simply brings their actions to light and magnifies what they are doing.  

The knee-jerk reaction of some adults is to require teens to abstain from using social media for short or long periods of time, when instead they should #HaveTheTalk. Social media has no intent. It is a tool and while it can be used for socially inappropriate behavior, it can also be used for social good, social justice, social learning, and in other positive ways. The role of adults in the lives of young people is to support them in engaging safely, responsibly and effectively, regardless of the medium in which they are communicating.  

These ten practices shared by CORWIN connect as part of Connected Educator month are a good start.  

7 #BYOD Building Blocks for Success

As more and more schools make the decision to embrace student-owned devices for learning, it's important that they incorporate strategies for success. Lifting the ban on devices and inviting them into the school is a start, but it is also important to put building blocks for success in place. To follow are the seven building blocks you should put in place to ensure you attain success.

7 #BYOD Building Blocks for Success

1. Start with pioneers - Incorporating cell phones and other student devices into learning works best when teachers are on board. Find out if you have teachers in your building who want to pilot this work in your school.  Let them set the stage and support others when they are ready.  

The Hottest Posts Everyone's Reading

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog.

Holding the lead for the past month is a, free tool called Class Story which can be used to strengthen the home-school connection from Class Dojo. Next up was an overview of the new Google for Ed Certification Exams.  Rounding out third place were ideas to welcome parents, students, and the community into your school. 

There are a few newer posts to round out the top including one that explains a learning model with no tests, teachers, or curriculum and another that explains why it's important that we stop competing with social media and start integrating it.  I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. Share it with your networks. If you're inspired, leave a comment.  

Entry	Pageviews
Class Story (an Instagram for Parents) Helps Stren... Sep 6, 2015,	5050
Google for Education Certification and Exams Sep 9, 2015,	4924
6 Updates to Welcome Your School Community + Prepa... Sep 13, 2015,	3487
A Learning Model with No Tests, Teachers, or Curri... Sep 15, 2015,	3352
Don't Compete with Social Media. Integrate It! Sep 27, 2015,	3123
Tools, Practices, + Structures, to Guide Self-Dire... Sep 20, 2015,	2753
10 Tips + 10 Resources that Use Tech to Keep Wande... Sep 2, 2015,	2362
My Makeaways from #makeEDU #makerED #MakerFaire Sep 26, 2015,	1921

New Screentime Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. My Thoughts.

Finally! The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated their stance on screentime.  The new guidelines are better than the previously outdated ones which I critique here, here, and here, but there is still room for improvement. They continue to miss mark when it comes to the power of screens to make global connections, build learning networks, and bring people closer together.

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

Here are some counter-points to consider.

Don’t Set Limits

The AAP suggests parents should set limits. While that might seem like good advice, it does little to empower young people to think about making good decisions for themselves. Rather than setting limits, talk to kids about what they care about and want to accomplish and help them figure out the best ways to do that.

Attentive Parenting Might Involve Screens

The AAP says attentive parenting requires face time away from screens. What it really means is that parents need to spend time with their kids. That might very well involve screens. Maybe you read a book aloud from a screen. Perhaps you recreate a building in Minecraft together. Perhaps you are a parent that travels and you facetime with your child (via a screen). Time away from screens is not the answer. Time being attentive to your child in their worlds with or away from screens is what is important.

5 Free Digital Resources For #ELL #ESL #TESOL Students & Those Learning a Foreign Language

I took four years of Spanish during my school years, though you wouldn’t know it if you tried having a conversation with me in Spanish. My experience is not unusual. The way language is typically taught in the United States often does not result with language acquistion at the end. I wonder if things would have been different if I was a student today in a time when technology provides such terrific ways to learn languages.

Here are five free digital resources, that can support modern learners in language acquisition.

1) Duolingo

Has become a popular app to support the learning of another language. It’s gamification elements make it both fun and addictive. You can earn points for correct answers, race against the clock, and level up. The bite-sized lessons are effective and here is proof that it works. More than 100,000 classrooms are using Duolingo. Teachers can easily track their students’ progress, run in-class activities and assign homework. Here is the “How to use Duolingo in class: the guide.”

The Hottest Posts Everyone's Reading

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog.

Taking the lead for another week is a new, free tool called Class Story which can be used to strengthen the home-school connection from Class Dojo. Next up was an overview of the new Google for Ed Certification Exams.  Rounding out third place were ideas to welcome parents, students, and the community into your school. I'm thrilled that post was the inspiration for last week's #Sunchat. 

There are a few more posts to round out the top including one that explains a learning model with no tests, teachers, or curriculum and an oldy about why we should allow students to use cell phones for learning.  I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. Share it with your networks. If you're inspired, leave a comment.  

Entry	Pageviews
Class Story (an Instagram for Parents) Helps Stren... Sep 6, 2015,	5050
Google for Education Certification and Exams Sep 9, 2015,	4911
6 Updates to Welcome Your School Community + Prepa... Sep 13, 2015,	3474
A Learning Model with No Tests, Teachers, or Curri... Sep 15, 2015,	3160
5 Reasons to Allow Students to Use Cell Phones in ... Jul 8, 2012,	3036
Winner! The 3 #BackToSchool Supplies Necessary to ... Aug 30, 2015,	2098
10 Tips + 10 Resources that Use Tech to Keep Wande... Sep 2, 2015,	2073
Tools, Practices, + Structures, to Guide Self-Dire... Sep 20, 2015,	2034