New Job

I have accepted a new position as Curriculum Coordinator at another high school in my district.  I am not quite sure what that will mean for this blog.  I am still trying to figure out exactly what my goal is with this blog since I am in my 3rd position in as many years (and that is not a complaint).  I hope that I will have more time to write some posts sharing ways that we are improving curriculum and using technology in the classroom.

It will be a busy year with several new teachers in the building, working on an accreditation review, Program Reviews, and improving methodology of PLC's/CLC's.  I hope to find some time to work on adding some posts to this blog. 

I wish I could go back and remove the ".blogspot," and get my original domain, but as quick as my domain was removed, it appeared it was picked up just as quickly, therefore I would have to change to a .net or change the whole URL, which I am not a fan of.  So it appears that I will have to stick with the ".blogspot." for now.

Thanks for following....even though there hasn't been much to follow in the past year.

9 Simple Website Creation Options

Over the course of the growth of the World Wide Web there has been an increase in all types of websites.  One of those are websites that allow you to copy and paste or type in text and then share a custom URL with people.  I have had to use a site like this myself for Master's classes, so there are applications in education.  Here are several options below.

Kl1p is your one stop online notepad that makes it easy to copy and paste or write text to the web.  You can create a custom URL as well.  There is a Chrome extension as well.  Each "Clip" creates a custom QR Code as well which would be beneficial for doing a scavenger hunt in the classroom.  You can also upload documents and pictures to the "Clip" as well.

PageOrama is another option that has a simple URL creation, text box for typing, an emailing option to make future edits and security code as well.

shortText is a little different.  It does offer Chrome and Firefox extensions.  It allows users to Link an Image or Video, Use Rich Text, make private, and customize colors/schemes.  Users can also visitors to post comments as well.  It does not allow custom URL however and when you do click on the link there are ads to deal with as well. 

WePaste is your very own Internet Clipboard.  You provide a URL and once you have done that, you are provided with your text box.  One difference that I did notice is that users have the ability to determine how many days till the page expires.  You can choose the number of days you want your page to be available.  this service is limited to just text, so don't expect a ton of features.  You can save it and password protect your page as well.

Jottit is another solution for posting information online with a generated URL.  No text editor option, just a simple text box for copy and paste or typing.

PageEasy is another simple option for creating simple webpages.  Choose the page name, choose the title, copy HTML code, and type in your text.  You can sign up for an account and manage all your pages which is nice if that is an option that you or your students would be needing.  Here is a sample.

CopyTaste provides users the ability to create an account (if necessary) to track user created websites.  You can choose various types of pages such as an image, text, videos, or URL.  You can allow comments and you can also make it private if necessary.  Similar to others.  I will warn you that throughout the website there are links to recently created pages which could include inappropriate content. 

Pen.io is another option for creating a webpage in a simple way.  You choose a custom URL and a password (for editing purposes).  With Pen.io you have the ability to add tags to the webpage.  You can also choose a theme for your page.  Some of the options include the ability to images, videos, YouTube, and advertisements.  There is also the option to embed your page as well. 

Disposable Web Page is another option that provides you 90 days or less (you decide) with a webpage that you can use to share information for a short period of time. 

In the age of creating and publishing that many state education departments are requiring of students.  Simple web site creation such as these provide that ability. 

Google Search Education

I just recently discovered this new opportunity provided by Google that provides lesson plans, activities, and live trainings on how to use Google Search correctly.  Using Google has become a crutch for so many students in finding the answers that they need.  It has become both a positive and negative influence in education.  If used correctly, it can be a great tool for students and teachers.  If used incorrectly, it fosters laziness and a lack of understanding in what is a quality website.  

If you are looking for opening week lessons, this would probably be a great starting point.  Each lesson and activity is divided into "Beginner," "Intermediate," and "Advanced."  There are also "Google-A-Day" activities as well that are broken down by subject matter.

You can see the video below that offers more information.

Leap Motion

Have you seen this floating around Twitter and other social media?  Leap Motion is a new technology that allows you to use your hands and fingers in various motions to manipulate your computer screen?  The future of technology and the impact on education is going to be tremendous over the next couple decades.  It seems every time a new tool or software becomes available, there is the immediate question: "How can this be used in Education?"

Leap is taking the SMARTBoard interaction to a different level all together.  It takes "hands-on" and technology to a whole new meaning.  Of course, it is just the next new thing and who knows the implication that it COULD have on the classroom, but thinking about how students will actually be involved in using the computer in a different way is interesting.

See the video below.


A 27" iMac is probably a good purchase if Leap Motion gets popular

10 Tips for Summer Break for New Teachers

When people want to complain about teachers having summers off, we always say, "just walk a day in my shoes."  Now that your first year of school is behind you and your first official summer break is upon you, here are some helpful tips for your first teacher summer break.

1.) While it is fresh on your mind, sit back, relax....and then reflect on the year.  What could you do differently?  What are you going to do the same?  Reflection is the best type of growth for teachers because it allows us the opportunity to critique ourselves.  Make a list of top 5 things to keep and change and put them somewhere for you to look back on next school year.

2.) Use this summer to grow as a teacher.  Connect with other teachers using Twitter, or educational sites like TeachHUB or Edutopia.  There are also several social networks created for teachers that you can find as well; like Classroom 2.0.

3.) Start a reading list of blogs to follow.  This is one of the best ways to discover teachers who blog and share tons of resources and tools.  The best starting point is the Edublog Awards.  You can search through the nominations and the winners from previous years and there are categories for every teacher at every grade level.  This is also a great place to find examples of classroom or student blogs if that is something you are thinking of doing in the future.  Google Reader is a good starting point for organizing these blogs. 

4.) Choose a few tools to use with your students next school year.  There are hundreds of Web 2.0 tools that teachers can integrate into the classroom.  It can often times be overwhelming.  Just pick a few that you think enhances your teaching and fosters learning with your students.  Don't pick one just to be using it so you can say you used it.  Choose one with a plan and a purpose for implementing it in the classroom.  I have created a Couple eBooks (Tools for the 21st Century Teacher 1st Edition and 2nd Edition) to help get you started that you might be interested in.  Here is another Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers that you might be interested in as well.  Another option is 35 Tools by Edudemic. Just remember, it is not about the tool...it is about the teacher integrating that tool.

5.) Attend a Conference related to your subject matter or technology integration.  Conferences for your subject matter will probably cost money to attend.  Technology conferences, however, are being held all over the country and are completely free to attend.  You can find a list of EdCamp Conferences through their Wiki that includes dates and locations.  Another option are TeachMeet Conferences.  These gained popularity overseas and have made their way to the United States.  The whole idea behind these conferences is providing relevant professional development that teachers want to be a part of.  They are often catered to the attendees, not the presenters. 

6.) Start collecting and organizing resources that you never had time to look at throughout the first year of your teaching because of all the other requirements of being a teacher.  I prefer to use Diigo to store and track resources that I find on the web.  Here are 13 Reasons teachers Should Use Diigo that is a great starting point for any teacher.

7.) Summer time can be a great time to register for free supplies and stuff for the classroom; because time is limited during the school year to take time to do that.  A valuable blog to bookmark in your Google Reader is Penniless Teacher.  Daily post sharing links to websites offering sweepstakes for teachers needing supplies, books, technology, etc.  It never hurts to try and get free stuff.

8.) Organize your email.  As educators we are bombarded by emails throughout the day.  After a year, you have probably learned who sends junk and who sends important email.  Most email services provide ways to create and organize folders.  Several email services also come with the ability to create rules for emails where you can have emails from certain people sent to folders instead of your inbox...or even delete them before seeing them.  If you use Microsoft Office Outlook WebApp, see HERE for instructions.  For GMail, see HERE.  If you use another service, a simple Google search or the "Help" file will help you learn how.  Some email services might call this "Filters."

9.) Organize and Create Calendars.  In correlation with number 8 above, your calendar can often be the most important tool you ever use.  If you are not currently using a calendar through your email provider, it is highly recommended.  It has truly helped me in the past two years once I realized what I was able to do with categories, creating calendars, syncing to my iPhone, and color coding various responsibilities, it made my life a lot easier.  It could be very important to you learn how to use the calendar features in Outlook and Google.

10.)  Investigate how to use resources to better communicate with students, parents, and the community.  I used Facebook, Twitter, and a Blog this school year with marginal success.  I did not require any use by students, but had several parents share that they were happy I provided this opportunity for them to learn what we were doing in the classroom.  I also uploaded all the work that we did in class onto my classroom webpage so that students had access to them if they were absent or sick.  The summer time is a great time to plan how to use these services to better communicate with your students.