New Augmented Reality Holiday Cards...

In the PD sessions last month we talked about augmented reality. I just saw this commercial last night. Augmented Reality Holiday Cards. It has hit the mainstream market!

NROC November Webinar - Next Generation Learning Challenges-FREE

November 18- 2:00 p.m. ET - Presented by Ira Fuchs, EDUCAUSE NGLC Executive Director
Join NROC for an informative webinar on Next Generation Learning Challenges -- a new program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and managed by EDUCAUSE -- that seeks to identify and scale technology-enabled approaches to dramatically improve college readiness and completion, particularly for low-income young adults. NGLC re-imagines the future of student success with information technology as an essential enabler. Learn more about the program's mission, goals, and grant opportunities. EDUCAUSE is joined in this effort by the League for Innovation in the Community College, the International Association of K-12 Online Learning, and the Council of Chief State School Officers. Click here to register.

Following EDU Blogs...

Many of you asked about how to find people (blogs) to follow in our recent PD session of Tech in the Classroom. The best way is to find an expert and start following their blogroll. Or you can Google "Higher Ed Blogs" or "Education Blogs" and get some pretty good lists. Here are a few suggestions:

Higher Ed

MattHerzberger.com
SquaredPeg.com
Alumni Futures
College Web Editor
College Web Guy
.eduGuru
eduStyle
Eric Stoller.com
FJ Gaylor Photography
Future Endeavour
GlobalHigherEd
HighEdWebTech.com
Higher Ed Marketing
The Higher Ed Marketing Blog
Institutional Knowledge
Interactive Media for Higher Education
Jeremy Wilburn
KarlynMorissette.com
Keeping on Top of Higher Ed
Mark Greenfield - Higher Ed Web Consulting
Ron Bronson
TargetX iThink Online
The Old College Try
Tales from Redesignland
Web Development Blog
UBrander

 

E-Learning

Clive on Learning
Connectivism
Digital Chalkie
Internet Time Blog
elearnspace
E-Learning Queen
Learning and Technology
Moving at the Speed of Creativity
Stephen's Web
The Knowledge Tree
XplanaZine

 

Education News

Eduwonk
This Week in Education

 

Education Policy

Change Agency
D-Ed Reckoning
Education in Texas
Education Intelligence Agency
Jenny D.
Practical Theory
Schools Matter

 

Internet Culture

absolutely intercultural
Adventures in Educational Blogging
BionicTeacher
Digital Writing, Digital Teaching
Full Circle Online Interaction Blog
Ideas and Thoughts from an EdTech
Infinite Thinking Machine
learning.now
Learn Online

 

Learning

2 Cents Worth
abject learning
Informal Learning Blog
Learning Curves
Learnlets
McGee's Musings
Random Walk in Learning
The Stingy Scholar

 

Library and Research

David Lee King
Deep Thinking
Dissertation Research
Free Range Librarian
heyjude
ideant
Information Wants To Be Free
InfoSciPhi
librarian.net
librariesinteract.info
LibraryBytes
Library Stuff
LSJ Editors' Blog
Panlibus
Rambling Librarian
Research Buzz
Resource Shelf
STLQ
Tasty Research

 

Specialty

Catalysts & Connections
History Is Elementary
Polar Science 2006
WisBlawg

 

Teaching

A Difference
Are We Doing Anything Today?
Artichoke
blog of proximal development
Borderland
Bud the Teacher
Christopher D. Sessums Blog
Cool Cat Teacher Blog
FunnyMonkey
Infocult: Information, Culture, Policy, Education
NYC Educator
Teachers Teaching Teachers
Teaching Hacks.com
Teaching Generation Z
teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk
The Open Classroom

 

Technology

A Teacher's Life
Around the Corner v2
Beth's Thoughts on Technology in the Classroom
bgblogging
Bionic Teaching
Blogging IT and EDucation
CogDogBlog
Dangerously Irrelevant
Ed-Tech Insider
EdTechPost
EduBlog Insights
Education/Technology
Infomancy
Remote Access
Teach42
Techlearning Blog
The Tech Savvy Educator
The Thinking Stick
Weblogg-ed

Facebook Places

Location-based apps, use GPS so people can "check in" on their mobile phones, letting friends know where they are and what they're up to.

Say you're at a bar, restaurant, coffeehouse or club. The idea is that if one of your friends sees your check-in and is nearby, they can swing by and hang out with you.
You can also leave comments and tips for friends to see.

If you like a particular dish at a restaurant, or had bad service there, you can post that info with your check-in and notify your friends.


How to turn off Facebook Places

Edmodo: Like Facebook for the Classroom

Facebook isn't always the answer when it comes to communicating with students. It's their thing, and we are invading it. It may sound funny but would you want your teacher to be your friend on facebook- probably not. Edmodo offers an alternative for communication in a network. In fact Edmodo even behaves similar to facebook so there’s not as much as a learning curve when it comes to using the new tool.

Edmodo.com is a private online social platform for teachers and students to share ideas, files, events and assignments. Built on a micro blogging model, the site allows teachers the ability to handle a good deal of class activity online. Teachers can send out assignments, receive completed assignments and assign grades using the online platform. In addition, they can maintain a class calendar, store and share files, have a public (RSS) stream, and conduct polls. Teachers can also use the site to send text (SMS) alerts to students. Users have a home page where they can see a summary of recent activity for their class. The home page allows the teacher to make new assignments, assign an event to the calendar, send out an alert, write a note to an individual or a group of students, and share links or files with students. When a link or file is shared, a message can be added that explains the contents. A number of filters can be applied to the summary view, including notes, alerts, events, assignments, links and files. Teachers can also assign grades to assignments, and students can easily view a summary of their grades on all assignments.

Here are some more great advantages.

• Its mobile Students can sign up to have alerts, notifications, links, or events sent directly to their cellphones. Also, Edmodo has a great interactive mobile site for iPhones and Droids.

• It’s private since you need an access code to sign up for the class, if you do not have one of those codes, you cannot participate in the class. This high standard of privacy has given me (and my administrators) great piece of mind and allowed for more leeway with allowing more social networking for classes.

• Support Edmodo offers free support!

The Edmodo Blog
Edmodo Tute
Edmodo Learn It In Five

Animoto: Photos to Video in a Snap

Have you heard of Animoto? Animoto takes still photos and turns them into video set to music. Highly impressive, free full length video option for educators, and super easy! A winner all around.

Animoto for Education
Animoto Step by Step

Using Google Reader to Follow Blogs: PD

Following other blogs by professors, staff, employees in higher ed or specific programs is a great way to learn new things. Google Reader provides a way to read all of the blogs you subscribe to in one easy place.

HOW TO: Use Google Reader Like A Rockstar

Book of the Week

This important resource introduces a framework for 21st Century learning that maps out the skills needed to survive and thrive in a complex and connected world. 21st Century content includes the basic core subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic-but also emphasizes global awareness, financial/economic literacy, and health issues. The skills fall into three categories: learning and innovations skills; digital literacy skills; and life and career skills. This book is filled with vignettes, international examples, and classroom samples that help illustrate the framework and provide an exciting view of what twenty-first century teaching and learning can achieve.

A vital resource that outlines the skills needed for students to excel in the twenty-first century

Explores the three main categories of 21st Century Skills: learning and innovations skills; digital literacy skills; and life and career skills.

Addresses timely issues such as the rapid advance of technology and increased economic competition

Based on a framework developed by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21)

Includes a DVD with video clips of classroom teaching

Adventures With Skype In the Classroom

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/superkimbo

Skype has been one of my favorite tools to talk about because I think it has high impact. It also helps that it is completely free and super easy to sign up for. Not sure what Skype is? Check out an explanation here. I am really drawn to the potential of this tool. Below are resources for setting up Skype in the classroom and also some ideas for uses. Do you have a unique idea for how to use Skype in the classroom?


Education World provides a techtorial
eHow offers a basic step by step guide
Quick Start Tips For New Skype Users
Skype Tips by Chrissy Hellyer
4 Steps to Skyptastic Video Conference by Kim Cofino
Using Skype in the classroom (or just learning how to use it) by Vicki Davis
Skype Other Classrooms! List of educators around the world, looking for and willing to collaborate with other classrooms!

If you are still not convinced of the potential skype holds beyond a “video phone call” watch  Brian Crosby’s class on the following powerful video.

21st Century Education in New Brunswick, Canada

Interesting Video on 21st Century Education.

Nintendo DS in the Classroom?

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarah606

Is gaming the answer to engagement? My nephews carry their DS everywhere, they can even access the Internet from the device. In fact my oldest nephew Googles any question that comes up in conversation right from his DS. I can see possibilities here. Check out what K-12 schools are doing to engage students with the tools the like the most- video games!

Nintendo Goes to School: DS Classroom Turns Handheld Console Into Teaching Tool Fast Company Magazine
Article


Bringing the Nintendo DS into the classroom?
Blog by Dan Gross
Blog Post