Collaborative learning and group work is a great way for kids and young adults to learn. It often provides for higher-level thinking and better retention of information. This article provides 20 very useful tips and suggestions on how to implement a collaborative learning classroom.
http://www.teachthought.com/learning/20-collaborative-learning-tips-and-strategies/?_escaped_fragment_=dIPqWb
Please take a look at my Scoop.it site, "Best of the Web" I have curated a lot of helpful sites, how-tos and articles relating to educational technology. And while you are there, consider creating your own Scoop.it; or better yet, have your students create one as a class project.
http://www.scoop.it/t/using-web-2-0-tools-effectively-and-creatively
http://www.scoop.it/t/using-web-2-0-tools-effectively-and-creatively
Don't fear Wikipedia! Embrace it....with limitations! We are all using it, including students. So tell them about what's good, and perhaps not so good, about Wikipedia. Here is a short video to share with your students.
http://content.easybib.com/whats-up-with-wikipedia/#.U6gr8ZRdUVA
http://content.easybib.com/whats-up-with-wikipedia/#.U6gr8ZRdUVA
The 31 Educational Web Tools Every Teacher Should Know About. The name says it all. This is a very helpful site that I check regularly..otherwise I might miss this great resource!
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/12/the-31-educational-web-tools-every.html
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/12/the-31-educational-web-tools-every.html
Do Copyright issues confuse you? It's probably because they are very confusing! There are 'gray' areas regarding educational uses, also known as Fair Use. Here is an article that will try to clarify some questions you may have regarding copyright infringement and what you, as a teacher, can and can't use in your classroom. There is also a link to an easy-toread grid of Copyright and Fair Use practices.
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/04/for-teachers-difference-between-fair.html
http://www.techlearning.com/techlearning/pdf/events/techforum/tx05/TeacherCopyright_chart.pdf
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/04/for-teachers-difference-between-fair.html
http://www.techlearning.com/techlearning/pdf/events/techforum/tx05/TeacherCopyright_chart.pdf
Here is a Prezi presentation, Twitter 101; Social Media for the Library Media Specialist. Although it says it's for librarians, there are some useful, basic tips on using Twitter. Takes a few seconds to load, then just keep hitting the forward arrow. An aside, Prezi is a pretty cool presentation tool on its own. Powerpoint taken to a whole new level!!I would check it out separately for possible uses with students.
http://prezi.com/_q8_wzjaw7ah/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
http://prezi.com/_q8_wzjaw7ah/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
Twitter is a great site for educators. So many wonderful teachers, administrators, librarians, authors, professors etc have blogs and websites with articles and papers to interest just about anyone. But who/what should you follow? Here is a pretty comprehensive list of hashtags you can search and follow.
http://www.cybraryman.com/edhashtags.html
http://www.cybraryman.com/edhashtags.html
A Copyright Friendly Toolkit. "A true digital citizen understands how to ethically use the works of others to build his or her own creative products—music, art, video, stories, presentations--and share them with the world." Check out this helpful site for copyright guidelines, categories and tools.
https://www.smore.com/f677-a-copyright-friendly-toolkit
https://www.smore.com/f677-a-copyright-friendly-toolkit
Student blogging is a great way for students to practice their writing, and to read and make thoughtful comments on what peers have written. Here are two rubrics for student blogging.
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/02/two-handy-blogging-rubrics-for-teachers.html
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/02/two-handy-blogging-rubrics-for-teachers.html
Check out the easy, clean, user friendly timeline generator called Timeline JS. Great for your students projects.
http://timeline.knightlab.com/
http://timeline.knightlab.com/
The Orange-Ulster BOCES School Library System is a great resource for free databases and educational software. One of their offerings is a database called Teaching Books. They have thousands of resources on books and authors for K-12, including Common Core, non-fiction related themes. Booklists on the modules and exemplars are available as well as Author programs, readings, lesson plans, book guides, etc. This is a great resource, and one that the district receives for free, so please take a look. There is a direct link to it from the districts server, or if you'd like to check it out at home, please see me for the username and password.
http://www.teachingbooks.net/
http://www.teachingbooks.net/
Another news site that is geared for students in grades 9-12 in the Teen Tribune section of the website Tween Tribune.. These short articles could be used for current events, debates, writing exercises and group work.
http://tweentribune.com/teen
http://tweentribune.com/teen
Newsela is an innovative way for students to build reading comprehension with nonfiction that's always relevant: daily news. It's easy to read layout is great. Short articles on news topics that are relevant and are written in a 'student-friendly' way. Do yourself a favor and check it out. I think it could have a lot of uses in the classroom.
http://www.newsela.com/
http://www.newsela.com/
Here is the link to my own Scoop-it page. (Scoop-it is a new, content curation publishing hub for organizing and sharing ideas that matter). My page is titled, "Using Web 2.0 Tools Effectively and Creatively" but I do have some articles/pages related to library issues. Give it a look, and consider the possibilties of creating one for yourself and your teaching.
http://www.scoop.it/t/using-web-2-0-tools-effectively-and-creatively.
http://www.scoop.it/t/using-web-2-0-tools-effectively-and-creatively.
16 Free Science Apps You Must Download Now! ...or so says edShelf. Posted on the Teach Thought website.
http://www.teachthought.com/apps-2/16-free-science-apps-you-must-download-now-from-edshelf/
http://www.teachthought.com/apps-2/16-free-science-apps-you-must-download-now-from-edshelf/
Here is some information regarding how to assign projects and papers with an LLP--(low probability of plagiarism).
http://www.doug-johnson.com/dougwri/plagiarism-proofing-assignments.html
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml
http://www.doug-johnson.com/dougwri/plagiarism-proofing-assignments.html
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml
Make Belief Comix is an awesome comic strip creator site. Easy to use, no student logins required and you can make comic strips in different languages. Great for art and/or writing projects. Lots of possibilities.
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/