Pay Attention to Teacher Learning Styles

We ask teachers to adjust their teaching to the needs of students, but often we don’t follow the same advice when helping teachers. Paul Sanfrancesco, School CIO Advisor, asks, “Which PD Models Work?” He writes about educators going to PD sessions where speakers drone on and on. You’ve surely encountered some of these as well as techies leading training sessions who go so fast that hardly anyone understands anything. —Or, how about those sessions where they throw everyone together—tech experts, tech users, and not-so-tech-oriented teachers—to learn? Some already know what is being taught and find it a waste of time, some benefit from it, some aren’t ready for it, and some will be sure it will never fit into the content they teach and/or their teaching style.

Sanfrancesco asks you to contribute to the blog by adding your comments about professional development. We know that a one-size-fits-all model doesn’t work well for tech professional development. But what does?

Schoology for Learning Management & More

Schoology, a CODiE Award winner, helps teachers and administrators put easy-to-use tools to work to develop their own educational communities. The system encourages collaboration and integrates nicely with other platforms like Google Apps, Moodle, Blackboard, Turnitin, etc. It allows schools to put all content in one easily accessible place. edshelf reviews call it “Facebook-like in appearance and navigation” and an “unbelievable classroom tool”.  Schoology includes different levels of pricing and is free for basic management and administrative features. A limited admin plan is free for schools and includes privacy controls, word filters, and data import and export. Schools and districts interested in advanced management and administrative features should contact Schoology for pricing.  This program is getting a host of great reviews by teachers who use it.

Webinar on Demand: Changing Role of Teachers

Tech & Learning, together with Edgenuity, offers the Webinar on Demand, The Power of Technology and the Changing Role of the Teacher. You can enjoy the webinar at your convenience. It features ways technology empowers teachers such as how digital devices can be used for routine tasks and how they can be used to allow teachers time to “mentor, coach, and build student relationships.” Also, covered in the webinar is how to use data to create personalized learning experiences for all students.

Video Capture in the Classroom

Video capture is a great way for teachers to observe the effectiveness of their teaching. For example, while watching a video of themselves and their students in action, they’ll think of ways they can improve their techniques and interact more effectively with students.

Teachscape, a company that provides solutions for professional learning and teacher evaluation, offers a variety of software and hardware tools to enhance professional development. Coming soon to Teachscape will be the Teachscape Pano Camera System—the latest in video capture technology. This camera can record over 8 hours of instruction, view classrooms at any angle, and with its omnidirectional microphone, can “hear” student voices no matter where they are in a room.  It’s also easy to set up and move among classrooms.

Adam Bellows Says Create, Not Just Consume

Adam Bellow, who gave the closing keynote, “Change the World” at ISTE 2013, says that we need a “start up culture” in our schools.  This culture would embrace individualization, not standardization, in “environments that ‘respect failure, embrace curiosity, and grow dreams.’” To bring about these changes, Bellow suggested that we use tools like MineKeeper, Minecraft, and Raspberry Pi, and that we share with each other through social media and personal interaction. Bellow is an inspiring speaker; his ISTE speech is available online. If you listen to it, you’ll get some excellent ideas for starting the 2013-2014 school year.

ISTE’s New Branding

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) will no longer be recognized by its name and a globe of the world. Instead of the old logo, on ISTE products and services will be the acronym ISTE with a partial circle (indicating the world) dissecting the letters and the words “Connected learning. Connected World” beneath the letters. Take a look at the new logo and watch the video on ISTE’s vision and brand.

Teachscape Win Professional Development Award

The 2013 Golden Lamp Award for Professional Development, presented by the Association of Educational Publishers went to The Teachscape Effectiveness Platform. The online product helps schools and districts by providing observation and evaluation tools. Teachscape was honored for the Platform’s “teacher friendliness, wealth of information and streamlined time-saving approach . . . .”

Confused About Common Core?

Tech & Learning is offering a series of three webinars that target common core and technology.  The “Demystifying Common Core and Technology” series includes: Common Core and IT on Tuesday, April 23^rd at 4:00 p.m. (eastern); Common Core and Curriculum, Tuesday April 30^th at 4:00 p.m. (eastern); and Higher Education, Tuesday, May 7^th at 4:00 p.m. (eastern). Schools and districts interested in discussing curricular and technology needs of the future as they relate to common core and common core assessment will appreciate this series of webinars. If these dates and times aren’t convenient, keep in mind that the sessions will be ready for you in Tech & Learning’s Archives.

Webinars: Not Always Scheduled with Teachers in Mind

eSchool News sponsors a nice variety of Webinars, which are great for teachers and administrators.  If you’re like me, you don’t always have time within the school day to take advantage of online learning when it is scheduled.  It’s rather difficult for teachers and often tech coordinators, as well, to attend sessions scheduled for times like 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., but don’t forget that many organizations offering Webinars keep archives of their sessions. Okay, so you won’t be in on interaction during the session, but often there isn’t much you’ll miss.  So, if you can’t make the eSchool News Webinar, “Learning in the Cloud,” that’s scheduled for March 21, 2013 at 4 p.m. PT, you can catch up on the content in the archives whenever you want.  Some of eSchool News’ archived sessions include information on BYOD, Chromebooks, Google Apps and writing, eRate, creating online learning programs, tips for teaching online, implementing tablets, and cutting costs.

Read&Write GOLD Assistive Software Use Training for Teachers

textHelp, which provides excellent software for students with special needs, has teamed with Atomic Learning to provide free training videos for teachers. Using 2-3 minute videos for each of the features of the software, those who work with students who need special help are better able to meet the needs of their students.  Atomic Learning’s learning sessions takes users on a “walk” through the menu options for reading, writing, and self-editing. Both Mac and PC training versions are available for you to browse.