Virtual Conference

Want to know more about technology in education? Here's a great opportunity! The award-winning producers of FETC and T.H.E. Journal invite you to participate in a FREE virtual conference for K-12 educators and technology staff exploring the most pressing issues related to 21st Century Skills.

APRIL 23, 2009
11:00am-7:00pm EST

What you can expect:

• The latest developments in 21st century skills
• Engaging speakers sharing their expertise in an interactive and efficient way
• A dynamic exchange of best practices and tips for success
• A virtual networking lounge to expand your network of K-12 educators and technology experts
• Access to other participants through instant messaging
• Free content downloads and presentations to go
• Technology product and service demonstrations.
• Q&As with technology experts

Register NOW!

21st Century Teaching, Learning & Classrooms

I found these three presentations by Kim Cofino on the Slideshare site. They are simple, elegant, and impressive. Note the emphasis on the visuals and the emotions and ideas they evoke! Kim shares her great ideas and experiences in her blog, Always Learning. It's one you might want to bookmark and watch!

The 21st Century Educator

View more presentations from Kim Cofino.

The 21st Century Learner

View more presentations from Kim Cofino.

The 21st Century Classroom

View more presentations from Kim Cofino.

Forward or Reverse? Which Do You Believe?

Love It! Love It! Love It!

Teacher Kelly Tenkely and her first grade students made this video and posted it on YouTube for the world to see. Love it! Love it! Love it!



Based on an idea from the book, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie."

Kelly is the author of the iLearnTechnology blog--full of great practical ideas for using technology in the classroom.

There's a New Kid in Town (for Kids and Teachers, Too!)

You'll want to visit and bookmark SchoolRooms, a new learning portal for K-12 students, teachers, and parents. Designed by teachers and librarians, SchoolRooms features:

• 71 virtual rooms of content for elementary, middle, and high school levels (Check out the full listing of virtual rooms here)
• Nearly 2,000 unique page views for students to visit 23,000+ links to high-quality Web sites
• More than 5 million Web pages crawled and indexed for Best of Web

The information provided is curriculum-oriented and based on state standards in Florida and other states. There are videos, photographs, and audio recordings, too. SchoolRooms says: "Exploration, discovery, and learning don't have to be boring." They are setting out to prove it!

I've added to the "More Links for You" section of this blog in the column on the right. Check it out!

Free Online Jeopardy Game Template

Here's another tool for you to use with students to help them review information: JeopardyLabs.

"JeopardyLabs allows you to create a customized jeopardy template. The games you make can be played online from anywhere in the world. Building your own jeopardy template is a piece of cake. Just use the simple editor to get your game up and running. Not interested in building your own jeopardy templates? Well that’s cool too. You can browse other jeopardy templates created by other people."

I created a jeopardy-like game just for you based on Chapters 1-4 in your text. In fact, I created a second one to be sure you know your stuff! I thought it might be helpful to review before teh quiz. Play alone, or get together with a classmate or two. You know how to play Jeopardy. You see the answer. What is the question?





If you get the answer right, click on the plus (+) sign at the bottom of the page. If you get it wrong, well...you know!

Quiz Alert

You'll soon be quizzed on Chapters 1-4 of your textbook. There are several review options available to you as described on the course pages. Here's another one created in Quizlet, a free "flashcard" creation program.

No matter the subject or the age of the student, giving them a chance to practice and review content is important. The importance of vocabulary in mastering any content cannot be overestimated.

Other flashcard creation programs include:

• Cramberry
• Muchobeets
• Study Stack
• Knowtes

I've done the same vocabulary for you in Study Stack where you can practice using flash cards, matching, hangman, crossword puzzles, scrambled words and more. I found a how-to video on YouTube that shows you how to use PowerPoint to create flashcards. Not quite the same, but a good idea!

Check them out. You may be able to use one of them in your final project or in another course.
Oh! And you will be more prepared for the first quiz!!

Benjamin Zander: Amazing!

What is YOUR outlook toward learning? Is learning a joy to you? or is it a chore? What is your attitude toward teaching? This video will make you think (and entertain you, too!)

See my favorite Benjamin Zander video here. (You don't have to like classical music to enjoy this super-teacher and learn from him, too!)

I wish for each of you many "shining eyes" in your future!