INTRODUCTION
Is there something you’re interested in exploring that we’re not covering? Is there a trend, topic or issue you want to dig into more?
Do you have a project in mind that pulls together a bunch of tools, or a lesson plan you want to develop that incorporates what you’re learning?
Do you have a collaboration in mind, but haven’t had a chance to get started?
Or maybe it’s time to put together a short presentation and share what you’ve learned with your colleagues.
Whatever you want to do, this Thing is your chance to choose what you want to learn and focus on what is important and useful to you.
THINGS TO EXPLORE
Here are a few lists, blogs and reports to explore for more tools, trends and ideas. Find some tools to explore, or a new project idea to implement, or a trend to research, or?????
- AASL Best Websites for Teaching and Learning
- Kathy Schrock’s Guide to Everything – yep, everything!
- EdTech Update – Links to blog posts by educators covering new tech tools.
- Control Alt Achieve – Erick Curts’ treasure trove of resources and ideas. Be sure to visit the Resources page.
- Meredith Akers blog – Lots of fun, useful ideas for little ones and older students.
- Ditch That Textbook – Matt Miller shares lots of practical tech tips and tools.
- Virtual Giff – Jen Giffen shares tips and tricks.
- Top Tools for Learning – annual list of what educators feel are the most important and useful tools.
- The Horizon Report: K12 Edition – Eagerly awaited annual reports that look at emerging technologies, trends and challenges. Look at earlier reports to see if predictions have panned out. (Note: the organization that produced these reports has ceased operation. There’s hope the CoSN will pick up the project.)
LEARNING ACTIVITY
There are so many things you could do for this topic! I’ve listed a few ideas below, but I know you’ll all be able to come up your own great ideas. I can’t wait to see what you all come up with for this topic.
- Plan a classroom project, activity, lesson.
- Meet with a colleague and get started on a collaboration.
- Dig deep into one of the tools that you really want to learn more about.
- Find and read some articles on a trend that you want to explore.
- Present what you’ve been learning in this workshop at a staff meeting or a small group of interested colleagues, students or parents.
- Put together a plan to present at a meeting or conference. Share what you know!
*TURNING IN YOUR ASSIGNMENT
- Write & publish your blog post.
- Copy the URL (webpage address) for your post.
- Return to your Google Classroom, find the assignment page for the lesson you just completed and follow the directions for turning in and sharing your work.
*Only for students participating in the workshop for PD credit hours through the Google Classroom.