EdTech Update

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Google for Educators

While reading the C-NET News.com blog I learned that Google has created a Google for Educators website with teacher guides for their products, such as Google Earth, SketchUp, Picasa... some of the FREE software I enjoy using and have written about on this blog.

You can also sign up for the Google Teacher Newsletter, and learn more about the Google Certified Teacher Training Academy.

From the website...

We think of this site as a platform of teaching resources – for everything
from blogging and collaborative writing to geographical search tools and 3D
modeling software – and we want you to fill it in with your great ideas.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

MSU's Blogs for Learning

While reading Will Richardson's weblogg-ed blog I found Michigan State University's blogs for learning.

Blogs for Learning is an online resource designed for students and instructors who are interested in instructional blogging...The goal of the site is to provide information and resources surrounding the technical, legal, and pedagogical aspects of blogging in the classroom.

You'll find about a half-dozen articles about blogging, several Word Press and Blogger tutorials, and, of course, the blogs for learning blog. It's worth checking out.

Monday, October 09, 2006

FREE School Wikis!

Technology Enhanced Lesson Plans

From the Michigan Department of Education, here are DOZENS of technology enhanced lesson plans: http://techplan.edzone.net/ci2006/ created by REAL MICHIGAN TEACHERS!

You'll also find the 2005 lesson plans on this page, along with links to other interesting sites.

School Year 2006

I've had a LOOOOOOOONG break from posting to the blog, but now I'm starting to get the bug again.

This school year I'd like to focus my attention on finding those rare and wonderful classroom websites that utilize Web 2.0 technologies like blogs, wikis, and podcasts. I hope to share with you the "exemplars" and the "best practices" from those gifted classroom teachers who are eager to learn and share.

Here are two of my favorites, that I'm sure I've shared before on this blog:

Cool Cat Teacher Blog
Remote Access

By all means, please post a comment and share your favorites.

Monday, June 12, 2006

Can you hear this?

I came across an interesting article in the New York Times technology section today. Students are downloading a high frequency ring tone to their cell phones that many "older" adults cannot hear! The pitch of the ring tone is about 17 kiloherz, and as we age we tend to lose that spectrum of sound first.

In my informal survey here at work, a 19 year old, 30 year old, and I (46) could hear the ring tone. Another 40-something and a 50-something could not!

Many schools require students to turn their cell phones off during classes. Leave it to our ingenious youth to figure out a way to get around that rule! They may not be able to speak on their cell phone without being noticed, but they can probably text message surreptitiously enough.

Click on the embedded player below to hear (or not) the ring tone for yourself.