The Technological Help Team!!

Part of maneuvering through the  Knowledge Based Society we live in, is being able to assess, rate, and manage the knowledge we need.  We don’t need a floodlight to find what we’re looking for, when a flashlight will do.  It’s all about focus.

There is a ton of free information online regarding the use of technology in the classroom.  It can be specific, like actual lesson plans, to general, like ideas for using FaceBook in the classroom.  I am not currently teaching a classroom, but if I were here are some resources that I would turn to for help in implementing technology in the classroom.

1. Computer Teacher/librarian:  every school has either a designated computer instructor, or a tech savvy individual that gets excited when using his SmartBoard, iPads, and websites that he spent the weekend creating.  Why not ask them how they would use their digital resources to teach the unit?
2. School District Curriculum and Learning Resources:  I would think most districts has a person in charge of sourcing, developing, purchasing learning resources.  In my case it is Don Macintyre a proponent of technological implementation.  In our district he started the first multi school class, teaching from his home office to high school students in 3 different locations.  He’s a pioneer and a great sound board for ideas.
3. Web Based Resources: This is the go-to resource for me, but distinguishing the wheat from the chaff becomes the issue.  I’m looking for general ideas when implementing technology in the classroom.  I don’t want the specifics.  Some of the websites that continuously pop up when doing a search for “implementing technology in the classroom” are:
   1. Edutopia — It’s pretty cool when George Lucas’ Educational Foundation hosts the website.  I think most students can relate to Yoda’s wisdom
   2. freetech4teachers  — Richard Byrne is the real deal!!   He sources the best Apps, software, hardware, websites, to use in the classroom for different subjects and grades — and best of all most of his technological suggestions are — FREE (hence the name).
4. BLOGS:  Everyone is trying to get your attention with their ideas.   And at last count there are over 50 million bloggers posting on all sorts of subjects (and now we are part of them too.)  Just like you discern the people you choose to hang out with, the same rules apply to finding bloggers to follow.  Who makes you feel alive with their writing?  Who inspires you to try something new?   Who are you aligned with?  Who challenges your current thinking?  Who do you totally disagree with?  Usually a read of the latest post, or blogger bio will give you an idea of what they’re all about.  There are some good ones out there.
   1. Peter Diamandis — I’ve been following Diamandis for a couple of years now.  He’s not a teacher, but is a modern Renaissance Man with his hands (and brain) in everything from science, education, physics, astrophysics, Social Sciences.  I read his book Abundance and really took to his powerful and positive message that the future is bright.
   2. The Innovative Educator — What got me is she found school boring and irrelevant.  She’s on a crusade to change that.
   3. Steven Anderson — The creator of web2.0classroom, Steven has taken on the full time job of educating the educators.  He offers ideas in broad pedagogical strokes but also offers specifics for using certain digital tools.