Learning & Leading Through Technology

PRODUCTS & SERVICES | December/January 2013–14 | Learning & Leading with Technology 45

Give Your Lessons a Tech Revamp

There is a right way and a wrong way to integrate technology into your lessons.

With the help of TPACK expert Mark Hofer, high school history teacher Candace Schafer-Southard details how she used the “learning by design” approach to give one of her history lessons a tech makeover.

Unlock the Power of Collaboration

With learning and teaching—rather than technology—as the starting point, coach and author Les Foltos describes how the Common Core and ISTE Standards combined with coaching can guide teachers to use technology just in time rather than just in case.

Chat It Up on Twitter

You may have heard that Twitter has a wealth of education resources for busy teachers. But have you tried a chat yet?

Researchers Jeffrey Carpenter and Daniel Krutka offer a primer on how to find edu-cation-related twitchats, how to participate in them, and how to start your own.

Should schools monitor students’ social media posts?

Debate this and other controversial issues on ISTE's LinkedIn group page at iste.org/counterpoint.

Senkatel has released two

Google Android tablets embedded with learning and security software packages. The T9702 has a 9.7-inch LCD screen and includes Bluetooth 3.0, which allows students to connect a wireless keyboard. The more durably designed, water-resistant T1011 has a 10.1-inch LCD screen and offers add-on hardware options that include a 250× magnification lens for a physical science curriculum and a thermal probe for inquiry-based scientific learning. Integrated Intel Education Software includes engaging, safe learning tools. It restricts access to defined websites and content and allows school IT administrators to remotely manage usage.

MORE INFO: www.senkatel.com/ru

From the Campfire to the Holodeck: Creating Engaging and Powerful

21st Century Learning Environments, the latest book from technology education speaker and author David Thornburg, focuses on helping educators move away from the traditional teacher-led lecture format to a more immersive student-centric learning environment. Thornburg illustrates how institutions, administrators, and teachers can engage all students in project-based learning that incorporates technology into the classroom.

MORE INFO: bit.ly/19Qi YN6

Shaped like a crayon, the App Crayon Stylus from Dano comes in three bright colors and features a rubber tip that works with most mobile touchscreen devices. Its ergonomically shaped training grip makes it easy for young children to control. Although the tool can be used with other writing, drawing, sketching, and tapping applications, it comes with a free letter-writing app that educators can download from the Apple App store. The program includes a template that helps kids learn the alphabet by tracing their stylus along the guiding arrows of the letters.

MORE INFO: www.dano2.com/apps/appcrayon-blue

StageofLife.com provides free resources that help educators expand digital literacy skills by introducing blogging to the classroom. The site features free writing resources, including international writing contests, free blog resources and lesson plans, goal-setting worksheets, writing prompts, and more. Students can submit essays from their computers or smartphones. The site also includes national writing contests, classroom posters, monthly trend reports, library resources, and Common Core State Standard mapping for language arts.