Ed Tech Starter Kit: What are the best Ed Tech resources you would recommend to a newbie (like me)?
I am relatively new to Educational Technology, and am interested in becoming an Ed Tech Integration Specialist in schools.
1. If you could recommend only a few resources to someone starting out as an Ed Tech Specialist (working with grades 5-12), what would you recommend? Or, for someone starting out, what would you recommend doing to get rolling (i.e. Where to start? Priorities?).
2. Are there websites / resources / databases where teachers share and rate lessons / presentations / activities?
3. Do you know of any quality-control / quality-ratings related to educational resources? (I heard that weebly education had one, but it was discontinued). Do you have suggestions of how to avoid sifting through un-qualified hits and find higher quality hits more effectively?
Thanks for your help.
- Patrick
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kathy Schrock on -
I have tons of links to help you out! Check out the Educational Resources page...
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Permalink Reply by Michele Thomas on -
Patrick,
I created a K-High School, resource website for teachers and parents that you may be able to utilize. My Principal gave each staff member the task of analyzing data and presenting their finding during staff meetings. Looking at data makes my eyes cross!! So after hearing staff complain about students failing, I create a website. Weebly is super easy to use. If you send me your email address, I can add you as one of my students.
Michele Thomas
K-5 Resource Teacher
my site: www.lansingstemacademy.weebly.com
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Permalink Reply by Adam Scott Bellow on -
Hey Patrick,
You have got a lot of work to do - but don't worry there are tons of people here to help!
I can recommend a few places to start looking for resources - the one I run is a free site called www.eduTecher.net - but that's just one place. There are lots of great places out there to find resources, and the one I think you might want to become a member of (if you haven't already) is Twitter. Twitter is teeming with educators sharing the latest links to resources - but more importantly - they share project ideas and real-world examples of how to use these great tools and resources in the classroom. Searching twitter for #edtech or #edchat often yeilds quality resources and quality educators sharing them that you can connect with and get information from as well as share information with.
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Permalink Reply by Sandra Wozniak on -
Hey Patrick,
A great way to start is to think of the activities that your teachers will want to do in the classroom. For example, brainstorming is one that many teachers use. Then use those wonderful sites to see what tools will help accomplish that (ex. edistorm, wall wisher, linoit). I encourage teachers to take one lesson and upgrade it, tell me what they want to do and I'll show them how technology can enhance that lesson. There are some great sites like Adam's and Kathy's that will point you to the tools and blogs (I have one at http://scan-werecriticaltothinking.blogspot.com/) that can you integrate critical thinking and creativity into those tools.
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Permalink Reply by Sarah H. on -
I was recently offered a review copy of Doug Johnson's "The Classroom Teacher's Technology Survival Guide," and found it to be a very useful starting point for those new to ed tech. There are several great checklists for assessing your district's readiness in terms of available ed tech, resources, utilization and training.
If your district uses SMART Boards, SMART Exchange (http://exchange.smarttech.com/#tab=0) is a great place to share and download teacher-created as well as professional lesson plans searchable by subject, grade level, etc.
V/R,
Sarah B. Hodge, SMART Certified Trainer
Defense Language Institute
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Permalink Reply by Kim Caise on -
Hi Patrick! I would definitely recommend starting slowly with something like Voicethread (http://www.voicethread.com). Students can easily grasp how to upload the pictures and add text or audio comments to one another's or to one Voicethread. The Voicethread site has some great examples. Voicethread and the educational version of Glogster are great starters.
Richard Byrne also writes a great blog about tech resources for educators of all tech levels at http://freetech4teachers.com. I am also one of three co-hosts of the Classroom 2.0 LIVE webinars held on Saturdays and we have wonderful guests that present on all kinds of tech resources to use in the classroom. Every show is archived so feel free to check out our archives at http://live.classroom20.com. Also, join the Classroom 2.0 Ning where you can make connections and join a variety of groups of educators that can also offer advice or insight into tech tools that might interest you as well at http://www.classroom20.com.
Not sure if you are familiar with any of the above resources but a reminder never hurts! Good luck to you!
Kim Caise
Classroom 2.0 LIVE
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Permalink Reply by Shamblesguru on -
I'd suggest you rethought this task ... it is perhaps more sustainable if you consider starting to expand and grow your own personal learning network both online and offline.
This way you can keep the conversations ongoing until (and past) retirement.
Some of the replies have already hinted at this ... e.g. Using Twitter.
I quantified and visualise my own PLN a few years ago and it can be seen at http://shambles.net/csmith/PLN/ (must put some time into updating it). ... but you'll get the idea.
Part of this includes the Social Networks you use ... and you've started that journey because you are here at the ISTE Ning .... my own list can be seen at http://shambles.net/socialnetworks/
Other PLN examples and advice at http://shambles.net/pages/learning/infolit/pln/
... and overall ... try and make it fun :-)
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