Online Resources...In the Beginning

Oh, where to start?  The primary purpose of this blog is to organize, sort, and share all of the wonderful resources I have found all over the web.  Since our school is starting our new adventure of BYOD and more technology, what will work best for our faculty and students?   (And I bet I will also throw in information about mindset, differentiation, leadership, PLC's, and best teaching practices.)


My beginning with technology started with a wiki.  Several years ago, a few people who were completing the online graduate school program asked me to participate in their class wikipage.  (Luckily, there was a Common Craft video explaining what a wiki was!  If you need a hint, see the video below.)






From that moment, I was determined to find technology that I could use effectively and appropriately in my classroom.  I spent a considerable amount of time that summer reading my first blogs, organizing technology ideas, and researching class projects.

In 2008, I created my first "technology" project for my regular pre-calculus class, which was to upload a picture to a wikipage.   (Students took a picture and drew the basic graph they saw within the picture.  See their results here.)


I have accumulated so much information over the last few years, and I organized some of my findings during several math staff developments during 2011-12.  For the presentations, I returned to what I knew best and created this wikipage as a place for my links, handouts, and project ideas.


During the summer of 2012, I have been encouraging our Instructional Leadership Team to participate in a book discussion via a wiki, but we're having a few growing pains there...but I'm still hopeful!  (Growth mindset, right?)


Ideas for you and your classroom...
  • Don't become overwhelmed with everything that is available!  Find something that will fit your class, your personality, and your teaching style.  Don't force a project, a website, or some technology just for the sake of using technology.  Choose one thing and try to make it work just for you.  If something looks or sounds even the tiniest bit interesting, or if you have a little idea but don't know what to do next, check with your friendly IS's!  (You can do it!  We can help!)
  • Wikis or blogs are a great place to start.  They are easy to set-up and they are free.  They allow for higher levels of thinking, and they are a forum for students (or teachers) to contribute, respond, upload, and discuss.  Check ERO for the staff development on blogging in the classroom...that's how I got started on the blogging adventure!
  • Find an education blog or two that you enjoy, and read it regularly.  (See my links on the right if you need a place to start.)  There are so many amazing teachers around, and I know you will be able to find something that will help you learn and grow as an educator.

Thanks for stopping by this blog!  I'm excited about my new phase of learning and sharing.




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