Open Educational Resources, or OER, are defined as materials offered freely and openly for educators, students, and self-learners to use and reuse for teaching, learning, and research. OER includes content, software tools, and implementation resources. The worldwide OER movement is based on the fundamental human right to pursue a high-quality…
Teaching in my classroom was not easy. I was made for the profession, but there were plenty of challenges. However, I was still able to manage behavior, produce an effective lesson (most days), maintain strong relationships, and look for new technology to increase engagement and productivity in the classroom. Although…
Technology has completely transformed the way we see and communicate with one another. It has taken a very big world and turned it into a very accessible world where we can experience one another’s culture with the click of a button. One of the many concepts that has suffered a…
In the next thirty years, more students will be graduating through our education system than all of history combined! Because of this, our labor force will become flooded with identically qualified individuals with identically qualifying degrees. If our ultimate goal is to create students who are helpful and significant members…
We are in the second week of our “Read Across America” series, where we celebrate this motivational reading awareness program to encourage every child in every community to develop a love of reading. If you missed part one of this series, we investigated five excellent strategies to get your kids…
This Friday, March 2nd, is Read Across America Day. Celebrated on the birthday of beloved children’s author, Dr. Seuss, this annual reading and motivation awareness program calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading. If you are already an avid reader, you have experienced how beneficial reading can…
For the next two weeks, political differences will be set aside for patriotic unity. We cheer as formerly unknown athletes become household names in their quest for gold, and we are crushed when they fall short. We are glued to our TVs for the qualifying rounds of luge, curling, and…
Inspiration comes in many shapes and forms. Yet, regardless of the medium, it serves as food for the soul. As educators, it’s easy to get caught up in the weeds of day-to-day responsibilities. We forget to take moments to step back, re-evaluate, and allow ourselves to be reminded of why…
Learning Management Systems, as defined by Wikipedia, are software applications for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, and delivery of educational courses or training programs. Ok, so that’s the technical definition. A more personal and granular observation of an LMS reveals its power to transform learning by breaking down the walls of…
As schools open their doors and students open their minds to another year of learning, we as educators are inspired by the possibilities of a clean slate and a fresh perspective. As you begin to construct new learning opportunities for your classroom, it’s important to evaluate the role of technology.…