Personal Learning Network

Of the 4 articles on Personal Learning Networks I like the one from edutopia.com because it reminds readers that doesn't "eliminate the need for high-quality professional development". A lot of educators and experts may forget about in-school and community resources that are available to them. According to the article ninety percent of teachers said that using a PLN has helped them improve their teaching. The other three articles have plenty of information on how to get involved and stay actively connected with the online community.

What makes you uncomfortable?

Edudemic blog writer Dawn Casey-Rowe has gathered 10 valuable resources for teaching and opening up students' minds about controversial issues. She begins with a movement to "reclaim the swastika" and how controversial issues that are not discussed in depth can cloud our judgement and create necessarily uncomfortable situations. She lists topics including more common issues such as abortion and death row, as well as more unique incidents such as women's right in Saudi Arabia and the previously mentioned Reclaim the Swastika Day which is worth the read.

http://www.edudemic.com/teaching-about-controversy/

Facebook Official

Jodran Shapiro @jordosh recently tweeted an article about how apps have started to control our social lives. Many times when people take pictures they instantly think to themselves if they should post it to their Facebook or Twitter account. We can agree that it is pretty bad when your everyday thoughts are tangled into an electronic existence. I feel that is is important to not let social identities control our true selves nor hinder our creativity.

Skype in the classroom

Skype is a great resource for any classroom. When students are learning new languages or just learning about cultures from around the world, they can connect directly to students from anywhere on the planet to learn directly from each other. Students can take virtual field trips using Skype and even have greater access to guest speakers. Sometimes authors will their books to whoever wants to watch and listen. Using Skype in the classroom may also help deteriorate racism by getting schools better connected with other schools around the world.

Twitter for Education

Teachers, principals, and virtually anyone working in education would benefit in some way or another while using Twitter as a personal learning network. I enjoy all the TED talk posts because they always have up to date information and new ideas on education all of the time. TED talks are excellent for keeping an eye on the future of education. It is also a good place to stay connected with professors and classmates. The more people and organizations that you follow, the more likely you are to find more interesting people to follow.

Digital Textbooks

Edudemic has a recent blog by David Matheson giving some pros and cons of digital textbooks. Benefits include the ability to carry all of your books on you all of the time, so you can never 'leave your book at home'. They also note that computers are becoming more prevalent in everyday life so the future will reply more upon being computer literate. Reasons against digital texts include the evaluation processes that remain a paper and pencil medium. I believe the pros outweigh the cons and digital textbooks and notes will help keep students organized and on task.

http://www.edudemic.com/digital-textbooks-2/

Standardized Testing

Sir Ken Robinson recently posted on his twitter account about 120 children's book authors and illustrators who wrote a letter to the White House stating that schools spend too much time and effort on standardized testing. They emphasized that standardized testing is limiting student's imaginations. The letter also notes how the new system of evaluating teachers based on standardized testing will "crown out exploration".


http://fairtest.org/FT-Press-Release-on-Chidrens-Authors-Letter