Free digital citizenship materials for innovative educators

Students interact with music, video, apps, social media and other digital content each day, but do they understand the rules that govern this content? To help teachers with this increasingly relevant topic, Microsoft has released a free curriculum that addresses digital citizenship, intellectual property rights, and creative content rights.  The Digital Citizenship and Creative Content program is aimed at secondary students and offers cross-curricular...

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4 things you need to know to help your students manage their online reputation

We often hear complaints about what students say and do online, but we often neglect to look into educators helping them manage their online reputation. This infographic is geared toward adults, but it can serve as a great starting point for conversations and activities that educators can engage in with students to help them to establish an active digital footprint that represents who they want to be perceived as onli...

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Mobile devices can help us take the necessary steps to keep kids healthy

Here a step, there a step, everywhere a step step. You may have noticed that today, steps matter.So, how many steps have you taken today:If you haven't caught on, the latest data tells us adults need at least 10,000 steps a day to remain healthy and steps they are a taking.  From walking the stairs, to parking further away to taking a few laps around the block while reading the latest research paper.Pedometers are on the rise and considering...

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The hottest posts that everyone's reading!

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog this week. Below you’ll see the top weekly posts along with the number of pageviews. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired, share it with others and/or leave a comment.Should the new math be financial literacy?Oct 21, 20121704Why Using Interactive Whiteboards May Be Smart for...Dec 8, 2010, 1 comment1624Why Smartboards are a Dumb InitiativeMay 12, 2010, 67 comments1491Make your flipped classroom interactctiveOct...

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Common core ignores the power of the interests and ideas that come from our students and teachers - Deborah Meier

Editor’s note:  I feel fortunate to be living during a period in our history where for the first time we can easily form social learning circles that bring together from around the world, experts, authors, and others that share passions and can engage in rich and meaningful dialogue. The power of the technology to connect in ways never before possible is a game changer when it comes to learning. I have brought together one such amazing network...

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Call for Innovative Educators to become Common Sense Media reviewers

Common Sense Media is embarking on a new learning ratings initiative to rate and review apps, games, and websites for learning potential. They're seeking 50 of the nation's most innovative educators to help rate and review!Expert reviewers will be named a Common Sense Expert Reviewer, honored at our annual awards in March 2013, and much more!I want more...

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Parents consider the value of Twitter during the presidential #debates

Editor's note: Social media has changed how many innovative educators have watched important current events such as the presidential debates. What about their parents? Guest post by Jennifer Bond @teambond As I watched the Presidential Debate at my parent’s house with my iPad as a companion I opened up TweetCaster and started reading the tweets from my personal learning network (PLN) as well as from those tweeting with the hashtag #debate.  As...

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9 Ideas for Using Twitter & Storify to analyze the presidential #debates in your classroom

If you’re an innovative educator who cares about addressing issues that are relevant in the world, you're talking to your students about the debate. Analyzing the #debates tweets is one great way to take a look at the presidential candidates and utilizing the free Storify tool is a great way to tell the story they want to share.Storify lets you turn what people post on social media into compelling stories. With Storify, you collect the best photos,...

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Should the new math be financial literacy?

Regardless of which side you fall on when it comes to the math wars, most will agree that many students leave high school, and even college, unprepared to handle their own finances. Some would agree that we have become distracted with the potential ability of math to predict future academic success or support critical thinking? In the meantime, we have lost focus on preparing young people for what will matter in their real lives. If the education...

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The hottest posts that everyone is talking about

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog this week. Below you’ll see the top weekly posts along with the number of pageviews. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired, share it with others and/or leave a comment.Article 12 Ways to Educate Yourself Without CollegeOct 12, 2012Views 2177Make your flipped classroom interactiveOct 17, 2012, 3 comments190810 No Nos of Teaching with Interactive Whiteboards...May 10, 2010, 39 comments1902Why Using Interactive...

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Get Down and start flipping with videos for primary school students

Guest post by Shawn RubinWhether you're flipping your classroom, or enhancing learning, there’s no denying that instructional video can be a powerful tool in the classroom.  With older students video has the ability to stimulate conversation or elucidate a complex concept, but with younger children we don’t “sit down” to watch video. We use video to “get down” or more appropriately to get up, move around the room, sing, dance, and act. In grades...

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Mobile Learning Summit for NY / NJ Educators

On November 2 innovative educators will gather at the STEM Building at Kean University in New Jersey for the inaugural Mobile Learning Summit to share their experiences using mobile devices and BYOD initiatives.Keynote Speaker,  Lisa Dawley, Ph.D., will be presenting "Creating a Successful Mobile Adoption in the Classroom and Beyond!" and then attendees will select sessions of their choosing.  I will present The 7 Building Blocks for Success...

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Make your flipped classroom interactive

Another reason I'm not flipping over the flipped classroom model is that passively watching videos isn't great pedagogy. Now there's a product that remedies this by allowing you to turn YouTube videos into online classes. Teachem is a free teaching platform that allows users to create time-stamped flashcards and review quizzes right on the videos themselves. The flashcards can not only help viewers check their understanding of the material being...

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Connect students to industry thought leaders with LinkedIn

LinkedIn has recently introduced the ability for members to directly follow over 100 of the world’s most influential industry thought leaders who will be sharing content about professional issues and topics. This provides a new way for young people to tap into the insight and professional advice of leaders from a variety of fields, including Richard Branson, Tony Robbins, Caterina Fake, Craig Newmark, President Barack Obama, Cory Booker, and...

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Students you should be following on Twitter to stay in the know this school year

Editor's note: Social media is a tremendous way for students to engage in meaningful work and causes. This is why it is so important for educators to be in the know when it comes to guiding and supporting all students in making a difference using this powerful resource.  In the post below Stephanie Rivera shares some students worth following. Guest post by stephrrivera | http://teacherunderconstruction.com Students...

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Free Guide! Mobile Devices for Learning: What You Need to Know

Cell phones in the classroom: a boon or blight? That's the question many educators are facing these days.Edutopia helps educators find the answer with their latest Classroom Guide, Mobile Devices for Learning: What You Need to Know. Not only is the guide packed full of resources and examples that show you how to effectively use mobile devices in the classroom, but it also features material from The Innovative Educator blog. Innovative educators...

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