College is costly: 7 innovative ideas for funding

For some, the hardest part about going to college is not deciding whether college is right for you, the admissions process, or the workload you have once you get there.  For many the hardest part about going to college is paying for it. Regardless of where you go to school, College costs a lot of money. For students who choose to go to college, here are some ideas for great places to turn for funding.I want more...

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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.EntryPageviews6 free ways to capture student responses...Mar 27, 2013, 2 comments428810 Do’s and don’ts to using PowerPoint ...Mar 20, 2013, 2 comments2519Facebook, Edmodo, & Schoology. Oh my! ..Mar 21, 2013, 5 comments1991Skip high school....

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7 free ways to capture student responses without costly clickers

Most educators are familiar with student response systems (SRS) a.k.a. clickers. Common brands are eInstruction, Sentio, TurningPoint, Activote. Those who use the systems know they run about $2,500 - $4,000 (depending on various options selected) for a class set and allow educators to track student learning, engage an entire class as they collect real-time responses from students, and enable them to quickly assess understanding and achievement. While...

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What's tested influences how it's taught

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Skip high school. Go straight to college. Here’s how!

By Rylie VanOrsdolIn my fourteen years of life, I have been public schooled, online schooled, charter schooled, private schooled, Montessori schooled, and homeschooled. I’ve skipped a grade and completed a grade in three months online. After all the learning options I  have experienced, what I have found is that the traditional path was unable to meet my needs. A recent adventure was collegiate middle school. This school seemed like a perfect...

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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 this week. 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. Entry Pageviews 10 Do’s and don’ts to using PowerPoint to deliver ...Mar 20, 2013, 1 comment 3086 Facebook, Edmodo, & Schoology. Oh my! Choosing a s...Mar...

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The inner net - tool of con (or discon) nection ?

The problems of our world used to be too big and too distant to know of it widespread existence, but with the internet, our world is small and close for us now to make a difference.We can now get crowds around a cause.Connect ignorance to knowledgeThe isolated to collegeOrphans to their fathersDonors to non profitsInjustices to those who can stop it. Now that we have such power, what are you helping your students to connect ...

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Facebook, Edmodo, & Schoology. Oh my! Choosing a social network platform for learning

When deciding on a social networking platform to use with your students and/or the school community, there are several considerations to keep in mind.  What are the age restrictions of a particular platform? Which platform is most comfortable for students? What are the teaching and learning goals you have in mind?  What are your school’s filtering settings? What is your district’s social media or internet responsible use policy?Below is...

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10 Do’s and don’ts to using PowerPoint to deliver lectures that don’t suck

Picture a half-full classroom with nearly-comatose students descending into the slow death that takes place while listening to a lecture that is as interesting as the buzzing of a mosquito that one cannot find in order to squash. It’s no secret that some teachers, even doctorates who work as college professors, suck when it comes to lecturing. Don’t let that be you!We (especially students!) all know that not all lectures are created equal. Student...

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Happy Birthday to The Innovative Educator! You are 5 today, March 19th.

It was exactly five years ago today that The Innovative Educator took its first step in an effort to publicly become a part of the conversation on learning innovatively. As I shared in my post Why I started a blog and why maybe you should too, this blog was born in great part due to the prodding of blogevangelist Will Richardson who I have since named my Blogfather. It was Will who I would run into at events and conferences who would ask, “Have you...

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5 ideas to inspire students to use social media for good

"High School Musical" star Monique Coleman is a youth empowerment advocate who recently provided advice about using social media to do good.  Below is the advice she shared on her site http://gimmemo.com followed by her video where you can hear her for yourself sharing these ideas.  If you like what she has to say, you’ll be happy to know you can connect with Monique on Twitter.  She is co-hosting the March 18th Student Voice...

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3 innovative ways to connect with parents via talking on a cell phone

This piece was originally posted in SmartBlog on Education.We all know we can use cell phone to make calls, but few realize all the innovative ways simple phone calling technology can help us in building the home-school connection.  If you know how to pick up a phone and dial, then it’s time to pick it up a notch and learn about some free and easy to use resources that will help you coordinate and connect with parents in powerful and exciting...

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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.EntryViewsWhy College Kids Shouldn’t Act Like College KidsMar 7, 20133625John Stossel hated school. Investigates unschoolingMar 10, 2013, 1 comment2179More Reading. More Writing. More Engaged Citizens Mar 9, 2013, 3 comments2157Say goodbye...

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6 Reasons to Incorporate “Smithsonian Quests” Into Your Classroom

By Ashley Naranjo, Education Technician for the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum StudiesFor some time now, the education community has discussed and explored how to get out of the standardized-testing rut and make learning enjoyable again. Online games and challenges, real-world work, and point systems have been a few of the ideas kicked around by educators and tech-enthusiasts alike. Earlier this school year, a New York Times article...

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Can social media combat the issue of educator isolation?

Feelings of isolation occur with some regularity among educators, especially those who teach in specialty areas and/or small schools. Teachers spend much of their day separated from peers in classrooms that can become silos. However, technology is providing new ways for teachers to connect with peers both near and far. This is part two of the show on this topic. In part one we invited listeners to join BAM radio's Rae Pica for a discussion about...

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7 ways to connect with parents via texting

An abridged version of this article was originally posted in SmartBlog on Education.Building the home-school connection is important for all school staff, but few realize the power of the tool in their pocket. Even if they don’t have internet access, most parents have access to cell phones. However, in many cases, most simply use their phone as a calling and texting device. It’s time to change that! There is so much more you can do with...

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Say goodbye to bake sales forever

One of the greatest joys of youth is their optimism. Every year school kids across the country optimistically believe they can change the world for the better. From collecting bottle tops to toys to food, children have a never ending desire to give.Last Oct, the students of Osbourn Park High School shared the same level of optimism when they set out to buy 50 pairs of shoes for a near-by Title I school. The challenge they quickly faced was in how...

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What is Your Digital Status?

See all my cartoons at branzburg.blogspot.com...

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John Stossel hated school. Investigates unschooling.

In case you missed it, last week, John Stossel did a segment on unschooling as part of his “Education Blob” special.  In the segment he pointed out that the number of homeschoolers is on the rise nationally, a whopping 75% since 1999. This puts the number of homeschoolers in the nation about equal to those attending charter schools. He shares that the number of families that homeschool today for religious purposes is on the decline as the choice...

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More Reading. More Writing. More Engaged Citizens of the World.

By Sarah Mulhern Gross. Cross posted on March 6, 2013 on The Reading ZoneCum hoc non propter hoc.In last week’s NY Daily News, Robert Pondiscio, a former public school teacher and now the executive director of CitizenshipFirst, lauds the "… abandoning the literacy curriculum used to teach a generation of our children to read”. In the shift to the Common Core, he says we are leaving behind the balanced literacy approach of Lucy...

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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. Why College Kids Shouldn’t Act Like College KidsMar 7, 2013 5275 Don't hide your online self when applying for coll...Mar 3, 2013, 1 comment 4278 ...

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