Looking back and forward at my New Year predictions for education

Last January I shared my predictions with Tech & Learning about what I thought would be big in hardware and software in 2013. Here they are: -->School districts will begin embracing social media as they realize the importance of empowering students to responsibly use these resources for academic, career, and citizenship success-->Lifting the ban on use of cell phones and other student-owned digital devices in school; providing home...

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Common Sense Media names The Innovative Educator as a digital citizenship blog to follow for 2014

How nice to approach the new year being named one of Common Sense Media’s ten favorite digital citizenship bloggers to watch in 2014! I am in the company of some friends already in my PLN like Jerry Blumengarten and Susan M. Bearden and also have the pleasure to discover some with whom I have yet to connect. Here's what they said about me:Lisa Nielsen is the director of digital literacy and citizenship at the New York City Department of Education and author of the popular Innovative Educator blog. She has a great ear for what’s...

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NYC blazes trails to prepare students for success with new social media guidelines

While some school districts have banned the use of social media because of fears of inappropriate use and distracting students, in an unprecedented move, the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) has reached out to students, teachers, and parents as partners to create guidelines for the appropriate use of social media for personal and academic purposes.  I want more...

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The hottest posts everyone's reading

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog. Below you’ll see the top posts along with the number of page views. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired use one of those icons below the post to share it with others and/or leave a comment. Entry Pageviews Does Twitter have a minimum age requirement?Jun 13, 2013,  1380 When and How Should Kids Learn to Type?Feb 8, 2011,  1185 Create interactive learning modules...

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The Innovative Educator named blog to follow in 2014

What a nice gift this holiday season to find that Common Sense Media's Graphite blog listed this The Innovative Educator as one of the 11 to follow in 2014.  This blog was in great company with several members of my personal learning network being named as well. Here is the rest of the list:1.     Steven Anderson @web20classroom2.     Richard Byrne @rmbyrne3.     Lisa Dabbs @teachingwthsoul4.     Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher5.     Michael...

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Believe

I dreamed so hardTo end education that is charredNo more bean countingNo more data scrubbing I dream of meaningful educationChildren’s accomplishments are celebratedI see teachers with real dedicationLearning Styles are elevatedI open my eyes and look aroundEducational desolation still rules the landNo change is foundEveryone is still listening to its commandI want to believethat change can happen right nowAnd I want to receivenews that real educators are in charge again somehowStop speaking of the dreamThere's a light, where innovation starts...

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Teen @CGressmanTHS builds a PLN to spread ideas about the key to giving the gift of learning

High school student Courtney Gressman made a powerful public service announcement as part of her social studies class titled “Learning is NATURAL. The Way We Learn Should Be OPTIONAL.” Unlike most high school students, however, her work didn’t stay locked in the walls of the classroom. Gressman explains, “Our class is a very opinionated group of independent, connected learners. We use tools such as social media to gain knowledge, perspective, and...

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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. Below you’ll see the top posts along with the number of page views. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired use one of those icons below the post to share it with others and/or leave a comment. Entry Pageviews Does Twitter have a minimum age requirement?Jun 13, 2013,  1393 When and How Should Kids Learn to Type?Feb 8, 2011,  1178 Think before you send or postNov 1,...

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The trick to knowing what social networking sites are right for students

Parents often come to innovative educators for advice about the online spaces their children are or should be using. Is Snapchat ok? What about Instagram? Should my child be using Facebook and Twitter? What is a safe site for my pre-teen to engage socially? If you consider yourself an innovative educator you may be wondering how you can be expected to keep up with all the different options out there.Don't despair.  You can!Common...

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The Innovative Educator Hosts Tonight’s #SSchat (December 16)

If you are a social studies teacher, librarian or tech teacher who infuses social studies and current events into your work, or a teacher of another subject that incorporates social studies into your lessons, then I hope you’ll join me at 7 p.m. EST tonight for  #sschat. During this conversation the topic will be "Enriching social studies with social media." For those who don't know what #SSchat is, here's a description:“#SSchat is a collaborative group of social studies teachers who work together to create materials, discuss teaching, integrate...

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3 Step plan for a digital makeover

Who controls your online identity? Google or you?If your answer is Google, it's time to take control with this three step plan.Step 1) Analyze your digital footprint.Know what the internet says about you.  Think about what you like and what you'd like to change.SearchBackground checksSocial mediaCredibilityGoogle SearchGoogle ImagesGoogle VideoSpezify Spokeo Zaba SearchIntellusPeople FindersFacebook - Museum of MeFacebook - Year in ReviewTwitter Cloud Tweet GraderKloutKredStackoverflowStep 2) Determine a headline. i.e. Passionate about real...

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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. Below you’ll see the top posts along with the number of page views. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired use one of those icons below the post to share it with others and/or leave a comment. Entry Pageviews Think before you send or postNov 1, 2013,  1809 Does Twitter have a minimum age requirement?Jun 13, 2013, ...

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Create interactive learning modules with ThingLink (limited free-for-educators offer)

ThingLink is a cool tool that lets you create interactive images for anything you can imagine.  In our touch screen culture, this is a great tool for today’s students to engage with content. Teachers can use ThingLink images as interactive learning modules that activate and inspire students with creative and effective learning experiences. They can also use Thinglink images for professional development and parent outreach.  Below is a ThingLink...

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5 reasons cell phones benefit a 1:1 environment

Cross posted at Partners in Learning 1:1 Hot Topics Go into any office today and you’ll notice that 1:1 does not exist. To operate effectively in today’s workplace, at the very least, a 2:1 environment, with a computer and a phone, is required. It’s likely that there are one or two other devices in use as well. This is the world for which we have to prepare today’s students.Not only is it beneficial to support students with their success in school...

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The hottest posts everyone's reading

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog. Below you’ll see the top posts along with the number of page views. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired use one of those icons below the post to share it with others and/or leave a comment. Entry Pageviews Think before you send or postNov 1, 2013,  2619 Is compulsory education really necessary?Aug 30, 2012,  2234 If you're not preparing your students to...

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