Ideas for enjoying tech-free meals

The research is clear. Time together around the dinner table has beneficial results including improving quality of daily life, your children's chances of success in the world, and your family's health according to the Family Youth and Community Sciences Department at the University of Florida. In fact, your child may be 35% less likely to engage in disordered eating, 24% more likely to eat healthier foods and 12% less likely to be overweight (Hammons...

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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 5 Ways to use social media to spice up your next museum...Apr 16, 2014,  3926 Is boredom the real epidemic in our schools?Mar 23, 2014,  3231 Students, parents,...

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Help your child get inventive with these resources

Do you have students who love inventing, experimenting, and computing? Then check out my article on Answers.com which features quality, free or inexpensive places you can turn to help your students discover, explore, and develop his or her inner inventor. Visit "Help your child get inventive with these resources" to find out about more about resources like Super Awesome Sylvia, Tynker, and Makey Makey. &nb...

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Caution banning cell phones may interrupt learning

“The only difference between smartphones and laptops is that cell phones are smaller, cheaper, and more coveted by students” (Richtel & Stone, 2009). Students, parents, teachers, principals, and elected officials know it is time to lift restrictions and embrace these tools for learning. Below is their wisdom and the research to support it.StudentsIn general, 95% of teens use the internet and 74% are “mobile internet users” (Pew, 2013).  With...

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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 How obsolete is your school? Take this quiz ...Mar 19, 2014,  4011 Is boredom the real epidemic in our schools?Mar 23, 2014,  3222 Does Twitter have a minimum...

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5 Ways to use social media to spice up your next museum trip

It’s not uncommon for today’s children, brought up in a fast-paced, digital world, to become bored and uninterested when visiting cultural institutions. It doesn’t have to be that way though. Sometimes the first step to enjoying art is to look forward to a museum visit as something that is fun. Social media can provide a great way to engage young people during a trip to museum, landmark, or other cultural institution. At the same time, it might just...

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#BYOD Management from the experts: @mluhtala @jksuter @hobsonjill

Listen as bring your own device (BYOD) experts discuss best practices for classroom management.  Special guests Jill Hobson @hobsonjill, Michelle Luhtala @mluhtala, and Jason Suter @JKsuter all currently work in BYOD environments and share insights about the following topics:Getting started with byod management.Preventing distraction. Fostering trust in students who are using their own devices.The role of students in classroom management.Explaining this will work to administrators.Getting parents to support responsible use.  Watch...

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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 How obsolete is your school? Take this quiz to fin...Mar 19, 2014,  3940 Is boredom the real epidemic in our schools?Mar 23,...

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Inspiring story of social media giving @CarlysVoice a #StuVoice

Carly Fleischmann hadn't communicated with many people before she started using social media. That is because Carly doesn't speak. Today however, social media has opened the door to give this very social young lady access to connecting with tens of thousands of people around the world. In the video below, Carly shares, "The moment when I typed on social media for the first time a sense of belonging and a feeling of being heard came over me. I was surprised how I was now a part of society in a social way. It has brought me out of my shell and...

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Google Hangout on Air - Managing BYOD - Live on April 7th!

Join me for a BYOD Google Hangout on Monday, April 7th at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time. TopicManaging the BYOD classroomGuests will discuss the followingGetting started with byod management.Preventing distraction. Fostering trust in students who are using their own devices.The role of students in classroom management.Explaining this will work to administrators.Getting parents to support responsible use.  Our special guests includeJill Hobson @hobsonjillMichelle Luhtala @mluhtala Jason Suter @JKsuter Connect with them on Twitter!BackchannelJoin...

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Teen explains the power of a student PLN

Guest post by Connor WoodI had never heard of a Personal Learning Network (PLN) before Lisa Nielsen asked me to write about mine. I did not originally set out to make a PLN. It just sort of happened as I started asking around for interviews for my education blog, Trismegistus Nab-tu-we. I also contacted author  Henry Olsen and entrepreneur William Peregoy. They were both helpful in giving me the tools and ideas I needed to start my blog and autodidactism. There are a couple of other student groups I have turned to for advice including...

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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 How obsolete is your school? Take this quiz to fin...Mar 19, 2014,  3773 Is boredom the real epidemic in our schools?Mar 23, 2014,  2990 Does Twitter have a minimum...

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Don’t be fooled on Facebook

This week a relative of mine, who is a senior citizen, friend-requested me on Facebook. Not only do I love to see more and more seniors connecting online, I also love that this provides further opportunity for generations to share their lives. Especially these days when families tend to have busy lives and be spread out. The relative was a cousin who I don’t see much beyond big family gatherings like weddings and funerals. The next day she messaged me. Nice! She was catching on quickly. We had the usual pleasantries. She asked how the family was...

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