Interested in #BYOD? Become a #ConnectedEducator! #CE13

This article originally appeared at Partners in Learning - 1:1 Hot Topics.

So, you’re interested in supporting bring your own device (BYOD) where you work Congratulations! You are not alone, but you will need support. There is no better way to support your students for real-world learning than providing settings they encounter in the real world. One of the best ways to get started and keep going is by developing your professional learning network of others who are also involved in this work.  

Here are some resources to do just that.  

Learning Community

Join a vibrant connected educators learning community for those interested in discovering what it means when we empower students to BYOD that meets all year long in a variety of platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Google). Those interested, can even earn 18 contact hours. Find out more here.

Twitter

• Chat
  #BYOTchat
  Online Twitter chat every Thursday from 9:00-10:00 PM (EST)
• Popular hashtags
  #BYOD #BYOT #BYOTchat
• People BYODList
  A list of educators who discuss BYOD / BYOT

Facebook

• BYOD / BYOT K-12 Page A place to celebrate your BYOD / BYOT success with the public.

LinkedIn

• K-12 BYOD A forum for EDU professionals to share their experience with safely and easily on-boarding student and teacher devices to school networks. This group is managed and moderated by Bradford Networks, a leading security software company that provides educational institutions with a foundation for enabling secure bring-your-own-device (BYOD) initiatives.

ScoopIt!

• BYOD or BYOT @ School
  Resources & links relating to 'Bring Your Own Device/Technology' policies in schools

Pinterest

• BYOD on Pinterest
  Collection of resources and links from the New Tech Network which works to develop innovative public high schools that promote deeper learning, project-based learning and 1:1 technology

Blog

• The BYOT Network
  Through networking with technology tools we experience new ideas, form communities, and collaborate to design solutions to problems. This blog addresses issues related to learning in a connected network that is facilitated by the tools of our digital culture – our personal technology devices.  Author Tim Clark offers advice and support to professionals interested in learning more about how to help students use their own technology to support their learning.

Wiki

• BYOD Wiki Various BYOD resources in wiki format

Collection

• Cybraryman’s BYOD / BYOT page
  Here you will find articles, policies, ideas for securing devices and more.

Guide

• Mobile Devices for Learning: What You Need to Know Getting kids engaged with learning, focused on working smarter, and ready for the future. This guide can help you better understand how mobile gadgets -- cell phones, tablets, and smartphones -- can engage students and change their learning environment.

Book

• Teaching Generation Text  
  From policy to parent permission, from discipline to classroom management this book provides a wealth of useful resources including lesson plans and research-based teaching strategies.

These are just some places you can go to get connected to other BYOD educators. Which of these places do you think you may visit to get connected? Do you have some other places, not listed here?

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Ideas for supporting #TeacherEffectiveness with #EdTech - Domain 4

Technology provides teachers with a great way to provide evidence with artifacts of their effective practice. Across the country this has been a priority for schools that are incorporating a teacher evaluation based on the Danielson Framework for Teacher Evaluation. The model contains various components organized into the following four domains.

Domain 1: Planning and Preparation
Domain 2: The Classroom Environment
Domain 3: Instruction
Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities

This is part of a four-part series where I'll share some simple ideas for integrating technology into each component followed by a presentation you can share with colleagues. Below are ideas for technology integration within Domain 4.



This presentation has examples of what this may look like in practice.

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Junk isn't only for mail. 8 Types of posting #ConnectedEducators should avoid #CE13

Editor's note:  U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has named October as Connected Educator Month. The U.S. Department of Education’s Connected Educators initiative seeks to celebrate and encourage educators at all levels to collaborate and participate in online learning resources and communities. This piece was written to support this initiative.

If you're like most people, you're probably not a fan of junk mail. Whether it be digital or paper, getting something you didn't ask for can be an annoying waste of time cluttering physical and online mailboxes.
Today with the development of personal learning networks and professional learning communities junk doesn't only pertain to mail, it pertains to how we operate online.

Here are 8 types of posting to avoid to lead you on the path to becoming a quality poster.

1-Useless sharerAll us fogies who still rely on email as our primary communication know the useless sharer well.  It is that person who forwards a joke, photo, video, or story to their entire email list without giving any context or personalization around why these people may be interested in reading it. The useless sharer liked it and off it goes to everyone. God forbid someone "replies all" with a less than witty, "Nice one" and in no time your mailbox is cluttered with content you likely find neither compelling or relevant.

In social media, this person does the same thing, sharing the info with everyone willy nilly.  It’s that same thing that everyone has or is doing on their own pages or Timelines, etc.  By the end of the week you’re so sick of seeing the message, you want to scream!

-->When sharing online make it personal and be original.

2-Lackluster linker

This is the person that just shares "The Link" with no information about, or context around, why it is being sent. The Linker thought it was interesting and puts the onus on the reader to figure out why they posted it, if it is worth their time, or worse, if it is a virus.  

-->If you have a link you think others will find interesting, take the time to let them know why you were thinking this was the case.  

3- Frivolous fundraiser

These people don't typically contribute to a learning community to which they belong other than to ask for donations for you to support their cause. Granted, their cause may be a good one, but because they don’t add much value beyond asking you to care about their cause and aren’t really invested in the community, they are considered a frivolous fundraiser. 

-->Raising funds isn’t just asking for money in every place you can think of. It is rarely effective when there is not a personal connection, outreach and/or relationship between the fundraiser and the contributor. Make the personal contact and outreach. Build relationships. Reach out to only those you know are invested in your cause.

4-Annoying advertiser

This one is a no-brainer. They've snuck their way into your online space to advertise something. While it is certainly okay to mention something you have written, created, etc. in the context of a conversation, this is not that.  Rather it’s a post, comment, or Tweet telling  folks that their book, class, conference, product, etc. is available for sale. 

-->If you want to advertise, request permission of a group moderator first (most won’t want it) or be on the up and up and pay for the advertising..

5-False alarmist

This person shares the latest "sky is falling" info without fully vetting it. You know the one. It usually turns out that someone has dredged up some old virus alert, identity scam, or rape warning and is telling everyone to watch out. 

-->Do your research or get your information first-hand, from the source,

6-Self server

This is the person who is always posting about their cause, blog, pet project and asking you for support. They provide little to the community beyond telling you why you should support their great project, work, idea.

-->Sure, you have wonderful things you are doing, but share it in the context of group conversations at relevant times.

7-Mass poster

You know this person. You suddenly get 10 notifications that this person has posted the same thing in ten different groups or has sent the same Tweet to ten different people.  Mass-posting is everything social media shouldn't be. 

-->When you post in a group or page or tag someone, make your message personal, not one-size-fits all.

8-Sandra Dees (Remember her from Grease? No? Watch this.)

These are the ones who are always shouting, “look-at-me!” See what cool thing, event, activity I did. They crave attention and want you to know what they are doing, but there is little positive in it for anyone else.  

-->When you post think beyond what’s in it for you and toward, why would others find this interesting.

When it comes to being a connected educator, following the simple advice, that it is better to give than receive, goes a long way. If you start out by being helpful and sharing your advice, ideas, different ways of thinking, etc. you will be surprised by how willing others are to be there when you do reach out with that personal request for support.

So, which of these types of posters do you know?  

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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
3 people & 3 ideas for using Twitter to share, dis... Sep 8, 2013,	3167
From BadAss to Batty. Activist teachers lose focus... Sep 5, 2013,	2119
Increase teacher effectiveness with eduClipper Sep 18, 2013,	1558
When and How Should Kids Learn to Type? Feb 8, 2011,	1533
No more multiple account frustration with... Sep 25, 2013,	1301
A few of my favorite things about the #BammyAwards... Sep 29, 2013,	1118
Does Twitter have a minimum age requirement? Jun 13, 2013,	1062

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5 ideas for #ConnectedEducators to connect students #CE13

This piece was originally posted last year in SmartBlog on Education in Ideas that Work, Social Media in Education as part of Connected Educator Month. This takes place this year in October. The U.S. Department of Education’s Connected Educators initiative seeks to celebrate and encourage educators at all levels to collaborate and participate in online learning resources and communities. This piece  is just as relevant today, as it was last year when it was written to support this initiative.

 

Unlike their parents, today’s students can communicate, collaborate, cooperate, and connect with the world in meaningful ways that were never before possible. It is incumbent upon educators to support students in doing this effectively in order to empower them to do work that will not only lead them to personal success, but is also worthy of the world.

So, how can educators do this?

Here are five ways to help your students get connected:

I want more »

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Taking Back the Teaching Profession: Can It Be Done?

Rae Pica asks, “Why are teachers the "Rodney Dangerfields" of the professional world?” on BAM Radio. Her guests move beyond lamenting the lack of respect teachers. They have some theories, and, better than that, they have some advice on how teachers can begin to turn things around and reclaim the profession!

Guests

Daniel Willingham @DTWillingham is currently a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia.

Lisa Nielsen @InnovativeEdu  is an educator and author of the bookTeaching Generation Text.

Jerry Blumengarten @cybraryman1 taught for 32 years at inner city NY school.     

Steve Paine is the president of P21 (Partnership for 21st Century Skills) and a consummate lifelong educator who served as West Virginia's 25th state superintendent of schools.

Tune in

Click here to listen. Then after you've listened, please click here to join the BAM Radio Facebook page. Go here to listen on iTunes, Tweet your thoughts to @bamradionetwork

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Do you censor or ban? Here are 6 reasons not to.

Editor's note:  Today is the first day of what U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has named Connected Educator Month.  The U.S. Department of Education’s Connected Educators initiative seeks to celebrate and encourage educators at all levels to collaborate and participate in online learning resources and communities. This piece was written to support this initiative.

Social media sites such as Facebook, Google +, Twitter, and blogs are terrific venues for the exchange of ideas, opinions and viewpoints. I’m deeply invested in this means of group dialog myself;  I participate in online interaction daily on such platforms. I also moderate discussions in groups that number in the thousands. These platforms provide an invaluable tool to discover new ideas and share my own, give and get opinions and find different viewpoints.

I want more »

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