Partnership for 21st Century Skills

My initial reaction to the Partnership for 21^st Century Skills is this; What is it?   I read the bold red writing outlining the goals. I looked at the colourful graphic.  I understand what it is trying to do. BUT. The website does nothing to hold my attention.  It’s boring.  Therefore, I had trouble looking at it.  I am a man of simplicities. I find easy to read information easier to implement into my teachings.  If there are too many steps, I skip it.  I wasn’t always like this, but I am now the product of text messages, shorter commercials, enveloping graphics and 2 minute youtube videos. 

I perused the FAQ’s.  They explained a couple things, like how P21 is a National Organization that is trying to help make 21^st century education a reality for all students.  Now, because I believe I am a savvy web user, I decided to look up some criticisms of P21.  I found this; http://teachpaperless.blogspot.com/2009/04/real-problem-with-p21-and-c21-fund-bill.html

This now extinct blog questions the direction of P21, and that perhaps it’s merely textbooks in sheep clothing. The author raises some interesting points about on why Twitter and Facebook are not part of this coalition.  

Is teacher technology headed in the direction of user driven individualized, public networking or staying the course with courseware and corporate-driven proprietary software that are basically textbooks in sheep's clothing (Shelly Blake-Plock, 2009)?

Get Started Using SMART-board.  It's easier then you think!

http://waldenwikiexplorers.wikispaces.com/SMARTboard+-+It%27s+Easier+then+you+think%21

Oh the hours I have wasted surfing and clicking, clicking and surfing.  So many precious minutes exploring websites for something interesting to read.  Equivocal to time spent flicking through channels when there was nothing stimulating on TV.  The end result all the same, 'settling' for a terrible article on TMZ  http://www.tmz.com/ .

I am happy to say; These times are over!  I have been introduced to the RSS (Really Simple Syndication)! The video in the link below explains quite well, and in lay-mens term (read: with pictures) what an RSS is, and how an RSS will save you valuable time, and make the internet more efficient for you.  

To quickly summarize: An RSS searches out articles and sites you want to read, and delivers them to you.  If there is nothing new and exciting on your favorite sites, there was no time wasted looking,  because there will be no notifications in your RSS Reader.

Watch the video.  For real.

http://www.commoncraft.com/video/rss

Need as ESL app?  Found some!

I realize that this is more of a re-post then a blog, but I found a great site that has some wonderful ipad apps for ESL learners.  I have looked through a few, but some of them are going to be pretty specific to certain ESL situations. As each of your students are themselves unique, you should be able apply a few of these to your students.  Enjoy!

http://www.bestcollegesonline.com/blog/2012/04/30/16-incredible-ipad-apps-for-esl-learners/

Blogs Linked to PE?

The past couple days, after the creation of this blog, I have come to realize a few things.

1) creating a blog was not nearly as hard as I thought
2) there are others like me, trying to link PE and Tech
3) I can take this blog thing a lot further.

Is it reasonable to create a blog as a means to communicate and update students and parents about their (my) school's athletics?  

Being the Athletic Director of my school, it is my responsibility to create a Newsletter, which is emailed to parents every two weeks (i.e.-doing things differently).  Could this be done by blog instead? Pictures/videos/podcasts could be added, match reports updated, announcements and notices posted.  Students could provide the majority of the information, and myself acting as Editor, would make sure all info to be posted was factually correct.  In fact, student ownership of this blog could be powerful for them, liberating for me (No Newsletter!).  

But how do you get the wheels of change in motion?

PE + Tech?? Check!

The past couple days, I have been searching for some teacher tech blogs.  More specifically, I have been looking to find blogs that promote PE and technology.  Fortunately, I have found a great one.  I will share it below.

http://thepegeek.com/