This article is cross posted at the Technology & Learning Advisor blog.
If you have not checked out Pearltrees then you owe it to yourself to give it a try. Pearltrees is one of the newest social bookmarking sites to hit the web that takes a very innovative approach to content curation. At first, I didn't think that I was going to be able to get much value out if this site, but after I used it for a while, I can really see its value. If you are a visual thinker then this is a great way to store and organize your bookmarks.
When you're ready to go all you have you do is "plant" your first Pearltree, this is the category or topic of your links, and then add your pearls, which are the websites that you want to store. From there you can "branch out" and continue to "grow" your tree by adding more pearls. The entire tree collapses and expands to show all of your links. You can also re-organize your pearls or create new tress from what you have. Your tree is a fluid graphical interface that can be "pruned" and "cultivated."
Once you have created your trees you can share them with others on social media or invite people to collaborate on a tree with you on the Pearltree site. You can also search out others trees and either team up with them or "pick" some pearls to use on your own tree. They also have a browser plugin that they call the "Pearler." Pearltrees site also has a feature that will recommend trees of related interests.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XEdR0l-0DQ&w=560&h=315]
I must say that this really works for me and it will for any other person that is a visual thinker. Once you really get the hang of it, it really makes sense and you will find yourself having a great time organizing, collaborating and discovering Pearltrees.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Book Review: "Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds"
This article is cross posted at the Technology & Learning Advisor blog.
There is a new book on the market, that I think, is a much needed "guide" for those that want to collaborate in their classrooms but are not quite sure how to get it done. Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis have provided a wonderful resource in their book "Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Move to Global Collaboration One Step at a Time." This is more than a book, it is designed using an interactive, action based approach that puts readers through a three part process that involves fifteen actions to give you, "a live learning experience connecting you to other learners."
Overall, this is a great book written by 21st century educators, for 21st century educators, in a way that not only instructs, but engages that reader and gives them the tools to act and lead. I have met and spoken with so many educators that want to include 21st Century learning and pedagogy in the curriculum but feel overwhelmed and are not sure how to start. I now have a resource to point them to that is a complete and actionable resource to make them not just global collaborators, but leaders that can share what they learn and spread the "Flat Classroom" ™ movement. Or, better yet, become a Flat Classroom ® Certified Teacher!
There is a new book on the market, that I think, is a much needed "guide" for those that want to collaborate in their classrooms but are not quite sure how to get it done. Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis have provided a wonderful resource in their book "Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Move to Global Collaboration One Step at a Time." This is more than a book, it is designed using an interactive, action based approach that puts readers through a three part process that involves fifteen actions to give you, "a live learning experience connecting you to other learners."
In part one - "Meet the Flat Classroom," the authors will familiarize you with the concepts of flattening your classroom through solid research and examples. You will read how to embed and enhance current projects as well using stories from educators and students that are globally collaborating. Part two - "Seven Steps to Flatten You Classroom," will get you involved by teaching you how to connect and build your global reach as well as communicate effectively. The authors include information about how to sustain your projects, build relationships, while teaching digital global citizenship using what they call the "7 Steps to Flatten Your Classroom." Finally, part three - "Project Development," guides the reader through the framework to create and manage their own global projects. These final chapters take the reader full circle from connecting, to collaborating, and then creating and managing your own global projects. Every chapter ends with a great summary, some essential questions, one of the fifteen challenges, a diary entry from one of the authors, and case studies. These features give great closure and application to all of the concepts that have been covered.
As I stated earlier, this is an interactive book with many great features that help educators apply what they are learning, and share them at the same time. Just about every page has a QR Code to scan, a website to visit or resources for connecting to others. For instance, they list key people to follow on Twitter under "Add Friend" or give the address of a recommended social network. Furthermore, the ISTE NETS Standards and 21st Century Skills that are discussed can be found listed in the margin on the same page. Plus, they give you six months of free access to their PD Toolkit that is chock-full of case studies, downloadable tools, templates and assignments.
Overall, this is a great book written by 21st century educators, for 21st century educators, in a way that not only instructs, but engages that reader and gives them the tools to act and lead. I have met and spoken with so many educators that want to include 21st Century learning and pedagogy in the curriculum but feel overwhelmed and are not sure how to start. I now have a resource to point them to that is a complete and actionable resource to make them not just global collaborators, but leaders that can share what they learn and spread the "Flat Classroom" ™ movement. Or, better yet, become a Flat Classroom ® Certified Teacher!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
A Tablet for the Little Ones - Leapfrog's LeapPad Explorer
This article is cross posted at the Technology & Learning Advisor blog.
Recently, my wife and I, purchased Leapfrog's latest tablet device for our daughter. The LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet is their newest offering and is aimed at children ages 4-9. This rugged little tablet comes in a couple of colors and is built to withstand the rigors of a youngsters day.
Once my daughter got it in her hands she automatically went to work using the stylus, and her finger, to set up her profile, navigate menus, draw, take photos, videos, and play learning apps. The LeapPad has many of the features of the full-fledged tablets such as a microphone, rear facing camera (stills and video), home button as well as a button for navigation. The touch screen is very responsive and the stylus does a nice job drawing and navigation. It does not connect to the Internet, no Wi-Fi card or browser, so you don't have to worry about little ones straying into uncharted territory.
The expanding choice of learning games are where this device really shines. You have a choice of purchasing them as downloadable apps or as small cartridges. Each one of them is game based learning for improving reading, writing, math, science and life skills. The games titles include familiar characters from Disney, Sponge Bob and others. Plus, with the included software for your PC call LeapFrog Connect. With LeagFrog Connect you can sync and update your LeapPad with apps or software upgrades. What makes this really power is what they call "Learning Path." Learning Path gives parent, or teachers, the ability to track the progress of the users so they can see if they are progressing well or need any with certain skills. Also, depending on the learning app, you can make the game more easier or more challenging. For instance, you can adjust math from single digit adding or subtracting all the way up to basic algebra and probability. Language and reading is also adjustable. You can do it or the app will adjust the child progresses for you. It even allows you to upload vocabulary words that will be included in the stories and games that are currently being played.
LeapFrog sells bundles, in quantities of five, for schools to integrate into their curriculum's. These bundles include the tables, AC adapters, headphones, cases and learning apps. For elementary school teachers these devices would make great learning centers as well as allow young students to apply creativity and learn responsibility in a familiar, game based environment. Each tablet allows up to three individual profiles so you can track multiple students with each unit. LeapFrog Connect is a great tool to track progress in the classroom too. The only drawback with these tablets is that they go through batteries fast, so be sure to use rechargeables or the AC adapters whenever you can. Overall, this little tablet is a powerful and unique solution for elementary learning. See the demo to get the full story and see it in action!
Recently, my wife and I, purchased Leapfrog's latest tablet device for our daughter. The LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet is their newest offering and is aimed at children ages 4-9. This rugged little tablet comes in a couple of colors and is built to withstand the rigors of a youngsters day.
Once my daughter got it in her hands she automatically went to work using the stylus, and her finger, to set up her profile, navigate menus, draw, take photos, videos, and play learning apps. The LeapPad has many of the features of the full-fledged tablets such as a microphone, rear facing camera (stills and video), home button as well as a button for navigation. The touch screen is very responsive and the stylus does a nice job drawing and navigation. It does not connect to the Internet, no Wi-Fi card or browser, so you don't have to worry about little ones straying into uncharted territory.
The expanding choice of learning games are where this device really shines. You have a choice of purchasing them as downloadable apps or as small cartridges. Each one of them is game based learning for improving reading, writing, math, science and life skills. The games titles include familiar characters from Disney, Sponge Bob and others. Plus, with the included software for your PC call LeapFrog Connect. With LeagFrog Connect you can sync and update your LeapPad with apps or software upgrades. What makes this really power is what they call "Learning Path." Learning Path gives parent, or teachers, the ability to track the progress of the users so they can see if they are progressing well or need any with certain skills. Also, depending on the learning app, you can make the game more easier or more challenging. For instance, you can adjust math from single digit adding or subtracting all the way up to basic algebra and probability. Language and reading is also adjustable. You can do it or the app will adjust the child progresses for you. It even allows you to upload vocabulary words that will be included in the stories and games that are currently being played.
LeapFrog sells bundles, in quantities of five, for schools to integrate into their curriculum's. These bundles include the tables, AC adapters, headphones, cases and learning apps. For elementary school teachers these devices would make great learning centers as well as allow young students to apply creativity and learn responsibility in a familiar, game based environment. Each tablet allows up to three individual profiles so you can track multiple students with each unit. LeapFrog Connect is a great tool to track progress in the classroom too. The only drawback with these tablets is that they go through batteries fast, so be sure to use rechargeables or the AC adapters whenever you can. Overall, this little tablet is a powerful and unique solution for elementary learning. See the demo to get the full story and see it in action!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Three Simple C's of Social Media Success for Educators
This article is cross posted at the Technology & Learning Advisor blog.
So, if you are ready to take the next step, I hope you find these three C's valuable. Please, do your homework and get connected. Then find the right people to collaborate and share with and share them with others too. Finally, if you take the time to carefully select and curate your shared resources you build a valuable network of colleagues and resources that will improve not just your professional experience, but those you share it with.
I have to admit that when I first started using social media several years ago I was skeptical about how valuable it would be for me as an educator. But, the more that I learned about it, as well as how to leverage it for my needs, the more I wanted others to see that it really can be a valuable resource that saves time. But in order for you to be successful, and not be overwhelmed with the vast assortment of resources out there, you need to do some research and pre-planning as to how you will build your social media "tool kit." Don't just jump in with both feet, but do some testing and talk to others that have had success to see which tool is right for you.
I like to keep things simple and efficient. So, after reflecting on it a bit, I have broken it down to the three steps or three C's that guide me in social media participation. My three simple C's to social media success are Connect, Contribute, and Curate.
- Connect - This is pretty self-explanatory. You need to get connected to the right social media tool that works for you. There are many out there so do the research, sign-up, or "lurk" a bit by spending some time "playing" with them. Starting a free blog and inviting people to join is an easy place to start. Of course, Twitter, Facebook, Ning, Google + and Posterousare all great places to start too. This is an important first step because you want to pick a tool that will address your needs.When choosing, think about how easy it will be to use in order to connect with the right people to address your needs. If you are a math teacher, and not that many math teachers are connected to the social network that you are looking to join, then you will only be frustrated. Keep looking and lurking.You have to get started so get connected!
- Collaborate- This may seem obvious but many people forget how important it is to success. So many people connect to social media but do not leverage the "social" aspect it offers. Yes, we have all heard the horror stories of the dangers of social media. But, if you are smart about your privacy you will be fine; and by all means keep professional and personal use separate!Let's say you join Twitter and just consume the information that is being shared. If you fail to contribute back to the community of people you are connected to you will be missing out on some really valuable connections. By contributing you will also gain more followers that will in turn allow you to increase your connections and collect valuable resources. If you have a blog see if your host allows you to connect to Twitter or Facebook. If so, whenever you create a new post it will automatically generate a tweet and/or wall post to all of your followers and friends with a short message and link back to your blog.
- Curate- OK, so you have all of this information, now what do you do with it? Well, I am a big fan of using tools that make your job efficient while allowing you to integrate resources together in one neat package. It is easy to become a "digital hoarder," when you see all of this great information coming your way. By selecting tools that allow you to sort things out and remain organized you will then be able to receive, and share what you have learned, more effectively. You will be able to extend your reach in the realm of social media by becoming an efficient collaborator.By using a free social media "dashboard" like Tweetdeck or HootSuiteyou will be able to include multiple social media sites in one location that will allow you to both consume, contribute, and curate information. They will also allow you to curate who you follow. This is good because you need to make some decision as to whether someone is still a valuable resource. You will need to curate your personal learning network (PLN) as well as your digital library of information.One of my favorite tools for digital curation is the social bookmarking site Diigo. Since many of the resources you receive point back to blogs or web sites, it's a great tool that will allow you to save, share, and organize your resources. You can connect with others that share their bookmarks as well as share your own to a group with like interests. Diigo has some very nice web services as well. One that I use allows you to link your account to your Twitter favorites, so whenever you create a favorite in Twitter, it is automatically saved in your Diigo account. You just have to go in and organize them into lists, etc. afterwards. The Diigo toolbar is also great for quick bookmarking as well as highlighting and note taking.That being said, don't be sucked into the practice of digital hoarding. Go back occasionally and do some tidying up to make sure you stay current and you don't share out-of-date information. If you are a digital hoarder check out this blog post by Leo Babauta for a 3-step cure.
So, if you are ready to take the next step, I hope you find these three C's valuable. Please, do your homework and get connected. Then find the right people to collaborate and share with and share them with others too. Finally, if you take the time to carefully select and curate your shared resources you build a valuable network of colleagues and resources that will improve not just your professional experience, but those you share it with.
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