Applied Digital Skills from Google is a free curriculum based on tech skills

Applied Digital Skills from Google is a free curriculum based on tech skills

Source: Free Technology Curriculum from Google – Applied Digital Skills Applied Digital Skills is a free website by Google that offers technology lessons for staff and students (middle school and older). There are tons of lessons available online to help you or your students learn new skills. When I use online lessons like this, I…

Keeping educational technology useful

Keeping educational technology useful

A 2015 study found that 65% of student licenses for education technology products go unused, and you don’t have to look far to find examples of technology implementation disasters. EdTech purchases going to waste is often the result of multiple factors, and the consequences impact all stakeholders: school systems that waste precious budgets, EdTech companies that…

Increasing critical thinking with technology

Increasing critical thinking with technology

In a world dominated by technology, a good education depends on digital know-how—in addition to problem solving, clear communication and organizational skills. Students need both digital and soft skills to guide them through college, into the workplace and beyond. In my five years on the job, here’s what I’ve learned about teaching a generation of…

Is the innovation in our classroom simply what we’ve always done, except with technology?

Is the innovation in our classroom simply what we’ve always done, except with technology?

A few months ago, I noticed an increased amount of discussion around the notion of blended learning. Many of these conversations started on a similar note: “We’re blended—all of our teachers use Google Classroom” (or Edmodo, Schoology, Canvas, Moodle, etc.). However, in probing further, I often discovered that these tools had merely digitized existing content…

5 Common Uses Of Technology In The Classroom & How We Screw Them Up

5 Common Uses Of Technology In The Classroom & How We Screw Them Up

Using technology to enhance learning is an incredibly exciting idea, and as an area of education is growing fast.Blended learning, mobile learning, connectivism, and other increasingly popular ideas all owe their existence to technology. But the reality in the majority of public schools in the United States is less than cutting edge. While there is…

What does a highly effective teacher who uses technology look like?

What does a highly effective teacher who uses technology look like?

In most ways, teachers that use technology in the classroom aren’t much different than those that don’t. Any teacher worth their salt assesses, and then revises planned instruction based on data from those assessments.They manage their classroom in a way that works for them, create a positive learning environment, and (great teachers especially) collaborate with…

Role of ed tech in schools

Role of ed tech in schools

One of the most exciting trends in education today is the integration of technology to enhance instruction and learning. Schools have only scratched the surface when it comes to learning technology, and this knowledge-action-resource gap further exacerbates the overwhelming “kid in a candy store” mentality. Source: End Your Fixation on Tech Tools | EdTech Magazine…