PBS Learning Media - An Awesome Tool for Our Classroom

Today, I wanted to share a favorite tool of mine. PBS Learning Media is a program that leverages the very best of PBS programming, partnered with lesson plans, and makes it available for use in our classrooms. Find video from NOVA, Frontline, and the Ken Burns Collection to use in your classroom. Much of the content comes attached to lesson plans that you can take and adapt to meet the needs of your class.

PBS Learning Media is a form of Open Educational Resources. Open Educational Resources allow for content to freely and built upon by fantastic educators like yourself. OERs are a growing trend in education because "Free is Good." As we progress, OERs will get better and better, although, PBS Learning Media is already loaded with great features and opportunities for growth, learning, and engagement.

If you have any questions about PBS Learning Media or how to use it in your classroom, please let me know.

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How to Use Google Cast - Wirelessly Display Your Chromebook!

First and foremost, the headline is slightly misleading as you will actually display your Chromebook to your desktop which will be connected with wires. While you will need your Windows PC to connect to the projector, it does not change the fact that you can wirelessly display your Chromebook to students. In my experiments with this both at home and on the school network, I have yet to get the sound to work. (If you would like to connect with the HDMI cable that supports both audio and video, please let me know and I will be sure to get you a cable). To start this process, in your Chrome browser you will need to visit the Chrome Web Store and install the Google Cast for Education app. You will also need to install the Google Cast extension. Next, on your windows desktop open your Google Cast for Education app. You can find it near the top of your browser window. Once you open the app, you should be see a gray screen that names the computer and gives ...

Continuing Conversations with TPACK and SAMR

Last week, I wrote about how TPACK and SAMR are the models that I want to use in having conversations about the use of technology in the classrooms. As a recap, I discussed the how both models function and how both models are slightly flawed. You can read the whole thing here! Originally posted by Jonathan Brubaker on his blog . Using these models, it becomes essential for us to rethink the ways that we do things. While technology use at the lower levels feels and looks great, and may even be more engaging for the students, we should take a moment to self-evaluate what we are doing and why. As educators, we would never simply do something to do something. We tend to be calculated, thoughtful, and purposeful in the activities and lessons we plan for our students. With technology, we must also do the same. Technology is not a lesson plan. Technology is a tool to help us achieve something specific in the lesson plan. As we examine our lessons, we should look to see how w...

Updates to Google - Google Sites

I have shared with you the new Google Sites a few times this year. One of the cool things about Google is that they are constantly tweaking and updating services. In doing so, they routinely add functionality to the product that they have. This week, they will be adding a new feature for us! Google just announced in this blog post that the new Google Sites will support the use of logos and custom colors. This release is for the organizations that are on rapid release schedule. You should see this update in a few days. From Google - https://gsuiteupdates.googleblog.com/2017/04/customize-your-site-with-logos-matching.html As always, if you have any questions, please let me know.

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