Digital Differentiation on Simple K 12 Today

Sharing resources from my Digital Differentiation Webinar today, sponsored by Simple K-12. Explore these flexible learning tools through this interactive graphic, created with ThingLink for teachers.

This is part of a Digital Differentiation model, my way i of weaving a web of flexible tools together for teaching and learning. To keep the model relevant, frequent updates are required, as new tools and trends emerge. 

To access the most current resources, please click on the tab at the top of this blog:

Digital Differentiation - Current 

7 Tips for Rookie Bloggers!

Yesterday I was thrilled to hear from a friend and valued member of my PLN, Bobbi Capwell. She published an insightful guest post to share struggles, experiences and advice about becoming a blogger. Her post is sure to inspire educators to blog!

It is with great pleasure that I share Bobbi Capwell's post with tips from the heart for rookie bloggers. Read the entire post on MyTownTutors.com and follow @BobbiC07 on Twitter. 

 Congratulations to Bobbi, and blog on!

Read the post on MyTownTutors.com >>

Blog Like the Big Dogs! 7 Tips for Rookie Bloggers!   by Bobbi Capwell 

I love learning and growing-that may sound sappy but it is the truth. I feel that learning is very similar to gardening. As a person that struggles with growing anything other than grass in my yard, it will sound even stranger! When I found myself getting frustrated, I had to remember that every plant grows at its own pace. I can learn at my own pace too but can I write? Sometimes I tend to forget my own learning and that is why I wanted to start a blog. I wanted to share what I was learning by writing it down. (In my head, I had planted the seed! 

Read more on MyTownTutors.com >>

Content Curation Through the SAMR Lens

With an abundance of information to sift through, content curation is an important survival skill for teachers and students today.

Content curation is a method of collecting and managing web content for sharing and reuse. With so much content to collect, and so many free tools for curating content, it’s easy to get lost when trying to take on this task. It’s also difficult to know where to begin.

Read more on GettingSmart.com

Blog On, Educators!

It's Spring Break for me and it's time to reflect on my own blog, started 5 years ago while I enjoyed a similar break from school.

The blog was originally created for a targeted pilot group of 13 teachers I was working with to explore ways they could use a laptop and Web 2.0 for teaching and learning. We were just getting started. Most teachers did not have school issued laptops, we were limited to options available in a 1 computer classroom, and Web 2.0 tools were not as abundant as they are today. In fact, the iPad was not yet invented. 

Digital Differentiation, a Free Webinar on 3/29

Please join me and Simple K 12 for a free day of learning on March 29th. I'll be kicking off the day of learning with an overview of flexible tools to support personalized learning, an essential component of Digital Differentiation. 

Explore my redesigned flexible toolkit during this webinar at 10:00 AM EDT. 

View schedule and sign up >>

Google Docs Add-Ons - A New Feature

If you open a Google Doc or Spreadsheet you will find a new option in the menu bar named Add-Ons. An Add-On is a way to add functionality to Docs and Sheets through integration with 3rd party apps. It's similar to the Google Chrome Apps store. 

There are many useful tools to Add-On to Google Docs to improve the efficiency of working in Google Docs. You'll find Add-Ons to help you get your own work done, and also for use in the classroom.

Become a Google Tools Expert

Join me an Simple K12 for a free online event today and and Become a Google Tools Expert

Using Google Drive Forms to Power 1:1 Instruction

As I explore teaching and learning in a 1:1 iPad environment I'm excited about the potential of using Google Drive Forms as a teaching tool. Forms display well on any Internet connected device, and they are packed full of features that can be used to collect feedback, communicate, check for comprehension and best of all, teach. 

I've created several successful surveys since we launched our 1:1 initiative at the end of January and I am eager to share these ideas with other educators

Weaving a Web of Flexible Tools with ThingLink

ThingLink is a flexible tool for teaching and learning that can be used for a wide variety of purposes in education. At it’s most basic level, teachers and students can start with an image, define it through multimedia and pack it full of content to present knowledge and ideas. It’s a great tool for teachers at any level of tech integration because of it’s simple, flexible design.

Read more on the ThingLink Blog