Monday, March 30, 2020

What Do Students Want to Create?


If you're interested in finding ways to get students more engaged, take a look at Catlin Tucker 's article "Student Agency: What Do Students Want to Create to Demonstrate Their Learning?" Giving students choice in how they demonstrate what they know is a great way to get them more engaged. If you would like to brainstorm options that could work for your class, let me know! - Penney Matos, CHS's DLC

Monday, March 23, 2020

4 Strategies to Improve Group Work


As we continue in this weird world of eLearning, you may want to incorporate some group work. Edutopia recently posted this article about 4 Strategies to Improve Group Work. While it will need to be adapted to the unique needs of our current situation, these are good things to consider. It'll also be helpful once we're finally back on campus! Read more.

Monday, March 16, 2020

Word Reference Chrome Search Extension


Word Reference has a Chrome Search extension that makes it super easy to define words or see conjugation tables for terms in other languages. This is great for world languages teachers as well as teachers trying to communicate with students or parents whose primary language is not English. 
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Engaged vs compliant learners


Are students actively engaged or just compliant learners? This article give you things to consider along with ways to make lessons more engaging. How To Ensure Students Are Actively Engaged and Not Just Compliant.

Monday, March 2, 2020

Blended Learning Types


As we get more involved with Blended Learning, it's good to know that there are not just 7 or 12 or however many ways to do it. Here is a list of 12 of the Most Common Types of Blended Learning. Keep in mind, this is not a complete list. There are so many adaptations that also work!

Smithsonian Releases 2.8 Million Images into Public Domain


This is huge! The Smithsonian released 2.8 million images into public domain and is inviting the public to interact with these materials like never before! Read more

Monday, February 17, 2020

Using Video in Your Classroom


WeVideo is a web-based (website, Google Play, iTunes) video editor that includes options for cropping, changing speed, adding titles and credits, using green screen, adding voiceovers, recording the screen and webcam simultaneously, and more. Best of all... allows for collaborators on the same video! Frisco ISD has many paid licenses for WeVideo which means you and your students are not limited by the free account limitations! 

See this list of 10 Ways to Use Video in Your Classroom

Let me know if you're interested in using WeVideo with your students with our FISD accounts!

Monday, February 10, 2020

Canva Pro is free for educators!


I love me some Canva (not to be confused with Canvas; I love that too)! I use it to make graphics, including the TitanTag buttons. Now Canva Pro is free for educators! Read more

Street View's 15 favorite street views


Google recently posted their 15 favorite street views. Take a break and check them out. Read more.

When to Use Tech

Whenever you consider using Technology in the classroom, it's a great idea to ask yourself a few questions. Using tech just for the sake of using tech isn't best practice. Please take a few minutes to read over this article from Ditch that Textbook: Should I use it? 10 Considerations.