Randy Rodgers's Blog (9)

For the past month, I have been trying a different approach to getting teacher to learn some new technologies. I joined a site called 12second.tv awhile back as a beta user, and I was simply waiting for some inspiration on how I might use it. What I came up with was the BISD 12 Second Tech Challenge. I have been using the site to create a series of introductions to technology tools that teachers might not b… Continue

Podcasting has to be one of the most exciting and easy-to-use tools of the read/write web. With a minimal amount of software and hardware, students can create audio or video pieces and share them with a global audience. My daughter has begun a podcast series, called… Continue

The Commoncraft guys have done it again, this time creating a good explanation of just what this Twitter thing is. You can view it at http://www.commoncraft.com/Twitter. They haven't released their downloadable version yet, but I'll upload it here when they do. I would add that they only scratched the surface of Twitter. It is far more than just a place to tell what you are doing. I have a constant supply of links to news stories, blog posts, and new Internet technology through Twitter. Sure, t… Continue

If you are not familiar with Twitter, you should give it a look. Twitter has been described as "micro-blogging." It does combine some elements of blogging with elements of instant messaging. Users create short (140 words or

less) posts describing what they are doing, a useful link, upcoming… Continue

...if only because they have so much value for your classroom and your own growth, are RSS and Social Bookmarking. I've posted two videos from Commoncraft explaining each. Be sure to check them out, if they are new to you.
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One of the biggest challenges we face, in my opinion, is to create a culture where teachers are actively seeking knowledge, striving to stay ahead of the game, so to speak. So much of the Internet today has made the search for information much more efficient, which is a key point when we hear so frequently, "I don't have enough time to do that." Advances in search tools, RSS, social tools (such as this one), and others mean that all a teacher truly needs to do is to focus their attention on what… Continue

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It is an opportunity to teach our children about the responsible and ethical use of the resource. They may not be getting it at home.
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...to the BISD Web Tools network! This is a project with two purposes. The first is to increase our familiarity with Ning as an educational tool. The second is to create a repository for ideas, resources, stories, etc. Please participate by contributing anything you wish. If you find an inspiring (or simply amusing) video related to Web 2.0, please share it with us. If you create a lesson using the read/write web, share it. If you have a question, ask, and we can collectively respond. Whatever y… Continue