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Tips for Teachers

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It was bound to happen. Conferences are back and teachers are ready to dive into professional development. I wanted to share some tips for anyone that is new to ISTE or any other conference.

1. Wear comfortable shoes. You will be putting miles on your feet over the next few days and you need to take care of your feet. While wearing nice shows while you present or go out after the conferences is nice, you need comfy shoes to walk the halls and the exhibit hall. If your feet are sore after a day, the next couple will be painfully difficult to get around.

2. Stay hydrated. This is particular important for ISTE this year. Drink water all the time, especially if you will be drinking non-water drinks at night. You will not be able to concentrate and you will feel like a hot mess if you are not properly hydrated.

3. Eat. This one seems silly, but it is so easy to get wrapped up in the day and not have a good lunch or breakfast. You need energy for the day and these meals will help you get through the hustle and bustle of a conference. Eat healthy and carve out time to do it. Enter it into your planner and follow it. Your tummy will thank you later.

4. Do not be scared to say hi to people you follow on Social Media. We are all educators and are dedicated to making education better for all. Just because someone has more followers than another person, does not make them more important than everyone else. Say hi. Ask a question. Connect. This is why we are at a conference, so don't be afraid to do it. Maybe avoid talking to them in the bathroom. :-)

5. Find time to unpack. I don't mean your suitcase, I mean what you learned that day. Find a quiet spot and just reflect on what you saw and how you might bring that to your school, district or classroom. Make some notes to yourself so that you can look back at them after the conference and remember what you were thinking when everything was fresh in your mind.

6. Check out the conference sessions and try to plan accordingly. I'd love it if you came to my sessions. I'm doing a session on MakerEd on Monday. Look at the schedule and add the sessions that interest you most. If there is more than one session you want to attend, see if there is a friend going and get their notes. There is never enough time to see everything, so it is important to plan ahead so you do not miss everything.

7. Visit the vendors. I always like to take time to visit the vendor hall and check out anything new and to just say thanks for the cool and innovative things they have brought to the classroom. I always end up with a couple of new gadgets I want to bring into the classroom or want to explore. They vendors help make conferences possible, so please stop by and check them out.

8. Vote with your feet. This staple of edcamp is important at conferences. Time is limited and you do not want to waste it in a session that is not what you hoped. Get up and go. You will not be offending anyone. You need to get the most out of your time at a conference and sitting in a session for an hour not learning anything is not a good use of your time. This is why it is good to have a backup session for each time slot in case you have a bad one. If you can't get into a back up session, go to one of the lounges and connect with others. Some of the best learning happens in the hallways.

9. Go out and have fun! After each day, there is fun to be had at many of the restaurants around the convention center. It is a great time to connect and talk about the things you have learned and make new friends. Some of my closest friends were made at a conference. Getting together and celebrating an end of a school year and the cool things you have learned is a must. Do that with other great educators at the end of each day and you will have a great conference.

If any other veteran conference attendees have other tips, please add them to the comment section. I hope all of you will take the time to stop and say Hi if you see me. I'd love to connect with all of you and learn something new.

Hugs and High Fives,

Nick

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It was bound to happen. Conferences are back and teachers are ready to dive into professional development. I wanted to share some tips for anyone that is new to ISTE or any other conference. 1. Wear comfortable shoes. You will be putting miles on your feet over the next few days and you need to take care of your feet.

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Insight on Free Technology for Teachers

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Resources for Teachers to use

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PBS LearningMedia | Teaching Resources For Students And Teachers

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Inspire your students with thousands of free teaching resources including videos, lesson plans, and games aligned to state and national standards.

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Classroom Hacks

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Educational Technology and Mobile Learning

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Educational Technology and Mobile Learning

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Best tools for educational technology

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Educational Technology and Mobile Learning (ETML) is a blog owned and operated by Med Kharbach. Dr. Kharbach holds a PhD in educational studies from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Canada. He was also a K-12 teacher with over 12 years of classroom teaching experience.

I launched ETML in 2010 with the purpose of helping my fellow EFL (English as Foreign Language) teachers integrate technology in English language teaching. Fast forward to 2022, ETML became among the top EdTech blogs with over 7000 published blog posts. ETML has been referenced in a wide variety of academic research journals, books, and news outlets including the New York Times, Huffpost.com, Hubspot.com... [continue reading].

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Educational Technology and Mobile Learning (ETML) is a blog owned and operated by Med Kharbach. Dr. Kharbach holds a PhD in educational studies from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Canada. He was also a K-12 teacher with over 12 years of classroom teaching experience.

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Teacher Tips - Educational News

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Educational Technology Tips

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9 Ways to Add Tech to your Lessons Without Adding Time to Your Day

I update these suggestions every few years to remind teachers there are easy ways to techify your lessons even on a tight schedule. I’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments about how you do this in your classes:

***

Because I teach graduate classes for educators, I talk to lots of teachers all over the country. It’s become clear that for most of them, adding technology to their lessons means layering more work on top of their already overburdened lesson plans. Despite the claims of tech gurus that technology makes the job of teaching easier, few educators see it that way. Even the ones who love it put in lots of extra time to do one or more of the following:

learn tech tools and then teach their students

learn tech tools only to discover it’s not what they need

learn a tech tool they love only to have it either disappear or switch to a fee-based program

rework existing lesson plans in the school’s mandated digital program that too often, changes every year. This means they have to re-enter the lesson plan in a new format for a new LMS

find a tool they love, but no one else in their teaching team agrees, understands it, or cares

the tool won’t work on the Big Day of the lesson and nothing will bring it back to life

the digital devices–computer or Chromebooks or iPads–won’t work on the Big Day

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A Teacher’s Best Evaluator

It’s always a challenge to evaluate teachers. I’ve been through many systems, often different each year, and honestly, none seems better than the other. But Christian Miraglia, Education Consultant and part of the Ask a Tech Teacher crew, suggests asking students to evaluate the teacher. Here’s how that would work:

A Teacher’s Best Evaluator

Years ago, I was involved in an effort to restructure my school district’s teacher evaluation system. Months of work were put into the project, which focused on a professional growth model and also allowed for the traditional method of checking the boxes. Hours of research and meeting with other districts took place. One might ask about your typical administrative evaluation, but if you have gone through these, they are cursory and don’t do much to improve your actual instruction. So I was prompted to think about teacher evaluations and their effectiveness. Who ultimately is the best person to analyze the teaching? I concluded with the students. After all, the students are with you daily. They observe teachers at their best and their not-so-effective moments.

Wait a minute, some might say. “Students are evaluating teachers; they do that on social media and Rate your Teacher. And it is ugly.” Acknowledged, it can be ugly. However, if an environment of trust is established, one might be surprised by the results.

If a teacher wants a good picture of how teaching impacts students, I suggest using a Google Form survey or Microsoft forms. This approach is low-tech as it is pushed out to the students to the teacher’s choice of platforms.

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July 4th Celebrations and Activities

It’s America’s birthday and I’m celebrating. My Army Sergeant son is in Japan–Okinawa. My Navy LT CDR daughter’s in the DC area. I thank both of them and all those soldiers who fought for America’s uncertain future so long ago.

God be with all of us.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDkP2WaEYFE&w=560&h=349] [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJvcJczKRB0&w=425&h=349] [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUDs-8SxfUE&w=425&h=349] [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q65KZIqay4E&w=425&h=349]

I want to include all my efriends from Canada in the celebrations though I’m a few days late for Canada Day:

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Subscriber Special: 50% Sidebar Sponsors

Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. Here’s July’s:

July 2-9th

50% discount on sidebar sponsors (instead of $100 per month, you get the same program for $50 a month)

Required: Minimum of 4 months paid in advance

We place your logo and link in the blog sidebar. Additionally, once a month, I’ll share an optional update on your product with my readers (which you write).

Contact askatechteacher @ gmail . com for more details.

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Tech Ed Resources for your Class–K-12 Tech Curriculum

I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m going to take time this summer to review them with you. Some are edited and/or written by members of the Ask a Tech Teacher crew. Others, by tech teachers who work with the same publisher I do. All of them, I’ve found, are well-suited to the task of scaling and differentiating tech skills for age groups, scaffolding learning year-to-year, offering inclusive solutions to the issue of tech tools–taking into account the perspectives of stakeholders, with appropriate metrics to ensure learning is organic and granular.

Today: K-12 Technology Curriculum

Overview

The K-12 Technology Curriculum is Common Core and ISTE aligned, and outlines what should be taught when so students have the necessary scaffolding to use tech for grade level state standards and school curriculum. You can purchase just the teacher manuals or student workbooks to serve a 1:1 environment, Google Classroom, and hybrid teaching situations.

Each grade-level PDF is between 175 and 252 pages and includes lesson plans, assessments, domain-specific vocabulary, problem-solving tips, Big Idea, Essential Question,  options if primary tech tools not available, posters, reproducibles, samples, tips, enrichments, entry and exit tickets, and teacher preparation. Lessons build on each other kindergarten through 5th grade. Middle School and High School are designed for semester or quarter grading periods typical of those grade levels with topics like programming, robotics, writing an ebook, and community service with tech.

Most (all?) grade levels include keyboarding, digital citizenship, problem solving, digital tools for the classroom, and coding.

The curriculum is used worldwide by public and private schools and homeschoolers.

Who needs this

Tech teachers, tech coordinators, library media specialists, curriculum specialists

Classroom grade level teachers if your tech teacher doesn’t cover basic tech skills.

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7 Easy-to-do Ideas for Tech in the Classroom

If anyone thought technology wasn’t here to stay (I see a few hands up), the pandemic and remote teaching exploded that vision. Teaching from homes has shown many how ill-prepared we are to use even the most intuitive technology in the education field. Honestly, as a tech teacher, I’ve been a bit disappointed we didn’t do better. I was thrilled to find this article from Programming Insider providing a great starting point for tech tools that are a natural fit with education:

Best Ways to Use Tech for Teachers

Teachers are always encouraged to find new ways to improve the quality of learning for their students. Technology improvements can also make their work easier when utilized well. In this article, we talk about the best ways to use technology for teachers and students.

Read more: https://programminginsider.com/best-ways-to-use-tech-for-teachers/

Here are more articles from Ask a Tech Teacher on tech tools that will energize your teaching and your students’ learning:

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What to Know About SQL and How to Try it Out

If you want a job coding, you have to know how to get around a database, and that means SQL. I know–a geeky, scary three-letter word that makes even math aficionados decide to choose advanced calculus rather than computer programming. One of the Ask a Tech Teacher crew has suggestions on how to test it out and what are the most important elements to learn:

How High School Students Can Try Out SQL and 4 Things They Should Learn About It

Computers and coding languages are becoming more important in our lives with each passing day, but it can be hard for high school students to choose the best coding languages for their needs. In this article, we’re going to make a case as to why high schoolers should learn SQL.

What is SQL?

SQL is a programming language that you would use to query data in relational databases. You can create, modify, update, delete, and perform other essential operations on tables within a relational database. SQL is classified as a procedural language used to specify data types.

Most SQL programs will teach you how to read data from an analytics or database performance analyzer, such as SolarWinds’ DPA. SQL databases typically come with the following features:

Creating tables to store written information

Adding, deleting, and updating rows

Reclaim database rows

Modifying the structure of the database

Filtering database entities

The SQL programming language has become a standardized database technology, so it’s unlikely it’s going anywhere anytime soon. SQL is incredibly popular in several industries, such as finance, music, data analysis, web development, and social media, making it really useful.

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Teacher-Authors: What’s Happening on my Writer’s Blog

A lot of teacher-authors read my WordDreams blog. In this monthly column, I share a popular post from the past month (or so).

***

Tech Tips for Writers is an occasional post on overcoming Tech Dread. I’ll cover issues that friends, both real-time and virtual, have shared. Feel free to post a comment about a question you have. I’ll cover it in a future tip.

This tip is about visiting a website that gives you an error code similar to this:

You probably think the site isn’t working, but a lot of times, it’s a different easily solved problem that takes no time to do.

Look at the URL address (at the top of the webpage):

If it has https (like this one does), it could mean the website hasn’t been changed from http to https so it doesn’t recognize the address. All you have to do is delete the ‘s’ in the URL to make the site work:

I blurred everything out for privacy, but I think you can see I changed the https to http. The site immediately opened. Interestingly, that works over half the time.

If a site you manage has that problem, check with your host or IT folks and upgrade to https security protocol. Often, that’s free.

Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Man vs. Nature saga, the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers, and the acclaimed Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is also the author/editor of over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, blog webmaster, an Amazon Vine Voice, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Natural Selection, Summer 2022

What to Know Before Studying in the UK

Studying overseas is becoming more popular than ever. The Institute for International Education of Students (IES) explained why based on a survey they conducted to explore the long-term impact of study abroad on the personal, professional, and academic lives of students. Here are some interesting findings:

95% of the students who were surveyed admitted that studying abroad served as a catalyst for increased maturity

96% reported increased self-confidence

95% said it had a lasting impact on their worldview.

Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Ryan Hill, has an interesting discussion on how to study in the UK if you don’t live there:

First, if you’re interested in studying abroad in the UK, you’ll want to know the process before coming to the UK. As with any country, there are certain etiquette rules that you should be aware of. You should also know the differences between pants and trousers, but we will leave it up to you to figure this one out. The UK is a highly diverse country with many countries represented among its citizens. In addition to the vast cultural diversity, the UK is home to many unique landmarks and experiences.

There are many amazing places to study in the UK such as Reading, Oxford, Cardiff and many more cities. The UK has become a hub of amazing universities and student accommodation for them. This is unrivalled amongst many countries, and a top destination for international students.

How to Apply to Study in the UK

To begin the application process, you’ll want to find out if you qualify to apply for UK student loans and grants. UCAS provides guidance for searching for courses and will give you a unique reference number to keep safe. The next step is to choose a university. Choose a university based on location, accommodation, and the amenities it offers. Remember that you can apply to five different universities on one application form. Then, you can take a gap year if you’re unable to secure a place at a university straight away. In the UK it is far more common for students to take a year out and reapply for university, so do not feel you are missing out by waiting a year.

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Teaching strategies and ideas in 10 minutes

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Hey, awesome educators! Got a quick 10 minutes? That's all you need to squeeze in some quality professional development with the 10 Minute Teacher podcast. A quick gulp of coffee and a hearty dose of inspiration make for a perfect combo, don't they?

This teacher podcast brings you the freshest insights, innovative strategies, and heartwarming stories from remarkable educators (just like you!) around the globe. And the best part? It all happens in just 10 minutes - because we know that even superheroes like you are racing against the clock.

Why Subscribe to This Teacher Podcast?

Join our teaching tribe and subscribe today and tune in every Monday at 9am for a new episode. Let's turn those fleeting minutes into a chance for growth, camaraderie, and a few chuckles. Who knew PD could fit snugly between attendance and correcting papers?

Just remember - you're not just a teacher. You're a meaning-maker, a future-builder, and the only one who can raise and eyebrow and quiet a classroom. Make your time matter with 10 Minute Teacher Podcast. See you in your earbuds soon!

Listen to Current Episodes of the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast

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Hey, fellow educators! You're in good company as you listen to the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast. As of July 2023, our class has grown to include listeners in 194 countries! Together, we've hit play on 806 episodes over 6.7 million times. That's more clicks than a year's worth of lesson plans!

Each episode invites 10,000 to 20,000 curious minds (like yours!) on a 10-minute adventure into the world of innovative teaching.

Our roster of remarkable guests make each episode a treasure trove of insights and inspiration.

We promise it's more fun than a spelling bee and definitely warmer than the teachers' lounge coffee. Welcome to '10 Minute Teacher', where PD meets your coffee break!

Can I Get Credit for Listening to Teacher Podcasts?

At the present time, some schools, districts, and organizations allow credit for listening to podcasts. With this in mind, you can use the Podcast PD Template Hyperdoc. Being that some schools don't allow Podcast PD, you can still make a copy and adapt it for your use or print it. If you don't have Google Docs, use this PDF.

How can I suggest a guest for the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast?

If you've ever listened to an episode of '10 Minute Teacher' and thought, ' I know someone who would be perfect for this! ', I'm all ears.

Interesting guests are what make the show exciting, and I'm always on the lookout for fresh, practical voices from the frontlines of education. Whether it's a classroom teacher with innovative teaching strategies, an administrator championing change, or a researcher turning theory into real classroom practice, we'd all love to hear their stories.

Please, feel free to recommend guests who inspire you - it's one of the best ways you can contribute to our show. Just remember, no spammers, please. I'm looking for authentic, passionate contributors who can help our listeners make a difference in their classrooms.

It's just me, Vicki Davis, @coolcatteacher, vetting and managing guests now. So, rest assured, your suggestion will go straight to the host's desk! Let's continue to spotlight the diverse and impactful voices of educators on '10 Minute Teacher'. Thank you for being part of the podcast community. Contact me.

How do you record the podcast?

Learn about the equipment we use for the show.

Here at the '10 Minute Teacher', it's all in the family! Our podcast is a labor of love, initially produced by my husband, Kip, for the first 500 episodes, and now continued by our son, John. We're balancing notebooks and mixing boards just like us teachers balance lesson plans and home life. This cozy setup lets us flexibly record, even at educational events where I'm speaking, or for a live audience - turning any place into a classroom! I've loved this journey and look forward to sharing more in the years to come.

What topics will I hear on the 10 Minute Teacher?

Who is Vicki Davis, host of the podcast?

Hello fellow educators! I'm Vicki Davis, your classroom teacher host of the '10 Minute Teacher' podcast. Coming into my 22nd year of teaching, I've been involved in education since 2002, blogging since 2005, and podcasting since 2006. I believe that every teacher has a story to tell, and I am passionate about bringing those stories to you.

In the past, I've had the privilege to host some fantastic shows like 'Women of Web 2' and 'Every Classroom Matters'. These experiences sparked a desire to keep the conversation going, leading to the creation of '10 Minute Teacher', which I started with my husband, Kip. Now our son John has taken over the reins as producer, and we've journeyed through more than 805 episodes together.

My mission is to make this podcast a quick, practical resource that fits into the busy schedule of every teacher. We celebrate real classroom stories, practical tips, and innovative ideas from teachers just like you.

If you're a teacher with a story that could inspire others, or a fellow education podcaster, I'd love to hear from you. But if you're a business looking to reach our fantastic community of educators, consider supporting us as an advertiser.

You can learn more about me at www.coolcatteacher.com. I'm also @coolcatteacher on most social media platforms, though you'll catch me sharing my thoughts most often on Twitter. So, whether it's in the classroom, on the blog, or through the podcast, let's continue learning and growing together. I want to be helpful and am excited about another season of the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast!

10-Minute Teacher Podcast Archive
To be helpful, here's a table of past episodes. You can sort and view it to find what you need. Wait for it to load.
Season 1
These episodes were typed on the page manually. Use the database above to search and find exactly the episode you want!
Summer Encore Episodes

ENCORE Episode Angela Watson discusses 5 Ways to Maximize Your Summer 07/05/2017
ENCORE Episode Angela Stockman talks about How to Create a Summer Writing Notebook #flaneur 07/03/2017
#110 TOP EPISODE: 5 Easy Brain Breaks (Encore) with Rob Donatelli 06/30/2017
ENCORE Episode with Dan Meyer Helping Kids Who Hate Math Learn It re-released 06/29/2017

Summer at ISTE 2017

Season 1 Week 21

#103 TOP EPISODE Social Emotional learning with Puppets (Encore)
#102 iPads in Kindergarten (Encore Episode: 10MT Best of Season1) #edtech June 20, 2017
#101 TOP SHOW: Jim Forde You're the Teacher (Encore Episode) June 19, 2017
#100 5 Ways to Maximize Your Summer with Angela Watson 06/16/2017

Season 1 Week 20

#99 Creating a Summer Writing Notebook with Angela Stockman 6/15/2017
#98 Vicki Davis reflects on The Most Remarkable Thing 6/14/2017
#97 Google Classroom: Top New Features to Learn Over the Summer with Alice Keeler 6/13/2017
#96 Go Bold School: Old School + Blended Learning with Weston Kieschnick 6/12/2017

Season 1 Week 19

Season 1 Week 18

Season 1 Week 17

Season 1 Week 16

Season 1 Week 15

Season 1 Week 14

Season 1 Week 13

Season 1 Week 12

#60 5 Easy Brain Breaks for Your Classroom with Rob Donatelli 4/21/2017
#59 Successful Digital Parenting with Weston Kesichnick 4/20/2017
#58 How the African STEP Dance Ignited Kids at Ron Clark Academy Junior Bernadin at Ron Clark Academy 4/19/2017
#57 Richard Byrne's Most Exciting #Edtech Tools 4/18/2017
#56 Motivating Special Needs Breakthroughs with Jennifer Cronk 4/17/2017

Season 1 Week 11

Season 1 Week 10

Season 1 Week 9

Season 1 Week 8

Season 1 Week 7

Season 1 Week 6

#30 Alex Corbitt on 5 Ideas to Level Up Language Arts for 5 Idea Friday 3/10/2017
#29 Steven Anderson on Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in the Classroom for Thought Leader Thursday 3/9/2017
#28 Kyle Taylor on Saving Big Money with iPads and Google Classroom for Wonderful Wednesday 3/8/2017
#27 Suzy Lolley about Creating Elementary Portfolios with Seesaw for Tech Tool Tuesday 3/7/2017
#26 Josh Harris on How to Have an Attitude to Try New Things on #MondayMotivation 3/6/2017

Season 1 Week 5

Season 1 Week 4

Season 1 Week 3

Season 1 Week 2

Season 1 Week 1

Episode 00: Sue and Mrs Scruggs (and About this Podcast)

If you're looking for the 301 episodes of my previous show, Every Classroom Matters, you can find the archive here.

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The 10 Minute Teacher podcast has more than 750 teachers and educators in quick 10 minute listens. Hosted by Vicki Davis the Cool Cat Teacher.

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News regarding education topics in schools

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K-12 Dive provides news and analysis for leaders in k-12 education. We cover topics like classroom tech, policy, school systems, personalized learning, and more.

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Classroom Management, Teaching Strategies, and More

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1:09:55 Guest(s): Amanda Morin, Emily Kircher-Morris

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The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast | Cult of Pedagogy

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Teaching strategies, classroom management, education reform, educational technology -- if it has something to do with teaching, we’re talking about it.