Get more out of your students' internet searches.

We all know that when our students need an answer, they usually simply "google it". What am I saying... I do it all the time too. But don't discount your students' (or your) google searches as meaningless. A lot of great, meaningful research can be had on google.

Below are some great tips and tools for you and your students to BETTER your google searches and get more out of Google!. Print it out and post it in your room as a handy reference, or just remember that it's on your helpful PLN!

If you want to take it a step further, here's a lesson plan from the New York Times Learning Network devoted entirely to developing internet research skills, titled "Google It". It might be a good idea to check it out before you embark on a project with your students that involves some internet research.

Created by: HackCollege

List of Web 2.0 tools

It is always a treat to find links to great web 2.0 tools that are first and foremost, easy to incorporate into class, and secondly, easy for me and my students to use.

I came across this first short list of Web 2.0 tools, broken out by grade, that are specified for the English and Language Arts realm (K-12) and thought I'd share. Of course you don't have to be in those content areas to use and benefit from them though!

I liked the bubbl tool for online brainstorming - easy, fun, and worked well with my kids!

The Acapela tool/site would be great for an English OR foreign language class...

For those of you who are looking for a more extensive list, here is a link to the top 100 Web 2.0 tools of 2011, according to edudemic.com

I KNOW there are some tools on there that you can use in your classroom. Give some a try!

RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms

OHS teacher, Shane Fruit, sent me this RSA Animate lecture from the absolutely fabulous Sir Ken Robinson about the paradigm shift needed in education. If you have ten minutes to listen in...do it! It presents great ideas for what needs to happen in the world of education.

Stories of Teachers' Impact

One of my absolute favorite parts of Fridays is listening to StoryCorps--an oral history project--on NPR. This I weekend I learned of a new StoryCorps project called the National Teachers Initiative. This new project includes recording and airing the stories of teachers in an oral history fashion. NPR will be airing these during their Sunday Weekend Edition shows.

The teaching profession and education has been the source of much scrutiny lately, so it's refreshing to me to see a positive portrayal of teachers on a national media outlet. I'm thrilled that StoryCorps is recognizing the good work teachers do and is devoted to telling our stories. The first story has aired on the radio and is posted on NPR's website. Give your busy week a jump start and listen to the first story for a dose of encouragement.