Blogger--Class Discussions Made Easy


Book Description

Great for both the beginning and seasoned Google-using teacher, this lesson guides teachers using Blogger in learning the ins and outs of the app as well as how to integrate the technology into your classroom. Invigorate your classroom today!




Creating a Google Apps Classroom: The Educator's Cookbook


Book Description

If you can teach, you can use Google! This "cookbook" provides both the beginner and the seasoned Google user with classroom-friendly recipes that support the integration of technology into all the content areas. The step-by-step procedures make each lesson easy to implement and understand. Using Google Apps will spice up lessons and activities such as literature circles, brainstorming, and analyzing texts to help achieve greater student success!




The Knowledge Gap


Book Description

The untold story of the root cause of America's education crisis--and the seemingly endless cycle of multigenerational poverty. It was only after years within the education reform movement that Natalie Wexler stumbled across a hidden explanation for our country's frustrating lack of progress when it comes to providing every child with a quality education. The problem wasn't one of the usual scapegoats: lazy teachers, shoddy facilities, lack of accountability. It was something no one was talking about: the elementary school curriculum's intense focus on decontextualized reading comprehension "skills" at the expense of actual knowledge. In the tradition of Dale Russakoff's The Prize and Dana Goldstein's The Teacher Wars, Wexler brings together history, research, and compelling characters to pull back the curtain on this fundamental flaw in our education system--one that fellow reformers, journalists, and policymakers have long overlooked, and of which the general public, including many parents, remains unaware. But The Knowledge Gap isn't just a story of what schools have gotten so wrong--it also follows innovative educators who are in the process of shedding their deeply ingrained habits, and describes the rewards that have come along: students who are not only excited to learn but are also acquiring the knowledge and vocabulary that will enable them to succeed. If we truly want to fix our education system and unlock the potential of our neediest children, we have no choice but to pay attention.




MICRONATIONS


Book Description

For anyone who's ever dreamed of ruling over their own empire, here's your chance! Micronations are imaginary countries that have a lot of the same things as real ones: laws, customs, history, and their own flags, coins, and postage stamps. Micronations: Invent Your Own Country and Culture takes readers step-by-step to create their own unique realm, using examples from real nations, micronations, and fictional lands. What makes a country a country? What symbols and systems define a country and help it function? Learn about geography and government, technology and the environment, art and culture, and the literary device of "world-building" used in works like The Hobbit and Harry Potter. Kids get to invent their own language, music, games, clothing, food, and holidays to fit their micronation's tradition. Whether they create a land of time travel where every city exists in a different epoch or an underwater monarchy whose chief export is fish, Micronations: Invent Your Own Country and Culture will engage kids' imagination and teach make-believe rulers how the real world works. This title meets Common Core State Standards for literacy in language arts, history and social studies; Guided Reading Levels and Lexile measurements indicate grade level and text complexity.




The Great Mental Models, Volume 1


Book Description

Discover the essential thinking tools you’ve been missing with The Great Mental Models series by Shane Parrish, New York Times bestselling author and the mind behind the acclaimed Farnam Street blog and “The Knowledge Project” podcast. This first book in the series is your guide to learning the crucial thinking tools nobody ever taught you. Time and time again, great thinkers such as Charlie Munger and Warren Buffett have credited their success to mental models–representations of how something works that can scale onto other fields. Mastering a small number of mental models enables you to rapidly grasp new information, identify patterns others miss, and avoid the common mistakes that hold people back. The Great Mental Models: Volume 1, General Thinking Concepts shows you how making a few tiny changes in the way you think can deliver big results. Drawing on examples from history, business, art, and science, this book details nine of the most versatile, all-purpose mental models you can use right away to improve your decision making and productivity. This book will teach you how to: Avoid blind spots when looking at problems. Find non-obvious solutions. Anticipate and achieve desired outcomes. Play to your strengths, avoid your weaknesses, … and more. The Great Mental Models series demystifies once elusive concepts and illuminates rich knowledge that traditional education overlooks. This series is the most comprehensive and accessible guide on using mental models to better understand our world, solve problems, and gain an advantage.




The Everything Blogging Book


Book Description

If you have access to a computer, you can start your own online journal, or blog--if you know how to do it right. With your own blog, you'll have a voice in the exciting world of the Internet. This one-stop resource shows you how to publish your ideas, get feedback, and create your own worldwide network! With this book you'll learn how to: Create buzz marketing for your business. Get amateur poetry, short stories, and prose published. Create a worldwide network of people. Share unique hobby ideas with thousands of other hobbyists. This easy-to-use guide will help you to create and maintain a creative and unique blog that readers the world over can enjoy. With The Everything Blogging Book, you'll learn how to make your mark on the World Wide Web—and beyond!




Teaching at Its Best


Book Description

A complete, accessible, evidence-based guide to better teaching in higher education This higher education playbook provides a wealth of research-backed practices for nearly every aspect of effective teaching throughout higher education. It is filled with practical guidance and proven techniques designed to help you improve student learning, both face-to-face and online. Already a bestselling research-based toolbox written for college instructors of any experience level, Teaching at Its Best just got even better. What is new? A lot. For this updated 5th edition, Todd Zakrajsek joins Linda Nilson to create a powerful collaboration, drawing on nearly 90 combined years as internationally recognized faculty developers and faculty members. One of the most comprehensive books on effective teaching and learning, the 5th edition of Teaching at its Best brings new concepts, new research, and additional perspectives to teaching in higher education. In this book, you will find helpful advice on active learning, interactive lecturing, self-regulated learning, the science of learning, giving and receiving feedback, and so much more. Each chapter has been revised where necessary to reflect current higher education pedagogy and now includes two reflection questions and one application prompt to reflect on your teaching and stimulate peer discussions. Discover the value of course design and how to write effective learning outcomes Learn which educational technology is worthwhile and which is a waste of time Create a welcoming classroom environment that boosts motivation Explore detailed explanations of techniques, formats, activities, and exercises—both in person and online Enjoy reading about teaching strategies and educational concepts Whether used as a resource for new and seasoned faculty, a guide for teaching assistants, or a tool to facilitate faculty development, this research-based book is highly regarded across all institutional types.




Blended Learning in Grades 4–12


Book Description

This book comes at the right time with answers for teachers, principals, and schools who want to be on the cutting edge of the effective use of technology, the internet, and teacher pedagogy.




The Best Class You Never Taught


Book Description

The best classes have a life of their own, powered by student-led conversations that explore texts, ideas, and essential questions. In these classes, the teacher’s role shifts from star player to observer and coach as the students ▪ Think critically, ▪ Work collaboratively, ▪ Participate fully, ▪ Behave ethically, ▪ Ask and answer high-level questions, ▪ Support their ideas with evidence, and ▪ Evaluate and assess their own work. The Spider Web Discussion is a simple technique that puts this kind of class within every teacher’s reach. The name comes from the weblike diagram the observer makes to record interactions as students actively participate in the discussion, lead and support one another’s learning, and build community. It’s proven to work across all subject areas and with all ages, and you only need a little know-how, a rubric, and paper and pencil to get started. As students practice Spider Web Discussion, they become stronger communicators, more empathetic teammates, better problem solvers, and more independent learners—college and career ready skills that serve them well in the classroom and beyond. Educator Alexis Wiggins provides a step-by-step guide for the implementation of Spider Web Discussion, covering everything from introducing the technique to creating rubrics for discussion self-assessment to the nuts-and-bolts of charting the conversations and using the data collected for formative assessment. She also shares troubleshooting tips, ideas for assessment and group grading, and the experiences of real teachers and students who use the technique to develop and share content knowledge in a way that’s both revolutionary and truly inspiring.




Cases on Online Discussion and Interaction: Experiences and Outcomes


Book Description

"This book gives readers a better idea of what is likely to facilitate discussion online, what is likely to encourage collaborative meaning-making, what is likely to encourage productive, supportive, engaged discussion, and what is likely to foster critical thinking"--Provided by publisher.