by Steve Woods, Instructional Technology Specialist
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How to Stay Tech Trendy During the Summer Our team knows how busy you are even (and sometimes especially) during the Summer, and we certainly believe that you deserve some well-earned "down" time during our warmer months. That said, you never know when a tech tool might emerge that could make next year even more effective, memorable, and downright fun. If you'd like to keep tabs on technology trends while away from the classroom, here are some simple ways to do so: |
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Here are 25 podcasts to consider. It's also easy to locate more in the Podcasts App on iPhones and Google Podcasts for Android Devices. Search for EduTech or Educational Technology... and don't forget to subscribe to them! |
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Keep up on educational blogs using an RSS reader. There are a host of technology trend setters who write at least once a month about their discoveries. Use their curiosity to your advantage! Here are 100 popular educational blogs. Simply scroll down to the eLearning and Technology sections, and you'll find a few dozen to choose from. You can also search for blogs on special search tools like BlogSearchEngine.org. Search your phone's app store for RSS (or Really Simple Syndication) readers to subscribe to your favorite blogs and have new posts delivered right to you. |
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Create and keep in touch with a social media based Professional Learning Network. Twitter is great for this. Is your Twitter account full of cobwebs? Brush them off, update your photo and profile, and learn how to find fellow tech curious educators like yourself. Here's an article on using a variety of social media networks to develop your educational PLN... It's all about the hashtags! |
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Play with fun educational technologies near you, by taking advantage of the ERS Library media contract your campus got for you! You can still check out a variety of STEM kits by logging into the ERS Library Multimedia Portal and learn how to use them at your own pace, stress-free. You just might have a lot of personal fun steering around Beebots, Spheros and Ozobots manually or via code, discover how to introduce your class to virtual reality, create electrical circuits, and much more. |
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There are so many ways to keep that learning spark going during the Summer, while enjoying yourself as well. See you next school year! |