KOTESOL: Sites to Help Teachers Stay Sharp about Tech
A majority of the teachers I’ve talked to are seemingly interested in integrating technology into their teaching, but are not quite sure on where to start. Whether you’re sitting in a hotel or in a teachers’ lounge, summer is a great time to dive in and begin exploring the wonderful world of educational technology, also known as “edtech”. As teachers reflect on the past semester and begin preparing for the coming term, one might be amazed by the many ways technology can increase efficiency and make classes more multi-modal and engaging. For starters, here are some of my favorite “one-stop shops” for edtech tools, sites and information.
Avi Spector’s ICT Blog (http://avispector.wordpress.com)
ICT stands for Information and Communication Technologies, and Avi Spector is a pedagogical consultant whose job is to help teachers use technology to enhance student learning. Fortunately, his services are available at no extra cost. His blog includes regular posts about a variety of tech tools. For each tech tool featured, he typically includes a link, an overview of the tool, real-world classroom examples of its successful use, and additional ideas for how to use the tool in class. This is one of my favorite ICT blogs for its clear writing and readability, as well as the high proportion of recommended sites that I actually find useful and am able to integrate into my teaching.
Educational Technology & Mobile Learning (http://www.educatorstechnology.com)
This site is easy to browse and a joy to peruse; the tabs at the top of the homepage lead to resource recommendations that are well organized, easy to skim, and thorough without being overwhelming. The site has tools for everything from annotation to YouTube, along with teachers’ guides, posters, and slideshows on various aspects of edtech.
Kathy Schrock’s Guide to Everything (http://www.schrockguide.net).
This site’s name is a bit grandiose, but it’s actually well deserved. Kathy Schrock is an educational technologist, and her website proffers a dizzying array of everything edtech: links to rubrics for evaluating websites (and discussions about how and why to do this), extensive lists of online tools and apps, rubrics for student tech projects, and more. Is there something you want to know about edtech? You can probably find it here.
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day (http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org)
This blog offers some fantastic lists of top websites, generally grouped by topic (e.g., “The Best Sites for Learning About Famous Art Thefts,” “The Best Sites for Learning about the 2014 World Cup in Brazil”). It often focuses on resources for teaching English language learners (ELLs). In fact, according to one count the author offers, his main site includes more than 8,000 pages related to ELLs. There are plenty of sites included for educators interested in professional development, as well; for example, teachers might enjoy “The Best Research on Listening to Music When Studying” or “The Best Articles (and Blog Posts) Offering Practical Advice & Resources to Teachers in 2014—So Far”. There’s so much here, it can be a bit daunting, and the site isn’t very well organized, although the hidden treasures make it worth the effort.
Teacher Training Videos by Russell Stannard (http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com)
Just as its name implies, this site contains video tutorials for a wide variety of edtech tools. It’s a great place to find recommendations or just dip your toes into edtech, especially if you prefer step by step instructions over the “click and see what happens” approach to using online tools. It looks as if the author hasn’t updated the site recently, but the videos that are posted provide a solid foundation for educators interested in expanding their tech skills.
WebTools4U2Use (http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/)
This wiki is created by and provided for school library media specialists, but it’s got something for everyone! “Finding the Right Tool,” one of the main pages easily located in the toolbar, is a good place to start. What do you want to do? You can find a tool for it hereand you can search by function (e.g., “I want my students to brainstorm”, “I want to take notes while researching”), cognitive level, product (e.g., narrated art, visual note-taking, quick edit video, podcast, etc.), learning style, or a variety of other options. Some of the tools listed are a bit old, but the website is still carefully maintained and updated. Check out “Keeping Up with New Tools” for the newest tools on the wiki contributors’ radar.
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Monthly Chapter Meeting
Date & Time: August 9 (Saturday), 1:45 pm
Place: Chosun University, Main Building, Left Wing, Rm 4211
1. Presentation: Looking at Teacher Talk Through The Johari Window
Jocelyn Wright (Mokpo Natl. University)
2. Collaborative Workshop: Eyes on Lesson Plans & Hands-on Lesson Planning
Dr. David Shaffer (Chosun University)
Morning (11:00) Reflectve Practice Session
Critical Incidents (Jocelyn Wright)
Admission: No Charge
For more details:
Facebook: Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL
Website: http://koreatesol.org/gwangju
Email: gwangju@koreatesol.org
Twitter: @GwangjuKOTESOL
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The Author
Lindsay Herron is Treasurer of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter of Korea TESOL (KOTESOL). On behalf of the Chapter, she invites you to participate in the teacher development workshops at their monthly meetings and special events. Lindsay is a visiting professor at Gwangju National University of Education, where she has taught for the past six years. She is also presently the National Membership Committee Chair of KOTESOL and a chair on the International Conference Committee.