Guest post by Sean Banville

The very clever name of this blog inspired me to write a post for it. It’s one of the greatest discoveries I’ve made on Twitter – not least because of its selfless owner Shelly Terrell. ‘Reboot Camp’ is a fitting metaphor for what many of us feel we need in teaching today to keep up with technology in the classroom. IT has arrived and it’s here to stay. Part of our jobs is to reboot ourselves and keep up.

reboot – Verb – cause to load (an operating system / operating teacher) and start the initial processes;

A reboot camp would be wonderful. A place to get drilled and prepped in blogs, wikis, nings, glogs, tweets and other strange-sounding words.

Unfortunately…

This is where Twitter saves the day. It has very quickly became my personal reboot camp, or PLN (Personal Learning Network). It is jam-packed-to-the-rafters with gifted, sharing and inspirational educators from across the globe. I have learnt an incredible amount about education and classroom tools in the few months I’ve been tweeting. The oft-cited comparison between a Twitter PLN and a virtual global staff room rings loud and true.

How?

Writing has taken on a whole new experience with digital storytelling. My students can’t get enough of StoryMaker from CarnegieLibrary.org ; journals have taken on a new life with online timeline sites like MyStory.com; Glogster has opened a new world of creativity with using English for my classes; and Voicethread has added a wonderful new dimension to speaking classes. I’ve also read extensively on matters pedagogical on the hundreds of blogs I’ve been fortunate enough to find on Twitter.

Forming a Personal Learning Network on Twitter has been a fantastic reboot.

But of course Twitter provides a variety of reboots:

Hard (Cold) Reboot

For teachers who still rely on paper and shun the use of new tools in the classroom. A week spent on Twitter following just a few pedagogically and tech-savvy people will provide you with an astonishing and refreshing array of ideas and easy-to-use classroom tools.

Soft Reboot

For teachers already in the know. Engaging with Twitter would show them just how much more there is out there.

Random Reboot

For Twitter regulars. Every now and then, a shining gem appears in your tweetstream that you will be itching to try in class. The good thing about random reboots is they happen regularly and are fun.

Quick Boot

This is where the power of a wisely-chosen PLN kicks in. Whatever you need, invariably your PLN will provide the answer, often within minutes.

Network Booting

The real beauty of Twitter. Network booting takes place anywhere in the world, every time you log on to Twitter. You are connected to top people in your field. It beats any other kind of networking hands down.

Go on… reboot yourself today. It’s just a tweet away.

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Sean Banville is webmaster of sites including BreakingNewsEnglish.com and ListenAminute.com. He has a Master’s degree in TEFL/TESL from Birmingham University. He spent 13 years teaching in Japan and relocated to the UAE in 2006. He recently became an enthusiastic Tweeter, @seanbanville, and has entered the world of blogging.

Second week of November edition!

Here are the tweets that grabbed my attention this week. Check out the rest of this weekly series, What Did They Tweet? to discover some valuable resources and links!

Videos to Bring Languages Alive

Ken Royal runs an incredible website which is updated daily with several interesting articles by various educators. In this piece, Isabelle Jones, shares advice on how to effectively use videos to motivate students to learn languages. Isabelle also lists many video search engines and video tools. Below is the video wall from one site mentioned, Blinkx, which is a highly visual search engine that allows students to view what world events are taking place in real time.

Skype an Author

Patrick Larkin is one of the most progressive principals I have met on Twitter. One way to motivate students to read is by allowing them to interview and speak with their favorite authors. This activity is possible if you follow Patrick’s link with instructions and a database to help you Skype an author in the classroom. Below is a video from the website that shows you a class’ interview with author, Mike Artell.

Online Safety Video for Students

During our #edchat discussion about teaching students how to make a positive digital footprint, Kyle Pace shared this video. In the video, a girl realizes that posting her picture on the Internet has consequences. This commercial could be used to spark a discussion with students on the implications of several online behaviors. This discussion should be a part of all schools!

The Iphone App that Makes a Difference

My Iphone is definitely helping me to stay on track of projects with the various apps that help me coordinate, organize, and collaborate. Now, my Iphone can help me make a difference. Neal Chambers shared this tweet about the Do Good app for the IPhone. Daily your Iphone will provide you with activities that several people are doing to make a difference for the day. One example has people using less water throughout the day.

Cooperative Learning VoiceThread

Paulo Simões and José Carlos, who are from Portugal, have created this collaborative Voicethread for anyone to join and leave comments! The topic they are exploring is “How can a microblog promote cooperative learning communities?” Please add a comment to the VoiceThread.

Add the people in this post to your PLN by using this mass Twitter tool. Just copy and paste this list!

kenroyal, icpjones, bhsprincipal, kylepace, nealchambers, pgsimoes, jctf, larryferlazzo, kalinagoenglish

On the mindmap, click on the earth icons to follow the links to the Twitter profiles, blogs or websites! You can also make this mindmap smaller or larger and move it around. If you enjoy this series, you may want to subscribe for free to receive regular updates!

If you enjoyed this post, you may also want to check out these posts with a more extensive list of favorite tweets:

• Monthly Best Tweets by Larry Ferlazzo.
• Monthly Tweets by Karenne Sylvester, Kalinagoenglish.

Challenge:

Leave a comment on the VoiceThread!

Which of these tweets really inspired you? Leave a comment below!

First week of November edition!

Have you ever come across a tweet that you really wanted to discuss and share with others? Here are the ones that grabbed my attention this week. Check out the rest of this weekly series, What Did They Tweet? to discover some valuable resources and links!

Technology VoiceThread for Schools

Monika Hardy shared this valuable professional development tool for effective technology integration. This VoiceThread discusses how to effectively integrate various technologies into any school and covers Internet safety. Video, thought-provoking images, and more are included. This Voicethread would be great to share with parents, administrators, students, and teachers.

Twitter Lists

In this brilliant post, Karenne Sylvester explains why Twitter’s new list feature is a great idea. Moreover, she offers fantastic advice on how to use Twitter lists!

Controlling Environment vs. Behavior

With the various technology tools being developed at the speed of light, we should learn to relax and limit our time on the computer. Finding a balance is a goal I am still struggling with. For this reason, I really enjoyed this article, Controlling Environment versus Behavior, tweeted by Myscha Theriault. The article provides practical tips, such as limiting the amount of distractions in your workspace to minimize your time on the computer.

Google Wave Tutorials

Ana Maria Menezes shared a list of various Google Wave video tutorials that she created. Google Wave is still relatively new and these tutorials provide an easy way to start navigating through it with topics, such as creating folders, saving a search, or sending an invite!

Educational Resources Galore!

Often we search for a list of resources on any given topic to include in lessons or a presentation. Searching through the Internet takes too long, which is why I thoroughly enjoy Jerry Blumengarten‘s website, Cybraryman’s Educational Websites. Jerry, the Cybraryman, provides various links to numerous resources in nearly every subject area. He updates his resources often to keep up with the latest educational topics including Google Wave. The website is really easy to navigate and has sections for parent, educators, and students!

Add the people in this post to your PLN by using this mass Twitter tool. Just copy and paste this list!

monk51295, myschatheriault, anamariacult, cybraryman1, larryferlazzo, kalinagoenglish

On the mindmap, click on the earth icons to follow the links to the Twitter profiles, blogs or websites! You can also make this mindmap smaller or larger and move it around. If you enjoy this series, you may want to subscribe to receive regular updates!

If you enjoyed this post, you may also want to check out these posts with a more extensive list of favorite tweets:

• Monthly Best Tweets by Larry Ferlazzo.
• Monthly Tweets by Karenne Sylvester, Kalinagoenglish.

Challenge:

Leave a comment on one of these blogs or on the VoiceThread!

Which tweet really inspired you? Leave a comment below!

Part of the Cool Sites weekly series!

First off, I’d like to say how thrilled I am to be contributing to such an important and influential blog, which is a leader in cutting edge technology.  When trying to compile a list of my favorite Web 2.0 apps and sites for education, there were many factors I tried to consider such as: how user friendly is it, is it safe and filtered, and the “why factor” (what separates it from the rest of the pack).

That being said, below is a list of my top 5 Web 2.0 apps for education:

1. Google Apps w/ Gaggle -is such a great free resource for education that it’s hard not to place this at the top of my list.  Student’s can share, collaborate, email,  etc. all online, which makes it ideal for education.

However, with the purchase of a Gaggle ($3.00 per student) a student’s  gMail  account is then being filtered.  This makes it ideal when having to deal with swearing or online bullying, which is a must when facing CIPPA compliance.  Another great feature of Gaggle is the feature of filtered and safe blogs, message boards, and digital lockers for students.  More info can be found here.

2. Wiki - A wiki is a site that can be edited by more than one user.  I like Wikispaces for this because a educator can setup free user accounts for their students and no email account is required.  There are so many beneficial uses to a wiki that it needs to be on any person’s top 10 list. For more info on an educator account visit this website.

3. Mixbook - is a site where users can create online digital storybooks and share them with others in a safe secure environment.  I like to think of it as an online version of iPhoto picture books with a lot more features.  For a more detailed review click here.

4. Voicethread – I don’t think this comes a surprise being that it is probably the most popular Web 2.0 resource for education.  Create an interactive web page or story using this phenomenally easy educational resource.  For more info for educators, click here.

5. Glogster – is one of the newer Web 2.0 resources around, but also one of the best.  This is a place where users can create online and interactive posters for education.  There really is nothing you can’t do on Glogster and with student accounts it opens up a whole new world for collaboration.  For a more detailed review click here.

Just missed: Fliggo (video hosting), Time Rime (time lines), Diigo (social bookmarking)

All of these sites on my list have educational portals which means they have safe student accounts available.  This is ideal when things need to be monitored and approved in an educational environment.

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David Kapuler has been working with technology and education for over 10 years in a school setting. He hopes to incorporate 21st century and Web 2.0 technologies into students teachings, while preparing them for future learning. He is currently looking to get his Mac OS/Repair Certification, as well as, a Masters in Technology Integration.  Also, he has a solid background in professional development, web design, and working with network/server support. On a personal note, he’s a proud father of 3 boys and has been married for 5 years. Read more of David Kapuler’s technology reviews for education by visiting his blog, Technology Tidbits: Thoughts of a Cyber Hero or following him on Twitter (@dkapuler).

My favorite tweets this week happen to include various multimedia I have embedded. I hope you enjoy the various videos, Glog, and Voicethread! I invite you to check out the rest of this weekly series, What Did They Tweet?.

If the mindmap is not coming out in the RSS reader, you can click on the image to go to the original mindmap.

Jokes for Chase

I am always looking for an activity involving character education. Students do not get enough of these lessons. Stacy Bodin shares an opportunity for your students to learn about the gift of laughter for healing. Your students or you can leave a joke for Chase, a boy who has Leukemia. If you have never used Voicethread, then this is an opportunity to try this fantastic educational tool.

Stop Motion Videos

Larry Ferlazzo often shares wonderful links via Twitter and through his educational blog. When I checked out this link to 50 inspirational stop motion videos, I had to share. Vimeo is another great educational tool I recommend. I will have my English language learners choose their favorite video and create a story, poem, or journal entry about the piece. Check out my favorite of the videos, A Short Love Story by Carlos Lascano, which brought back beautiful memories of falling in love!

A SHORT LOVE STORY IN STOP MOTION from Carlos Lascano on Vimeo.

Cool Chemistry!

Christina DiMicelli shares a video about the period table of elements from the famous group, They Might be Giants. Students will have fun remembering the elements with this cool video.

Digital Learners

EdtechSandyK shares an Edutopia video about digital learners that is creative and great for professional development.

Web 2.0 Tools Glogster

Arjana Blazic shares her favorite Web 2.0 tools through this creative Glogster. I highly recommend Glogster as an innovative presentation tool for students. Replace all poster projects easily with Glogster. For a creative use of Glogster, have your students join Arjana’s Glogsters from the world project!

Add the people in this post to your PLN by using Russel Tarr’s mass Twitter tool. Just copy and paste this list!

stacybodin, mrsdi, abfromz, edtechsandyk, larryferlazzo, kalinagoenglish

On the mindmap, click on the earth icons to follow the links to the Twitter profiles, blogs or websites! You can also make this mindmap smaller or larger and move it around. If you enjoy this series, you may want to subscribe to receive regular updates!

If you enjoyed this post, you may also want to check out these posts with a more extensive list of favorite tweets:

• August Best Tweets by Larry Ferlazzo.
• The Blogosphere, the Twitterverse (ELT 08/09) by Karenne Sylvester, Kalinagoenglish.

Challenge:

Take some time to leave a joke or have your students leave jokes for Chase.

If you enjoy this series, you may want to subscribe to receive regular updates!

The Problem

Although I have taught English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) for several years, I only began to teach very young children two years ago. You may have read in one of my earlier posts how my initial experience was quite unsuccessful with children climbing  on the wall, literally! However, I am not one who gives up so easily! I have learned quite a bit since then and have employed various methodologies and instructional methods, such as cooperative learning. However, this year my goal was to integrate technology effectively in the classroom. With children as young as four years-old this can be quite  a challenge!

Why?

The children are less of a challenge as the barriers teachers face daily when pursuing such a hefty ambition. These barriers include providing answers to the following questions:

• Which is the right technology to support learning goals?
• How do I get this technology?
• How do I create an effective lesson plan using technology?
• How do I get my administration on board?
• How do I get parents on board?

PLN at Work!

My philosophy, as you may know from reading this blog, is that Twitter leads to great collaboration! One of my favorite collaborative projects came in the form of a VoiceThread with like minded teachers Ozge Karaoglu and Marama Stewart. These two educators have accomplished amazing feats with their very young students, which you can view when looking at their class wikis and blogs. Originally, the idea was proposed by Marama who teaches in New Zealand. We met through the Classroom 2.0 Ning I joined soon after hearing about the site from Twitter!

The idea was to find a way to encourage my German students to use the English they learned. I had the children do drawings of their favorite animals. The parents were assigned the task of having the children practice the English at home. Although only two parents allowed their children to participate, in September more will allow their children to participate after viewing the VoiceThread below. Ozge, who I met through Twitter, joined the project with her kindergartners’ Elephant story. Already, the story has inspired Marama and I to add more to the project.

Why I Love the VoiceThread Project!

This collaborative effort has been very successful for several reasons, including:

• The children’s identities are hidden!
• The children’s work and use of English is the focus!
• The children are encouraged to share stories globally!
• The children learn about other cultures and see how technology works to create these connections!
• The parents get to see the amazing advantages of using technology in the classroom!
• The project continues to grow and add momentum.
• Other students across the world can connect with our students.
• The technology is easy to use, especially for very young students!

All our collaboration was performed through e-mail, Twitter, ning, and VoiceThread! If you want to learn more about our work with very young students, please visit the following links:

• Marama Stewart’s wiki for teachers
• Ozge Karaoglu’s wiki for her kindergarteners
• My English Story Time Wiki

Challenge:

Ask yourself, “Who from your PLN can you collaborate with for meaningful projects?” Set a goal to collaborate with this teacher to promote change in your school community.

Would you like to share your collaboration anecdote? Please contact me for an interview or to connect your students to our VoiceThread project!

Recently, I received a pleasant surprise in my mail box in the form of a very informative and thought-provoking comment from Anne Hodgson in response to my blog, What Works: Cooperation vs. Competition. I had so much I wanted to respond to and thought the Voice Thread format would certainly enliven the conversation. I would love to hear about your personal experiences with using cooperative learning. Do you think competition can be healthy? Do you think society puts too much pressure on students to achieve?

World Map Photo by Su-Laine licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic.

Please let me know if you would like to discuss any other topics on Thought-provoking Thursdays!

Visit Anne Hodgson’s blog for more insights on her teaching methods!