Soft Technology

Doctopus lets teachers automatically create copies of shared documents and distribute them to students in Google Docs. If you are struggling with managing Google Docs in your classes, here you go! I always thought Doctopus was sorta technical and nerdy, but guys, it's NOT, it's awesome! It's as easy as Flubaroo. Check out Katie Grassel 's great tutorial below and see for yourself. Thanks so much Katie! Also, check out these Doctopus Updates  and learn about other helpful scripts (like Goobric--distributes copies of your rubric) from youpd.

Want to learn how to insert a fancy schmancy signature in Gmail? Well here's a little tutorial to show you just how to do that! Hope you enjoy it.

In Lesson 7, learn how (and why) to use the add in available from Boomeranggmail.com . Trust me, you're going to love this! Send mail later Remember to follow up Schedule messages to happen when you need them to

While I've been using Project Based Learning since my second year as a public school teacher some 14 years ago, I have only recently learned the vocabulary to describe the practices I find so effective. Thanks to BIE.org for standardizing and publicizing this terminology. So here's what we do (and don't) say to describe our practices. A big shout out to a certain nearby Project Based Learning elementary school for giving me a few new words and helping refine my understanding of Project Based Learning in the elementary school as well. I would tell you the name of said school, but they are already overrun with visitors. (You can ask me again next school year.) To begin with, Project Based Learning is not a regular noun, it's a gerund, like "caring" or "running." You can't "have" it or "hold" it because it's verb-like. Thus . . . Don't say: This is my PBL.   Instead say, "This is my project." Don't say:  Th

Learn how to use Gmail 3-5 minutes at a time in this series. The sixth installment includes using Gmail filters and how to use filters + canned responses (billed as "email for the TRULY lazy"). Hope you enjoy it!

Learn to use your Gmail SMARTER not HARDER in this humble little series. This is episode five where you learn how to use canned responses. Enjoy!

I got an interesting question from a teacher this morning, basically, the question is: What does it take to get a job in Instructional Technology? Do you think I should do that? Here is my answer. What is yours? Please reply in the comments. There seem to be quite a few jobs emerging in Instructional Technology/Innovation. The issue I see most often is that people get a degree, but they don't keep up with it. If someone got a Master's Degree in Literature 17 years ago, that degree still means the same thing, but if you got one 5 years ago in Educational/Instructional Technology and never did anything with it, it is virtually meaningless. Even 5 years ago, you probably made hyperlinked Powerpoint presentation games. Nobody is doing that now . . . it's old school. Now we know it's not really about what the teacher is doing; it's about what the students are doing that matters, and playing a game the teacher made is NOT technology integration. As a person who has hired