Useful Information In and Out of the Classroom 9/11/15

Here are some interesting sites that I’ve found this week, thanks to my PLN. As a teacher, I feel we have to keep up to date concerning research in our field and current issues in the education system. I hope some of these inspire you, inform you, and even have you asking questions. Thank you for coming by and visiting!

Note: Each resource is labeled with a level and subject area to make it easier to use.

Levels:  E: Elementary; M: Middle; H: High; G: General, all levels; SN: Special Needs; T: Teachers

Subject Areas: LA: Language Arts, English, Reading, Writing; M: Math; S: Science; Health; SS: Social Studies, Current Events; FA: Fine Arts; Music, Art, Drama; FL: Foreign Language; PE: Physical Ed; C: Career; A: All

Verizon Innovative App Challenge – “open to both middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12) students attending schools in the 50 United States and the District of Columbia…Verizon created the Verizon Innovative App Challenge contest to use kids’ love of smartphone and tablets to spark their passion for learning about STEM. The contest inspires them to look beyond what apps can do to how they do it, and introduces them to computer science through a hands-on project to create a real world solution. Its focus on app development and coding encourages them to become builders of technology solutions.” (L:M,H; SA:A)

Meeting Words – “MeetingWords is a simple text editor for the web. Your text is saved on the web, and more than one person can edit the same document at the same time. Everybody's changes are instantly reflected on all screens. Work together on meeting notes, brainstorming sessions, homework, team programming and more!” (L:G; SA:A)

Plickers – “Plickers is a powerfully simple tool that lets teachers collect real-time formative assessment data without the need for student devices”  (L:T; SA:A)

Class Dojo Idea Board – See how other teachers are using classdojo in their classroom (L:T; SA:A)

The physics of playing guitar – “Guitar masters like Jimi Hendrix are capable of bending the physics of waves to their wills, plucking melody from inspiration and vibration. But how do wood, metal, and plastic translate into rhythm, melody, and music? Oscar Fernando Perez details the physics of playing the guitar, from first pluck to that final shredding chord

”  (L:H; SA:S)

Original photo by Pat Hensley