I was recently interviewed for BAM Radio's Rae Pica along James Popham who wrote, "Everything School Leaders Should Know about Assessment."  In this show we look at formative and summative teacher evaluations and discuss what teachers can do to support more valid and effective assessments.I talk about how teacher effectiveness gives teachers the opportunity to know only toot their own horn, but also toot the horns of their students.  I also discuss why it is important for innovative educators to helping those who are evaluating them understand the role of technology and social media in increasing effectiveness. You can listen to the program on the BAM Radio! site here. 

@InnovativeEdu Balance is key.— Herman Miller EDU (@HermanMillerEDU) May 28, 2014 The above tweet was sent to me in response to my post explaining why innovative educators should look down on upon a new video called, "Look Up." But I disagreed with this balance-seeking Tweeter. "Balance is key" is a common refrain heard by innovative educators and their students. It is meant as a reminder that tech has a place... but only as long as it's balanced with non-tech.We are a society that seems to embrace balance without question. It is easy to speak those words or nod in agreement when others convey the sentiment. I mean, what can be wrong with balance? It seems easy to agree to this condition. If this has been you - STOP. We don't need to balance technology with non-technology.Technology is a tool and resource that we have at our disposal to use effectively and efficiently for our needs. For many people technology is the way they do business, pleasure, fitness, and more, and that's okay.If you're wondering why...Think about it. When you talk about reading books, do you often hear, "balance is key?" When you talk about fitness, do you often hear, balance is key? How about writing? How about talking to friends? How about networking with experts? How about playing chess?  How about making documentaries? How about solving complex equations? How about social action?  How about doing research?I want more »

I had the pleasure to speak to librarians today at the UnCommon Approaches to the Common Core Conference about ideas for making trips to museums and other cultural institutions fun and engaging using digital media. Interested in this topic and/or want some ideas to share with others?  If so, check out my presentation below.

The Innovative Educator in the Social Media Booth at NYSCATE 13As the 13/14 school year comes to a close, it's time to think about what events and conferences to attend for the next year.  While I certainly won't be attending all these conferences below are my top picks listed in chronological order. They include a link to the conference, brief description, approximate dates (if they are not yet scheduled) based on previous years and non-member, full costs (some are estimates based on previous years) which include pre-conference fees. Take a look.  See what you think and share which conferences you are attending and why you made that choice.I want more »

While the idea of spending four fabulous years of freedom to be on your own immersed in study, is certainly appealing, there are a number of reasons why the traditional college experience might not work for students. Today's students are less naive about student loans understanding that the reality, is most of us can’t afford to wrack up tens of thousands of dollars in loans before entering the workforce. As a result, more and more, people are looking at alternatives like starting college in high school with programs like College Now, testing out of classes, or taking accelerated degree programs. Such programs are a potential solution for individuals who don’t have the luxury of spending several years out of the workforce.  I’ve shared several posts on the first two options.  Accelerated degree programs deserve a closer look.   Here are five reasons why accelerated degree programs might be the right option for your students.I want more »

Guest Post by Vicki DavisEditor’s note:  Vicki Davis just wrote a new book called, Reinventing Writing. I asked her if she could contribute a post to The Innovative Educator explaining specifically how social media has reinvented writing. This is that post.   As hall of fame baseball player, Babe Ruth said, "Yesterday’s home runs won’t win tomorrow’s games." To level up writing, we need to take advantage of the out-of-the park features and capabilities that social media inspired concepts give writing instruction.Most of us know how it feels to write an exciting Facebook status update or a powerful tweet. Without delay, we know the impact of our words as they are retweeted, commented on, and liked (or ignored.) With this in mind, it stands to reason that students want a response too. Paper essays that are only seen by the teacher with a wastebasket as their final destiny are a needless waste of time and potential. Writing can be so much more exciting and it isn’t that hard to do.Notably, social media is impacting writing in the classroom in ten powerful ways. You don’t have to be on social media (or even like it)  to feel the lift social media concepts can give writing in your classroom, as I share in my new book  Reinventing Writing released just this month.10 Ways Social Media Has Reinvented Writing and Tips to Benefit StudentsSocial Media Impact #1 - Connect with an Audience.Research shows that audience improves student writing effort and work. It makes sense, writers want meaning. Tip: Use methods like Quadblogging,  #comments4kids, or encouraging parents to comment and view student work to help promote audience of your students’ public work.I want more »

My co-author Willyn Webb and I had the opportunity to speak with "Tech Page One - Insights from the Evolving World of Tech" to explain why cell phones should be allowed in the classroom.  You can read the entire piece at BYOD Goes to School, Here is what we said during our interview with the author of the article.  Once considered a distraction, smartphones are now being used by teachers to expand teaching optionsLisa Nielsen, who blogs at The Innovative Educator and co-authored "Teaching Generation Text," advocates for cellphone use in classrooms. She has taught students how to record podcasts, use Twitter and post photos to Flickr with their phones."My philosophy is that we should be preparing students for the real world, and it’s a world in which we rely on our cellphones constantly," Nielsen says. "We can engage learners in really powerful ways that were never before possible."How cellphone capabilities are changing learningWillyn Webb, co-author with Nielsen and a high school counselor and assistant principal in Colorado, says that when she started teaching only one video camera was available for her students. Now, thanks to smartphones, every student has the capability to take photos and video, and to stay in the loop when they are not in class.Apps that Webb has used include Celly, which allows teachers to text students while not revealing phone numbers, and Poll Everywhere, which helps teachers conduct polls through text messages.With their use of cellphones, students at Webb’s alternative high school are taking on more learning, even without being asked, she says. One time, during a brainstorming session, she took notes on the board and, instead of having students write down the information, she told them to snap a photo with their phones."Since they had the picture of the notes in their phones — and the phones are part of their real lives and real worlds — they made a decent amount of progress [at home]," Webb says. "It was a homework assignment I didn’t have to assign. It was part of the device they know, love and always have with them."

Are you gaga over Google? Do you think Microsoft is magnificent? Do you excel at using Edmodo? Do you think PBS is the perfect platform for digital media content?Wouldn’t it be great to find others in your district using the same tools as you? Wouldn’t it be great to have a direct connection to the people who work at the companies of the very resources you are using for teaching and learning? As reported this week in the Wall Street Journal, Chalkbeat New York, and this press release from the NYC Department of Education's press office, this has become a reality for NYC Department of Education teachers.  As part of Chancellor Carmen Farina’s commitment to integrate more technology into classrooms a series of innovative summer courses for teachers will be offered so that teachers are equipped to ensure students graduate from New York City public schools with the digital skills they need to succeed.I want more »

More and more schools are realizing that Google Chromebooks are the answer to updating outdated schools. Unfortunately though, in many cases they are making purchases for large scale deployment with little investment toward preparation for implementation issues or knowledge of where to turn to connect with others who have had experience in Chromebooks (and Google Apps for Ed) deployment. That’s where learning networks come in.  Fortunately there is an experienced online community available to support others venturing into this world.Here are some resources:I want more »

Willyn Webb and I contributed to the International Society of Technology Educators (ISTE) Literacy Journal. The journal features innovative ways to enhance learning with technology. Our chapter is called, "The future is in their hands: Using cell phones for literacy learning. Unlike other journals, there is no pay wall to access the journal. It is available free!Here is what you'll find in the journal:Table of Contents Forward  Editor, Mark Gura Page 4  Text Meets Video in the Blogosphere: Complex Informational Content for Today’s Students by Dr. Rose Reissman Page 6  Using Creative Technology to Engage Struggling Readers and Writers as Producers of Literature by Melinda Kolk Page 12  The Future Is In Their Hands: Using Cell Phones for Literacy Learning by Lisa Nielsen and Willyn Webb Page 21   Boosting Oral Language Fluency through Technology Intensive Literature Exploration (TILE), a Learning Centers Approach by Kevin Amboe Page 32  Learning to Teach with Edmodo: Social Networking-based Activities by Kathy D. Shields Page 44  Using Online Discussions to Develop Literacy Skills and Integrate the NETsby Sandra Wozniak Page 54  Student Led Podcast Projects Make Common Core Literacy skills Come Aliveby Dr. Rose Reissman Page 64  Using Technology To Enhance Reading Skills For English Language Learnersby Kimberly M. Thomas Page 74Interested? You can check out the journal below.Scribd.com Version:http://www.scribd.com/doc/227311233/Literacy-Special-Interest-V1-Number2Read or Download as PDF (requires free registration) scribd