A North Carolina school district is using QTL professional development to prepare teachers for an ambitious technology project. And they chose QTL because it’s not just about technology. The Rutherford County school system is implementing QTL programs through a partnership with The Centers for Quality Teaching and Learning, meaning they have the support of the … Continue reading
Tag clouds have been an engaging way to reinforce vocabulary and other lessons, and over the past couple of years we’ve shown Wordle to a lot of teachers in QTL sessions and other workshops. Now comes a tool that is even fancier. Tagxedo lets you create word clouds that have interesting shapes, with enhanced interactivity … Continue reading
If you’re looking for a collaborative project with a visual end product, here’s another new Web 2.0 resource to try. NOTA lets users create an interactive digital poster that includes a variety of resources, including text, photos, clipart, maps, links, and more. There’s even a message board function, though it seems to be in beta … Continue reading
Tough choices dominated the conversation as district and school administrators from across North Carolina gathered in Raleigh last week. For the first time, our organization co-sponsored the annual North Carolina Association of School Administrators Conference. Our CEO Dave Boliek addressed the opening session with a message very much in keeping with the conference theme of … Continue reading
Much has been reported in recent months about the role the Internet now plays in world events. Facebook and Twitter are credited with helping protesters in Egypt and elsewhere organize their efforts and overthrow their governments. Every new use of technology brings a new set of challenges. As social networks and dissident websites take aim … Continue reading
(RALEIGH) – What good is technology if it sits on a shelf? That’s been a persistent question for administrators juggling budgets and deciding whether interactive tools are worth the price. Amid budget cuts and belt tightening, no one wants to spend precious dollars on tools that aren’t effective. But instructional leaders are desperately looking for … Continue reading
Finding ways to get elementary students interested in social studies and history can be a challenge, but it’s one that lends itself to creativity. A Franklin County teacher’s awesome “Famous North Carolinians” project is a case in point. A “Tar Heel Traveler” news crew from Raleigh’s WRAL visited Louisburg to watch as fourth graders dressed … Continue reading
This month, we will look at Graphic Organizers, a fourth way to improve student performance. (Read other portions of our series, Five Surefire Ways to Engage Students at the following links: Part One: Brain-Based Learning or Part Two: Multiple Intelligences and Learning Styles or Part Three: Cooperative Learning.) Let’s say I am your boss or … Continue reading
What do artichokes, plantains and squash have in common with GPS, laptops and wikis? A Wilson County conference in June challenged teachers to integrate a variety of tools into 21st Century teaching. SummerSalt stands for Study and Learn Together. Wilson County developed the professional development week as “an acrobatic combination of skills and agilities integrating … Continue reading
A little caution goes a long way in protecting yourself from Internet scams. Continue reading
