If you have been following the development of Google Docs features then you probably have heard of the new commenting tool. As Google puts it, they have been” updated to facilitate rapid and seamless discussions and integrate with email in an intuitive way.”   I am looking forward to using this new feature with my colleagues. How will you use it?  

Will Richardson presented at TEDxNYED on March 5, 2011. Enjoy!  

I just received this email message from Skype in the Classroom: We’re pleased to announce that Skype in the classroom is coming out of beta and bringing with it a few improvements. We’ve refined the way you search for teachers and resources, and we’ve made profiles a lot more informative. We’ve also added two new features: a projects section and a world map of the Skype in the classroom teaching community. Projects: the easiest way to [...]

This post might not be directly related to technology but it may have the power to transform teachers and / or the classroom. I am trying to get into the practice of taking the last ten minutes to reflect on these questions daily: How did the day go? What success did I experience? What challenges did I endure? What did I learn today? About myself? About others? What do I plan to do — differently [...]

Laura Turner posted on Digital Learning Environments a list of 20 technology skills she believes every educator should have. Take a look… Google Tools Knowledge* Google Earth Knowledge Wiki Knowledge* Blogging Knowledge* Spreadsheets Skills* Database Skills* Social Bookmarking Knowledge* Social Networking Knowledge Web Resources in content area* Web Searching skills* Web2.0 Tools* Interactive White Board skills (SmartBoard and Promethean)* Website design and management skills* Presentation Tools* IM knowledge Video and Podcasting RSS feeds* Mobile and [...]

Classroom participation… Every educator wants a lively, engaged classroom in which all students contribute, but how do we measure the level and value of the participation? Fresno State has created a web page with Classroom Participation Grading Resources. Although designed with higher education in mind, I believe these resources can be easily adapted to suit your current professional position. After reviewing the resources, share your thoughts!

I know, I know… Yes, it is now 2011, but David Kapuler is at it again – this time with his list of top sites for 2010. Kidblog: A great way for schools to have kids blog. Sweet Search: An excellent search engine for students, as everything has been reviewed by educators beforehand. Cacoo: A nice site for creating online charts and graphs; it has a built-in chat feature for collaborating. 21 Classes: A good [...]

YouPublisher.com is a free online service that takes your PDF documents and transforms them into online publication that reads like a digital magazine. They create the publication from your PDF and host the document. To start using the site just upload your PDF and add a link to your web page!

Simulating social networking sites for student projects has become a popular strategy for instructors. Here are links to some resources: Facebook Project & Template – A PowerPoint slide template and a Word document with directions and a scoring rubric. My Fake Wall – A site sponsored by Cavi Studio. User registration required. Fakebook – Site sponsored by ClassTools.net

I am prepping for a presentation to middle school girls on the topic of Internet safety next week. Looking through some of my resources, I stumbled upon these videos on YouTube. They might be a resource worth sharing with students and other educators.