Added a Calender Gadget today

I was playing around and decided to try to add a calender gadget to my blog. I read an article about how you can create an assignments calender to post on your class blog so I decided to give it a try. After a couple of size adjustments, it is now there.

Adding Widgets to Your Blog

After reading the article from Free Technology for Teachers about adding widgets to your blog, I think I'm going to give it a try.  I added a Google Calender to my Wiki awhile ago but didn't think about putting one on my blog.  So if by blog explores or disappears, it means I didn't do something right.  Read the article and give it a try.

A Few Widgets To Consider Adding To Your Classroom Blog

7 Things You Should Know About ... Second Life

I consider myself an up with the times kind of teacher but I have to confess that these types of programs are simply not something that interests me or do I have a desire to endeavor into.  I understand Second Life allows one to experience the "virtual world" and encounter situations in a safer way than actually doing the same thing in real life.  But the fact that things that are not appropriate or legal in the real world is acceptable in the virtual world simply goes against my moral values.  For those of you who think its worth something to pursue, good luck.  You won't be seeing me in your Second Life.
7 Things You Should Know about Second Life

Educational Blogs

For those of us who might be venturing out into the blogosphere this year and plan to create a class blog, Lisa Nielsen gives 8 easy tips to keep in mind before starting on.  Check out her suggestions:
Link to Article

7 Things You Should Know About Google Apps

I have become quite addicted to the use of Google Apps and can see the usefulness not only in my personal life but also that in the educational world.  I too have some concerns about the access rights Google allows but I have not had any problems up to this point.  I suppose that any time you provide information on the web it is subject to some form of misuse for those who do those kinds of things.  The fact that Google owns a number of resources that we use regularly (YouTube for instance) tells me that the upside far outweighs the downsides.
Link to Article

Weekly Wrap up

Just thought I'd pass this along for a little more information instructional technology articles.
Link to article

Google's Computational Thinking Lessons

For those who teach upper middle school and higher math, Google has created a site for you that provides a number of lesson plans on computational thinking.  At first I was excited to see the title but found that much of what is available is above my grade level.  But i thought that it could be useful to some.  It came from an article from the Free Technology for Teachers site.  Check it out to see if it fits your need.
Lessons in Computational Thinking

Teaching Students Real Life Skills

Probably one of the most important roles we have as teachers is to teach students skills the apply to real life.  I found an article on the MakingSenseMedia website, entitled 21 Apps That Teaches Real-Life Skills.  The links provide a review of the apps and the age appropriate level for them.  I'm not sure about cost associated with them but they look like children can really become engaged in learning by using them.
21 Apps That Teaches Real-Life Skills