Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog. Below you’ll see the top posts along with the number of page views. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired use one of those icons below the post to share it with others and/or leave a comment. Entry Pageviews This #LearnAnywhere Bus Gives A New Meaning to #Mo...Jul 8, 2015,  2079 4 Ways to Convey Your Message More ClearlyJun 23, 2015,  1188 How and Why A Headshot Will Improve Your Digital I...Jun 17, 2015,  1165 8 Real Ways Facebook Enriched Ms. Schoening’s Firs...Jul 15, 2010,  1139 What If We Changed the Word "Classroom" to "Learni...Jun 28, 2015,  1134 How Technology Can Help Beat the Heat in Unaircond...Jul 5, 2015,  1026 Does Twitter have a minimum age requirement?Jun 13, 2013,  1016 How to Capture Tweets to Share with OthersJun 30, 2015,  971

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog. Below you’ll see the top posts along with the number of page views. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired use one of those icons below the post to share it with others and/or leave a comment. Entry Pageviews This #LearnAnywhere Bus Gives A New Meaning to #Mo...Jul 8, 2015,  3152 Socialization: How are Schools Doing?Jul 15, 2015,  2636 After the Cell Phone Ban - NYC Schools Launch #BYO...Jul 19, 2015,  2458 Using Cell Phone Technology to Support Students Wh...Jul 22, 2015,  1990 5 Reasons to Allow Students to Use Cell Phones in ...Jul 8, 2012,  1888 Hashtag Power - Everyone Has A VoiceJul 12, 2015,  1388 Does Twitter have a minimum age requirement?Jun 13, 2013,  1183 What If We Changed the Word "Classroom" to "Learni...Jun 28, 2015,  1380

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog. Below you’ll see the top posts along with the number of page views. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired use one of those icons below the post to share it with others and/or leave a comment.EntryPageviewsClose Captioning Tools Support LiteracyJul 26, 2015, 3555This #LearnAnywhere Bus Gives A New Meaning to #Mo...Jul 8, 2015, 3021Using Cell Phone Technology to Support Students Wh...Jul 22, 2015, 2810Socialization: How are Schools Doing?Jul 15, 2015, 2800After the Cell Phone Ban - NYC Schools Launch #BYO...Jul 19, 2015, 2472Hashtag Power - Everyone Has A VoiceJul 12, 2015, 2292Flipping for New Chromebook for Today’s Classrooms...Jul 29, 2015, 2236

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog. This week, it seems people were excited to learn about the benefits of using hashtags at events.  Below you’ll see all the top posts along with the number of page views. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired use one of those icons below the post to share it with others and/or leave a comment. Entry Pageviews 5 Benefits of Using a Hashtag for EventsAug 2, 2015,  5472 Close Captioning Tools Support LiteracyJul 26, 2015,  4920 Using Cell Phone Technology to Support Students Wh...Jul 22, 2015,  3955 Socialization: How are Schools Doing?Jul 15, 2015,  3821 Flipping for New Chromebook for Today’s Classrooms...Jul 29, 2015,  3424 Socialization: How are Schools Doing?Jul 15, 2015,  2821 After the Cell Phone Ban - NYC Schools Launch #BYO...Jul 19, 2015,  2518 5 Strategies To Trend On Twitter at Your Next Even...Aug 5, 2015,  2452 This #LearnAnywhere Bus Gives A New Meaning to #Mo...Jul 8, 2015,  2377

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog. Below you’ll see the top posts along with the number of page views. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired use one of those icons below the post to share it with others and/or leave a comment. Entry Pageviews 5 Benefits of Using a Hashtag for EventsAug 2, 2015, 5707 Close Captioning Tools Support LiteracyJul 26, 2015, 4935 Using Cell Phone Technology to Support Students Wh...Jul 22, 2015, 3888 Socialization: How are Schools Doing?Jul 15, 2015, 3822 Flipping for New Chromebook for Today’s Classrooms...Jul 29, 2015, 3046 Socialization: How are Schools Doing?Jul 15, 2015, 2822 5 Strategies To Trend On Twitter at Your Next Even...Aug 5, 2015, 2783 After the Cell Phone Ban - NYC Schools Launch #BYO...Jul 19, 2015, 2512

Editor’s note: This post takes a detour from the usual topics covered on this blog, to address an issue I recently encountered. I share it here because there is a connection with community relations, effective communities, and effective schools.  One of the things New Yorkers love about our city is our marvelous transportation system. Whether it’s trains, buses, bikes, or feet, New Yorkers know how to get around. And get around we do. In fact anyone who lives here and tracks their steps can tell you that without even trying, we get the recommended 10k steps a day just living our daily lives. More and more not only is this city pedestrian-friendly, but with the introduction of services such as CitibikeNYC, it’s also become bike friendly.  Or at least one would hope so. If you’re a New Yorker, you know the rules of the road on foot and pedal. More than 90% of crosswalk buttons don’t work. When you are at a corner, you look both ways and cross when safe. Or as Time Out New York puts it in the article 51 reasons you know you’re a real New Yorker: #4. You jaywalk (and would never consider not jaywalking). In fact, when you see someone waiting until the light changes when there are no cars coming, it can mean only one thing.You’ve spotted a tourist.  Not only has this become a rule of the road, but it’s also become an efficient and effective way to keep people moving more safely. Rather than moving among cars, walkers and cyclists can move on empty or less crowded roads. When the topic came up in San Francisco, Tom Shuler of the Boise Police Department explained to the San Francisco Examiner that allowing cyclists to yield, rather than stop, "makes the road safer for cyclists because it gets them out of the way of cars."This is a community norm. The common sense way we operate in New York. But perhaps not anymore. One of the things that New Yorkers hold dear, (the effective means of getting around town) is being threatened under the guise of "safety."I want more »

When the parents and teachers of today's students prepared for school, they had a long list of supplies and back-breaking book bags. Thank goodness that can be a thing of the past for students today.  With the exception of Kleenex, nearly everything else on the following back to school list is obsolete and replaced with just three items in the 21st century classroom.The 3 Back to School Supplies for Today's LearnersI want more »

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog. Below you’ll see the top posts along with the number of page views. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired use one of those icons below the post to share it with others and/or leave a comment.EntryViews10 #BacktoSchool Tips for Students to Keep in Mind...Aug 16, 2015, 69005 Benefits of Using a Hashtag for EventsAug 2, 2015, 6197Relationships, Not Fines, Lead to Great Schools + ...Aug 20, 2015, 5166Should cellphones be allowed in school? My Respons...Aug 12, 2015, 34325 Strategies To Trend On Twitter at Your Next Even...Aug 5, 2015, 3410Don't Go #BacktoSchool without Knowing How Every C...Aug 9, 2015, 3217Flipping for New Chromebook for Today’s Classrooms...Jul 29, 2015, 3175

Have you heard of teacher entrepreneurship? Know what it is? If not, you want to find out? If so, want to hear from some teacher entrepreneurs? You're in luck. Steve Hargadon guides us through four evenings of interviews, live on Google Hangouts on Air / YouTube. Join to learn more about the world of teachers as agents of creation and change. Tune in to an amazing lineup that is broadcast for free this week, August 24 - 27 from 6 - 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Interviews last 15 minutes each. You can sign up here.and Tweet or follow at #TEWeek. Visit this link for the entire lineup.  I'll be discussing how..."Teacher entrepreneurship can mean establishing a unique, uncharted career path to best meet the needs of staff, students, and families."I hope you'll tune in to listen and share your support on Monday, August 24th at 8:45 p.m. 

If you work in a school system chances are you have a job that you've seen implemented as a student. You teach a subject you were taught. You are a principal or administrator. You serve as a guidance counselor, etc.  But, lately, there is a new role available in the field of education. That is the role of an intrapreneur. Intrapreneurs work within an existing organization to take direct responsibility for turning an idea into a successful outcome often through assertive risk-taking and innovation. Put another way, intrapreneurs often see a need or something that is wrong  but rather than complain, they do something to make it right. This is something I've done throughout my career.Here's how.1) Direct A Learning OasisThe problem: There was no place for students to discover and develop their passions and interests.The solution: I took an outdated, dusty library and created a learning center in a school. I connected with a law firm to get thousands of dollars worth of books donated. I connected with a marketing firm to get computers and educational videos donated.  I worked with the local community to bring in programs like Junior Achievement.  I worked with a program called Power Lunch to connect students with mentors who would talk, read, and write with them during lunch time.  Prior to my coming to the school, the library stood dusty and unstaffed.  I laid out an exciting vision that the principal could connect with and want to bring to her school.  2) Help Coaches Harness The Power of TechnologyThe problem: My district hired literacy and math coaches for every school. These coaches were carrying around huge binders of materials that also needed to be distributed to teachers, flip charts that needed to be shown and duplicated, and had a hard time meeting the demand for demonstrating best practices in delivering lessons and techniques such as conferring.  The need was figuring out a way to get materials to teachers and for coaches to meet the demand of providing demonstration lessons.  The solution:  Technology would solve this issue for coaches.  I was hired to gather all the materials coaches need and digitize them. Gone were all the binders and papers. It was now neatly on every coaches laptop. Rather than having coaches run around demonstrating lessons and techniques, we taped the best educators doing those lessons and made those available to coaches to share with teachers.  I saw the need. Shared the idea with Central staff at a coaching session and not long after, I was hired for the job.  3) Embrace Student Voice and Social MediaThe problem: If we want students to engage responsibly online, educators must be in their worlds interacting and model appropriate behavior, but in some districts they were limiting online interactions or banning it altogether.  The solution: I spoke out about the issue by commenting on a newspaper story on the issue. That became it's own headline story which led me to explain the importance of educators interacting with young people using the tools of their world. After the story came out I met with senior leadership at Central and explained that guidelines and policies around social media needed to include the voices of students and teachers and we needed to provide professional development and lessons that supported teachers in helping our students engage online in ways that would lead to academic and career success. The department hired me as the Director of Digital Literacy and Citizenship to do just that.  4) Digital Engagement + Partnering with Companies for LearningThe problem: Teachers around the city were using the same resources but they weren't connecting with each nor were they connected to those providing the resources.  The solution: I worked with companies like Google, Microsoft, and PBS to create online and face-to-face programs for educators across the district to connect.  For the first time teachers who were wild about various resources and programs could meet each other then stay connected in online communities. They were also trained so that they could support others in using the programs and products. At the end of the training they are certified and recognized for their work. This was a big need for companies and for our district. This has been my work for the past year as the Director of Digital Engagement and Professional Learning.  You can see more about the program in this video..  A new cohort of Everfi Certified STEM TeachersThese are some of the ways I've achieved success as an intrapreneur in my career. What are some problems in your school or district? What type of work could you do to address them?  You can hear my thoughts in the video below which was taped as part of  Steve Hargadon as part of his Teacher Entrepreneurship series. My advice for other teachers: "Start small, capture great stories, & then show people (don't just tell them) why your idea is great."Public schedule and viewer links are at: http://learningrevolution.com/teacherentrepreneurship2015schedule.The main event site is at  http://learningrevolution.com/teacherentrepreneurshipThe attendee registration link (free) is at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/teacher-entrepreneurship-week-august-24-27-2015-registration-18042950952Tweet or follow the hashtag at #TEWeek. 

What's most important when it comes to learning? A good teacher?A motivated student?Class size? Of course each of those are important factors, but today there is something equally, if not more important. If teachers don't get on board, they will cease to be relevant. The most important factor for lifelong learning today is this:Being connected.Gone are the days where students entered the building, disconnect, and power down. Today's teachers must know how to empower themselves and their students to make the important connections they'll need for success both inside and outside of school. This means teachers understanding how to build global learning networks for themselves and supporting their students in doing the same. No idea how to get started? No worries. I want more »

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog. This week, it seems educators are excited to learn about tips to keep in mind when using social media with students. There was also interest in finding out why it makes sense to use hashtags at your next event, whether back to school night, parent-teacher night, a fundraiser or science fair.  Next up was a piece that is a detour from what I usually cover here, but it points to the importance of relationships rather than punishment in building community.  And, if you were wondering what a teacher entrepreneur or teacher intrapreneur  is and/or how to become one yourself, read my post on that to find out how to hear from some talented educators who are doing just that.  There's a few more posts to round out the top. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired use one of those icons below the post to share it with others and/or leave a comment.EntryPageviews10 #BacktoSchool Tips for Students to Keep in Mind...Aug 16, 2015, 78725 Benefits of Using a Hashtag for EventsAug 2, 2015, 6209Relationships, Not Fines, Lead to Great Schools + ...Aug 20, 2015, 5768Teacher Entrepreneurship - Learn What It's All Abo...Aug 23, 2015, 3598Should cellphones be allowed in school? My Response...Aug 12, 2015, 35285 Strategies To Trend On Twitter at Your Next Even...Aug 5, 2015, 3406Don't Go #BacktoSchool without Knowing How Every C...Aug 9, 2015, 3274Flipping for New Chromebook for Today’s Classrooms...Jul 29, 2015, 3172

By Isiah Rosa. Isiah is a rising junior high school student from Brooklyn, New York.Isiah working at All Star Code I am a student, coder, and an activist. As of the writing of this essay, I currently do not have a laptop to call my own. A.K.A "thanks for letting me use your laptop dad!."  It is essential for me to have a Chromebook Flip, bag from Griffin, and Internet On The Go MiFi for school and outside projects.  Here is how these three supplies will boost my learning.  I want more »

Guest post by Jacob GutnickiIt seems there is a story almost on a daily basis about a missing child. This is not surprising as the National Crime Information Center statistics in 2014 show that there were 466,949 entries for missing children under the age of 18. These statistics, along with the following statistics on child danger, are unsettling:Roughly half of children with an  (Autism Spectrum Disorder) ASD attempt to elope from a safe environment; a rate nearly four times higher than their unaffected siblings.Two in three parents of elopers reported their missing children had a "close call" with a traffic injury.32% of parents reported a "close call" with a possible drowning.Half of families with elopers report they had never received advice or guidance about elopement from a professional.The last bullet is particularly disconcerting as it means the parents who are most susceptible to this problem are the least prepared for dealing with the challenges of a wandering child. Fortunately, there are many technology-based resources that can help parents and schools who care for wandering children. With this in mind, I have prepared 10 resources followed by 10 tips that can support parents and schools keep wandering children safe.I want more »

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog. Taking the lead this week are tips to keep in mind when using social media with students. There was also interest in learning about becoming a teacher entrepreneur and intrapreneur. I was pleasantly surprised to see my post about the importance of relationships to build community at the top of the list.  There's a few more posts to round out the top including one that addresses what is most important when it comes to learning and another about how you can tap into the strengths of all your students. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired use one of those icons below the post to share it with others and/or leave a comment.EntryViews10 #BacktoSchool Tips for Students to Keep in Mind...Aug 16, 2015, 8311Teacher Entrepreneurship - Learn What It's All Abo...Aug 23, 2015, 3866Relationships, Not Fines, Lead to Great Schools + ...Aug 20, 2015, 3755Should cellphones be allowed in school? My Respons...Aug 12, 2015, 3530Don't Go #BacktoSchool without Knowing How Every C...Aug 9, 2015, 3283What's Most Important When It Comes To Learning?Aug 25, 2015, 2683How I Became A Teacher Intrapeneur. 4 Ideas to Ins...Aug 24, 2015, 2300

Building relationships with families is hard work. Especially with today’s busy parents. If you’re lucky, you’ll see your student’s parents on one or two parent-teacher conferences or events each year. That hardly makes for relationship building. Parents want to be involved and teachers want to involve them, but many parents are not afforded the luxury of free time that makes this possible. Teachers want to involve parents, but they often don’t have time to put together quality websites or newsletters.  Fortunately, various social media tools have come along to help strengthen the home-school connection.  For example some teachers use Twitter to give parents a window into a school or class. Other teachers use  Facebook to keep parents connected.  And, others are using texting services like Cel.ly.  Now, there is a tool designed specifically for teachers and the families of students.  I want more »

Google is updating the way they do certifications. Google is providing these certifications as a concrete and tangible way to measure skills and knowledge. Level 1 is for educators and 2 for trainers and innovators.  Below is a brief description with a link to more information.   Read More  Read More This post from Shake Up Learning provides additional insight and you can read below from Google's newsletter.  If you don't get the newsletter you can click here. The monthly newsletter showcases relevant tools and programs from across many Google teams and partners.I want more »

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog. Taking the lead again are tips to keep in mind when using social media with students. I hope readers will share how that goes with their students this year. A new entry into the top posts is a new social media platform called Class Story that helps teachers strengthen the home-school connection. Rounding out the top post is the winner of the "Back to School Supply Contest." Check it out.There's a few more posts to round out the top including one that addresses what is most important when it comes to learning and another about how you can tap into the strengths of all your students. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired use one of those icons below the post to share it with others and/or leave a comment. Entry Pageviews 10 #BacktoSchool Tips for Students to Keep in Mind...Aug 16, 2015,  8765 Teacher Entrepreneurship - Learn What It's All Abo...Aug 23, 2015,  3869 Relationships, Not Fines, Lead to Great Schools + ...Aug 20, 2015,  3750 Should cellphones be allowed in school? My Respons...Aug 12, 2015,  3528 Don't Go #BacktoSchool without Knowing How Every C...Aug 9, 2015,  3491 What's Most Important When It Comes To Learning?Aug 25, 2015,  2995 Class Story (an Instagram for Parents) Helps Stren...Sep 6, 2015,  2736 Winner! The 3 #BackToSchool Supplies Necessary to ...Aug 30, 2015,  2671

Schools should be welcoming environments for students, staff, parents, and community members, but they often don't feel that way. Unmarked doors. Uniformed guards. Impersonal communication. Ear-piercing bells. We can do better. Which school would you rather enter? Here are updates schools can make to create more welcoming environments.I want more »

Adult life is all about making choices, learning from them, and prioritizing competing demands for our time. A healthy educational environment must allow students to experience such opportunities and challenges. To do this, children must be able to make their own decisions and pursue their own passions. This creates the opportunity for them to flourish to their full potential if they have a supportive, respectful and loving culture. Knowing what they want to learn or do, and then following through to learn it or achieve it, is a core skill for learning.There is an education model that reflects this philosophy. It is called Agile Learning.  The education model uses a tree as a metaphor to illustrate the model.  Here are the four parts of the model: I want more »

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog. Taking the lead this week is a new, free tool called Class Story which can be used to strengthen the home-school connection from Class Dojo. There was also interest in learning about becoming a teacher entrepreneur and intrapreneur. I was pleasantly surprised to see my post about the importance of relationships to build community remains at the top of the list.  My post that explains the new Google for Ed Certification Exams was also among the most popular. There are a few more posts to round out the top including one that addresses what is most important when it comes to learning and another about how you can tap into the strengths of all your students. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. Share it on your networks.  If you're inspired, leave a comment! Entry Pageviews Class Story (an Instagram for Parents) Helps Stren...Sep 6, 2015,  5023 Teacher Entrepreneurship - Learn What It's All Abo...Aug 23, 2015,  4870 Relationships, Not Fines, Lead to Great Schools + ...Aug 20, 2015,  4746 Should cellphones be allowed in school? My Respons...Aug 12, 2015,  3541 Google for Education Certification and ExamsSep 9, 2015,  3246 What's Most Important When It Comes To Learning?Aug 25, 2015,  2992 8 Real Ways Facebook Enriched Ms. Schoening’s Firs...Jul 15, 2010,  2318 How I Became A Teacher Intrapeneur. 4 Ideas to Ins...Aug 24, 2015,  2301

Want a community that embraces self-directed learning? These tools, practices, and structures are used to support such a community as part of The Agile Learning Model. They can be used anywhere and modified to best support learning in your environment. To follow you will read about the following structures, tools, and practices:Set-the-week MeetingOfferings BoardScrumMorning Intentions / Stand-up MeetingSpawn PointsPersonal KanbanGratitude Circle / Community RitualsClosing Meeting / Afternoon ReflectionsChange-up meetingsCommunity Mastery Board (CMB)GameShiftingTake a look. Think about what you like. Consider what may be successful to put in place where you work. I want more »

Recently, I enjoyed dinner with a friend and his daughter who is in first grade. As we were talking she used various hand signals to show when she agreed, disagreed, had something to add, and there were a few more.  As she shared each signal, I asked what they meant. She asked if I was ever in first grade? I explained that at the school I attended so many years back, we didn’t use hand signals. She explained how they made her time in class work much better and allowed all students to share with each other and the teacher how they felt.  This is something that is important to incorporate in self-directed learning environments.  They provide instant feedback without interrupting a speaker. Hand signals make non-verbal communication explicit and deliberate by replacing subtle cues with intentional, well-defined ones.To follow are several of the hand signals used at Agile Learning Centers which embrace self-directed learning. As you read each one think about which you might incorporate into your work setting. Are I want more »

I had the opportunity to hear from leaders and influencer in the Maker movement at the Maker Faire Ed Forum. If you couldn't be there in person, you can checkout some of the terrific takeaways (or as I like to say, "makeaways") at the Storify below. My personal favorite makeaway:Yes! Q: Can Making compete w/social media? A. You don't need to compete w/social media. You can integrate it. - @LeSheepo #makeEDU— Lisa Nielsen (@InnovativeEdu) September 25, 2015 My most popular Tweet was an important message from our progressive school Chancellor Carmen Farina.Superintendents: Even if u don't understand Making u must understand the importance of it. - Carmen Farina #makeEDU pic.twitter.com/HjQPBPCEaD— Lisa Nielsen (@InnovativeEdu) September 25, 2015 Check out the rest below.I want more »