This week, I had some words via Twitter with Wake County Public Schools for making decisions about policies that affect students without bringing students into the conversation in a respectful way. Students were upset when they learned Snapchat was blocked and they took their concerns to Twitter..@randixmartinez If your phone is put away, why would you care if snapchat is blocked? #logic— Wake County Schools (@WCPSS) September 21, 2015 @WCPSS blocking snapchat just makes me dread school even more, congrats now students are even more miserable— randi (@randixmartinez) September 21, 2015@WCPSS @AnnaOlson68 Thank God I graduated. I hated school because of policies like this. And I think that's why most kids hate school— Mike (MaGzz) (@zvoidteam) September 21, 2015I chimed in, sharing a Tweet that received a lot of Twitter attention making more than 5000 impressions.  I asked this: If Snapchat is more engaging than school, schools shd work on being more engaging cc @randixmartinez #StuVoice https://t.co/aCoO5r4Sv5— Lisa Nielsen (@InnovativeEdu) September 24, 2015 Students started a petition that current has about 150 signatures asking their school to lift the ban.  On the petition students explain some ways they are using Snapchat for learning:"Not only does Snapchat help us communicate with each other in and out of class, it helps quickly relay information between students for help on work. Just because there aren't school-related accounts on it, it's still a very useful tool and should not be blocked.""There is no service at my school so those without iMessage cannot communicate with the outside world. Many use snapchat as a way to give information and updates throughout the day BRING IT BACK."Teachers also chimed in sharing smart ways for using Snapchat.  For example Nikki Robertson explained Snapchat is used on the daily to tell stories of what is going on in her library.  The most important point, however, probably came when I attended the Maker Faire Education Forum a few days later. Nancy Otero, known for her work with digital fabrication and project based learning was on a panel about "Making in Schools."  An audience member asked if making could compete with social media in schools.  I tweeted her response.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, 2015And this is what it comes down to. When we stop banning and competing with social media and start listening to our students, we can figure out ways to integrate this powerful platform into learning in ways that help students communicate and connect with the world and each other.  And, you know what? It looks like all this "taking it to social media" may have worked. On Friday, the student who made this story news, Tweeted this: DID THEY ACTUALLY UNBLOCK SC?!? I DID SOMETHING SUCCESSFUL IN MY LIFE— randi (@randixmartinez) September 25, 2015If this is correct, then HT to @WCPSS for hearing school voice. Hearing and adjusting is good. Inviting students to the table to have a voice in the policies and guidelines that affect them is even better. Update....Misunderstanding.  Student voice dismissed. Snapchat remains unblocked. @InnovativeEdu @Snapchat Thanks for the blog post and for your perspective. We did not unblock Snapchat. 😁— Wake County Schools (@WCPSS) September 28, 2015

If you want to know what it means to learn, you must visit a Maker Faire. There you'll find passionate teachers and parents whose students and children are making anything they can imagine. These are kids who can learn without being "tricked" as we sometimes hear adults say when talking about young people. They are making, doing, and learning in meaningful ways because they want to. Here are three lessons I learned from talking with young makers.1) If You Like Playing Games, You Might Like Making Games.I had the pleasure of meeting some of the young makers who not only play games, they make them. These young students came up with the ideas and concepts and were supported by parents, teachers, and mentors.   I want more »

Guest post by Lori Stahl-Van BrackleI love Maker Faire! My car is covered in Maker Faire bumper stickers. The door to my computer lab is covered in Maker Faire postcards. I run Maker Camp over the summer in anticipation of Maker Faire. It is the weekend I look most forward to in the first month of the school year. You can find me at Maker Faire from open to close, both days, and I give Maker Faire as homework for all my students.I should explain the homework assignment a little though. My school is located in Rego Park. We are exactly one mile for the NY Hall of Science, where the World Maker Faire is held. My students come from the surrounding area, Corona, Rego Park, Lefrak City, and Forest Hills. We have one of the most diverse populations in THE most diverse city in the world. That diversity includes over 40% low income students, 50+ different languages spoken, every continent represented in our student body, and every religion practiced. The diversity of my school is even more impressive when you take in the harmonious way our students, many of whom English is a second language, interact with each other.My students have been attending World Maker Faire since the first one was held in 2010. Back then kids could get tickets for free through organizations such as MOUSE Squad. MOUSE Squad still offers students who are part of the program free tickets, but it’s become harder and harder to find free tickets for other students.The price of tickets has risen as I’m sure, the cost of putting on the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth has risen. The faire started out in the parking lot of NY Sci and now takes over six fields. I’m not sure what the numbers were this year, but last year, when the Pope wasn’t in town, there were over 75,000 visitors each day. Among those were some of my over 300 students who had to find me and shout out "Halsey in the House!" to get extra credit.This year I was inspired by Miss Piggy and decided to add to the extra credit assignment; students could take selfies with me. You can see some of them below.Last year I saw more than 80 of my students over the course of the two days at faire. This year I saw about 30. When I asked my students who didn’t attend why they did not, the reason was disheartening:I want more »

Guest post by Jackie PatanioI never thought of myself as a maker... until this weekend. I participated in my first Education Forum and Maker Faire with my son, a mini maker in the works. Educators, kickstarters, & supporters were all at the forefront of the amazing maker movement. While there I was inspired to contemplate my passions and consider how I could make in my own life. I want more »

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog.Taking the lead for another week is a new, free tool called Class Story which can be used to strengthen the home-school connection from Class Dojo. Next up was an overview of the new Google for Ed Certification Exams.  Rounding out third place were ideas to welcome parents, students, and the community into your school. I'm thrilled that post was the inspiration for last week's #Sunchat. There are a few more posts to round out the top including one that explains a learning model with no tests, teachers, or curriculum and an oldy about why we should allow students to use cell phones for learning.  I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. Share it with your networks. If you're inspired, leave a comment.   Entry Pageviews Class Story (an Instagram for Parents) Helps Stren...Sep 6, 2015,  5050 Google for Education Certification and ExamsSep 9, 2015,  4911 6 Updates to Welcome Your School Community + Prepa...Sep 13, 2015,  3474 A Learning Model with No Tests, Teachers, or Curri...Sep 15, 2015,  3160 5 Reasons to Allow Students to Use Cell Phones in ...Jul 8, 2012,  3036 Winner! The 3 #BackToSchool Supplies Necessary to ...Aug 30, 2015,  2098 10 Tips + 10 Resources that Use Tech to Keep Wande...Sep 2, 2015,  2073 Tools, Practices, + Structures, to Guide Self-Dire...Sep 20, 2015,  2034

I took four years of Spanish during my school years, though you wouldn’t know it if you tried having a conversation with me in Spanish. My experience is not unusual. The way language is typically taught in the United States often does not result with language acquistion at the end. I wonder if things would have been different if I was a student today in a time when technology provides such terrific ways to learn languages. Here are five free digital resources, that can support modern learners in language acquisition.1) DuolingoHas become a popular app to support the learning of another language. It’s gamification elements make it both fun and addictive. You can earn points for correct answers, race against the clock, and level up. The bite-sized lessons are effective and here is proof that it works. More than 100,000 classrooms are using Duolingo. Teachers can easily track their students’ progress, run in-class activities and assign homework. Here is the "How to use Duolingo in class: the guide."I want more »

Finally! The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated their stance on screentime.  The new guidelines are better than the previously outdated ones which I critique here, here, and here, but there is still room for improvement. They continue to miss mark when it comes to the power of screens to make global connections, build learning networks, and bring people closer together. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)Here are some counter-points to consider. Don’t Set LimitsThe AAP suggests parents should set limits. While that might seem like good advice, it does little to empower young people to think about making good decisions for themselves. Rather than setting limits, talk to kids about what they care about and want to accomplish and help them figure out the best ways to do that. Attentive Parenting Might Involve ScreensThe AAP says attentive parenting requires face time away from screens. What it really means is that parents need to spend time with their kids. That might very well involve screens. Maybe you read a book aloud from a screen. Perhaps you recreate a building in Minecraft together. Perhaps you are a parent that travels and you facetime with your child (via a screen). Time away from screens is not the answer. Time being attentive to your child in their worlds with or away from screens is what is important. I want more »

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog.Holding the lead for the past month is a, free tool called Class Story which can be used to strengthen the home-school connection from Class Dojo. Next up was an overview of the new Google for Ed Certification Exams.  Rounding out third place were ideas to welcome parents, students, and the community into your school. There are a few newer posts to round out the top including one that explains a learning model with no tests, teachers, or curriculum and another that explains why it's important that we stop competing with social media and start integrating it.  I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. Share it with your networks. If you're inspired, leave a comment.   Entry Pageviews Class Story (an Instagram for Parents) Helps Stren...Sep 6, 2015,  5050 Google for Education Certification and ExamsSep 9, 2015,  4924 6 Updates to Welcome Your School Community + Prepa...Sep 13, 2015,  3487 A Learning Model with No Tests, Teachers, or Curri...Sep 15, 2015,  3352 Don't Compete with Social Media. Integrate It!Sep 27, 2015,  3123 Tools, Practices, + Structures, to Guide Self-Dire...Sep 20, 2015,  2753 10 Tips + 10 Resources that Use Tech to Keep Wande...Sep 2, 2015,  2362 My Makeaways from #makeEDU #makerED #MakerFaireSep 26, 2015,  1921

As more and more schools make the decision to embrace student-owned devices for learning, it's important that they incorporate strategies for success. Lifting the ban on devices and inviting them into the school is a start, but it is also important to put building blocks for success in place. To follow are the seven building blocks you should put in place to ensure you attain success.7 #BYOD Building Blocks for SuccessStart with pioneers - Incorporating cell phones and other student devices into learning works best when teachers are on board. Find out if you have teachers in your building who want to pilot this work in your school.  Let them set the stage and support others when they are ready.  I want more »

Photo Credit: 10 Practices for Connected StudentsCORWIN connect...Kids these days. They don't know how to speak face-to-face anymore.  All they do is spend their days, heads glued to cell phones -- texting. They need to learn how to communicate in the real world. Adults who share these sentiments are missing the fact that digital communication is real. Kids aren't texting fake people. They're communicating with real-world friends in their real digital worlds.  The problem is that, even though they know should be ensuring their children are using digital resources effectively, few adults feel prepared to do that. Given that, is it any wonder that on exposés such as #BeingThirteen / #Being13, young people are engaging in unsavory behavior?  It's not that social media is causing teens to act in inappropriate ways, it simply brings their actions to light and magnifies what they are doing.  The knee-jerk reaction of some adults is to require teens to abstain from using social media for short or long periods of time, when instead they should #HaveTheTalk. Social media has no intent. It is a tool and while it can be used for socially inappropriate behavior, it can also be used for social good, social justice, social learning, and in other positive ways. The role of adults in the lives of young people is to support them in engaging safely, responsibly and effectively, regardless of the medium in which they are communicating.  These ten practices shared by CORWIN connect as part of Connected Educator month are a good start.  I want more »

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog.Class Story continues to hold the lead as the hottest post.  Class Story is a new free tool which can be used to strengthen the home-school connection from Class Dojo. Next up is a post that addresses an important issue. Educators need to stop competing with social media and start integrating it.  Rounding out third place is a post about my takeaways from the World Maker Faire.There are a few more posts to round out the top including one that explains a learning model with no tests, teachers, or curriculum and ideas for making your school more welcoming to the community.  I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. Share it with your networks. If you're inspired, leave a comment.  Entry Pageviews Class Story (an Instagram for Parents) Helps Stren...Sep 6, 2015,  5054 Don't Compete with Social Media. Integrate It!Sep 27, 2015,  4451 My Makeaways from #makeEDU #makerED #MakerFaireSep 26, 2015,  4255 6 Updates to Welcome Your School Community + Prepa...Sep 13, 2015,  3508 A Learning Model with No Tests, Teachers, or Curri...Sep 15, 2015,  3148 Tools, Practices, + Structures, to Guide Self-Dire...Sep 20, 2015,  2127

Most people think of social media as a distraction during face-to-face gatherings. But can it be used to enhance face-to-face experiences?  Yes!Whether you have a group going on a trip to a museum, a fair, a conference, or a show, there are ways you can use social media to deepen the event experience and also build relationships of those attending the event. The Maker Faire Education Forum where I implemented these ideas.Here’s how.I want more »

It's not uncommon to hear adults complain about kids and their online activity, yet often parents and teachers don’t spend time supporting young people in becoming responsible digital citizens.I want more »

Today marks the conclusion of another terrific live event hosted by Tech & Learning magazine. From the keynote to the breakout sessions, this year was marked by more opportunities for engagement among participants. One person put it this way: It was great not to be "talked at" by experts but rather have the opportunity to "talk with" experts and other attendees.  The day was more about conversations than about having knowledge imparted onto the attendees. The approached worked well. It seemed participants had more of an opportunity to make meaning and build relationships. Karen Blumberg kicked off the day with a keynote that provided a conversational climate. She posed questions to the audience that enabled attendees to get to know each other and see the expertise in the room. The keynote entitled, "Our PLNs, Ourselves" was a play on her childhood favorite "Our Bodies, Ourselves." The book advised women to claim their sexuality for their own pleasure. Blumberg's talk advised listeners to claim their professional learning networks (PLNs) for their own learning and to share that learning with others.  She asked the audience to think about who has influenced them and how they could positively influence others. "Don't just be a sponge soaking up knowledge from others," she advised. "Also, think about how you can contribute to learning for others."The breakout sessions consisted of a few influencers in various areas who introduced themselves, then had a dialogue with those who choose their session.  Our session was, "You've got devices. Now what?" Once each of the three panelists gave a brief background, the audience and panelists engaged in a dialogue.  After the session, a participant shared this with me. In two minutes, you answered my one question in a way that will transform and inform how we spend our districts multi-million dollar smart bond grant.  I shared 3 lessons learned from tech deployments:I want more »

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog. A new post takes the lead this week sharing a learning model with no tests, teachers, or curriculum. Interested, check it out to see how young people thrive in such an environment. Next up is an article that shares five free tools for those trying to learn a new language. There are a few more posts to round out the top including one that addresses how to support self-directed learning and another that explains some ways to make a school more inviting to the community. 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.EntryPageviewsA Learning Model with No Tests, Teachers, or Curri...Sep 15, 2015, 31935 Free Digital Resources For #ELL #ESL #TESOL Stud...Oct 4, 2015, 2149Tools, Practices, + Structures, to Guide Self-Dire...Sep 20, 2015, 21366 Updates to Welcome Your School Community + Prepa...Sep 13, 2015, 20177 #BYOD Building Blocks for SuccessOct 11, 2015, 1495Don't Compete with Social Media. Integrate It!Sep 27, 2015, 1429My Makeaways from #makeEDU #makerED #MakerFaireSep 26, 2015, 1297

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog. A new post takes the lead this week outlining how to succeed when students are empowered to use their own devices. Next up is an article that shares five free tools for those trying to learn a new language. There are a few more posts to round out the top including one that addresses how to integrate social media into learning. 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.EntryPageviews7 #BYOD Building Blocks for SuccessOct 11, 2015, 23215 Free Digital Resources For #ELL #ESL #TESOL Stud...Oct 4, 2015, 2171Don't Compete with Social Media. Integrate It!Sep 27, 2015, 1529My Makeaways from #makeEDU #makerED #MakerFaireSep 26, 2015, 1276Ideas for Using Social Media to Improve Live Events...Oct 18, 2015, 127010 Tips For Teens Using Social Media #HavetheTalk ...Oct 13, 2015, 1131New Screentime Recommendations from the American A...Oct 6, 2015, 998

There were lots of cool tools introduced at Tech + Learning Live "Cool Tool Duel" this week. The format was really fun. Here is the description:During this lightning-paced smackdown, presenters will make their cases for apps, add-ons, and other edtech tools while the audience votes on their favorites. Who will be left standing at the end of this battle? Participants voted for their favorite tools while presenters made a case to explain why what they presented was the best.  This is a terrific professional development format that schools can use to highlight innovative educators and the tools they use.  Here are the four free, platform-agnostic tools shared that I've never-used but plan to investigate.I want more »

There are several quality free programs available for schools. Part of my work is helping teachers use platforms such as the ones below in the classroom. The challenge is that these programs are a change from conventional teaching and learning. The problem for teachers is that some administrators do not know how to evaluate a teacher whose students are learning in such an environment. Regardless, teachers must be armed with the knowledge of how to prepare for such evaluations. ABC Mouse Skoolbo MovieStar Planet Duolingo Code.org  Google CS First Common Sense Education Interactives Digital Compass  Digital Passport   Digital Bytes  I want more »

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog.Holding the lead for another week is a post from my book Teaching Generation Text. This post outlines the building blocks for BYOD success. Next up is an article that shares five free tools for those trying to learn a new language.Some of the other posts that round out the top include one that looks at 4 edtech tools I discovered at the #TLTechLive event as well as one that looks at using social media to improve events.  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 7 #BYOD Building Blocks for SuccessOct 11, 2015, 3335 5 Free Digital Resources For #ELL #ESL #TESOL Stud...Oct 4, 2015,  3262 4 #EdTech Tools I've Never Used Before The #TLTech...Oct 25, 2015,  3235 Ideas for Using Social Media to Improve Live Event...Oct 18, 2015, 2296 10 Tips For Teens Using Social Media #HavetheTalk ...Oct 13, 2015,  2127 New Screentime Recommendations from the American A...Oct 6, 2015,  1903

If you’re involved in an education movement or engage in pioneering practices, you have noticed not everyone agrees with your views. Effective movers and shakers welcome a challenge. They are ready to take on the discourse that comes from sharing their ideas with a global audience. They understand that inspiring peers and change requires a thick skin. There is a difference however between respectful discourse and those who use their voice and reputation to intimidate and belittle others. Unfortunately, it is not unusual to have a bully who derails conversations and brings the movement off track with personal attacks as well as damaging and demeaning engagements.   Recently, a friend grappled with the issue of online bullying with members of her learning network which included people with many perspectives including those impacted by such behavior. Overwhelmingly, their advice was this:I want more »

Historically, most people didn’t have much awareness of what was happening in other countries beyond what they read or heard in the media.  Of course there is more to a country than what we learn from secondhand sources, but until recently, there have been few ways to access this information.  Vibe Israel (@vibeisrael), founded by Joanna Landau, is an a-political nonprofit organization based in Tel Aviv, has a plan to change that. They want the world to know there’s more to Israel than news related to the conflict in the Middle East. Their strategy is to use social media to share what Israel has to offer. They do this by inviting five influencers in specified areas (i.e. art, wellness, fashion, social entrepreneurship, sustainability) to visit the country and share what they learn with their followers. This enables citizens, with no political or corporate agenda, who have various areas of expertise, to tell stories to their followers.I’m excited to have been selected as one of five, global education influencers to visit Israel this December and share what the country has to offer in the area of "education." What should I focus on when I’m there to bring back to those in my learning network?  Here are some questions I’m interested in exploring:I want more »

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog.Holding strong for another week are two posts. One is from my book Teaching Generation Text. This post outlines the building blocks for BYOD success. Next is an article that shares five free tools for those trying to learn a new language. There are a few more posts to round out the top including one that includes a lively debate on the pros and cons of attending school and another that explains how to effectively use social media at events. 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 7 #BYOD Building Blocks for SuccessOct 11, 2015,  3316 5 Free Digital Resources For #ELL #ESL #TESOL Stud...Oct 4, 2015,  3156 4 #EdTech Tools I've Never Used Before The #TLTech...Oct 25, 2015,  2578 Some good reasons to go to schoolApr 11, 2011,  2356 Ideas for Using Social Media to Improve Live Event...Oct 18, 2015,  2276 10 Tips For Teens Using Social Media #HavetheTalk ...Oct 13, 2015,  1926 How Tech Using Teachers Can #HavetheTalk with Admi...Oct 28, 2015,  1729

You’ve probably seen the headlines following the Common Sense Census: Media Use by Tweens and Teens. Adults seemed shocked that teens spend 9 hours and tweens 6 hours a day with media. Knee-jerk reactions include a call for a shutdown switch for devices after a set time. No media in bedrooms. No technology while doing homework. Now take a breath. I want more »

There are lots of reasons to put together lists of reading and resources. Maybe students are keeping track of their readings for the year. Maybe you have put together a collection of readings and resources for students about a particular area of study. Perhaps students are putting together a list of resources.  Whatever the case may be, rather than putting together a list of links, students and teachers can go a more visually pleasing route with Padlet. The Padlet below is a collection of resources I put together to share with a colleague about some of my favorite writings on using tech in the classroom.  Rather than a bunch of urls, Padlet lets you package them attractively. Created with PadletWhat are some ideas you have for using Padlet as an alternative to link lists?