Twiducate.com and Edmodo.com

I recently attended a webinar sponsored by Google presenting many of the tools that are out there for educators. They did emphasize the fact of the growing abuse of social media sites this is why the stated that Twiducate.com and Edmodo.com are two sites where you can build a secure learning area.

Twiducate.com allows you to create an online community for your classroom. They do emphasize the safety factor about social media sites, but in this form teachers are in control of the site. Using this in the classroom creates student engagement. Also, when you have 30+ students in a classroom and you are trying to get everyone to participate, this may be an alternative to track the participation.

Edmodo.com - the interface looks like Facebook, but it is not. One thing cool about this one is students can submit assignments and you can look at the grade book for the status. This allows teachers to track, but also grade items submitted.

Both are FREE and have different features. If I had to select one, I would probably use the Edmodo.com just because of the grading feature. You could look at this as a means of safe and controlled social media for learning.

5 months and still going

It has been 5 months and still going at KS. It has been very interesting. It has been nice having less responsibilities, but I think I miss some of the over arching things that drive a program or decision-making.

I do know that my cobweb rusty technology skills have reinvigorated themselves. I remember what it was like teaching web design and now having to do it since being out of the classroom the past few years is an awakening.

I am trying to figure out my purpose being at KSDL and what can I contribute to individuals there as well as the programs - goals and initiatives. I have come to some conclusions, but I think I will wait till I post that up here and observe a little more.

The team is dynamic. It's nice to be working with a group of "mutants" as a former Tokioka award winning DOE principal once called me and some of my friends. It is rare to find a group that you can mesh with and push forward the bar even when you achieve it and start to exceed it.

I am remembering to keep an open mind, be humble, and observant. These are the areas that I would like to use to learn about where I fit in the mix and what I can bring to the table with my prior experiences and knowledge. But, also what can I learn and gain.