What is Geography? - Learn to Teach with National Geographic

Ask yourself "What is Geography" and then check your answers with the interactive game on National Geographic site:

What is Geography? - National Geographic Education:

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Geography Awareness Week - National Geographic Education

It is interesting that I am getting the technology integration information on the topics that we discuss in my Methods of social studies class right when I need it!

We started exploring the ways of engaging students in learning about the Earth and environment through geography.
Here you are National Geographic announced a week of November 11-17 a Global Geography Awareness  Week! Besides reading about teaching geography from our course textbook, my teacher candidates can see what other teachers from all over the world do in their geography classrooms.

Geography Awareness Week - National Geographic Education:

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Project-Based Learning: Resources for Parents | Edutopia

A wonderful post on Edutopia about engaging parents in the life of their children and in the school community! Working with parents is one of the weakest aspects in the college teacher-training. Teacher candidates need to be exposed to these topics more often in the courses and in the fieldwork placements.

Project-Based Learning: Resources for Parents | Edutopia

What To Do If Your School Bans Useful Websites | MindShift

Very often I hear from my students, teacher candidates, that in the schools where they have their fieldwork or student teacher experience some websites are blocked. Most often, YouTube. On October 3 was a Banned Websites Awareness Day. Belo is the Mind Shift blog post about what to do if some useful educational websites are banned by school.

Out task nowadays is to teach students to be responsible global citizens, learn to differentiate valid from poor taste or not accurate websites.  Beginning teacher need to be open-minded to the change in social networking and technology integration in their classrooms. This websites gives good pieces of advice how to go about the issue.

What To Do If Your School Bans Useful Websites | MindShift:

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History Engine: Tools for Collaborative Education and Research | Explore

Wow, a new historical site and tool, History Engine!

Today's teachers are empowered with so many reliable tools to use in their Social Studies classrooms to make their lesson authentic and global. This new tool allows students to explore the history of the American life using the timeline and the stories created by other students. I think it is very powerful!
Here is a Teacher Guide to learn how to use this interactive tool.

History Engine: Tools for Collaborative Education and Research | Explore:

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1940 U.S. Census Release | Federal Census Data

A great site for the Social Studies methods class to travel through times and places and learn about the history and view the interactive data (infographics) of the American Family. Check it out!

1940 U.S. Census Release | Federal Census Data:

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Shocking News! PC Sales Slump As Kids Say No to Computers | Wired Business | Wired.com

Shocking but expected news! PC are not as popular nowadays in comparison with MAC computers, iPads, etc. Kids dictate the consumer market...

PC Sales Slump As Kids Say No to Computers | Wired Business | Wired.com:

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It Is Not About the Gadgets - Why Every Teacher Should Have to Integrate Tech Into Their Classroom

An interesting view on the integration of technology in teaching.  I wold like to discuss these points with my Teaching with Technology class.

It Is Not About the Gadgets - Why Every Teacher Should Have to Integrate Tech Into Their Classroom:

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Triptico - A Tool for Imaginative, Innovative Teachers

Triptico's desktop app contains over twenty interactive, fully-customisable resources for you to use in your classroom... and it's completely free!

I checked it out an found this site helpful for designing interactive lessons, using all suggested  tools with the Smart Board.
I am excited to try it out in my class. I will report later how it will go.

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History Education in a World of Information Surplus | Democratizing Knowledge

The TED was created to promote innovation, technology, development. Ideas worth spreading is a true inspirational slogan of the TED community. The most interesting, forward thinking people are invited to present 20 min talks on the hot topics of today's changing word.
This presentation of the Social Studies teacher, Diana Laufenberg, reflects my views on teaching and learning:




History Education in a World of Information Surplus | Democratizing Knowledge:

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32 Interesting Ways to Use Wallwisher in the Classroom

From my favorite series of gdocs presentations:

32 Interesting Ways to Use Wallwisher in the Classroom