Make the painless transition from low tech to tech friendly! Are you struggling to embrace technology that advances at lightning speed? Or are you just plain perplexed? With new developments announced almost on a daily basis, many teachers don′t know where to start. If you′re one of those teachers making the transition to tech—willingly or not—Cool Tech Tools for Lower Tech Teachers is the resource for you. In understandable language, it describes how exactly you can use tools like webquests, wikis, social networking apps, and podcasts to enhance your lessons and keep kids engaged. William Bender and Laura Waller put technology within your reach by: Framing each tool in the context of what you need to know Defining the tool in easy-to-understand language; there′s no tech-speak Guiding you through implementation step by step Providing sample lesson plans to get you started Explaining how some tools can also be used for professional development With Cool Tech Tools for Lower Tech Teachers, Bender and Waller prove that technology can be painless and productive. What′s more, you′ll even come to love it! "This book provides a wealth of ideas for teachers who would like to use technology but do not know where to begin. Each chapter provides a lens into specific categories of use and associated websites." —Bena Kallick, Educational Consultant "This book is an excellent resource for both new and experienced educators looking to make the most of Web 2.0 resources for teaching and learning. It can be used individually, but I think it would be most beneficial (and fun!) to use in small groups of educators as they support and surprise one another with their explorations and discoveries." —Chris Toy, Educational Consultant, Learning Capacity Unlimited Graduate School Instructor, University of Southern Maine

Are you struggling to embrace technology that advances at lightning speed? Or are you just plain perplexed? With new developments announced almost on a daily basis, many teachers do not know where to start. In understandable language, this book describes how exactly you can use tools like webquests, wikis, social networking apps, and podcasts to enhance your lessons and keep kids engaged

This practical, how-to guide makes it easy for teachers to incorporate the latest technology in their classes. Employing an informal workshop approach, the book avoids technical jargon and pays special attention to the needs of teachers who are expanding the use of computers in their classrooms. The authors focus on what teachers do and how they can do it better, and provide a wide variety of proven tools, tips, and methods for enhancing these activities with technology."Best Ideas for Teaching with Technology" provides extensively illustrated tutorials for a wide variety of software, online tools, and teaching techniques. It covers everything from lesson plans, to time management, how to show animation, blogging, podcasts, laptop strategies, and much, much more. In addition, periodic updates to the text will be available on the authors' website.

Textbooks are symbols of centuries-old education. They're often outdated as soon as they hit students' desks. Acting "by the textbook" implies compliance and a lack of creativity. It's time to ditch those textbooks--and those textbook assumptions about learning In Ditch That Textbook, teacher and blogger Matt Miller encourages educators to throw out meaningless, pedestrian teaching and learning practices. He empowers them to evolve and improve on old, standard, teaching methods. Ditch That Textbook is a support system, toolbox, and manifesto to help educators free their teaching and revolutionize their classrooms.

Instructors are under pressure to integrate technology into their traditional or online instruction, but often they aren't sure what to do or why they should do it. The Technology Toolbelt for Teaching offers instructors a down-to-earth guide to common technologies, explains the pedagogical purposes they serve, and shows how they can be used effectively in online or face-to-face classrooms. Designed to be easy to use, the book includes a decision-making matrix for each technology tool: a series of questions that teachers can use to decide whether these tools support their teaching goals. This comprehensive resource contains an array of useful tools that address problems of organization such as a time management calendar, aids for scheduling meetings, and mind-mapping or graphic organizers. The authors also include a variety of online tools for communication and collaboration, and tools to present content, help establish presence, and assess learning. Praise for The Technology Toolbelt for Teaching "Feeling overwhelmed and even afraid of integrating technology into your course? Fear no more! Susan Manning and Kevin Johnson have provided the ultimate guide that explains not only the various technology tools that can support faculty work and enhance coursework but also provides sound advice to help faculty choose the right tool for the job. This is a must-read for all faculty regardless of their experience with technology."—Rena M. Palloff and Keith Pratt, managing partners, Crossroads Consulting Group, and authors, Building Online Learning Communities and Collaborating Online "The Technology Toolbelt for Teaching delivers exactly what it promises: a concrete overview of a wide variety of tools, complete with examples specific to practitioners in both K–12 and higher education. Authors Susan Manning and Kevin Johnson provide practical applications rather than philosophy, and solutions rather than platitudes. This is a must for any teacher working with—or wanting to start working with—technology."—Jane Bozarth, author, Social Media for Trainers; eLearning coordinator, State of North Carolina "Creating compelling learning experiences for students is fraught with decision points. Add one or more technology options to the equation, and the number of directions to take learners seems to grow limitlessly, and can either paralyze the instructional design process or cause us to take on too much. Enter The Technology Toolbelt for Teaching. Manning and Johnson's handy guide – and the decision-making matrix that frames each of the tools it demystifies – is an essential resource for choosing paths wisely."—Jonathan Finkelstein, author, Learning in Real Time; founder and executive producer, LearningTimes Includes 50+ fresh and useful technology tools for teaching A decision matrix for choosing and using the right tools Examples for using each tool in higher education and K–12

In this digital age, technology has become a very vital factor of development in all disciplines. Every day new software, devices and other technologies are being developed to improve lives in one way or another. Technology in its broadest terms could include the collection of tools, machinery, devices, modifications, arrangements and procedures used by humans. However, in the context of Educational Technology as presented in this book, it is understood as technologies that have arrived with the Information Revolution i.e. those associated with computers and Information Communication Technology. Examples of such technologies are electronics devices, computer, video, collaborative writing tools, social networking and the Internet. Innovative applications of technology in the classroom mean more than teaching basic computer skills and software programs in the class. It must happen across the disciplines and curriculum in ways that teaching and learning processes can be enhanced. It must also support active engagement, group participation, local and global collaboration, and interaction. This book presents innovative applications of educational technology tools in teaching and learning across various disciplines.