Thursday, May 27, 2010

100 Inspiring Ways to Use Social Media In the Classroom

I found this link on Free Technology for Teachers that I wanted to share with you. 100 Inspiring Ways to Use Social Media In the Classroom has some great information on how to incorporate social media into your classroom activites. What I really like about the list is that it is more than just a list as it gives links to real examples that are provided by educators.

The section on "Preparing for Employment" is something I think your new graduates or next year's graduates should take advantage of. Thanks to Online Universities for the great ideas!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Manners, Politeness, and the "Horse People"

As I travel around my state or around the country, I wonder where has customer service gone? Is it a thing of the past? Is it a shift in society where people are just concerned with themselves (hint: Selfishness)? Didn't our parents teach us these things when we were young?  Am I the only one left who values these traits in an individual?

It is a rare instance when I'm cheerfully greeted by a sales clerk, had my change counted back correctly, and thanked for my business. My favorite sales clerk is the one that just looks at you and waits for you to speak, takes your order without repeating it back and then dumps your change in your hand. I typically smile at them and say thank you when I receive my order because I sooo want to ruin their day. I might get an "Uh huh" response if I'm lucky and they go back to sleep standing on their feet with there eyes open. These are the customer service reps that I refer to as the "Horse People" because they are obviously sleeping on their feet. I mean no offense to horses as they are incredible creatures, but most of these people could never run one and a quarter miles in two minutes (nor I or Usain Bolt) or twenty minutes for that matter, but this is just a mere reference to the great quality that horses have to be able to sleep while standing up.

Another one of my personal favorites is when I'm running late to catch a flight and people are standing on the left side of the moving walkway? I smile, say "Excuse me please." and they just look at me like I'm a freak and never budge. I finally get to my aisle seat on the airplane and the person that was assigned to the center seat is in my spot, "Just in case I didn't show up." I won't tell you the actual thoughts running through my head, but where are the manners, decency, and respect?

I know we live in a rushed society where we are always "connected" to the world, but as I see successful businesses and educational entities, there is a major commitment to customer service and interpersonal communication. These traits must be demanded from employees and students alike. Try it for several weeks and see if your business increases or if your classroom environment changes. One of my favorite and most popular college professors was also the most polite and gracious. It was an environment where a lot of learning took place, but we were individually thanked for our efforts and ideas, and for our commitment to learning. I have to admit that you wanted to learn, for many obvious reasons, but also not to disappoint the professor. I wanted his respect as well!

I did want to give a big thank you to Chick-fil-A restaurants for demonstrating that customer service isn't a totally lost trait!  Recently visited three different locations in three cities and the customer service was excellent!  What's going on with the training program at Chick-fil-A???  J.T.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

SLEEDO - Feed the Poor With Every Search You Make

I'm sure most of you have played the "Free Rice" game that tests your knowledge in 13 subject areas.  For each correct answer, 10 grains of rice will be donated to the World Food Programme to help end hunger.

If you like the thought of playing a game to end world hunger, then you'll really like SLEEDO!

SLEEDO is a search engine powered by Google and they will donate 10 grains of rice to the World Food Programme for every search that you make.  It's as simple as that!  They make money off of their sponsors and Google and then donate their proceeds to help end hunger.

Try SLEEDO out and donate rice at the same time.  If you really like it, make it your homepage or bookmark it for future searches.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Anatomy and Physiology - Another Great Product from MAVCC

MAVCC is pleased to announce that Anatomy and Physiology, 2nd edition (2010), will be available this summer!!

The second edition covers the organization of the human body, biochemistry and microbiology, infection, immunology, and sanitation, tissues, membranes, and wound healing, as well as all of the major body systems.

The Student Edition includes two spiral-bound Student Guides — Section A: Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology and Section B: Major Body Systems and a Student CD.

The Student Guides contain the modules of instruction, consisting of learning activities sheets, objective sheets, information sheets and student supplements.

The Student CD contains the student workbook with interactive assignment sheets that allow students to complete and print, or complete, save and submit assignments via e-mail to instructor and an interactive student review for each module of instruction.

The Teacher Edition CD includes, among other valuable components, a Crosswalk to AST Core Curriculum, instructional/task analysis, basic skills matrix, PowerPoint presentations with color illustrations for each module, suggested activities and crossword puzzles, as well as customizable module reviews and answers, written tests and answers and learning activities sheets.

Anatomy and Physiology is a competency-based integrated curriculum; the contents of MAVCC’s instructional materials are tied to measurable and observable learning outcomes that align with the AST Core Curriculum. These materials are structured so that instructors and students have a clear understanding of what will be covered and how students will be evaluated as they move through each module of instruction.

For more information about this publication, visit the MAVCC online catalog, or contact their customer service department at 1-800-654-3988, or e-mail Cheryl Dorris at cdorr@okcareertech.org.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Social Media Revolution 2

Here is a "refreshed" version of a post I made last February.  Erik Qualman has updated the video with new statistics and new graphics. There is no doubt that social media has influenced our lives by changing the way we interact with people and the way we conduct business.

Also check out Erik's blog, Socialnomics, and another of his videos entitled, Social Media ROI.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

A New Trend? Minnesota Legislates Against Subversion Of Exams

Minnesota has created a new law that establishes thirteen examples of what constitutes "examination subversion practice". As tests gain in importance (and cost) and incidences of cheating continue to rise, I hope that more states will follow this example and protect the testing industry.

These thirteen examples are aligned with Eric Shepherd's article on the Oversight, Monitoring and Deliver of Higher Stakes Assessments Safely and Securely and include copying the answers of another candidate, paying someone to take an examination in another name, and selling any, or all, of an examination. (Thanks to Eric Shepherd, CEO of Questionmark for this information).

You can see the legislation form the source at: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S1494.1.html&session=ls86

And here is the text for quick reference from S.F. No. 1494, 1st Engrossment – 86th Legislative Session (2009-2010) Posted on Apr 02, 2009

 A bill for an act relating to examinations; prohibiting certain practices in preparation for a licensing or certifying examination; establishing civil liability and remedies; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 604.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. [604.19] SUBVERSION OF EXAMINATION.

(a) A person engages in examination subversion practice when, with respect to a licensing or certifying examination, the person:

(1) removes from the examination room any examination materials without specific authorization;

(2) without authorization, discloses, publishes, transmits, or reconstructs by any means, including but not limited to memorization, any portion of the examination;

(3) pays or uses professional or paid examination takers for the purpose of reconstructing any portion of the examination;

(4) without authorization, obtains examination questions, answers, or materials, whether requested or not, either before, during, or after an examination;

(5) uses or purports to use any examination questions, answers, or materials that were improperly obtained from any examination for the purpose of instructing or preparing an applicant for examination;

(6) sells or offers to sell, distributes or offers to distribute, buys or offers to buy, or receives or possesses without authorization any portion of a future, current, or previously administered examination;

(7) communicates with any other person during the administration of an examination for the purpose of giving or receiving any unauthorized aid;

(8) copies answers from another examinee or permits the person’s own answers to be copied by another examinee;

(9) possesses during the administration of the examination any books, equipment, notes, written or printed materials, or data of any kind, other than the examination materials distributed and materials otherwise specifically authorized to be possessed during the examination;

(10) takes an examination using the identity of another person or has another person take an examination using a false identity;

(11) engages in any other conduct that violates the security of the examination materials;

(12) attempts to engage in any act listed in this paragraph; or

(13) aids or abets another person to engage in any act listed in this paragraph.

(b) Any person damaged or likely to be damaged by an examination subversion practice may seek injunctive relief in district court and recovery of damages caused by the practice.

(c) The remedies provided in this subdivision are in addition to any other remedy or penalty that may be available for the same conduct as permitted by law.

Thank again to Eric Shepherd and Questionmark for sharing the news and keeping us aware of the latest testing news!  J.T.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

New Study Reveals Professors Use Social Media

I just received a link to the following study by June Weiss at SREB and wanted to share it with you:

Sociable Professors
Just how "sociable" are college professors? A recent survey, conducted by the Babson Survey Research Group in collaboration with New Marketing Labs and Pearson, finds college faculty are increasingly using social media in their instruction.

More than 80 percent of college faculty are using social media, with more than half using these tools as part of their teaching, according to the survey, "Social Media in Higher Education." The study also states, that most faculty respondents (59%) have more than one social network account; nearly 25 percent have accounts on four or more social networks.

Click here to read the rest of the study.

To view a presentation of the results of the Pearson Social Media in Higher Education Survey, visit: http://www.slideshare.net/PearsonLearningSolutions/pearson-socialmediasurvey2010.

This makes me wonder if any studies have been done that reveal how "social" common education and/or career and technology education is? Does anyone know???  J.T.

Monday, May 3, 2010

100 Best YouTube Videos for Teachers

I found a great post today on the SmartTeaching.org blog that I wanted to share with you. These 100 YouTube links have a brief description and are divided into the following categories: History, Science, Language, Arts, Inspiration, Classroom Management, How-Tos and Guides, Technology, and Humor.

I think there is some great supplementary information for you and a few good laughs as well!

This is also a great way to include the use of technology in your classroom! J.T.
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