Thursday, June 16, 2011

77 Web Resources for Teachers to Try This Summer

I found another great resource on Richard Byrne's Free Technology for Teachers Blog.
Happy Reading!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

The CareerTech Testing Matrix (The Competency Test Process)

We often get questions about test scores and what they mean so we developed the CareerTech Testing Matrix as a guide to assist you when trying to interpret test scores.

”The Test Score.”

We often focus on just one thing after any test administration and that is the “test score.” A test score is simply a point-in-time reference and this "reference" is comprised of and influenced by a multitude of factors. The Matrix demonstrates many of the factors that influence a test score before a student even enrolls in a training program and we must consider all of these factors when interpreting a test to any student, parent, or faculty member.

"Test Importance"

Are tests important?  Absolutely! This is another area that we, the assessment industry, need to stress to our examinees and stakeholders. Students will take many tests during their academic careers and for a variety of reasons, but they are all important. For example, the online competency tests that are administered by the CareerTech Testing Center are tied to skills standards and the purpose is to determine if a student has acquired the necessary skills, in their chosen field of study, to have success in the workplace, in education, and in life.

We hope you will take the time to look at the CareerTech Testing Matrix and use this information when analyzing test scores. We can't reiterate enough that a test score is ALWAYS more than just a number and that caution should always be used when interpreting test scores.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Did You Know? 4.0

Check out the Shift Happens video from Scott McLeod, Karl Fisch, XPLANE, The Economist, and Laura Bestler.



Take a look at the ShiftHappens wiki for source information and previous video versions.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Cloud Computing 101: Learning the Basics

We have briefly mentioned "cloud computing" in other posts but with all of the buzz abouut Apple's iCloud announcement this week I found an article that helps explain the basics of cloud computing.

The CNBC Special Report: "Cloud Computing 101: Learning the Basics" by Mark Koba, defines what cloud computing is, how it works, and who uses it. Koba also brings up the following differences in opinion concerning the origin of cloud computing:

"Cloud computing is fundamentally new," says Bryan Plug, CEO of Accept Corporation, a management software service company.

"It's an improved way of acquiring business services and is the proverbial 'better, faster, cheaper' way to run many business functions. It's not just a marketing tool," Plug adds.

"The concept of cloud computing is not new," counters Bill Abram, founder and president of Pragmatix, an IT services and technology consulting firm. "In fact, the term 'cloud' is used as a metaphor for the Internet. It's mainly a marketing term."
So which opinion is correct? Read the rest of the article HERE and let us know your thoughts!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Twitter in the Classroom: 5 Twitter Tools for Educators

I found a great post by Angela Seits on the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) Connects Blog that I wanted to share with you.

As the author states:
Do you count yourself among a growing number of educators using Twitter to enhance classroom discussion, or are you considering testing out this platform for educational purposes in the future? You’re certainly not alone; in fact, the use of Twitter in the classroom is gaining traction, and was recently featured in a New York Times article.

If you’re interested in taking your Twitter-use to the next level, check out these tools for managing classroom discussion, creating follower lists, and gathering data about your Twitter discussions. These are just a few of the many tools available to enhance your experience using the standard Twitter platform.
Click HERE to read "5 Twitter Tools for Educators" in it's entirety.

By the way, I would also like to add TweetDeck. TweetDeck is something that I use that acts as a personal browser for staying in touch with what’s happening now, connecting you with your contacts across Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and more (i.e. MySpace).

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Social Media Counts!

I know a lot of schools and businesses still have issues with allowing their students and employees access to social media, but I found Gary's Social Media Count on the Personalize Media blog. The image below is continuously updated and shows the level that technology has been integrated into our lives.

What a powerful message!



Besides this Flash animation, the graphic is also available as an iPad app.
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