12 Best Hour of Code Resources

Yesterday I wrote about Hour of Code - what it is and why it is important. Today, I will share some of the favorite Hour of Code resources used by Walled Lake Consolidated Schools teachers and students. Thank you, Amy Stasak, for compiling these links!

On code.org/learn:

Code with Elsa and Anna http://hourofcode.com/frzn

Write Your First Computer Program (Angry Bird) http://hourofcode.com/code

PlayLab: http://studio.code.org/s/playlab/stage/1/puzzle/1

Flappy Bird: http://studio.code.org/flappy/1

Tynker: http://www.tynker.com/hour-of-code/

Scratch Hour of Code: http://scratch.mit.edu/hoc2014/

LightBot: http://lightbot.com/hoc2014.html

CodeCombat: http://codecombat.com/?hour_of_code=true

Khan Academy Hour of Drawing: https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/hour-of-code/hour-of-code-tutorial/v/welcome-hour-of-code

CodeMonkey: http://www.playcodemonkey.com/challenges/0

Bitsbox: https://bitsbox.com/hoc.html

MakeSchool/Make Games With Us: http://hoc.makeschool.com/build-an-iphone-game-in-your-browser/

Google CS First: http://www.cs-first.com/create

Blockly Games: https://blockly-games.appspot.com/

Made With Code Google: https://www.madewithcode.com/projects

My Challenge to YOU: Spend One Hour Learning to Code

student participating in the Hour of  Code at Sarah Banks Middle School

It's wonderful to see the momentum increasing from "Hour of Code." The energy and excitement seems to have grown tenfold since last year's Hour of Code! 

The Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in over 180 countries. The organizers challenge students to try an Hour of Code sometime this week (December 8-14, 2014). 

Why? Coding helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic and creativity. By starting early, students will have a foundation for success in any career.

Brian Heese (2014) writes: 'when you learn computer programming, you learn how to check your work for details, how to apply logic and how to persist at a task. You also learn how to ask a good question, often in written form. Finally, you learn how to collaborate because much programming today is accomplished in teams. These timeless skills and learning behaviors will endure far longer than any programming language.' (from Edutopia: Coded for Success)

Coding is not just for AP Computer Science classes. It's for everyone between the ages of 4-104. You probably fit in this category. There are tons of excellent resources and tutorials at code.org. 

After last year's hour of code, I set a goal for myself to jump on board and give it a go. I downloaded the Kodable app on my iPad as a first step.  I had a difficult time with it at first until I got the hang of it. This is very embarrassing to admit because this is an app that preschoolers use! After the first moments I spent frustrated, I soon figured out what I was supposed to do. Of course, if I had read the directions, it would have been easier, but what's the fun in that? The point is, anyone can do it! 

I am going to continue my learning this week for at least an hour. I plan to use the materials on the Khan Academy site. 

If this old gal can do it, you can, too. 

"The quickest way to become an old dog is to stop learning new tricks." ~ John Rooney.  

Day 31 Connected Educator Month: Final Thoughts

Congratulations! You’ve made it through all the DIY professional development activities offered in The Connected Educator month. Here’s a badge for you to use on your blog or website. Just copy and paste this code to display it!

<a href="http://21stcenturycollaborati ve.com/the-connected-educator"><img src=”http://gallery.mailchimp.com/e8ec3e-096284b8e832f6e08b3/files/BADGE.jpg” alt=”I am a connected educator and learner first” /></a>

Although we have done this work, we are continuing to learn. Like all restless lifelong learners, we have more questions than answers. Here are some of the things we think about.

• What principled changes should we be making in our classrooms to ensure that we are developing in students the skill sets they will need as they face future challenges?
• Are we preparing kids for yesterday, today, or tomorrow?
• Are current classroom techniques helping those we teach become future scientists, technologists, and imagineers who will solve the social ills of the society of the future?
• How can we collectively advocate best for needed policy changes that will enable our teachers and students to engage in connected, authentic learning?
• How can we help our students be ready to learn using tools we cannot yet imagine?

As you think about how to become a connected learner or continue on your journey, revisit these questions and develop your own answers, or add to the questions to advance your learning. To paraphrase Gandhi, be the change you want to see in the world.
from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

Google Classroom Get-Start Guide

Google Classroom made its debut in late August 2014. If you haven't yet checked it out, then this video is for you. It will show you how quick and easy it is to set up and post assignments. Teachers love the fact that the interface is simple. This is a tool that takes away common issues of students naming files incorrectly or forgetting to share files with the teacher. Google Classroom manages the files so you do not have to. 

Day 30 Connected Educator Month: Culminating events

Make plans to participate in one of the culminating events for Connected
Educator Month.

• Check the calendar for details.
• Sign up for an event.
• Post a tweet letting others know which event you’ll be participating in.

Be sure to include the #CE14 hashtag.

from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

Day 29 Connected Educator Month: Web 2.0 Check In

You’ve spent almost a month exploring new tools, learning new terminology, experimenting with things around the Web, and participating in Con- nected Educator month activities. It’s time for a Web 2.0 check in! Write a blog post answering the following questions:

• How has your network grown this month? This doesn’t have to just be a measurement by numbers of followers, friends, and contacts (although that can be interesting to note), but also can consider what type of connections you’ve made, and how you might connect, collaborate or build those relationships in the future.
• What is your favorite tool or technology you discovered this month? How do you see yourself incorporating this tool into your everyday life and work?
• Were there tools that you signed up for and never used? What do you think is the impediment to you diving right in and trying these tools?
• Is there a tool that frustrated you? Why do you think that happened?
• Are there any applications for the things you learned this month to make their way into your classroom?
• Have you begun to see yourself as a connected learner? A connected educator? Why or why not?
• What is the biggest “a-ha!” moment or realization you’ve had this month?
• Be sure to Tweet your blog post with the hashtag #CE14 so other connected educators can check it out.
• Do a Twitter search for #CE14 and see what others have learned.

from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

Day 28 Connected Educator Month: What makes a connected educator?

Now that you’ve spent almost a month becoming a connected learner and a connected educator, you may have formed your own ideas about what connected learning is, and what “makes” a connected educator. At least, we hope you’ve been thinking about it!

Is it how many tools he knows how to use? How many friends she has on Facebook or followers she has on Twitter? How well he’s known around the internet? Does she have to be connected 24/7? Does he have to bring Web 2.0 tools into the classroom? What do you think?

• Answer the following question in a blog post: What “makes” a connected educator?
• Tweet a link to your blog post and use hashtag #CE14 so other connected educators can check it out.
• Do a Twitter search for CE14 and see if others have chimed in. If you find a post that resonates with you, leave a comment!

from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

Day 27 Connected Educator Month: Voices from the Learning Revolution

Voices from the Learning Revolution is a blog where voices, strong educator voices, tell their stories about connected and shifted learning. This group blog is titled “Voices from the Learning Revolution” not because these bloggers are necessarily revolutionary leaders — but because they are leaving behind outdated practices and mindsets and shifting toward the kind of connected, digitally infused teaching and learning that we know our 21st century students need. We have some voices who are strong and well developed in their understanding; we have others who are just beginning their connected learning journey. And we’ll be inviting some guest writers to join us who most will agree are truly on the front lines of the learning revolution, leading the charge.

Voices from the Learning Revolution is about creating and mobilizing connected, collaborative communities on behalf of 21st century learning. So we need you to join our conversations. We must have your voices. Read, post your own thoughts, and
push the work of this excellent blogging team out through your own networks. Together, we are so much smarter than we are apart.

• Skim a few posts in this powerful group blog. Find a post that sparks your interest. Read it and comment. Maybe even write a reflection about the Voices blog back at your own blog.
• Sign up for the VFLR newsletter to keep up with the latest updates from the Voices.

from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

Day 26 Connected Educator Month: Reflection Time

It’s time to reflect on your learning during Connected Educator month so far. Write a post in your edublog to reflect on the month of connecting. Pick four of these questions to answer.

• How has your PLN grown?
• Which tools do you like?
• Which tools have given you trouble or do you not understand?
• Did you discover anything about your journey as a connected educator that surprised you?
• Are there any communities you want to delve further into?
• Do you have a hobby or interest that you could see yourself using your connected educator skills to get deeper into?
• Did you find any tools or skills that you’re inspired to use with your students? Which ones and how will you use them in your classroom?
• Tweet a link to your post, put a link on Facebook, and add a bookmark in Diigo. Tag your post #connectededucator and #CE14.

from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

Day 25 Connected Educator Month: Add to our Connected Learning Manifesto

A manifesto is a document which sets forth the principles and goals of a group of people based on strong belief. As a revolutionary statement, a manifesto can be a powerful and daring document. Be part of the ongoing creation of a manifesto around connected learning. Visit the collaborative Connected Learning Manifesto add your “I believe” statements or your strong assertions. Keep the language simple. Use shorter and more vivid words, those that are more concrete and direct. Add your Twitter name so
others can follow and engage with you online.
from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

Day 24 Connected Educator Month: Unlearn and Relearn

In the film Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda admonishes Luke Skywalker, “You must unlearn what you have learned.” Unlearning and relearning doesn’t apply only to levitating Luke’s X-wing out of the bog. You re-envision yourselves as connected learners, unlearning all of those elements we discussed previously. We want to hear on Wallwisher what you will unlearn and relearn. Wallwisher is a collaborative virtual noticeboard that lets users post virtual sticky notes, including images, notes, video, and links. Visit http://wallwisher.com/demo to view a demo wall.

• Go to Padlet and create an account.
• Visit this “unlearn” wallwisher page.
• Create a sticky note that answers these questions: What do you have to unlearn and relearn about education, teaching, the classroom, or learning? What are some challenges along the way?
• Go to Twitter and post a tweet with one of your reflections. Be sure to include the #CE14 hashtag in your tweet.

from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

Day 23 Connected Educator Month: CTQ Collaboratory

Center for Teaching Quality (CTQ) Collaboratory

The CTQ Collaboratory is an incubator for teachers’ bold ideas and innovative solutions. We also welcome all who value teachers as leaders in the classroom and beyond.

• Visit this link to see the CTQ bloggers.
• View some of the posts, then leave a comment on a post that resonates with you, and introduce yourself as a budding connected educator going through this month-long journey.
• Bookmark the link of the post you commented on on Diigo. Tag the link with #CE14.
• See if there are other blog posts with the tag #CE14 on Diigo that other connected educators have written. Follow them on Diigo.
• Go to Twitter and tweet a link to your blog post. Use the hashtag #CE14 in your tweet.

from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

Day 22 Connected Educator Month: Collaboration with Google Docs

How do we build a collaborative culture in online spaces? What are the needed components? What does it look like? What should the connected learner do to make collaboration happen?

A shared vision emerges from the intersection of professional learning community members’ personal visions. First, however, connected learners must develop personal visions through their personal learning network. In this activity, we collaborate on Google Docs to create a shared vision.

• Visit docs.google.com and login with your Google account.
• Visit this shared vision Google Doc slideshow.
• Create your own slide within our slideshow that answers the following questions: What are our (connected educators and learners) guiding principles for how we should operate and work together? Why do we exist? What do we want to create? What should school look like to support the needs of today’s learners?
• When you create your slide, add images and be sure to use a template that expresses how you feel and shows your personality.

from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

Day 21 Connected Educator Month: Voicethread

A VoiceThread is a collaborative conversation around a topic. It can consist of images, video clips, sound recordings, and more. Watch this video to see how it works. Visit this link to view the how-to section if you need help with VoiceThread.

Watch this video to see Voicethread in action in the classroom.

from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

Day 20 Connected Educator Month: Online Communities

So far during Connected Educator month, we’ve explored dozens of educational blogs, sites, tools, and fellow connected educators. But the world of online community engagement reaches into every corner of the world, for every conceivable interest, hobby, and passion. Check out these other online networks and communities. Maybe one of these will appeal to a hobby or interest you have. Don’t see anything that tickles your fancy? Do a Google search for “insert your interest here” community.

• Fitocracy - lets you log your workouts and turns fitness into a game - earn badges, levels, or become a hero!
• Curbly - a community for people who are passionate about home improvement and do-it-yourself house projects
• Ravelry - a huge community of knitters, crocheters, and fiber artists from around the Web. Browse thousands of patterns, find yarns, and see pictures of finished projects from other users.
• Bakespace - a social networking just for bakers. Find a baking mentor, compare recipes, browse photos of yummy baked goods, and more.
• Goodreads - a social network for your bookshelf ! Log your books, tell others what you’re reading, join a read-along group, read reviews, and more.

Can’t pull yourself away from educational communities? Connected Educators.org has put together a Community Directory of the most notable online educational communities. This directory lets you comment on communities you find valuable, add your own favorites, and read interviews with Notable Community managers like this one.

from the Connected Educator Starter Kit.

Day 19 Connected Educator Month: Month-Long Forums

All month during October, there are Connected Educator Month-long forums on key topics, such as personalizing learning, innovating STEM and literacy, and more which will be moderated by noted education leaders and consist of online discussions, interviews, webinars, chats, and more. The key forum topics for Connected Educator Month are:

• Blended Learning
• Collaboration & Capacity Building
• Diversity, Inclusiveness, and Global Education
• Educator Professional Development & Learning
• Leadership for Change
• Student Agency, Student Voice, and the Maker Movement
• Whole Community Engagement (Parents, Teachers, Students, Community Members)

Visit the calendar and click on Kickoff & Wrapup Events to see details on these live kickoff events. Add your voice to the conversation!
This info is from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

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Day 18 Connected Educator Month: Social Networking

Most are familiar with online social networks such as Facebook, but thousands of niche social networks have been designed for people with specific interests. For example, online social networks can help you find your next job, help you parent—or help you as an educator. Ning is a powerful tool that allows anyone to create a specialized online social network for a few dollars a month, or you can join any of the thousands of Ning communities for free.

Social networks on Ning can feature discussion forums, blogs, photo and video sharing, widgets from other websites (small representations of applications that you put on a webpage for specific information or functionality, similar to apps for smartphones) such as Google and Twitter, and an RSS reader to share blog feeds from outside of Ning (such as your Edublog feed).

• Visit the Connected Educator Book Club Ning and click “sign up” on the right side of the screen. Follow the signup process. Fill out your profile on the site (add your photo and some personal details).
• Take a look around the community and see what sparks your interest. Maybe there’s a book group you’d like to join, or a discussion to comment on.
• Find a link, a discussion, or a topic that interests you, and write a post about it on your blog.
• Check out Edmodo. Edmodo provides teachers and students a secure place to connect and collaborate, share content and educational appli- cations, and access homework, grades, class discussions and notifica- tions. Edmodo connects more than 8,000,000 teachers and students in secure social networks.
• Edweb is a professional social network for the education community. It allows you to connect with colleagues, create learning communities, share and collaborate, and mentor new teachers. Check it out.
• Check out the brand new social networking site called edConnectr. Go to edConnectr, then tell us about yourself, your interests, and what you’d like to learn about. edConnectr will find other educators who can teach you things relevant to your interests, or who could learn from you. From there, connect and collaborate.

This info is from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

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Day 17 Connected Educator Month: Social Bookmarking

The Web contains more information than a thousand libraries, and social bookmarking is a useful and fun way to organize it all. Having a presence on a social bookmarking site makes finding new resources and articles easy, because your network does the work for you. You’ll see what sites your friends and colleagues are bookmarking, and you can save links that are relevant to your interests. For a simple explanation of social bookmarking, watch the "Social Bookmarking in Plain English" video below.

Social bookmarking is one more tool to add to your connected learner toolbox. Let’s get started with social bookmarking. 

• Go to www.diigo.com and create an account. 
• Add the diigo buttons to your browser to make it easy to add sites. 
• Visit five different sites including your own blog and plpnetwork.com. While you’re there, use your new delicious button to bookmark and tag the sites. You might tag your own blog blog, education, CE14, connected educator, connected learner, etc. 
• Learn about using diigo as part of your personal learning network. 
• Go to your edublog and write about the benefits of social bookmarking. 

What sort of personal applications can you think of for using diigo?

This info is from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

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Day 16 Connected Educator Month: Is Your School Future Ready? Are You?

The Office of Educational Technology recently launched the Future Ready District Pledge, which establishes a framework for districts to achieve the goals laid out in President Obama’s ConnectED Initiative and commits districts to move as quickly as possible towards our shared vision of preparing students for success in college, careers and citizenship. Goals of the pledge include upgrading broadband and high-speed wireless connectivity, providing access to educational devices and digital content, and preparing teachers to use technology effectively to improve student learning.

Do you want Future Ready Schools? Visit tech.ed.gov/FutureReadyPledge to read and sign the pledge. Then, challenge your network to sign the pledge.


Then Tweet this: I signed the #FutureReady District Pledge and you should too! Visit tech.ed.gov/FutureReadyPledge to read & sign the pledge! @OfficeofEdTech #ce14

This info is from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

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Day 15 Connected Educator Month: Become a Blogger

It’s time to start your journey as a blogger, which is an important step along the way to building your personal learning network. Before we get started with your first blog post, watch the video below "Blogs in Plain English," for a brilliantly simple explanation of blogs. Then, you’ll get started with your first blog post.

Create your first blog post on your new edublog. (If you’re already a blogger, you can follow these instructions, just use your existing blog.)

• Here’s a guide to writing your first post. Write a reflective post address- ing the expectations of what you’d like to gain in your month-long journey as a connected educator. Maybe also write about what you’ve learned so far or a tool that’s sparked your interest.
• Blogging begins with reading. Below are several blogs to choose from. Read a post on at least three to give you a sampling of some great educational blogs. Then leave a comment on at least one post.
• Connected Educator Month
• Powerful Learning Practice
• Voices from the Learning Revolution
• The Fischbowl – Karl Fisch
• Free Technology for Teachers
• Middleweb
• The Edublog Awards site is another great place to find blogs to follow.

Congratulations! You’ve now become part of the conversation!

This info is from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

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Day 14: Connected Educator Month: Get a Blog

One of the best ways to build your personal learning network is to become a blogger and use your blog to network with others who write and share online. Let’s get you started down that road.

• Today’s activity is to sign up for an Edublog. Follow the easy steps in this teacher challenge activity from Sue Waters. She’s got tips on choosing a name, setting up your blog, and customizing a theme.
• Once you’ve set up your blog, it’s time to leave your first comment. Blogging isn’t just about writing, it’s also about interacting and conversing with others, and building relationships. Leave a comment on this post answering the following questions: What part of this activity did you find easiest or most enjoyable? Was there any part of the exercise you didn’t like or that got you stuck?
• Familiarize yourself with this graphic by Sue Waters which shows the cycle of blogging.

This info is from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

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Day 13 Connected Educator Month: Map Yourself

Emerging technologies make it easier than ever to connect, collaborate, and learn together with others around the world. In this fun activity, you’ll add yourself to a collaborative Google map along with hundreds of other connected educators around the globe! (I used the sail boat placemark at Walled Lake!)

• Log into your Google account.
• Click here to access the collaborative map.
• Click on the Edit button at the top left. You will be able to see the Edit button only if you are logged in with your Google or Gmail account.
• Use the + and – tool to zoom in or out and find your location. Use the compass rose to move north, south, east, or west. Tools are in the upper left-hand corner of the map.
• Click on the blue “Add a placemark” pin symbol at the top of the map.
• Drag it to your location and click on your city or town.
• Edit the Place Information box by adding your name and a description. Click on OK.
• Save your changes.
• Click on Done in the left-hand column of the screen.
• Your name should appear in the list in the left-hand column.

This info is from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

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Day 12: Connected Educator Month: Webinars

A webinar is an online seminar or workshop delivered over the internet. The host of the webinar sends emails to attendees with a link to the we- binar hosting provider, allowing them to register. At a specified time, the attendees log in at the webinar site, and view the presentation. Usually there is an audio component, and there may also be video or a chat chan- nel. There are thousands of free webinars about every conceivable subject and topic. They can be a great way to receive information in an interactive format.

• Get a peek inside the life of a connected learner in a free guided tour from Powerful Learning Practice where you’ll find webinars and more. 
• ConnectedLearning.tv is a community-centric website that seeks to help people understand the theory of Connected Learning, spread awareness of its Values and Principles, and advocate for adoption of the Connected Learning model. Check out the free webinars offered by Connected Learning.tv. 
• edWeb.net has some free upcoming webinars you could take advantage of; you’ll even get a CE certificate at the end. 
• Don’t forget to check out the webinars posted on the Connected Educator Month calendar and sign up.

This info is from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

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Day 11 Connected Educator Month: Wikis

You’ve probably heard of the giant online encyclopedia site, Wikipedia.

But there are all kinds of wikis, and many different uses for them. To learn more about wikis and how they work, watch this video: Wikis in plain English.

Maybe just from watching that video, your brain is already whirring with ideas of how you could use a wiki in your classroom. If you need a few more ideas, check out these links:

• This link has dozens of examples of educational wikis, what they are used for, and links to the actual wikis.
• This Edublogs teacher challenge lets you create your own wiki, teaches you how to set up pages, add users, and gives additional ideas for using your wiki with students.
• The edublog awards have a list of the best educational wikis of 2013. There are some real superstars in here! Find more “best of ” wikis at this link too!
• Check out Edudemic’s list of 30+ Open Wikis Every Educator Should Know About.

This info is from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

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Day 10 Connected Educator Month: Photo Sharing

By this time, you probably realize there’s probably a social network or community out there for every type of media, and photos are no exception.

One of the most popular photo sharing communities out there is Flickr.

Flickr lets you upload your photos, add friends, follow their Flickr streams, leave comments, and join groups relevant to your interests. Here are a few activities to get you started sharing photos on Flickr.

• Sign up for a Flickr account. You can use your Facebook or Google ac- count to sign up.
• Upload a photo. You can upload a picture from your computer’s hard drive, from one of your social networks, your mobile phone, or many photo apps. Flickr makes it easy to figure out.
• Be sure to fill out all the fields on your photo including a title, description, and relevant tags. Include the tag CE14 so others following this connected educator starter kit can search for your photo.
• Search “CE14” or “connected educator” in the search box and see if other connected educators are uploading photos. Browse through their accounts and perhaps add a few of them as contacts.
• Join the Flickr for Education group and browse the photos. Leave a comment on a photo that you find interesting.
• Once you have a few more Flickr photos, consider turning them into a YouTube video for a quick-look of your life through photographs!

Check out 18 ways you can use Flickr in Schools.

This info is from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

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Day 9 Connected Educator Month: Tell Your Story

Visit Vimeo for some great tips: http://vimeo.com/videoschool/101

Yesterday you learned about digital storytelling and browsed through more than 50 ways to tell a story using Web 2.0 tools. I hope you put your think- ing caps on and dreamed up your own story to tell! Today, you’ll take your first step into digital storytelling.

• Follow the 3 easy steps on the 50 Ways wiki to get your story online.Outline your story, find some media, and create your story using an online tool.
• Maybe you’d rather try your hand at a 5x5 video. Record five 5-second clips and put them together to create a 25-second simple vignette. See Vimeo's video tips here. 
• Another great example of using clips to create a story is this time lapse video of the first 12 years of a little girl’s life.
• If you chose video as the medium for your digital storytelling journey, log in to YouTube and upload your video. Be sure to fill out the title, description, and give it some relevant tags, including CE14 (the tag for Connected Educator month) so others who are doing this activity can find your story.

This info is from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

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Day 8 Connected Educator Month: Digital Storytelling

Before the advent of online content and easy to use software, producing multimedia content required expensive equipment and technical know-how. But nowadays we can create compelling digital content with nothing more complicated than a Web browser or camera. Digital storytelling is simply telling a story using digital tools. Much like regular storytelling, telling a digital story should come from the heart, include personal experi- ence, and have a point of view. Here are a few activities to get you started with digital storytelling.

• Explore Alan Levine’s wonderful and comprehensive 50+ Web 2.0 Ways to Tell a Story. He includes tips, tricks, and tools for getting your story across using online tools, video, and other multimedia platforms. According to Alan, it’s “As Easy as 1-2-3! - Outline a Story Idea, Find Some Media, andPick a Tool and Build Your Story.”
• Another popular approach to digital storytelling is the 5x5 project (25 second videos featuring five five-second clips put together to tell a story). Read more about the project and watch some examples.
• Think about a story you’d like to tell. It can be complex or simple, a deeply personal tale or an entry from a travel journal, you can narrate it or it can be silent. Tomorrow, you’ll dive right in with this, so be ready with some ideas!

This info is from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

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Day 7 Connected Educator Month: YouTube

Youtube: Online Video Sharing

Making your own video is easier today than it ever has been. Nearly every cellphone, new laptop, or point & shoot camera has a videocamera built in. YouTube is a community for sharing videos. After you make a video, you can upload it for the world to see. Your video is given it’s own link which you can share. You can also embed your video into websites, blogs, or so- cial networks like Facebook.

There are plenty of silly and “fluff ” videos on YouTube (cat videos, anyone?), but many educators are also on YouTube. You can expand your professional knowledge by learning from other educators. You can also find great content that students can watch at home or in the classroom. Here are a few activities to get started with YouTube.

• Visit YouTube and login with your Google account.
• Fill out your YouTube profile.
• Record and upload a simple video: introduce yourself and tell us the biggest “a ha moment” for you so far during Connected Educator Month. Be sure to tag your video with CE14 when you upload it, and put Connected Educator Month in the title (such as, “Jane Smith, Connected Educator Month”).
• Subscribe to a channel (like Edutopia or the Teaching Channel) to get started with video subscriptions. Want to find more videos about edu- cation? Check out YouTube’s Education section, which features the best videos from around the web for every subject imaginable, from math to science to engineering and business.
• If YouTube is blocked at your school, don’t miss out on Schooltube or Teachertube Read this article from Edutopia on how teachertube is a wonderful resource for the classroom.
• The National Education Association has a guide to YouTube for Educators, including how to find instructional videos, limit access to educational content only, and advice on creating your own channel.

This info is from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

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Day 6 Connected Educator Month: Facebook

Become a Facebookworm!

Facebook is a global social network. If you’re not already a user, you’ve probably heard of it, and if you haven’t, then today you’ll become part of the largest social network on the planet. Want a few statistics about Facebook?

• 1.28 billion monthly active users (a 15% increase year to year)
• 4.5 billion likes generated daily
• 802 million people log onto Facebook daily
• Five new profiles are created every second
• Photo uploads total 300 million per day

Most of your friends and family are probably already on Facebook, and finding them and connecting to their updates is easy. Here are a few activities that will get you started with Facebook.

• Create a Facebook account. Click here to get started.
• Search for friends, family members, or colleagues and add them as friends to start making connections.
• Search on Facebook for your favorite educational groups, brands, celebrities, or authors and “like” their pages. Get started with these: Powerful Learning Practice, The Global Education Conference, Connected Educator Month.
• Curious about how to take Facebook into your classroom? Check out 100 Ways You Should be Using Facebook in your Classroom and the Facebook Guide for Educators.
• Should you be friends with your students? This debate, as well as the article The Why and How of Using Facebook For Educators – No Need to be Friends At All! tackles that topic as well as the overarching question, does Facebook belong in the classroom at all?
• This presentation features school leaders who ban & block Facebook as well as those who empower and prepare. It also provides examples of a teacher and students from The Science Leadership Academy who have had success using social media in education.

This info is from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

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Day 5 Connected Educator Month: Even More Twitter!

Another great way to collaborate, build your personal learning network, and use Twitter for DIY professional development is to join a Twitter chat.

A Twitter chat is a lot like any other online chat, where people gather to talk about a specific issue. The great thing about a Twitter chat is it brings people together from all over world to a central area (Twitter) where they can interact in real time. To join a Twitter chat, you just need to know what hashtag is being used. Not sure what a hashtag is? Check out day four for activities surrounding hashtags.

Here are a couple activities that will let you take your Twitter experience even further:

• If you’d like to follow a hashtag chat in an easy and engaging format, try the Twubs tool. Check out the plpnetwork Twubs page for an example of how this tool works.
• Cybraryman has created a page with 300+ eductional Twitter hashtags being used right now.
• Visit the Connected Educator Month calendar and click on the Twitter chat label for a list of other Twitter chats you can attend during the month of October.
• Want to study up before the chat? Check out this guide on how to get the most out of participating in a Twitter chat.
• Want more ideas on how to use Twitter? Download Powerful Learning Practice’s free Twitter Handbook for Teachers, a brand new, 13-page guide to Twitter. This guide is for educators who are new to Twitter, or veterans to the social media platform who want to bring Twitter into their classrooms or grow their network.

This is from the Connected Educator Starter Kit

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