Deb Norton Tech

Podcasting - a Growing Community of Listeners Online Communities = a group of people with common interests who use the Internet to communicate, work together and pursue their interests over time.  They  come in many different forms: Social Media, Professional Networks, and if we stretch the definition a bit, Podcasts!!  Podcasts can lend well to people having conversations in an online community because they make for very interesting conversations via social media or even Monday morning at the water cooler. Podcasts are becoming more and more popular and lately I've been enjoying several different podcasts during my commute to and from work. Watch this Chat with Deb to learn about some great podcasts.    To give you the authentic experience of a podcast, this Chat with Deb was created in a podcast fashion with sound effects and music. Click here for the online presentation. Here are links to the Podcasts mentioned in this Chat with ...

To Share or Not to Share An Attractive Tool for Creating Digital Worksheets Lately there is a movement not to promote tools that aren't deep in pedagogy and critical thinking. It seems that as technology integrators we are to share tools and strategies that are strong in the SAMR model or promote the most cutting edge movements in education.  Gone are the days of 60 sites in 60 minutes or Top 10 sites for creating . . . What I'm going to share today isn't cutting edge. It is at the substitution level of SAMR. I doesn't necessarily involve critical thinking, yet I really like this tool and I'm confident that teachers and students will like it as well. The site is called Wizer.me and it is used to create a digital worksheet. Wizer.me  can also be used for formative assessments. A teacher can create their own worksheet or they can explore the hundreds of already created worksheets and use them. Here is the link to a worksheet I found while browsing on ...

Unlock the Potential With BreakoutEDU Incase you haven't heard or experienced this new educational phenomenon, here are the details and an explanation. What is BreakoutEDU? BreakoutEDU is a game. It involves students finding and solving clues to be able to unlock locks on a box. Once the locks are all unlocked, the students are rewarded with a prize of some sort in the box. It sounds really simple, right?  Why should you do the BreakoutEDU challenge? The real prize is that in order to solve the clues, students have to use critical thinking skills and they have to work together to unlock the locks. The best part is there are many BreakoutEDU challenges already created and ready to use in your classroom.   Where do I get the BreakoutEDU materials? Everything you need to run a BreakoutEDU challenge in your classroom can be found at www.breakoutedu.com  The site will guide you through four steps.  The kit, which includes the box,...

Moonshot Thinking  Sustainability and Next Generation Innovators This Chat with Deb is going to help you understand what Moonshot Thinking is and will also show you ways to support Moonshot Thinking in your classroom. Supporting Resources: A great example  of Genius Hour Projects Genius Hour Thinglink Design Thinking blog post Google Proof Questions blog post Thinglink VR interactive video Thank you to Intel's Teachers Engage for sponsoring this blog post.

A Few New Favorites Things that are Making My Day It's often the little things that keep me going on a positive vibe throughout my day. Today I'm going to share a few things that I've discovered lately that help to make my day inspiring and also give me just the pick me up that I sometimes need. Momentum - This is an extension that will replace your new tab page with a personal dashboard featuring a todo list, the weather, an inspirational quote and a beautiful picture from somewhere in the world.  Here are two screen captures of my Momentum from today: Elle Luna - If you're anything like me, you often have ideas swimming around in your brain. Sometimes I wish I could make those ideas a reality or simply stop whatever I'm doing and follow my heart to dedicate my time to these ideas. Elle Luna is an artist and self starter who delivered the Keynote at the Alt Summit this past winter. If you have an hour, or even if you don't, please watch...

Sit and Get - Lecture and Listen - Information Overload Today's students are in need of a change when it comes to how teacher's teach and what students actually do during class time.  If we truly are to call ourselves educational professionals, then it is time for us to do what other professionals do in their line of work. Grow in our practice, advance our skills, learn new methodologies and provide our clients (students) with the most effective and up-to-date experiences that we can.   Today, I am sharing with you one method that can make a change in your teaching and more importantly, make a difference in student learning.  Design Thinking - What is it? Design Thinking a methodology used by designers to solve  complex problems, and find desirable solutions for clients. The Design Thinking Model can be broken down into 5 steps: Explanation Imagine a classroom lesson where students become aware of a problem or issue that affects othe...

Personalized Learning - Five Simple Ways Sometimes it is the simple tools that can make a big impact on personalizing learning for teachers and students.  This Chat with Deb will show five simple ways to make the learning personalized by academically supporting each learner to their specific needs. Click here to view the presentation. If you decide to use any of the tools shared in this Chat with Deb, let me know how it goes. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you to Intel Engage for sponsoring this Chat with Deb.

Poetry Month is Right Around the Corner Are you getting ready for Poetry Month in April? If so, I have some resources to share with you for creating concrete poems. Concrete poems are words written in a shape to convey a poem. They look like this: Recently I went on a mission to search for a site to use with a fellow colleague and her students. They wanted to make concrete poetry on their Chromebooks. There aren't many sites that allow the user to actually write words into any shape.  There is the Read, Write, Think interactive for Theme Poetry.  Here is what it looks like. The words can be added inside of a shape. The interactive guides students through the writing process There is a site from WildAboutWoods.org  where a person can choose a shape or draw one of their own and add words inside of the shape. There are word banks to choose from or a person can type in their own words to add to the shape. I like that adding words is as simple as click ...

Focus on Online Assessments . . . I'm On It!

Multimedia is of Interest to Teachers . . . I'm On It!

Career Readiness - A Topic Close to our Family

Focus on Video Chats or Online Chats . . . I'm On It!

Focus on Feedback in the Classroom . . . I'm On It!

We Need to Focus on Digital Citizenship . . . I'm On It!

TPTs | Expedition Pioneer Program | Shadow a Student Challenge Wish #1 -Free Professional Development- I wish every teacher would enroll in this free online course from ASCD on (TPTs)  Total Participation Techniques.  I am currently working my way through the modules. The strategies and techniques for promoting complete engagement and full participation within a classroom are invaluable. This is the type of professional development that every teacher, whether they are new or a veteran, should have to grow their craft of teaching today's learners. Thanks to my friend, Naomi Harm, for directing me to this free PD course. Wish #2 - Google Cardboard -  I wish every student could have the opportunity to experience the Google Cardboard Expeditions Pioneer Program .   I signed up our school and my fingers are crossed. Google Cardboard is a virtual reality viewer that allows a person to explore a location virtually through images, videos and sounds to make for...

Google Maps can Create a Visual Documentation of Learning and Integrates with Google Classroom Video Series - #9 Google Classroom Tech Integration

VR =Virtual Reality  This Innovative Technology is an Amazing Experience Perhaps you've heard of Google Cardboard or the VR View-Master ? Perhaps you tried out Google Glass or worn a virtual headset of some sort?  If not, chances are you will in the near future.  Check out this Chat with Deb to learn more about this innovative technology called virtual reality.  I wanted to try something new for this month's Chat with Deb, so I decided to use Powtoon .  Enjoy! Click on the image above to load the slideshow.

Create a Digital Timeline of Events Using TimeToast and Integrate it with Google Classroom Video Series - #8 Google Classroom Tech Integration

Give Your Students a Break During Finals Week And Be Prepared for Cheating Finals can be taxing and exhausting for our students. Here are some ideas on how to help students with anxiety and to give the students some brain breaks throughout the week.  5 Ways For Teachers to Chillax Students on Test Day Pen Flipping Brain Break Hand Shake Brain Break Waiter Brain Break And here is a video about. . .  7 Ways Kids Cheat and 7 Ways to Stop Them Hopefully these resources help you and your students during finals week and may you not have any cheaters.

Even though this is an educational technology blog, I've decided to take a different approach with this post and share a personal use of technology.  At the beginning of the new year, 2015, I made a life change. I decided to start eating better and making my health a priority. My motivation came from losing a close family member to alcohol and overeating. At that time, I realized that I wanted to get back in control and try to change my habits. Here is a picture of me in December of 2014: And here is a picture of me today, December 2015: Technology helped me to take on the health challenge in several ways and if sharing some of these sites and tools helps others, I'll feel so happy. 90 Day Low Carb Challenge - Closed Facebook Group I joined an online community of other people who encouraged and motivated me to eat well. I do not promote a certain kind of diet or eating. This is just what worked for me. Diabetes runs in my family, and I knew that cuttin...