From Bookmarks to Blogs

 For this task, I created an account on Feedly and spent some time exploring its layout and features. I often use browser bookmarks to organize websites I regularly visit. However, using an RSS feed is beneficial and allows you to stay updated on content you follow all in one place, especially if you want to ensure you’re receiving the latest information on a particular topic or development.

I found Feedly to be user-friendly and was able to set up my feeds and start following blogs and podcasts with ease. One blog I discovered was Cool Cat Teacher, which features interviews on a variety of topics aimed at bridging the gap between educational research and classroom reality. This blog is run by a technology teacher, and I found many of the posts relevant to our area of study.

Apple Podcasts offers a wide variety of content in the education sector. I also explored Shambles Blog by Teachers, which includes a comprehensive list of blogs and podcasts. One podcast I found particularly engaging discussed real-world applications in teaching, emphasizing the importance of building purpose into lessons answering the common student question, “When am I going to use this in the future?” It went on to explain how technology can be used to explore and visualize concepts, rather than simply compute them.

The benefit of listening to these podcasts is that they open up new areas to explore and introduce different tools to add to your teaching toolbox. They also showcase current student activities. One example featured students participating in entrepreneurial projects aimed at tackling STEM problems by inventing new products to meet real customer needs. These students pitched their ideas in a Shark Tank-style format to a panel of investors. The learning outcomes not only fulfilled curriculum requirements but also provided a valuable and meaningful experience, one that was both memorable and enriching.

Google tools for educators offer support for collaboration both within and across schools. These tools facilitate instant communication and content creation, all accessible through the cloud, making it easy for students and teachers to collaborate in real time from any location.

Google Forms and Google Sheets can be used to design and administer assessments, collect and analyze data from science experiments, and even gather feedback from students or peers. Teachers can also use these tools to invite guest lecturers or industry experts to share insights, helping students to get a taste of the outside world.

Students can also create and maintain their own digital portfolios using Google Sites, showcasing their learning, projects, and reflections in a format that can be shared with peers, educators, and future employers. This supports not only content mastery but also the development of digital literacy and self-presentation skills which are key competencies for success in the 21st century.

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