Technology Fridge

My #EduBroAwards #Winning Speech

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 02:15:00 +0000

Winner for Best Bald Head

When you win an award like this, you don't accept it in under 140 characters.

First of all, I'd like to thank my Grandpa Pepsi, who passed away earlier this year. While he wasn't able to see me reach this gold standard in life, I know he's looking down on me with pride. Without him, I'd probably have hair.

To those who voted - ~~how much time do you have on your hands???~~ Thanks! I couldn't have done it without you!

Finally, I'd like to thank the organizers, Nick "I'm Nerdy and I Know It" Provenzano and my favorite-North-Carolinian-who-has-ever-attended-EdCamp-Omaha-to-date, Tim "'Stache" Gwynn.

In closing, viva la #edcampomaha y #nebedu!

An Open Letter to #nebedu

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 13:16:00 +0000

To those of you who use the #nebedu hashtag, I wanted to take a minute to say thanks. Last May, I put a blog post out begging for you to come forward and share all of the great things that you were doing in your schools. Other states had done it...Why not Nebraska? In talking with you at conferences like NETA, I knew many of you had great experiences to share and you knew others that had great experiences to share. In a little more than 6 months, #nebedu, along with #nebedchat (Wednesday nights at 8pm*, hat tip to lead instigator Chris Stogdill), are true testaments to the great educators across the state. In talking with my good friend Kristina last month, we were discussing our strengths and specialties as it relates to professional development. I couldn't really think of what mine was (being involved K-12 will do that to you). I finally settled on, "I know the right people to ask questions of!" That is all a testament to the great sharing that you all are doing.
As with any online interactions, they are greatly enhanced when you get to meet and interact face-to-face. I encourage you to mark your calendars for EdCamp Omaha on March 23, 2013. EdCamps are education un-conferences - no fancy keynotes, no corporate driven agendas, just you, sharing with other colleagues who are passionate about all areas of education. ALL attendees have the opportunity to facilitate a discussion on what THEY are passionate about - and its all free. Yes - free, choose your own, professional development. You can find out more about EdCamps on the "What is an EdCamp?" page of our wiki. Please consider joining us.
So, as we all get ready to hop in our cars or open our doors to relatives and share in a Thanksgiving feast, I give thanks to all of you for making education in Nebraska better.

*#nebedchat is taking a break this week and will return on Nov 28th talking about homework and moderated by Jodie Morgenson.

Sept NE PLC

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Once a month I join in on a PLC via Google Hangouts. Feel free to watch live here or replay it when we're done! Today's topics may include bridging the technology gap among staff and iTunes U. Although we really don't even have a set schedule. So who knows.

IFTTT for #paplv

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 18:21:00 +0000

I realize I'm late to the IFTTT bus, but that's not uncommon. There are a couple buses that I've been late to. But hey, I'm glad they come back around every now and then.
IFTTT allows you to combine some of the online tools you use to create, essentially, an automatic workflow, hence the name: If This Then That. You create "recipes." For example, every time I tag one of my Instagram pics with #mykids, it automatically gets sent to Flickr, which is where we store all of our pics. But you can also browse other people's recipes: Now when I favorite a tweet, it sends it to Evernote, where I've been doing a lot more collecting.
As our teachers come back to school, our superintendent, Dr. Black, has been talking about "sharing our story...the media, legislature and politicians aren't doing a good job of it." I've been touting Twitter more often and the use of a common #paplv hashtag. I've even set up a Tumblr site so that when a picture is taken in Instagram and tagged with #paplv (by anyone, I'm hoping - haven't had others try it out) it gets posted. Now, I've updated it so that it also includes tweets. Twitter is such an easy way to communicate the great things that are happening, this is just an easy way to have them all together in one spot.
Why? Our teachers do great things. Amazing things. But we don't always know about it. Hopefully as they use Instagram and Twitter (and more recipes...Ideas?), their message gets out with little-to-no work on their part. I've also been thinking of more ways to use IFTTT in other areas of the school day - after school clubs, Facebook pages, etc. So many possibilities...what recipes are you using in IFTTT to help with your productivity? I'd love to share them with our staff!

Google Hangout for iPad Class

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:48:00 +0000

We are getting the opportunity to pick the brains of Jackie Ediger, Lisa Pospishil, for their favorite iPad apps.

This was awesome. Here is the link to the chat transcript.
http://bit.ly/N070nP

The Fridge's Weekly Bookmarks (weekly)

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

iBooks Author Discussion #nebedu

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:23:00 +0000

A few of us are experimenting with Google Hangouts this morning and discussion iBooks Author. Please participate by either joining the hangout, leaving comments here, or with the hashtag #nebedu on Twitter. Thanks!

The Fridge's Weekly Bookmarks (weekly)

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Crime/Courts - Omaha.com

tags: doane
My notes from visiting Waverly-Shell Rock’s Middle School with 1:1 iPads « West Des Moines Community Schools Technology

tags: technology ipads ipad 1:1
ISTE Newbie Project

Together we did it AGAIN! The goal for the #iste12 Newbie project was met! @cybraryman1 will be going to ISTE! http://t.co/vVswALu3

tags: iste12

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

The Fridge's Weekly Bookmarks (weekly)

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 13:30:00 +0000

google-blockly - A visual programming language - Google Project Hosting

tags: programming google code learning scratch
The truth about flipped learning | eSchool News

tags: flipped classroom flippedclassroom flipped video
NNNC-STI-2012

#nnncsti12 http://t.co/964BEz5q handouts and links for presenters (mine included) if you can't attend a session.

tags: nnncsti12
The Flipped Classrom is not... - YouTube

The Flipped Classrom is not...: http://t.co/evNGvZn4 via @youtube
Free Technology for Teachers: Create Webpages in Minutes With Pagefin

tags: web2.0 tools webpages free tech 4 teachers

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

5 Years Later - Making a Change

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:37:00 +0000

This afternoon I'm giving a presentation to our K-12 administrators on how I can help their teachers. I know what you're thinking - you're the Instructional Technology Facilitator...so what have you been doing? Completely agree. In the five years that I've had this job, I've slowly started working on more stuff from my office and have been spending less time in the schools. Technology has allowed me to still communicate, present, and assist from the comfort of my office chair. It's a combination of factors, but regardless of the why, it's time for a change. I thought it might be a tough sell to my bosses because they've gotten used to me working on a variety of projects here in the office, but without saying anything to them, they brought the exact same thing up early this month. Outstanding. It's great that we were on the same page.
When I woke up this morning, I saw Melissa Edwards reply back to her colleague Steven Anderson about his "Be Awesome Today" tweet. For those of you who don't know, Steven posts some great comment (almost, if not) every morning, followed by "Be Awesome Today." It's a great way to start the day. But today's definitely hit home thinking about getting back into the schools.

Good Morning! Meaningful relationships are most often the key to success. Be awesome today!
— Steven W. Anderson (@web20classroom) June 1, 2012

How very true. How you approach a teacher, and the relationship you build with them, can mean the difference between success and failure, regardless of how smart either of you are. As I chatted with my wife about the importance of this afternoon's presentation to changing what I do, I was reminded of when I first started teaching graduate classes a few years ago to our District staff. I remember thinking then how big of a difference those classes could make. That format had done wonders for our reading and writing curriculum, and I think it's been a great relationship starter for me.
I'm added my slides for this afternoon below. I don't know that they'll mean much to anyone not there, but hopefully you'll get an idea of where I'm going with it. It's not that I haven't been helping our teachers, but being a great resource, and providing opportunities for teachers to succeed, means they need to see your face and have you walk hand in hand with them. It's time I do a better job of that.

By the way, ignore the notes on Slide 2. Accidentally copied from a different slide. Same thing on the slide with the two hashtags.
Admin Presentation June 2012

The Fridge's Weekly Bookmarks (weekly)

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Sun, 27 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

The Fridge's Weekly Bookmarks (weekly)

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Supporting the ISTE Newbie Project

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:53:00 +0000

When Beth Still announced that Jerry Blumengarten, aka @cybraryman1, would be the ISTE Newbie, I was more surprised that he hadn't been than I was that he was chosen. The ISTE Newbie Project is reliant on a personal learning network (PLN) to send an educator to the ISTE Conference who has never been before, and no one epitomizes and supports PLNs more than Jerry. He is the keeper of the Twitter chat schedule and his website is a resource mecca for teachers. Please consider donating even a small amount to support Jerry and the ISTE Newbie Project. All of the small donations add up! I've had the privilege of getting to know the last two ISTE Newbies (Jason & George) and Jerry will continue in their legacy of being outstanding educators and a valuable resource for any PLN.
You can read more about Beth's decision (and DONATE) on her site. Congrats Jerry!

The Fridge's Weekly Bookmarks (weekly)

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Bringing Nebraska Tweeps Together With #nebedu

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Fri, 11 May 2012 03:07:00 +0000

Before EdCamp Omaha 2011, my good friend and now EdCamp Omaha partner in crime Kristina Peters posted about "When Two Worlds Collide." In the comments, I talked about how jealous I was of all of the interactions happening through Twitter in Iowa. Sharing of resources and feedback was, and continues to, running rampant. It is so cool to see how so many of them work together through 140 characters.
Jump ahead to NETA (our state ed tech conference) 2011 - slowly there had become pockets of Twitter usage creeping up around the state. For the second year in a row, we had our own "official" hashtag, but use of #neta11 was a slow drip. During our summer NETA Board retreat, it was mentioned that we needed a hashtag throughout the year - "When do we switch from #neta11 to #neta12?" Great point. But nothing really ever came of those discussions. Really, whose job is it to create an "official hashtag?"
With the change of the calendar to 2012, it seemed the tide of educational Twitter use in Nebraska also began to change. More and more schools were creating their own hashtag, most notably #yorkdukes and #tt4t (Bellevue). EdCamp Omaha 2012 was extremely successful - In 2011, 42% of people who signed up showed up. In 2012, 62%. And in person attendance was almost double 2011. Again, many of us had "met" through Twitter and used EdCamp Omaha as a way to develop those relationships face to face. Skip ahead a month to the end of April and NETA 2012. Use of the official #neta12 hashtag, even though it wasn't announced, was exponentially higher than past years. It was a combination of regular users tweeting more and new users jumping on board (thanks in part to Kevin Honeycutt, one of the keynote speakers).
Even with the success of #neta12, that doesn't answer the question as to how we bridge the gap between #neta12 and #neta13. Few people know that I also run our district's sports Twitter account. On autumn Friday nights in Nebraska, one of the hottest hashtags is #nebpreps, sharing all of the Friday night high school football activity. I don't know who started the hashtag, so I apologize for not giving credit. Playing off that hashtag a bit, I proposed on Twitter that we use #nebedu as a way to share educational information here in Nebraska.

There were a couple other suggestions that I'd like to clarify my "issues" with. Obviously, I'm not in charge of Twitter in Nebraska, but some of my thought process:

#nebed - Nebraska education or any bed? Junior high, I know, but it was the first thing I saw.
#netech - See my post yesterday. My thought was to make it as inclusive as possible of all aspects of education in the state.
#edne - personal preference of having NE first

So I tweeted out the #nebedu idea the other day. But, I hadn't added a column in Tweetdeck. When I finally got it added yesterday, the hashtag already filled up a full column on my screen, thanks in large part to the #yorkdukes crew. I'd encourage you to set up a column in Tweetdeck or save the search however it is that you access Twitter.

The #nebedu hashtag is for all of us in Nebraska to share the great, the not so great and the curious in education. It's not just for "techie" people. It's not an "Eastern 1/3" thing. It's statewide. It's what works/worked for YOU. It's Birth to PreK to 20. It's what's best to educate the kids in our state.

What made NETA 2012 stand out to me from past conferences is that I got to meet, face-to-face, many people who I'd already chatted with on Twitter. It was reminiscent of the connections I've made at EdCamps and ISTE in the past. Having a common hashtag allows you to see who is going to any conference or workshop in the state and get the discussion kicked off ahead of time and, more importantly in my book, continue the conversation once it's over.

I hope you'll share the #nebedu hashtag with any and all Twitter users. If you have Nebraska educators thinking about Twitter, direct them to the hashtag as a way to meet other Nebraska educators already sharing. Above all, please contribute. We NEED your contributions. We can make a bigger difference together than we can alone.

Good, er, Great Instruction - A Short Rant

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:38:00 +0000

I tweeted a while back that I was tired of talking about "technology integration" and really technology as a whole. We always talk about how it should be integrated but then we continually separate it out when it comes to professional development and evaluations. Granted, sometimes there needs to be a focus on a specific content area, but the more we silo our content and instructional techniques, the farther from "integration" we get. My tweet, and I'll paraphrase, wondered when will we get to the point where we stop talking about who "integrates tech" and instead just talk about good teachers? (Too which Kelly Tenkley mentioned, why not just go for "great teachers?" Point taken.)
Technology doesn't solve all problems. It can be a bit more problematic than a #2 pencil every now and then. Our tech director hit it on the head during a discussion tonight - technology doesn't make a teacher good. Neither does a good textbook.
I'm fairly confident I'll be preaching to the choir here, but I'm tired of it being instruction and technology. We have to get administration to understand that it's very difficult to be a good...OK, Kelly...a GREAT teacher if you never use technology with your students. I didn't say you have to use it every minute of every day. It's not for all situations. But it does offer opportunities that a pencil and paper can't.
While we are at it, when are we going to give the kids choices in how they share their learning? Don't tell them they HAVE to use a poster for the presentation, or HAVE to user PowerPoint, or Animoto, or Prezi, or whatever else. "Here's 5 or 6 options. Got a better option? Use it. But you need to be able to explain to me a, b, and c. I'll check in with you tomorrow to see your progress."
A great teacher uses the best tools available to them at the time. That tool varies depending on your students, curriculum and learning environment. Make it a goal over the summer to find better (not new - that doesn't always equal better) ways to meet your curriculum goals and objectives next fall.

The Fridge's Weekly Bookmarks (weekly)

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 13:30:00 +0000

TumbleBooks - eBooks for eKids!
- readers to the insect world, presenting fundamental information alongside interesting facts. Bold, bright, and packed

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

The Fridge's Weekly Bookmarks (weekly)

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 13:30:00 +0000

An introductory guide to iPads for Teachers | The Whiteboard Blog

RT @21centtech: An introductory guide to iPads for Teachers http://t.co/LorarBmY #yorkdukes #edtech #ipaded. #mlearning

tags: yorkdukes edtech ipaded mlearning

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

The Fridge's Weekly Bookmarks (weekly)

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 13:30:00 +0000

A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet: 39 Sites For Using iPads in the Classroom

A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet: 39 Sites For Using iPads in the Classroom http://t.co/3AAH9Ysl via @wibiya
Here are the docs i was using today w http://

@KathyPerret Here are the docs i was using today w @mrbadura @Coach_Sautter @epaopao @lpospishil http://t.co/stcThZY5 http://t.co/YFGmGDUY

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

The Fridge's Weekly Bookmarks (weekly)

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:30:00 +0000

A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet: 39 Sites For Using iPads in the Classroom

39 Sites For Using iPads in the Classroom http://t.co/8lWi8yuK via @zite
What are the Best Fonts for Presentation Slides

tags: presentation powerpoint
Presentation Zen: Videos to help you rethink education, learning, & school

Videos to help you rethink education, learning, & school http://t.co/cemZU7Gp #edtech

tags: edtech
iRead Program - Escondido USD - Download free content from Apple Distinguished Educators on iTunes

tags: reading ipad iPod Touch ipod languagearts

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

The Fridge's Weekly Bookmarks (weekly)

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:30:00 +0000

buzztouch | Free iPhone and Android App Builder and Content Management System

@j_allen I got this resource from @WiscPrincipal http://t.co/weGTKtJ4 it creates a school based app. Thot abt ur class.
Dropbox - iPad Symposium.pdf - Simplify your life

Middle School iPad 1:1 Presentation http://t.co/4emer8At #tmaipad12

tags: tmaipad12
The Innovative Educator: Top 10 Technology Blogs for Education

Top 10 Technology Blogs for Education http://t.co/cbkKSHII via @zite #yorkdukes #edtech #tt4t

tags: yorkdukes edtech tt4t
Burlington High School Principal's Blog: iPad Distribution for 1,000+ Students - Here's The Plan (Registration Open)

This was the plan for passing out our iPads back in August http://t.co/941FV9oL #ne121

tags: ne121

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

The Fridge's Weekly Bookmarks (weekly)

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 13:30:00 +0000

AppList Updated: Fresh Out Of The Box For iPad - Free Edition -- AppAdvice

Just buy an iPad or buying one soon? You'll want these free apps - http://t.co/vCZxamuF
iPadagogy-A channel dedicated to instruction videos of useful apps for education | iGeneration - 21st Century Education | Scoop.it

iPadagogy-A channel dedicated to instruction videos of apps for education | iGeneration - http://t.co/vHwFmfFQ #ocsb #app #ipad #edtech

tags: ocsb app ipad edtech
It Is Not About the Gadgets - Why Every Teacher Should Have to Integrate Tech Into Their Classroom

tags: integration classroom teacher technology
How to Create a Portfolio with Evernote (Education Series) « Evernote Blogcast

tags: evernote portfolio eportfolio

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

The Fridge's Weekly Bookmarks (weekly)

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 13:30:00 +0000

New Culture of Learning

Congrats @bengrey & THX 4 including @bruecka23. We hope we're raising him in "A New Culture of Learning" #ice12 http://t.co/bZqN8KhU

tags: ice12
iPad As....

tags: ipad apps
Free Technology for Teachers: Watch Frostbite Theater from Jefferson Lab

tags: flip science youtube video videos free tech 4 teachers
Students as Producers

tags: flip students katie morrow
That Guy in the Library

“@mrbadura: Latest Post-->"iMovie in Your Classroom" http://t.co/tTdktES8 " another great inspiring post Craig! Thanks for sharing! #tt4t

tags: tt4t
2e[Video] Reading on the iPad Made Easy – 3fSimpleK12

[Video] Reading on the iPad Made Easy - http://t.co/ojVlXmii #edtech #edchat

tags: edtech edchat
Generate report | Diigo

In case anyone wants to see my Diigo-ed snips from Seth Godin's manifesto on schools: http://t.co/WLrAOjkc #edchat #edreform

tags: edchat edreform
Dr. William Rankin - Download free content from Apple Distinguished Educators on iTunes

Brand new "must download" content on ADEs on iTunes U! - http://t.co/1GKcip0E #iTunes #ADEdu

tags: iTunes ADEdu

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The Fridge's Weekly Bookmarks (weekly)

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Five Best Practices for the Flipped Classroom | Edutopia

tags: flip best practices classroom learning
I Education Apps Review - I Education Apps Review - App of the Week: Scribble Press

IEAR Update: App of the Week: Scribble Press http://t.co/lHQofC4H
7 Online Resources For Finding Grants For Educators | Emerging Education Technology

Looking for a grant? 7 Online Resources for Finding Grants for Educators: http://t.co/hzz8WusO #EdChat

tags: EdChat
- Top 10 Apps for Digital Storytelling

tags: apps iear edapp digital storytelling

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The Fridge's Weekly Bookmarks (weekly)

noreply@blogger.com (J Allen) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Education Week: Rethinking Testing in the Age of the iPad

Moving student assessments onto iPads for quicker feedback, richer data: http://t.co/bKapZLr4 rt @educationweek cc @j_allen thoughts??
ifakesiri.com | Generate your own Siri conversations

tags: siri fake siri
Apply For A Teacher Grant & Win Cash & Prizes For Your Classroom | WeAreTeachers | We Are Teachers

Need money and tech for your classroom? We have 4 grants available where you can win just that! http://t.co/OLizOYEL #edchat

tags: edchat
"iTV" Threat Proves Samsung Fails To Understand Importance Of Innovation -- AppAdvice

Samsung bad at innovation, good at wishful thinking.
http://t.co/FQ6NNTBe
Workshop Agenda - iLearn: Mobile Devices in the Classroom

great resource for ipad integration http://t.co/TIdcQCae #petec12

tags: petec12

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.