No. 1

10 Technology Mistakes You Don't Want to Make

We like to read top 10 lists. Here's one on teaching and technology by Kelly Walsh. 

Most of these are common sense, but I really like No. 9:

Be vague or unclear with technology based assignment instructions:

Be vague or unclear with technology based assignment instructions: Make sure your instructions are clear and precise – for example, if you tell students “post ____ on the Internet” but give no guidance as to how or where, you are asking for potential problems and confusion. Similarly, if you say, find ______ on the Internet, students may be exposed to inappropriate content, or simply get distracted."

She offers a link:

http://www.emergingedtech.com/2014/02/10-teaching-with-technology-mistakes-you-dont-want-to-make/

No.2

Hemmingwayapp.com

This web-based application (which means you need to use a internet browser to use it), allows you to paste in any text, and then it analyzes it in the 'spirit of Hemingway',  which I guess that means something good.  Seriously, you have to try it out if you like to write. It has an algorithm that parses your text and offers suggestions for revision. It's like a kindlier and gentler and more subtle than Microsoft's 'grammar correction' function. It color codes your texts and offers suggestions. It's pretty cool and FREE.

No.3

A New Technology Cheat Sheet for Teachers

This is a nice infographic defining current tech terms influencing education. If something interests you from this list, let me know and I'll resource you.

Check out the Link below:

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/02/a-new-educational-technology-cheat.html

Finally...

No.4

Show Your Work

Austin Kleon's new book: "Show Your Work" by Workman press is already phenomenal. Its subtitle says: "10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered"

I was a fan of Austin Kleon's approachable, no nonsense approach to things. His first book: "Steal Like an Artist" has been a New York Times Best Seller. It's a gem.

This book helps anyone who is doing good work take the next few steps and get discovered. I work with a whole bunch of innovative, dedicated, creative teachers. This book is for them.

Here's the Amazon link: http://amzn.com/B00GU2RGGI

That's it for this edition of RATL.

Thanks

A 2012 TEFL Teaching English Abroad Alumni!!!

This will be a good test of this unique format.

Date: Saturday April 12, 2014

Site: Biola University | School of Business Lecture Hall | 13800 Biola Ave., La Mirada, CA 90639

Theme: Serious Fun: Creativity in the Language Classroom
Presenter: Christopher Stillwell

Creativity is integral to learners’ development of the ability to interpret and communicate in a foreign language, and it is no less essential to language teachers as they seek the best ways to tailor their practices to suit learners’ needs. Focusing on creativity in the classroom can enhance language learning by capturing attention, stimulating the senses, and tapping into our natural tendencies for exploration. This session will explore ways of harnessing creativity to energize language classrooms, including brainstorming techniques that foster fluency and flow. Participants will learn ways of reframing ordinary content in attention-getting contexts that help learners make discoveries for themselves. Additional areas of exploration will include simple uses of technology to capture seriously educational elements of seemingly frivolous activities, useful language teaching insights that can be found from crossing borders into distant fields, and general classroom practices that support learners’ creativity.

Christopher Stillwell has taught ESL/EFL for more than 18 years, and he has worked as a teacher educator at Teachers College Columbia University, at the UC Irvine Extension, and at various schools in Japan and Laos. In Japan he also worked as assistant director of a large university EFL program. He has presented extensively, with two invited speaker presentations receiving “Best of JALT” awards, and he is listed on the U.S. Department of State’s database of English Language Specialists.

Christopher has contributed dozens of publications on language teaching to edited volumes as well as to such peer-reviewed publications as ELT Journal and The Language Teacher, and he is the editor of two books for TESOL, Language Teaching Insights from Other Fields: Sports, Arts, Design, and More and the upcoming companion, Language Teaching Insights from Other Fields: Psychology, Business, Brain Science, and More. He is presently a doctoral student at UC Irvine’s School of Education.

Call for Posters. Proposals due March 9, 2014. A flyer with submission information is available (PDF).

Online registration is available. You can also download the registration flyer (PDF) to share with colleagues.