The onslaught of technology for education in the classroom the last few years has been impressive. Many see it as the answer to all things educational, while others fear it as the end of teaching as we know it. Today’s economy is riddled with funding shortages. School systems across the nation struggle to find ways [...]
Yesterday The Portland Project was covered in an article by Mashable entitled, The Case for Social Media in Schools. The conversation that is ensuing because of that article is really quite amazing.
Until I began experimenting with Social Media implementation, I never realized how little differentiating I was actually doing, or just how difficult I was making my job. Utilizing technology and media tools have become my secret formula for differentiated instruction. I can easily assign a project that is appropriate, interesting and challenging for all my students using Social Media.
It is not unusual for a middle school student to spend 20 hours a week on internet sites such as MySpace or Facebook. These sites provide the social connectivity and peer interaction that is so very import to this age child. While the social interaction is important and meaningful, these activities rarely provide any meaningful [...]
…You do not get credit for Homework Club. One of the great things about new technology is the brainstorming that goes with learning to use it effectively. Case in point: The Portland Project led to some very creative ways to use social media with students. As engagement was one of the key deliverables of their [...]
The project started simply enough. A very creative educator and counselor at George Middle School, Liz Delmatoff, found a clip of an NBC News segment I did on social media. She tracked me down and several phone calls worth of brainstorming later, I was booked to spend three days at GMS to help her team [...]