What’s the Buzz: Instructional Technology Frameworks Part 1

After the VSTE annual conference, I’ve done a lot of thinking about frameworks. One of the Keynote presentations introduced a framework that was new to me and then questioned the continued use of structures like SAMR. I had to do some reflection, because here at TeachersFirst we use the SAMR model a lot.   I … read more »

Cartoons and Comics Aren’t Just for Newspapers Anymore

Did you know the first cartoon appeared in a U.S. newspaper way back in 1754? Benjamin Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette featured the political cartoon “Join or Die” on May 9, 1754. The picture showed the American colonies as a snake divided into eight pieces and presented the political point of view that the colonies should unite. … read more »

Tech Tool of the Month: Book Creator

April brings us many celebrations related to writing: National Poetry Month, National Library Week, Poem in Your Pocket Day, World Book and Copyright Day, and more. What better time to feature a cool writing tool. The tech tool of the month is Book Creator; a tool for all ages to create beautiful digital stories! Book … read more »

Let’s Continue the Conversation: Virtual Collaboration in the Classroom

If you caught last Thursday’s bi-weekly OK2Ask Twitter Chat (see the archive here), you know we chatted all things virtual collaboration.  Let’s delve a little deeper into this topic and continue the conversation. Regardless if you’re a new or seasoned educator, you’ve surely been bombarded with the importance of a collaborative learning space.  Collaboration is … read more »