Recommendations, and more recommendations, plus online resources.
Lots of good things out there to find. Below are a few of my favorite sites that deal with a myriad of resources for teaching and learning. Also see other recommendations for specific areas or topics on individual pages. Please let me know if links on this thesecondprinciple.com site are down.
Citations for online references: Often folks write and want to know how to cite my pages. Frequently these inquirers indicate they are in either masters or doctoral programs. As part of student orientation each graduate advisor, or department, or graduate institution for higher learning should provide their students with clear guidance on what style manual to use when writing papers, research, theses, or dissertations. In the States these are usually either APA, Chicago, MLA, or Turaban — it depends on the field of study. Generally, schools of education or related fields use APA. If readers did not receive that information from their school, please seek guidance from your immediate supervisor or professor on this point as each citation method is different. Links to helpful online formats can be found at:
- APA – http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/DocAPA.html
- General guidance – http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/DocAPA.html – Includes major style references and online help with creating citations
To start, here are some things I LOVE!
- I adore EDUTOPIA and if I could would thank George Lucas personally for his insight and efforts in establishing it. It is a huge site, but you might want to start with some of the numerous videos.
- As a professional educator I don’t think NCLB was initially a bad idea, but its execution and the fall out from its gross mismanagement has set American education back eons. We are still feeling the residual impact from its failure. Perhaps to two worst things that happened as a result of this initiative are a lot of really great teachers left the field due to the toxic fallout, and what is worse – we have generations of kids who cannot think well either critically or creatively. Singer and balladeer Tom Chapin nailed it in his song Not on the test placing our obsession with testing in the appropriate perspective. Catch it on YouTube .
- The School of Life – A London based concern that is worldwide — concentrating on helping others understand the concepts driving emotional intelligence and emotional wellness. They also have lots of products to trigger discussions on issues that surround emotional intelligence and its development. Plus, their YouTube cache includes numerous clever videos that explain and address many of life’s BIG questions. While some of these are for adults, many still work for teens and young adults. Well worth a peek at the array of well done videos and related materials!
- Knowing about Brainbased Learning or (aka educational neuroscience) is imperative for today’s educators. This is a link from Titus Dalisay and posted on OpenCollege on the brain structures and functions, and a great tool for exploring the human command center.
- Brain Rules – I love John Medina, his humor, his energy, and the advice the he gives — he is priceless. You can also check out his presentations on YouTube.
- Kathy Schrock – Kathy’s has been generously sharing information online about teaching and technology since 1995. Her comprehensive site contains many tips and resources, especially those surrounding using technology effectively in teaching.
- informED – This site from Open Colleges has numerous articles and interactive postings. Exceptional resources for educators at all levels.
- watchmegrow.com videos – These are short videos for parents about how to discern child behavior, excellent resources for parents, grandparents, and teachers.
- MediaThatMatters – A series of cached short films from their film competitions. Many are provocative motivators for in depth conversations about numerous topics. Samples from this cache can be used in the classroom.
Two of my favorite video sites are TEDtalks (technology, entertainment, and design) and Media that matters. All educators need to know about these two sites. Not only are they great for teaching resources, they are essential for expanding personal knowledge and awareness of the world and new knowledge. Here are some of my favorite clips from TED.
TED – Technology, Entertainment, Design – Started out as a conference in 1984 and brings together a phenomenal group of original thinkers from all over the world to share new ideas, concerns, as well as innovations. Site includes many wonderful speeches by attendees. Listen to TEDtalks. Explore TED’s archives. Are there presentations or speeches that moved you or gave you new perspectives?
Personal Favorites From TED –
- Sir Ken Robinson on schools and creativity
- Some great minds examine how we learn
- Alisa Miller – Why we know less
- Isabel Allende: Tales of passion
- Amy Tan on Creativity
Books:
I am an avowed bookaholic. Many are like old friends, and the ones I love I keep handy and go back to time and again. Here are some of my favorites:
- In Orbiting the giant hairball Gordon MacKenzie offers priceless tips on how to maintain creativity within the overwhelming rules and regulations of governmental and corporate structures. Personally, this is one of my favorites and I used it in my graduate creativity class. My students loved it — it helped them think outside the box and offers insights into the real world or work.
- David A. Sousa is an author who writes about brain-based learning. His work is also very readable, plus he offers lots of information and numerous helpful hints about brain compatible learning with illustrations on brain functions. (from Corwin Press) Sousa has a series of related books, but my favorite is his How the brain learns (4th ed).
- Teacher burnout is a very real condition in today’s times. I think teachers need books that sustain them, ones they can pick up and put down and just feel better after reading a few pages. One of my favorites to use just that way is Greta K. Nagel’s The Tao Of Teaching from Plume Publishing.
Links in Education:
General:
Online College.Org Open Resources in Education – While a somewhat commercial link for those seeking info and links to a variety of online programs, this specialized link is devoted to free, open resources in areas of education, to include an array of links to different states teaching certification requirements. Well worth checking out.
Curiosity – This is an overview of a program in Victoria Australia. It is apparently a government document spelling out the interlocking pieces for an educational initiative. IT IS WONDERFUL! I only wish the elements in this document were duplicated here in the US because it has a sense of the future, and of what kids will need to face the challenges of tomorrow. Spread the word!
Online Directory of State Departments of Education
Educational Lexicon – The area of education has its own special vocabulary and jargon. ASCD provides a comprehensive lexicon for understanding current terms.
American University’s Overview — While this is essentially an advertisement for the teacher preparation program at AU, if readers scroll down the page it does provide concise definitions and overviews for many of the techniques, programs, and teaching tactics that are guiding today’s preparatory and in-service teacher training programs. Perhaps a good place to start if you are thinking of becoming a teacher, or want to know something about newer educational trends in the US.
Lesson Plans:
Teacher.org – Lesson plans for teachers by teachers
Ideas for parents and teachers:
Bob’s Books is a commercial site for publishing your own photo books in the UK. But they have a Community section with many unusual ideas about how to use self-publishing for both teachers and parents. Here is a sample on creating ABC books that engage children.