Haugen’s Tech Tips Blog

ATMac is a blog that offers news, reviews and opinions on assistive technology for Mac OS X, by Ricky Buchanan who is himself an avid Mac and AT user.  Organized by type of user, for example “text-to-speech users,” or “deaf users,” or “primary switch users,” and by audience (”content producers,” “developers,” “edcuators,” “users”), you can quickly find relevant entries.

Bottom line - direct, honest info and reviews about state-of-the-art assistive tech for the Mac.

• Kathy Cassidy — Blogmeister

  An excellent model of blogging with younger students. Notice how the kids type their own posts and the adult ‘editor’ adds a readable translation. She also comments on the children’s writing, encouraging more. The class posts photos, videos and more.

  (tags: ages06-09 examples trldsites blogging)

• Classroom Blogs and Wikis

  How can classroom communication and collaboration be enhanced with the usage of internet blogs? Created by Doug Caldwell

  (tags: blogging reference wikis)

• The Year of the Blog: Home

  Barclay Barrios, from the Writing Program at Rutgers University, shares ideas, tips and rationale for blogging in the classroom

  (tags: blogging reference tutorials examples)

• Steps toward a Successful Classroom Blog | Computer Writing and Research Lab

  “Tom Nelson and Mariela Hristova, discuss their own experiences with classroom blogs. Although they use blogs in different ways, Tom and Mariela suggest some basic strategies for productive classroom blogging.”
  From UTA’s Computer Writing & Research Lat

  (tags: blogging writing reference)

• Wiki | Free Wiki Websites for Online Collaboration | Wetpaint

  Wetpaint education wikis are now ad-free!

  (tags: free wikis forteachers)

• Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Ten habits of bloggers that win!

  Excellent article with really effective tips from a blogger who knows (and cares about) what they are doing.

  (tags: blogging web2.0 tips tutorials education checkit reference)

• Differentiated Instruction

  Comprehensive resource and reference on differentiated instruction, learning strategies, technology and more.

  (tags: forteachers universaldesign reference topsite differentiatedinstruction eductechnology)

From Edublogs themselves (the folks who host this blog and will host your education-oriented blog for free, too!), here are ten ways to-use your edublog to teach. From discussions to newsletters, sharing lessons, materials and assignments to posting events and dates, here are concrete ways a blog can enhance your teaching and your students’ learning experience.

Excellent series of articles by Lorelle VanFossen that teach a lot about blog design as well as the practicalities of converting a newsletter to a blog. This is a must-read for anyone designing a blog!
Posted at www.blogherald.com

I keep coming across one of my favorite children’s authors & illustrators Peter Reynolds again and again. I first found him at the TRLD conference in San Francisco, in 2000. He was there to promote his software, but I convinced him (it wasn’t hard) to sign a copy of The North Star for my newborn nephew Joe. Not only did he sign it to Joe, he added a little illustration. His software was good, too!
If you don’t know Fable Vision, or Peter’s books (especially The North Star and Ish), or The Blue Bunny Book Store, you’ve got to check them out! Peter combines a whimsical warmth, a storyteller’s vision, and a solid constructivist approach to learning that makes me want to pull the roof off every school so we can all find our own stars.