New Media and Implications for Learning and Thinking

USC media professor, Henry Jenkins talks about the importance of developing new media skills in education. Jenkins discusses the participatory gap that exists due to the "new media disconnect" among teachers and students. Jenkins also stresses the importance of teachers using online networks to develop professional learning networks in order to keep up with the changing pace of technology. Jenkins states that teachers should use these networks to their advantage and "extend their learning" by connecting with other teachers who are more comfortable with using technology.

Interactive Christmas Book

In my search to finding useful websites for teachers related to various holiday activities, I came across this Interactive Christmas Book that I just had to share with everyone. The Christmas Book is full of interactive Christmas activities that can be used to reinforce reading comprehension as well as English language learning. It even has an activity to help students learn about Boxing Day. Once you?re on the site click on the cover to see an index of activities.

"The Week in Rap"- An Educational News Summary

Thanks to Free Technology for Teachers I learned about The Week in Rap which is a weekly news summary in the form of a rap music video. This week's video included Texas' exciting snow appearing this week! Anyway, I just thought this was quite exciting... snow and an informative news summary all in one day! You can't beat that! Here's the video: