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The CITE Journal (Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education) is an online, peer-reviewed journal that is sponsored by five professional associations that have the responsibility of reviewing the articles in their designated disciplines. Readers are able to respond to articles, much like a blog or social media website, which is a unique characteristic to the website. 

One article, Examining Mathematics Teacher Educators’ Emerging Practices in Online Environments, evaluates professional development and how online learning is prevalent in the classroom. A study was done over a course of 4 weeks “to provide teachers with an opportunity to explore proportional reasoning for teaching” (pg. 388). The professional development took place with a blended model of face-to-face activities as well as using online components through Blackboard Vista. The overall goal was to create constructivist listening online as a critical element to constructivist teacher practice. In the end, the results of the study concluded that whether you are in a traditional classroom, using an online module to learn, or a combination of both, the learners’ need to feel important and that the teacher cares about what the learner has to say. Through the professional development, essential elements of the constructivist teaching practice were identified as caring relations and listening. 

Kastberg, S., Lynch-Davis, K., & D’Ambrosio, B. (2014). Examining mathematics teacher educators’ emerging practices in online environments. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 14(4), 384-400.

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Scholastic's Administrator Technology area has solutions and strategies on integrating education technology and curriculum to create an environment where all learners can achieve, with up-to-date trend reporting and essential resources.

The technology section for administrators on the Scholastic website has many different, useful resources. One that I liked was Tech Tools, which offers reviews of up-and-coming technology to use in the classroom. You can watch videos on professional development, listen to webinars, and flip through the archived article section to find search specific topics. 

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TICAL is the one-stop, technology information portal for school administrators, by school administrators. You'll find over 800 select, annotated resources plus a community of like-minded colleagues.

I find this resource helpful due to its wealth of information. The website includes free, online PD in many different areas, tutorials, educational blogs, and a section on resources for all five of the NETS-A standards. It’s free to join (we like free) and even has links to CCSS Resources as well.

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Who To Follow

In looking for blogs on leadership and technology, I came across one that is geared towards business and not education, but feel that many of the posts can relate to our missions as administrators. 

www.katemats.com is a blog devoted to thoughts on technology, leadership and life and how they are connected. One article reflects on the importance of delegating. As an administrator or leader in the school, we need to be able to know when to (and be able to) delegate responsibilities to keep ourselves from becoming overwhelmed. There are certain responsibilities of leaders in the school, but some things are appropriate for others to handle. 

Kate’s most recent blog discusses proven ways to get more done in less time. Who doesn’t want to get more done in less time?? 

Although this blog is not centered around educational leadership, I still believe Kate has some valid points in her articles - one’s that we could use in our own careers to make a positive impact. 

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Qualcomm uses technology to enable people in Brazil to fish more efficiently. In Santa Cruz Cabralia, fishing is a primary source of income for many families. The fish population was being depleted due to over-fishing and the area was poverty stricken. Wireless Reach provided mobile devices with software apps to fishermen to that gives the fishermen information on safety, weather, fishing, and market prices for fish. The mobile devices also provide real-time navigation updates which help the fishermen use their resources to their benefit. The integration of technology in Santa Cruz Cabralia may have saved the economy. 

http://www.uschamberfoundation.org/blog/post/fishing-3g-nets-how-qualcomm-promotes-sustainable-development-through-mobile-technology

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Cool Tool

I decided to try out the ShowMe app on the iPad for my students.

www.showme.com

With the ShowMe app, I can create tutorials using the iPad for my students to watch if they need more assistance with certain topics. On concepts I predict students will need help on or concepts I do not feel students fully grasped in class, I can create a video for the students to watch at home for further clarification. 

The app was extremely easy to use - almost too easy. I do not own Apple products, but the app was pretty self-explanatory in its use and sharing/uploading of the video. 

The ShowMe app could easily be used to help improve instruction. For students that need more coverage of content or for students that missed instruction, the ShowMe app would really work well to allow students exposure to content. 

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Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else

Judy Garland