April 3, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
0 comments
Space Time 3D Search Engine is a visual search engine that lets you see results on a carousel.
I think it’s a little “clunky,” so I’m not going to add it to The Best Search Engines For ESL/EFL Learners, but it’s still worth a look.
April 3, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
0 comments
Here are some new additions to The Best Ways For Students Or Teachers To Create A Website (I’ve also updated that post in other ways):
Up until now, I’ve only included apps to make websites that allow you to grab images directly off the web. However, there are some sites that are pretty darn easy, but only let you upload photos off your computer. Here are two that I’m now adding:
Weebly and their app just for educators and students, Weebly For Education
April 3, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
0 comments
I’ve just revised and updated these three “The Best…” Lists:
The Best Guides To ESL/EFL/ELL Terminology
The Best (& Most Thoughtful) Blogs On “Big Picture” Education Issues
April 3, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
0 comments
CVS Pharmacy has a pretty impressive multimedia collection of health resources.
There are three sections on the site — animations, multimedia, and audio.
The animations are engaging, but the English probably isn’t very accessible to English Language Learners. The multimedia slideshows are also good, and are probably accessible to Intermediate ELL’s. Their audio reports are the best resources on the site for ELL’s — they’re short reports with audio support for the text.
I’ve place the link on my website under Health.
Thanks to Donna Murray for the tip.
April 2, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
0 comments
BevyFind is a new search engine that lets you…well, it’s a little hard for me to explain exactly what it does. For English Language Learners, I like the fact that you can click on a text result and see the website without leaving the search page. I also like the fact that you can easily add multiple search results, including images, to automatically add to email that you can describe. That capability is good for higher-order thinking categorization skills.
It appears that it’s primary selling-point for most people, though, appears to be its ability to show lots of different search results on the same page. That’s a bad, and not accurate description, but, for the life of me, I can’t figure out how to better explain it. Check it out yourself.
It’s an interesting search engine, but not exceptional enough to be added to The Best Search Engines For ESL/EFL Learners.
Thanks to Angela Maiers for the tip.
April 2, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
0 comments
I just noticed today that the publisher has enabled the “Search Inside This Book” feature on Amazon for my book, Building Parent Engagement In Schools.
So, now, in addition to all the previews and excerpts I’ve posted from the book, you can now access at least a few pages on the web (table of contents, a few pages of the introduction and from the body of the book, and the index).
April 2, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
0 comments
“America’s 35 Hardest-Hit Cities” is a very accessible infographic showing the communities around the U.S. with the highest unemployment rates. Quite a few of them are located right here in California’s Central Valley.
I’m adding it to The Best Sites To Learn About The Recession.
April 2, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
1 Comment
Earlier this week I wrote a post about a new study that came out titled “Disadvantaged students reap most financial return from college education.” It’s an important study — one that I’ll use with my students. Here’s the part I quoted there:
The economic value of a college diploma is nearly twice as high for women from disadvantaged backgrounds as for women from privileged backgrounds, the findings show. For disadvantaged men, the lift is even greater:A college education is worth three times more for them than for privileged college-goers.
On my favorite writers on education issues, Claus von Zastrow, left this insightful comment on my post:
This is an important study, because it flies in the face of all those recent arguments AGAINST encouraging low-income students to attend college. The debt isn’t worth it, and they’re often under-prepared, the argument goes. The “college isn’t for everyone” mantra” is often silently directed at low-income students.
That comment struck a chord when I read about The Low Risk of High Expectations at the Core Knowledge blog (by the way, Robert Pondiscio, that blog’s author, will be my guest in May’s “Interview Of The Month” on this blog).
Robert writes about another new study, titled Is There A Downside To Shooting For The Stars?. Here’s a quote from Robert’s post, though I recommend you read it in its entirety:
The study found no long-term emotional costs of aiming high and falling short when it comes to educational aspirations. “We should not be in a hurry to dissuade these students from planning to go to college,” Reynolds [the study's author] said. “In fact, the only way to guarantee negative mental health outcomes is not trying. Aiming high and failing is not consequential for mental health, while trying may lead to higher achievements and the mental and material benefits that go along with those achievements.”
Of course, in California, getting a four-year degree for many would be more feasible (and less financially-risky) if our community colleges were given the capacity to offer four-year degrees, as they have in a number of other states. There’s the beginning of an effort to make that happen, but it faces many, many political obstacles.
Does anybody have an idea if such a change has any chances at all here in California?
Please leave a comment if you do…
April 2, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
0 comments
Here are some more excellent additions to The Best Sites For Learning About Easter And Passover:
Holy Week is a series of photos from The Boston Globe’s Big Picture.
Peeps on Display and Peeps For The People are fun videos from ABC News.
April 2, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
0 comments
Here are some final additions to The Best Sites For Learning About Cesar Chavez:
Cesar Chavez’s Crop of Change is a video from ABC News.
Rose Named After Farmworkers’ Hero is a fascinating story by CBS News.
Park service begins study for possible Cesar Chavez historic landmark is a Sacramento Bee article.
April 2, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
0 comments
I’ve posted in the past about The Fun Theory. It’s a series of of experiments sponsored by Volkswagen. They’re designed to encourage people to change to a more positive behavior by making it fun to do so — a message that we teachers could keep in mind. The most well-known video was on making stairs musical so people would use them instead of an escalator.
The site had a contest to solicit addition suggestions by video, and you can see all the finalists here.
The winner showed how obeying the speed limit could be made fun, and other finalists included showing how kids cleaning their rooms, and people recycling cans could have the same results. There’s a lot more to see….
April 2, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
0 comments
I’ve just updated The Best Teacher Resources For “Foldables.”
“Foldables” are basically 3 D graphic organizers.
April 2, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
3 Comments
Many of you have probably heard about these great new free books and downloaded them already, but I needed to get around to posting about them anyway. I’ve added them both to The Best Places To Learn Web 2.0 Basics.
The Amazing Web 2.0 Projects Book
“The Amazing Web 2.0 Projects Book,” edited by Terry Freedman, is a must-read for anybody who wants to use Web 2.0 applications with their students.
Here is how Terry describes the free book:
# 87 projects.
# 10 further resources.
# 52 applications.
# 94 contributors.
# The benefits of using Web 2.0 applications.
# The challenges of using Web 2.0 applications.
# How the folk who ran these projects handled the issues…
# … And what they recommend you do if you run them.
# What were the learning outcomes?
Google For Teachers
Richard Byrne has written a free 33 page book titled Google For Teachers.
Here is how he describes it:
This guide avoids some of the obvious things, like using Google Docs for collaborative writing, and instead focuses on some of the lesser-used Google tools options like publishing an online quiz using Google Docs. In all there are 33 pages containing 21 ideas and how to instructions for creating Google Maps placemarks, directions creating and publishing a quiz with Google Docs forms, directions for embedding books into your blog, and visual aids for accessing other Google tools.
You can’t miss downloading these two great resources!
April 2, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
0 comments
Here are some more additions to The Best Sites For Learning About Easter And Passover:
Holy Week is a slideshow from The Wall Street Journal.
Peeps Show IV is a fun slideshow from The Washington Post.
Passover preparations are underway is a slideshow from The Washington Post.
April 2, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
1 Comment
I’ve been writing a lot about strategies to help students develop more self-control.
Here’s yet another study that demonstrates the positive pay-off for students.
High Self-Control Predicts Good Adjustment, Less Pathology, Better Grades, and Interpersonal Success is the title of the study written by June P. Tangney , Roy F. Baumeister, Angie Luzio Boone. It’s very lengthy, and you have to pay for it. I’ve purchased and reviewed it, and will be adapting small sections for students and, when I do, will post what I’m using here.
But here’s their abstract:
What good is self-control? We incorporated a new measure of individual differences in self-control into two large investigations of a broad spectrum of behaviors. The new scale showed good internal consistency and retest reliability. Higher scores on self-control correlated with a higher grade point average, better adjustment (fewer reports of psychopathology, higher self-esteem), less binge eating and alcohol abuse, better relationships and interpersonal skills, secure attachment, and more optimal emotional responses. Tests for curvilinearity failed to indicate any drawbacks of so-called overcontrol, and the positive effects remained after controlling for social desirability. Low self-control is thus a significant risk factor for a broad range of personal and interpersonal problems.
April 2, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
1 Comment
Animating your Coursebook is the title of an amazing post, and slideshow presentation, by EFL teacher Marisa Constantinides.
If you have to use a textbook in your class, it’s chock-full of great ideas on how to make it come alive. It’s designed for an ESL/EFL class, but the strategies can be used by any teacher and for any textbook. And, heaven knows, so many textbooks are dead and can use a little re-animation!
I’m also adding Marisa’s blog to The Best ESL/EFL Blogs.
April 2, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
0 comments
Mrs. Tyler’s Videos and Songs is a eclectic blog with video clips designed to teach English literature and writing.
Most of the clips are more appropriate for native-English speakers, but a few could be useful with English Language Learners.
Thanks to Sean Banville for the tip.
April 2, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
0 comments
“U.S. Healthcare Spending vs The Globe” is another infographic comparing spending on health in the U.S. with other parts of the world.
I wouldn’t say its the best one I’ve seen, but it does have some different information.
I’m adding it to The Best Online Resources For Learning About Health Care Reform.
April 2, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
2 Comments
NOTE: You might also be interested in My Best Posts On The Basics Of Small Groups In The Classroom
I’m now working on my third book, which is focused on instructional and classroom management strategies geared towards developing student autonomy and personal responsibility (as opposed to student obedience or student rebellion). Eye On Education is planning on publishing it in early 2011 — assuming I meet my deadlines 
I’ll be writing a post soon inviting reader contributions to the book, too.
One of the strategies I’ll be writing about is cooperative learning. In the course of my research, I’ve found some pretty good sites that I thought readers might find useful.
I’ve divided them into two sections — one sharing sites that provide research results on its use and the second section with sites offering more practical ideas on how to implement cooperative learning in the classroom.
Here are my choices for The Best Sites For Cooperative Learning Ideas:
Powerful Learning: Studies Show Deep Understanding Derives from Collaborative Methods is an excellent Edutopia article by Brigid Barron and Linda Darling-Hammond. You can also download an expanded version of their article here.
Cooperative Learning And Social Interdependence Theory by David W. Johnson and Roger T. Johnson and Cooperative Learning:Two heads learn better than one by the same authors.
The Many Faces of Inductive Teaching and Learning
Evidence that PBL Works comes from Edutopia.
Surprise, Surprise! Study Says Cooperative Learning Is More Effective Than Lectures
IMPLEMENTING COOPERATIVE LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM:
Cooperative Learning Techniques
Best Practices: Cooperative Learning
The Jigsaw Classroom In 10 Easy Steps
An article by Spencer Kagan on using cooperative learning in the ESL classroom.
Unleashing the “Brain Power” of Groups in the Classroom is a great article about the neuroscience of cooperative learning groups. It appears in The Harvard Education Letter.
I write in my book, English Language Learners: Teaching Strategies That Work, about how I used problem-based learning in the classroom. It’s very engaging, and very effective on a number of levels.
Apparently, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agrees.
You can now read the list of questions the CIA recommends to use in order to define problems and develop a solution to them.
I think they’re pretty good, and being able to attribute them to the CIA will only make them more attractive to students. I can see giving students the lists and having them pick the ones that they’re most interested in answering.
Watch Problem Based Learning in Action: Apollo 13 is a nice post (and video clip) by Peter Pappas.
Here are some resources specifically on Project-Based Learning:
The Buck Institute For Education
Edutopia has some great resources on Project-Based Learning.
Seven Essentials For Project-Based Learning is the title of a very useful article in this month’s issue of Educational Leadership.
The Buck Institute For Education, one of the leaders in project-based learning, has just begun a blog devoted to PBL.
If these resources aren’t enough for you, Cybraryman has even more… as does The Complete Guide to Project-Based Learning.
The Buck Institute For Education, which has created a number of Project-Based Learning resources that are on this list, have recently had Common Craft, the wildly popular animation company, to create a video on PBL. Here is how Buck describes it, and I’ve embedded the video below the explanation. I’m also adding it to the previously mentioned “The Best…” list:
The Buck Institute for Education commissioned the cutting-edge advertising agency, Common Craft, to create a short animated video that explains in clear language the essential elements of Project Based Learning (PBL).
This simple video makes the essential elements of PBL come alive and brings to light the 21st Century skills and competencies (collaboration, communication, critical thinking) that will enable K-12 students to be college and work-ready as well as effective members of their communities.
Here are some more resources specifically on Problem-Based Learning:
Amphitheater Public Schools Problem-Based Learning Resources
I published a post about a recent study that found that a group of people who had good social skills would outperform a group of individuals with higher native intelligence but fewer interpersonal abilities (see And This Is Why We Have To Help Our Students Learn How To Work In Small Groups). NPR ran a more extensive story about the same research. Go to Collaboration Beats Smarts In Group Problem Solving.
I know that some studies have said that three or four students are the best number for student small groups in the classroom. However, I’ve always found that — at least for ninth-graders — working in pairs works best (though sometimes near the end of the school year I’ll have them do a project in three or four after they’ve matured a bit and gained more experience in pair work).
A new study now seems like it might reinforce my opinion. 2 people can learn to cooperate intuitively, but larger groups need to communicate is the title of an article reporting on research that two people can work more easily intuitively.
You might also be interested in some past posts about student small groups:
What Do You To Make Sure Small Groups Work Well In Class?
And This Is Why We Have To Help Our Students Learn How To Work In Small Groups
Thanks to Sheryl NussbaumBeach, here’s an excellent video describing the steps of problem-based learning. I write a lot about about this process in my books, and am adding the video to The Best Sites For Cooperative Learning Ideas:
Top Ten Tips for Assessing Project-Based Learning is a new great — and free — classroom guide from Edutopia.
The Marzano Research Laboratory has released a study on their website that concluded:
on the average, the use of cooperative learning by teachers in the action research studies was associated with a gain in student academic achievement of 30 percentile points over what was expected when teachers did not use cooperative learning.
Not bad…
A neat Problem-Based Learning Interactive comes from the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. Thanks to Jackie Gerstein for the tip.
What Makes A Good Project? is by Gary Stager.
How to Refine Driving Questions for Effective Project-Based Learning comes from Edutopia.
I’m also adding another post titled How To Write Driving Questions
Don’t Lecture Me: Rethinking How College Students Learn is a commentary on research in a college classroom, but it certainly can also pertain to K-12, too.
Problem-Based Learning in K-12 Education: Is It Effective and How Does It Achieve Its Effects? is a new study highlighting the effectiveness of Problem-Based Learning. Unfortunately, the link will only allow you to access the abstract and you have to pay to see the full report.
Physicists Seek To Lose The Lecture As Teaching Tool is an NPR Report about the successes of a professor who has stopped lecturing and, and instead, has begun using small groups. American Radio Works has a more extensive feature on the results.
Additional suggestions are welcome.
If you found this post useful, you might want to consider subscribing to this blog for free.
You might also want to explore the 400 other “The Best…” lists I’ve compiled.
April 1, 2010
by Larry Ferlazzo
0 comments
Parent’s Choice has just announced their the websites that are winners of this year’s Parents Choice Awards.
Most of them are familiar names, but a couple of sites that were new to me and looked good were Optics For Kids and Dinosaur Train.
You can also see all the winners in previous years here.
