Be Your Best

"Be Your Best," is a statement I've heard pretty much all of my life but as an educator it takes  on new meaning. For a teacher, trying to be your best takes effort and understanding of exactly what those three words encompass. Being your best not only takes time but also a willingness to embrace the mentality that is necessary to constantly strive to be your best. Being your best is hard work. It requires you to seek out others, to embrace change, to look for new things, to try new ideas, and to sometimes accept failure. Being our best…

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Why the Name?

Since starting the Educationtech21 website, I've been asked by a number of people, "Why the name?" I think some have come to the site looking for ways to use technology in the classroom and been surprised by what may seem to be the emphasis on classroom instruction and student learning. So, this article will be a little different (and shorter!). I would like to explain the story behind the name and talk a little about what you will find on the site both now and in the future. If you have not read, "About the Website...A Personal Story", I invite…

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A 21st Century Lesson Cycle

If we are to work toward a truly flexible classroom that meets the needs of all of our students, we not only need to find the correct ways to incorporate technology in our classrooms (see, A Vision for Technological Classrooms for the 21st Century), but we must work toward a focused plan for a 21st century lesson cycle. This lesson cycle will focus not on the material covered, but on the desired student learning outcomes. It must be driven by student success and not by the clock or calendar. Without this well-designed lesson cycle,  any attempt to incorporate meaningful use…

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