Throw Away the Old Playbook
Fear of Change
One of the biggest struggles as a teacher is learning to appreciate change and being open to it. Many get accustomed to their "usual" and fear the uncomfortable feeling of straying away from their safe zone. Because this profession is always changing, it is something we must be open to. Today, teachers are having to rethink the way they think based on changes in technology. The modern day classroom is not designed to integrate a lot of technology and that is something that teachers must change because students are thinking differently than past generations. Technology has advanced more than ever before and will continue to increase at an exceptionally fast rate. We need to teach to meet the needs of our digital learners. The 21st-Century Digital Learners website is something you're going to want to take a look at: http://www.edutopia.org/ikids
Rethinking Learning: The 21st Century Learner | MacArthur Foundation
Implementing Blogging in the Classroom
This is one of the areas that teachers feel most uncomfortable with on how to start and how to get everyone involved. This website is great for making you feel at ease with blogging in your classroom. It gets you comfortable with change and teaches you how to be a successful blogger. Blogging is a great start in throwing away your old playbook. They are the platform of 21st century skills and literacies, from communicating to connecting, from Digital Citizenship to information, network, global and media literacy.
http://langwitches.org/blog/2012/10/08/implementing-blogging-in-the-classroom/#
Demonstrates the flow of blogging in the classroom
20 Exciting Teaching Tools of Tomorrow
This website will help get you started on getting up-to-date tools for your classroom. The major emphasis is on connecting, sharing, learning, and working with others--global communication is key! Others include social media based learning, incorporating iPads in the classroom, and many more new and engaging tools to provide to our learners today.
http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2012/07/20-exciting-teaching-tools-tomorrow/