(As compiled by OnlineDegrees)
1) The Whiteboard Blog – Nominated as the “Best Educational Tech and Support Blog” for the 2009 Edublog Awards, posts include various videos, tutorials, and resources for primary and secondary school teachers. Author Danny Nicholson is a freelance educational consultant whose main specialty lies in Interactive Whiteboards. Recommended posts: “Anne Frank’s House Interactive,” and “Maths Manipulatives.”
2) Ed Tech Central – With the slogan “From Geek to Chic and Everything in Between,” author Wes Kriesel uses his blog to introduce technology that is “free and easy.” “I focus on time-saving shortcuts, such a keyboard shortcuts or productivity tips that teachers, administrative staff and clerical staff alike can benefit from,” he said. “I also like to feature easy-to-adapt ways to implement technology in the classroom (focusing on web applications and software that is free on the internet).” Recommended posts: “How to Export a PowerPoint Slide as a JPEG file,” “How to Use Mail Merge to Import Student Names to Certificates,” or “How to Use Animoto for Instruction.”
3) Langwitches – Popular amongst fellow educational bloggers, this blog has been nominated as the “Best Teacher Blog” for the 2009 Edublog Awards. It was also listed as one of the Top 100 Language Blogs in 2009 and 2010, and nominated as the “Best Resource Sharing Blog” and “Best Tech Support Blog” for the 2008 Edublog Awards. Recommended posts: “Infographics- What? Why? How?,” and “Presentation21 Make-Over.”
4) 21st Century EdTech – Voted as one of the Top 50 Education Innovators Award, blogger Michael Gorman is a John Hopkins University graduate who has presented at national and regional conferences, and also facilitates podcasts and webinars, and writes for various newsletters and magazines. Topics include 21st century skills, Project Based Learning, and STEM education, with a focus on ISTE’s and NET standards for students, teachers, and administrators. His blog provides countless collections of free resources that could help “engages today’s digital natives.” Recommended posts: “Free: Showing Evidence Tool… Collaboratively Construct, Evaluate, And Defend!,” and “Free Classroom Interactive System From Microsoft… A Little Mouse Mischief!.”
5) IHeartEdTech – “Whether it’s a cool new free tech tool on the web, or a new and interesting idea to use a current technology in a new way. IHeartEdTech.com helps teachers connect and collaborate with each other, and provides resources to build 21st century classrooms,” says Lisa Greathouse, one of the authors on the blog who is also the Manager of SimpleK12.com. She also explained that their site “helps teachers and educators learn about, evaluate, and integrate technology into the classroom.”Recommended posts: “7 Reasons Why I Love Evernote & Why You Should Too!,” “5 Steps to Empower Your Students,” and “Freebie Man: Win a Mouse Mischief Classroom Makeover.”
6) Digital Teachers’ Lounge – From this blog, educators can read up on the author Shannon Firth’s “Educators that Rock!” series which conducts profiles of “leading edge” educators and librarians who integrate technology into schools and public libraries. Other series include “Schools Around the World,” and their weekly quiz “Quiztory,” which is followed by “The Answer Sheet.” Recommended posts: “5 Ways to Encourage Boys to Read,” and “Need Funds for a School Project? DonorsChoose.org Can Help.”
7) Ed Tech Crew – The Ed Tech Crew Podcast blog updates readers on their podcast series, which can be downloaded directly from the site. The authors also provide lists of their favorite podcasts as well, along with feedback from listeners, online surveys, free resources, and interesting links. Recommended posts/podcasts: “Google I/O & the iSchool Crew,” “The Internet of Things,” and “Interview with Brendan O’Brien on Cyber Safety.”
Technology Tidbits: Thoughts of a Cyber Hero – This blog was nominated as the “Best New Blog” and “Best Resource Sharing Blog” for the 2009 Edublog Awards. Author David Kapuler described his blog as a site which provides useful, easy to use and free resources for teachers: “I think teachers can use my blog as a tool to help them integrate technology into the classroom. Also, I try to provide them an example of how I have used it to get the creative juices flowing for them…Not only is technology thriving but the Internet is evolving and pretty soon we’ll be talking about Web 3.0 and the practical use of the semantic web.” Recommended posts: “Top 10 Sites for Creating Digital Music,” and “Twiducate.”
9) Angela Maiers Educational Services – Angela Maiers’ blog is an “ongoing presentation” which covers a number of different topics, such as conversations with fellow educators and educational workshops, as well as a “Chalk Talk Friday” series which provides links to other educational resources and websites. The blog was also first runner up as the “Best eLearning/Corporate Education” award for the 2009 Edublog Awards, and winner of the “Best new blog” award in 2008. The blog was also voted as one of the Top 50 Education Innovator awards, and one of the top 100 language blogs in 2009. Recommended posts: “Thoughts on Ning?” and “Setting up the your Classroom at the END of the year? YES!”
10) Infinite Thinking Machine – This blog is primarily a resource for those who want to stay updated on educational webinars. It was nominated as the “Best Educational Blog” and “Best Video Blogger” for the Blogger’s Choice Awards, and each week the author posts upcoming schedules so readers can tune in live and listen in on the latest webinars which touch on education and technology news. Some topics include Skype, math lessons, Twitter, Wikis, and much more.