Podcasts are awesome!!!!

I just finished listening to Episode #17- "Going paperless in the classroom and tools that help stakeholders open the lines of communication with each other. They also talked about adapting to new technology"by Jeff Herb. This was a great podcast because Jeff gave great suggestions that can be implemented in our classrooms. Although I like the fact that podcasts can be listened to while driving, I prefer listening to them on my computer because I can take notes.Below you will see notes I took while listening to this podcast:

Why go paperless? It counter budgets and helps streamline the classroom.
Although Jeff believes that it is a great idea to Cut the number of reams of paper we use daily, he doesn't believe we will soon be 100% paperless. However, this does not mean we can’t start digitizing.

Suggestions and tools for going paperless:
• Create PDF versions of self-created documents for distributing assignments with students and colleagues.
• He suggested using Genius scan because it scans documents to PDF.
• Organize digital files on Evernote because it has optical recognition which allows you to search for words.
• Create video-based notes using Camtasia, Jing, or Screener.com which gives you the option to record lessons (This can be shared with students who were absent)

Communication tools to open channels of communication:
• Remind101 allows for privacy once the teachers create a class. It also lets the teachers set reminders and send it out to students and parents.
• WDWDT (What Did We Do Today) allows teachers to create surveys and forms as well as create appointments. It’s a great option for creating interaction.
• Celly sets up a mini-network. People join by using the app or linking their phone number. It has been used to create study groups and as a response system.

Being ready for new technology as it becomes available is not easy but one can plan for them by:
• Designing lessons that are adaptable
• Staying current with instructional technology
• Joining twitter and follow forward thinking educators
• Attending educational technology conferences to build PLN
• Understanding that not every tool will be of benefit to you

I truly enjoyed this podcast and look forward to listening to more of Instructional Ted Talk. If you get a chance, listen to Jeff on iTunes and comment below.

Click here to Check out Jeff Herb's Website!