About This Site

_The purpose of this site is to take an extensive list of websites that are considered high quality, reliable, and valuable and organize them in a way that even "non-techy" teachers can utilize them. It took around 10 years to collect these resources, but new ones are found every day. All of these websites have been recommended by other teachers and educational organizations and qualify as "the best". You'll find support for all core curriculum areas. In addition, you will find lesson plans, multimedia, and primary sources to enhance your students' learning environment.

About Nadine Norris

I have been in education for over 12 years. After spending a few years as a classroom teacher, I became a technology coordinator for a large parochial school in suburban Chicago. During that time, I developed an extensive professional learning network with others in the educational technology field. Currently, I am the president of Illinois Computing Educators (ICE). Attending conferences, both in person and online have helped me meet others with enthusiasm and knowledge about transforming teaching and learning to reflect the digital age. Within the past several years, I have presented various topics at the Illinois Computing Educators' (ICE) Conference, as well as regional conferences for ICE and the Office of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago. I have trained teachers for several years in the areas of computer applications for personal and professional use, as well as effective use of the Internet for the teaching and learning environment. My current position is as an instructional technology coordinator for an elementary district in the suburbs of Chicago.

In my position as instructional technology coordinator, I collaborate with classroom teachers in grades K-8 to design and implement teaching and learning activities that infuse technology. Together, we work to meet the curriculum objectives, while assuring that the students are given the opportunity to learn and master their technology skills in a developmentally appropriate sequence. Collaboration allows us to design meaningful activities that not only help the students learn the content, but develop life-long learning skills. I've done a great deal of research and it's easy to recognize that technology is a tool that can enhance or hinder the educational process. It's important to realize that it's not about technology for technology's sake. We don't "teach computers", just as we don't "teach pencils and notebooks". As a former classroom teacher, I recognize the importance of understanding pedagogy, classroom management, curriculum development and implementation, and assessment. This enhances my position as technology coordinator because I can clearly see the connection between the learning environment and the learner and develop ways to infuse technology into the curriculum across all content areas in ways that are congruent with educational research and best practices. In addition, it's important to approach everything I do as a teacher, not as a technologist. The position of technology coordinator requires special interpersonal skills. Positive relationships occur when collaborators demonstrate enthusiasm, flexibility, empathy, and a genuine interest in the success of the students.

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Teaching Philosophy

An outstanding teacher develops a positive relationship with learners, with a genuine interest in their success. Outstanding teachers are approachable and demonstrate a willingness to give encouragement and extra help. With regard to teaching practices, outstanding teachers are enthusiastic about teaching, and provide a stimulating, varied, and engaging learning environment where students are able to actively participate in their own learning. Teaching and learning activities are carefully planned to offer meaningful activities that not only help the students learn the content, but develop life-long learning skills. Outstanding teachers are interested in their own professional development and engage in reflective personal growth opportunities. Finally, outstanding teachers are interested in the promotion of excellent teaching among their school community, collaborate with their peers, and are involved in the school improvement process.

Meeting the needs of all students
It is extremely important to tailor instruction to the individual students needs as concepts are taught and assessed, creating a responsive learning environment where each child can achieve a high level of success requires that learning activities and units be created around answering essential questions, not from simply the covering the material. The curriculum remains constant, but the level of teacher support, task complexity, pacing, and learning activity design are based on the student’s readiness, interest, and learning style. As we reflect on the process, the challenge is how to change our way of thinking to get away from “covering the material” to helping their students come to a deeper understanding of the concepts. We are asked to move away from comfortable classroom practices, which may include relying heavily on whole class instruction and moving at a fast pace through the textbook. Instead, we must provide students with a variety of strategies to understand the concepts they are expected to learn. This means that the material should be presented in a variety of different modalities. Examples include multimedia, hands on demonstration, collaboration with peers, and text based presentation. Students may then demonstrate their learning in a variety of different ways, based on their interests, skill level, and learning style. Assessments that are project based, offer students choice, and using a rubric that carefully measures the understanding of content are important ways to differentiate for a variety of student needs.

Disclosure

This policy is valid from 5 August 2009

 This blog and website is personal conten written and edited by me. This site does not accept any form of advertising, sponsorship, or paid insertions. I write for the purposes of sharing, collaborating, and contributing to the community of educators who promote the use of technology and social media in education. However, I may influenced by our background, occupation, religion, political affiliation or experience.

 The owner(s) of this blog will never receive compensation in any way from this blog.

 The owner(s) of this blog would like to disclose the following existing relationships. These are companies, organizations or individuals that may have a significant impact on the content of this blog. I am employed by or consult with: Community Consolidated School District 15. I serve on the following corporate or non profit boards: Illinois Computing Educators.

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