Three Self-Paced Courses for the Start of the School Year
If you’re interested in a professional development course that you can do while sitting outside before the summer ends, take a look at the courses I offer through PracticalEdTech.com. Animated Explanations!This five-part course teaches you everything you need to know to create and teach with your own animated explanations. In the course you’ll learn why the […]
Great Debates and Taylor Swift
EconEdLink is a resource that I’ve recommended to social studies teachers for many years now. In addition to great economics lesson plans like this one about lemonade stands and this one about owning your first car, EconEdLink provides professional development opportunities throughout the year. Next week EconEdLink is hosting two free webinars for teachers. The […]
TeachMeet Online – A Free Conference Coming Soon
I went to my first TeachMeet event in London about ten years ago. It was a ton of fun and I learned a lot from the experience. My Google Photos album from that trip is full of fun memories including seeing Russel Tarr’s ClassTools spinner wheel being used to keep order over the proceedings. Over […]
Three Self-paced Courses You Can Complete This Summer
If you’re interested in a professional development course that you can do while sitting outside this summer, take a look at the courses I offer through PracticalEdTech.com. Animated Explanations!This five-part course teaches you everything you need to know to create and teach with your own animated explanations. In the course you’ll learn why the process of […]
25 Search Strategies You Need to Know – New Course Starting Soon
One of the most popular webinars and courses that I’ve hosted over the years have been about search strategies and how to teach them to students. This summer I’m offering a new Practical Ed Tech course on that topic. The course starts in two days! 25 Search Strategies You Need to Know is a five-part […]
5 FAQs About 25 Search Strategies You Need to Know
Last Saturday I announced the launch of a new course titled 25 Search Strategies You Need to Know. In the five days since then a bunch of you have registered for the course, thank you! Even more of you have sent me questions about the course. Here are the answers to some of those questions. […]
My Two Most Popular Courses This Year
Summer break is here or nearly here for many of us. With that break comes time to drink our coffee out of our favorite mugs at home instead of a travel mug at school. I love the feeling of sipping coffee in the warm morning sun while I’ll catch up on the things I couldn’t […]
A Better Way to do Summer PD
Picture this: the sun is shining, you’re wearing your favorite summer casual clothes (an old Phish t-shirt in my case), but you’re going to miss a great day of outdoor play because you have to go to school for a summer PD day. What if there was a better way to do summer PD? There […]
Three Self-paced Courses You Can Take Now or This Summer
It has started to feel like summer is right around the corner here in Maine. Twice this week I’ve sat outside on our picnic table to do some course work. If you’re interested in a professional development course that you can do while sitting outside this spring or summer, take a look at the courses […]
Three Online Courses You Can Start Today
As the school year starts to wind-down you might find yourself looking for some new project ideas to keep your kids (perhaps yourself) interested and excited during the last month or so of the year. I have a couple of self-paced courses that provide you with exactly that. Animated Explanations!This five-part course teaches you everything […]
Webinar – Blending Technology Into Outdoor Learning
The last two days have been the first truly warm and sunny spring days of the year here in western Maine. While playing with our puppy and soaking up the sunshine yesterday afternoon I said to myself, “self, it’s time to host your technology and outdoor learning webinar.” So last night I updated my webinar […]
2023 Summer Workshops – Booking Now
It might seem like it’s a long way off right now, but summer will be here soon (for those of us in the northern hemisphere). Heck, on Saturday I got an email about T-Ball registration for kids. Besides watching baseball games and riding bikes with my kids, one of the things I’m looking forward to […]
A Great PD Opportunity for Civics Teachers in the U.S.
Summer might feel like it is a long way right now. But now is the time to start thinking about and planning for professional development you might do this summer. To that end, the National Archives is now accepting applications for the 2023 Civics for All U.S. Teacher Institute. The 2023 Civics for All U.S. […]
Five FAQs About Five Video Projects for Almost Every Classroom
Over the weekend I got a bunch of questions about my new Practical Ed Tech course, Five Video Projects for Almost Every Classroom. Perhaps you’ve been thinking about taking the course and were wondering about some elements of it. Here’s a short list of some of the FAQs and their answers. 1. What do you […]
New Month, New Course – Five Video Projects for Almost Every Classroom
Creating videos with students is one of my favorite things to do with students. Over the years I’ve helped students and their teachers create animated videos, green screen videos, mini documentaries, and instructional videos. In my new Practical Ed Tech course, Five Video Projects for Almost Every Classroom I will teach you how to do […]
How to Make a Mini Course
The Internet is not lacking for tools to create online courses. I’ve tried a lot of them over the years. The bad ones force you to become an expert on how to use their platforms before you can publish your own courses. The good ones make it easy for you to develop and publish a […]
Three Self-paced Courses You Can Start Today!
Throughout the year I host a variety of live Practical Ed Tech webinars. Many of you have joined me for them this year and in prior school years. But my timing of those webinars doesn’t work for a lot of you. That’s why I also offer some self-paced courses over on Practical Ed Tech. Here’s […]
A Webinar and an eBook for Your School
When I published the first edition of 50 Tech Tuesday Tips I made the offer of hosting a free webinar for any school or group that purchases ten or more copies. I’ve had more than a handful of people take me up on that offer. That offer is still good and I’d be happy to host a webinar […]
Ask Two EdTech Guys
At the end of 2022 Rushton Hurley and I brought the curtain down on our series of live webinars titled Two EdTech Guys Take Questions and Share Cool Stuff. The archive of the shows lives on right here. And if you can’t get enough of our friendly faces and banter, we’re bringing the series back […]
Fifty Tech Tuesday Tips
Are you a tech coach, tech integrator, or media specialist who has been asked to run a little tech workshop? Do you need some ideas for it? If so, 50 Tech Tuesday Tips is for you! 50 Tech Tuesday Tips was curated from more than 400 editions of The Practical Ed Tech Newsletter. In 50 Tech Tuesday Tips you […]
A Webinar (or Workshop) and an eBook for Your School
Last December I published the first edition of 50 Tech Tuesday Tips. When I did that I made the offer of hosting a free webinar for any school or group that purchases ten or more copies. So far I’ve had a handful of people take me up on that offer. That offer is still good and […]
Free Webinar This Tuesday – Two Ed Tech Guys Take Questions
This coming Tuesday, November 1st at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT Rushton Hurley and I will be hosting the second episode of our third season of Two EdTech Guys Take Questions and Share Cool Stuff. Just like the title says we take questions, answer questions, and share some cool stuff that we’ve found around the web. We’d […]
Five More Things Students Can Explain With Simple Animations
Last week I shared five suggestions for things that students can explain with simple animations. This week I have five more ideas to share with you. But first I’d like to remind you that creating simple animations to illustrate understanding of concepts can be done by just about anyone in just about any context. That’s […]
Making and Teaching With Animated Explanations – A New Practical Ed Tech Course
At the end of this week’s Practical Ed Tech newsletter I teased a new online course that I’ve been developing. That course is Animated Explanations. It will begin on November 1st. In Animated Explanations you’ll learn why creating animations is a great teaching and learning activity in elementary school, middle school, and high school classrooms. […]
Two EdTech Guys Take Questions – Season Three, Episode Two
Last week Rushton Hurley and I hosted the second episode of the third season of our Two Ed Tech Guys Take Questions series. We were joined by a handful of fine folks and even more people were registered to join us. If you missed our live broadcast, you can now watch the recording and find all of […]
50 Tech Tuesday Tips for You
Are you a new tech coach, tech integrator, or media specialist who has been asked to run a little tech workshop? Do you need some ideas for it? If so, 50 Tech Tuesday Tips is for you! 50 Tech Tuesday Tips was curated from more than 400 editions of The Practical Ed Tech Newsletter. In 50 Tech Tuesday […]
Join Me and Rushton Hurley This Tuesday Evening for a Free Webinar
On Tuesday, October 4th at 8pm ET/ 4pm PT Rushton Hurley and I will be hosting the second episode of our third season of Two EdTech Guys Take Questions and Share Cool Stuff. Just like the title says we take questions, answer questions, and share some cool stuff that we’ve found around the web. We’d […]
50 Ideas for Your Next Tech Tuesday
Are you a new tech coach, tech integrator, or media specialist who has been asked to run a little tech workshop? Do you need some ideas for it? If so, 50 Tech Tuesday Tips is for you! 50 Tech Tuesday Tips was curated from more than 400 editions of The Practical Ed Tech Newsletter. In 50 Tech Tuesday […]
Webinar Tomorrow! – A Framework for Technology Integration
Are you new to the role of tech coach or tech integrator this fall? If so, I have an eBook and webinar for you! Tomorrow at 3pm ET I’m hosting A Framework for Technology Integration. Anyone who purchases a copy of my eBook 50 Tech Tuesday Tips between now and midnight (Eastern Time) tonight will get […]
A Webinar and eBook for New Tech Coaches and Integrators
Are you new to the role of tech coach or tech integrator this fall? If so, I have an eBook and webinar for you! On August 30th at 3pm ET I’m hosting A Framework for Technology Integration. Anyone who purchases a copy of my eBook 50 Tech Tuesday Tips between now and midnight (Eastern Time) on […]
Search Strategies Students Need to Know
The next webinar in my Practical Ed Tech summer series is Search Strategies Students Need to Know. This is the most popular webinar that I host every year and I’m hosting it next Wednesday at 11am ET. I’ve updated it with new activities you can do to help your students get beyond the first page […]
Webinars This Week and Next
This month I’ve hosted three webinars and I have two more scheduled before the end of July. By the end of August I’ll have hosted seven. The next webinar in my summer series is DIY App Creation for the Rest of Us. Join this webinar to learn how you can have your students create mobile […]
Video Projects for Almost Every Classroom
This summer I’m hosting a handful of professional development webinars on Practical Ed Tech. The next one is a two-part series called Video Projects for Almost Every Classroom. Video Projects for Almost Every Classroom will be held live on July 11th and 12th. In this two-part event you will learn how to create and complete […]
Seven Summer Webinars With Me!
As I announced last week on Practical Ed Tech, starting on July 6th and running through August I’m hosting a series of webinars on a wide range of edtech topics. All of the webinars will be held live and will also be recorded for those who register in advance. You can register for one, two, […]
Teaching History With Technology – Online Course Starting in June
This summer I’m not hosting the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp. I am, however, hosting a some online courses for those who are interested. The first one that I’m hosting starts in June. That course is Teaching History With Technology. Teaching History With Technology is a five-part course that will meet via Zoom at 4pm […]
The National Archives to Host Online Professional Development This Summer
The National Archives offers many excellent resources for history teachers. For example, they recently published a new guide to understanding perspectives in primary sources. And this summer the National Archives will be hosting free online professional development events for teachers. The first event is on July 12th through the 14th. It is the Truman Library […]
How to Create an Online Course With Three Simple Tools
Summer is coming (in the northern hemisphere) and for many of us that means spending some time participating in professional development activities as a leader, learner, or both. If you find yourself trying to create some online professional development courses for the summer, I have a new video just for you. In this video I […]
Two Webinars Coming Up This Week
The sun is shining, summer is so close, but there’s still time to learn some new things to try in your classroom before the end of the school year. This week I’m hosting or co-hosting two opportunities to learn directly from me in live webinars. First, on Tuesday I’m hosting Blending Technology Into Outdoor Learning. […]
Blending Technology Into Outdoor Learning
On Monday we had our first truly warm and sunny spring afternoon here in western Maine. I went fly fishing for a little while on a little stream near my house. It was while I was fishing that I thought to myself, “self, you haven’t hosted your outdoor learning webinar in over a year.” So […]
Five Videos to Build a Google Forms Course
Yesterday I published a blog post about creating an online course with ConvertKit. A couple of weeks ago I published a blog post about building a professional development course and distributing it via Gmail. In those posts I gave the example of distributing a series of tutorial videos about topics like using Google Forms. If […]
How to Create an Online Course With ConvertKit
A couple of weeks ago I published a video and blog post about how to create a professional development series in Gmail. The method that I outlined in that post works well if you use Gmail, use Google Forms, and aren’t particularly interested in the aesthetics of what you publish. But if you don’t use […]
Let Me Host Your Next Professional Development Session
Later this month I’m hosting webinars for two organizations that purchased a bunch of copies of my 50 Tech Tuesday Tips eBook. I would be happy to do the same for your school, department, or organization. If you purchase ten or more copies of 50 Tech Tuesday Tips I’ll host a custom, one hour webinar for your school […]
ICYMI – Two EdTech Guys Take Questions
Last week Rushton Hurley and I hosted another episode of our Two EdTech Guys Take Questions webinar series. If you missed it, you can watch the recording right here or as embedded below. Rushton does a great job of sharing links to all of the resources that we mention in the webinar. That list of resources can along with […]
Two Webinars Coming Up This Week
As I shared in this week’s Practical Ed Tech Newsletter, this week I’m hosting two webinars. On Wednesday I’m hosting a webinar for everyone who has recently purchased a copy of my ebook, 50 Tech Tuesday Tips. The webinar is titled A Framework for Technology Integration. In it I’ll share my framework for helping teachers […]
An eBook and a Webinar – 50 Tech Tuesday Tips
Back in January I hosted a webinar for those who had purchased a copy of 50 Tech Tuesday Tips. That webinar proved to be popular so I’m going to host it again on March 9th at 4pm ET. On March 9th at 4pm ET I’m hosting A Framework for Technology Integration. Anyone who purchases a […]
I’ll Host Your Next Professional Development Session
Yesterday afternoon I hosted a webinar for an organization that had purchased a bunch of copies of my 50 Tech Tuesday Tips ebook. I would be happy to do the same for your school, department, or organization. If you purchase ten or more copies of 50 Tech Tuesday Tips I’ll host a custom, one hour webinar for your […]
Join Me on Tuesday for Search Strategies for History Students and Teachers
This Tuesday at 4pm ET I’m hosting a Practical Ed Tech webinar titled Search Strategies for History Students and Teachers. If a student has ever said to you, “I can’t find anything about this,” this webinar is for you! In this one hour webinar I’ll share the strategies and techniques that I’ve used with my […]
I’ll Host Your Next Tech Tuesday
Yesterday afternoon I hosted a webinar just for those who have purchased a copy of 50 Tech Tuesday Tips. Based on the response to that webinar I’ll probably do another one like it later this year. Until then, I have a different offer for you. If you purchase ten or more copies of 50 Tech Tuesday Tips […]
Two Free and Cool Summer Learning Opportunities for Teachers
Summer feels like it’s a long way off right now which is why I like to start thinking about it now and putting some fun things on summer calendar. If you like to do the same, here’s a couple of cool summer learning opportunities that you might want to investigate and apply for. C-SPAN Fellowship […]
Three Tips for Getting More Out of Webinars
I love webinars. They’re a convenient way to learn from experts that I otherwise wouldn’t get to interact with. But not everyone enjoys them like I do. In fact, I didn’t always find them enjoyable. Then about ten years ago I made some simple, almost “duh,” discoveries that helped me get more out of each […]
Volley – Video, Audio, and Text Messaging for Learning
Disclosure: Volley is an advertiser on FreeTech4Teachers.comAt the end of 2021 an old friend from the early days of Free Technology for Teachers introduced me to a new conversation platform called Volley. I liked it so much that I included Volley in my Best of the Web 2021 webinar. So now that you know I’m […]
50 Tech Tuesday Tips – A New eBook for Tech Coaches
Are you a tech coach, a tech integrator, a media specialist, or a teacher who gets asked to put on workshops after school or on staff development days? Do you need ideas for what to do during those workshops? If so, my new ebook is for you! Curated from more than 400 editions of The […]
A Thanksgiving Special!
As many of you know, the primary means of support for Free Technology for Teachers comes through the sales of my Practical Ed Tech courses and professional development services. This week and through next Tuesday all of my Practical Ed Tech self-paced courses are on sale for 33% off the regular price. You can register […]
A Geography Awareness Week Special
Next week is my favorite academic week of the year. It’s Geography Awareness Week! On Sunday I’ll be publishing a big list of resources for teaching and learning about geography. In that list you’ll see me mention some uses Google Earth and Google Maps. If you want to really dive into Google Earth and Google […]
Self-Paced Professional Development
The primary means through which I am able to keep Free Technology for Teachers going is through consulting and speaking engagements along with the sales of my live and on-demand Practical Ed Tech courses. The latest addition to my catalog of on-demand courses was made last month when I released Search Strategies Students Need to […]
Search Strategies Students Need to Know – A New Practical Ed Tech Course
A couple of weeks ago I hosted a live Practical Ed Tech webinar titled Search Strategies Students Need to Know! I’ve now taken the content and concepts of that webinar and broken into a self-paced mini course. Search Strategies Students Need to Know contains ten self-paced modules, templates for helping students conduct better online research, […]
Webinar This Thursday – Search Strategies Students Need to Know
This Thursday at 4pm ET I’m hosting the new version of my most popular Practical Ed Tech webinar, Search Strategies Students Need to Know. The updated version of this webinar includes new handouts for you and your students. These include templates for formulating lessons to teach search strategies and templates for students to follow when […]
Join Me On Monday!
The August session of the Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp begins next Monday at 10am ET. If you haven’t registered, you can do so up until an hour before it starts. During the Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp I’ll cover ten key topics over the course of ten live webinars (recordings will also be available). […]
Join Me Next Monday!
The August session of the Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp begins next Monday at 10am ET. If you haven’t registered, you can do so up until an hour before it starts. In the Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp I’ll cover ten key topics over the course of ten live webinars (recordings will also be […]
Join Me on Monday!
The July session of the Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp begins on Monday at 10am ET. If you haven’t registered, you can do so up until an hour before it starts. There is a July session and an August session of the Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp. In all both sessions we’ll cover ten […]
Coming Later This Month…
The July session of the Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp begins in eleven days. If you haven’t registered for the session of your choice, you can do so up until the day before it starts. While the early-bird discount has passed, you can still get group discounts. There is a July session and an August […]
Just Five Days Until…
It is just five days until the first session of the Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp begins. If you haven’t registered for the session of your choice, you can do so up until the day before it starts. While the early-bird discount has passed, you can still get group discounts. There is a June session, […]
Less Than Two Weeks to Go!
The first session of the Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp is less than two weeks away! If you haven’t registered for the session of your choice, you can do so up until the day before it starts. While the early-bird discount has passed, you can still get group discounts. There is a June session, […]
Three Days Left!
The first session of the Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp is just a month away. If you haven’t registered for the session of your choice, you can do so up until the day before it starts. However, there are just three days left to complete the early-bird registration. There is a June session, a […]
Ten Big Topics at the Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp
This summer I’m hosting the Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp three times. There will be a June session, a July session, and an August session. In all three sessions we’ll cover ten key topics over the course of ten live webinars (recordings will also be available). These are the topics for the Practical Ed […]
Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp FAQs
Last week I announced the dates for the Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp. A bunch of people have already registered. Many more people have sent me questions about registration and about the format of this virtual professional development event. In no particular order, here are the answers to the FAQs. Is there a group discount?Yes, […]
Three Tips to Get More Out of Webinars
Back in 2007 or 2008 I watched a professional development webinar for the first time. I can’t remember exactly what the webinar was about (it was something about Second Life), but I do remember thinking that I didn’t get “it.” After that I watched bunch of free webinars about all kinds of things because that’s […]
Join Me for the 2021 Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp
For many years teachers from all over the world came to Maine join me for the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp. While I was hoping to return to an in-person format, this summer I’m going to host the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp as a virtual event. Just like last year’s Practical Ed Tech Virtual […]
ICYMI – Intro to Teaching History With Technology – Webinar Recording
Earlier this week I hosted a free webinar titled Intro to Teaching History With Technology. In the webinar I introduced my Discovery, Discussion, Demonstration framework and how it can be applied to developing interesting history and geography lessons. More than 100 people joined the webinar. If you missed it, you can watch the recording right […]
Free Webinar Tomorrow – Two Ed Tech Guys Take Questions & Share Cool Stuff
Tomorrow (Thursday) at 4pm ET/ 1pm PT Rushton Hurley from Next Vista for Learning and I will be hosting the next installment of our free webinar series that is simply titled Two Ed Tech Guys Take Questions and Share Cool Stuff. Just like the title says, during each webinar we answer questions from anyone who […]
Webinar Tomorrow – Google Earth & Maps Projects for Social Studies
One of the primary ways that I’ve been able to keep Free Technology for Teachers going for the last couple of years is through the registration fees for my Practical Ed Tech webinars and courses. I haven’t held one in 2021. That will change tomorrow when I host Five Google Earth & Maps Projects for […]
Join Me for a Free Webinar This Thursday – Two Ed Tech Guys Take Question & Share Cool Stuff
This Thursday at 4pm ET Rushton Hurley and I are hosting Two Ed Tech Guys Take Questions and Share Cool Stuff. You can register for free right here. Just like the title implies, during the webinar we answer questions from anyone who attends as well as questions that have been sent to us in advance. You […]
Take a Crash Course in Making & Teaching With Video This Weekend
How to make instructional videos is far and way the topic that I have received the most questions about over the last six months. That’s why I put together a self-paced Practical Ed Tech course on how to make and teach with video. A Crash Course in Making & Teaching With Video gives you everything […]
Talking Instead of Reading
It has been nearly fifteen years since I first tried my hand at making instructional videos for my students. The first ones were not good. In fact, in response to one of my first attempts I had a student say “Mr. Byrne, please don’t do that again.” But I did try again and again and […]
Practical Ed Tech Webinar – Fun Formative Assessments for Virtual and Hybrid Classrooms
Like many of you, I have to teach students who are online and students who are in my classroom. Sometimes I have to do both at the same time! Getting students to interact and getting a sense of whether or not they’re “getting it” is a challenge in a hybrid or virtual classroom. Tomorrow, at […]
A Self-paced Crash Course in Making & Teaching With Video
Last week I hosted a live Practical Ed Tech webinar titled A Crash Course in Making & Teaching With Video. By popular request, I’ve turned that webinar into a self-paced course that is available now. If you find yourself needing to make instructional videos, but you’re not sure how best to do it, A Crash […]
A Crash Course in Making & Teaching With Video
About a month ago I hosted a Practical Ed Tech webinar titled A Crash Course in Making and Teaching With Video. In the weeks since I hosted that webinar I’ve had a bunch of requests to host it again. So that’s what I’m going to do next Tuesday (September 29th) at 4pm ET. This school […]
Get Organized With Google Classroom, Meet, and Calendar
Like a lot of you, I’ll be using Google Classroom, Google Meet and Google Calendar more than ever before this fall. I’ve been using these tools for years, but I know that many of you will be using them extensively for the first time. This Wednesday at 4pm ET I’m hosting a webinar for you! […]
July PD Opportunities With Me
Last week I hosted the first Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp. I realize that the middle of June isn’t the ideal time for everyone to join online professional development. That’s why I’m offering the Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp two more times in July. The first July session runs July 6th-10th and the […]
Three Free Webinars You Can Join This Week
If you’re looking for some new ideas to try with your classes next fall or you’re looking for answers to ed tech questions, consider joining one of the following free webinars this week. Recordings of all of these webinars will be available to those who register in advance. A Framework for Using Educational Technology Thursday […]
Classroom Podcasting 101
Podcasting is more popular than ever and growing every day. If you have thought about trying to make a podcast of your own, join me next Tuesday at 7pm ET for a Practical Ed Tech webinar titled Classroom Podcasting 101. Classroom Podcasting 101 will teach you how you can start a podcast in your classroom. The […]
Join Me This Summer for Two Days of Hands-on PD
The days are getting longer and even though we had a snow day yesterday, today is a beautiful day here in Maine. Before we know it kids will be showing up to school in shorts and tee-shirts again. And although the summer might feel far away, it will be here sooner than later. I’m looking […]
10 Things You Can Learn at the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp
Snow and sleet is falling here in Maine, I’m on the second day of a brutal chest cold, and 25% of my students were absent earlier this week. In other words, it’s the perfect time to think about summer and all of the good things that come with summer. One of those good things that […]
Video Projects for Almost Every Classroom – Deep Dive
The single most popular Practical Ed Tech webinar that I hosted last year was 5 Video Projects for Almost Every Classroom. More than 150 participated in it in live or recorded form. The most common piece of feedback that I received about it was, “I wish there was time spent on each project.” That’s why […]
Thanksgiving Bundle of Practical Ed Tech Webinars
Throughout the year on Practical Ed Tech I host live professional development webinars. The sale of those webinars helps to keep this blog running. The timing of the live webinars doesn’t work for everyone so I offer replays on-demand. For the next week all of the Practical Ed Tech on-demand webinars are on sale at […]
ICYMI – Six On-Demand PD Opportunities
In August and September I hosted five live Practical Ed Tech webinars and launched one self-paced course. A lot of people expressed interest in the webinars but said that the timing didn’t work. That’s understandable as the beginning of this school year has been extremely busy for me too. That’s why I’ve made all of […]
5 Video Projects for Almost Every Classroom – Webinar on Thursday
Every month I host at least one Practical Ed Tech professional development webinar. This month’s webinar is an updated version of my popular 5 Video Projects for Almost Every Classroom. 5 Video Projects for Almost Every Classroom will be held this Thursday at 4pm Eastern Time. In the webinar you’ll learn how you and your […]
Workshops I Can Run for Your Next PD Day
Over the last ten years I’ve had the good fortune to run workshops and give presentations at hundreds of schools and conferences. I’m frequently asked what I cover in my workshops and keynotes. Some of the outlines and slides from those presentations have appeared in blog posts in the past. But my list of workshops […]
Ten Workshops Ideas for Your Next PD Day
Over the last ten years I’ve had the good fortune to run workshops and give presentations at hundreds of schools and conferences. I’m frequently asked what I cover in my workshops and keynotes. Some of the outlines and slides from those presentations have appeared in blog posts in the past. But my list of workshops […]
An On-demand PD Opportunity Starting September 3rd
Getting Going With G Suite has been my most popular Practical Ed Tech course over the last six years. It has gone through many iterations just as G Suite for Education has evolved. To reflect the latest updates to G Suite for Education I’ve updated Getting Going With G Suite once again. This time I’m […]
Search Strategies Students Need to Know Now – Webinar This Thursday
The beginning of the new school year is a great time to introduce students to some new search strategies and to give them refreshers on techniques they may have forgotten about during the summer. That is why this Thursday at 4pm ET I’m hosting an updated version of my popular Search Strategies Students Need to […]
Intro to Animation and Green Screen Videos
Every Thursday afternoon in August I’m hosting a different Practical Ed Tech professional development webinar. Last week’s was all about Google Classroom, Calendar, and Keep. This week’s webinar is about creating animated videos and green screen videos with your students. In Intro to Animation and Green Screen Videos you’ll learn how your students can make […]
Get Organized With Google Classroom, Calendar, and Keep
The primary way that Free Technology for Teachers stays afloat is through the sale of my on-site professional development workshops and professional development webinars. As of this morning, more than 300 of you have purchased and participated in one of my Practical Ed Tech online webinars in 2019. Thank you! The next professional development webinar […]
Last Day to Get Practical Ed Tech On-demand Webinars
As I announced a couple of weeks ago, at the end of July all of the Practical Ed Tech on-demand webinars from the 2018-19 school year are going into the vault. They’ll be replaced in the new school year with new and updated professional development webinars. But the 2018-19 webinars still have great information in […]
Last Week to Get Six Practical Ed Tech Webinars
One of the ways that I’m able to keep Free Technology for Teachers going is through the sale of my in-person workshops and professional development webinars on Practical Ed Tech. I hosted webinars throughout the 2018-19 school year. The most popular of those webinars are available on-demand. I’m offering the 2018-19 school year webinars on […]
Practical Ed Tech On-Demand Webinars
One of the ways that I’m able to keep Free Technology for Teachers going is through the sale of my in-person workshops and professional development webinars on Practical Ed Tech. I hosted webinars throughout the 2018-19 school year. The most popular of those webinars are available on-demand. I’m offering the 2018-19 school year webinars on […]
FAQs About Working With Me
Last week I published a list of my ten most popular professional development workshop topics. That post generated a handful of emails from folks who asked good questions about the structure of my workshop days, how to book me for a day, and fee structure. Here are the answers to those questions and more. How […]
Ten Workshops I Can Run For Your Next PD Day
Over the last ten years I’ve had the good fortune to run workshops and give presentations at hundreds of schools and conferences. I’m frequently asked what I cover in my workshops and keynotes. Some of the outlines and slides from those presentations have appeared in blog posts in the past. But my list of workshops […]
Spring and Summer Professional Development Opportunities With Me
As some of you know, the primary funding for Free Technology for Teachers comes through the sale of my Practical Ed Tech webinars and workshops. (If you’re wondering, it costs about $12,000/ year to support the site without accounting for labor). This spring and summer I’m hosting a series of professional development webinars and workshops. […]
Only Six Seats Left!
The snow is gone here in western Maine! It won’t be long now until we’re breaking out the shorts, tee shirts, and flip flops. As the summer gets closer the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp is filling up. As of this morning there are only six seats remaining for this hands-on learning experience. If you […]
Only Seven Seats Left!
The snow is almost gone here in western Maine. It won’t be long now until we’re breaking out the shorts, tee shirts, and flip flops. As the summer gets closer the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp is filling up. As of this morning there are only seven seats remaining for this hands-on learning experience. If […]
Last Weekend for Early Registration Discounts for Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp
The Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp is down to only ten seats remaining and only three days left to get the early registration discount. If you have been thinking about joining us this summer for two days of hands-on learning, now is the time to register. Here’s a list of ten things that you can […]
5 Tuesday Webinars in April
This year there are five Tuesdays in April. I’m hosting a Practical Ed Tech professional development webinar on each of those Tuesdays. You can register for them individually or register for all five at once through the special offer at the bottom of this page. Read on to learn more about each webinar and how […]
Things to Learn and Do at the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp
For the last two days I have been featuring slides from my presentations at this week’s MACUL Conference in Detroit. Many of the things in those slides will be included in the hands-on learning experiences at the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp that I’m hosting in July. Here’s a list of ten things that you […]
Only Two Days Left! – Super-early Registration Discount for the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp
It is bitterly cold here in Maine today. But summer will be here eventually and it will be glorious! The sun will rise early and stay up late, the warm breeze will blow, and the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp will happen. If you’re interested in joining us for the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp, […]
Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp FAQs Answered
Earlier this month I opened registration for the 2019 Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp. The super-early registration discount ends next week. If you’ve been wondering what it’s all about and if it’s for you, take a look at the following video in which I answered some of the FAQs about the Practical Ed Tech Summer […]
Ten Things You Can Learn at the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp
This year’s Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp is designed for two purposes. First and foremost, it is intended to give K-12 teachers, tech coaches, and administrators two days of hands-on learning about educational technology. The second purpose is to provide a professional development experience in a setting that isn’t a generic conference center or uncomfortable […]
The 2019 Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp
After putting it on hiatus last year, I’m happy announce that the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp is returning this July! Registration is now open for this two-day, hands-on learning experience. This year’s workshop will be held at the historic Bethel Inn & Resort in picturesque Bethel, Maine. Highlights of the Practical Ed Tech Summer […]
Now Booking Summer Workshops
Good morning from cold and snowy Paris Hill, Maine. I know that right now June feels a long way away, but I’m already planning my summer professional development schedule. As you know, I offer professional development workshops throughout the year, but the summer months are my busiest months for professional development requests. I would love […]
Upcoming Conference Appearances
Throughout the year I conduct many professional development workshops in schools and libraries. Usually, those events are not open for public registration. But I also speak at public conferences about once a month these days (I did a lot more before my children were born). Here’s a list of the public events that you can […]
Schedule a Professional Development Day With Me
Over the last ten years I’ve had the privilege to visit hundreds of schools and conferences to lead professional development workshops. During that time the topics of my workshops have evolved in response to the continuously evolving field of educational technology. What hasn’t changed is that the goal of my workshops is to provide you […]
A Gradebook, Art, and VR – The Week in Review
Good morning from Maine where this morning we’re going to get a Christmas tree from a friend’s tree farm. A few years ago this is not something that I would get excited about, but having kids has changed my perspective on so many things including Christmas trees. I hope that all of you also have […]
Apps Day – A Great Way to Learn About Apps
This week I am welcoming some guest bloggers. This one is from Phil Strunk. I am relatively new to the profession — this is my fourth year of teaching — and like most teachers around the country, if I had access to computers, it was often in the form of a cart that was reserved […]
News Aggregators: Professional Development for the Busy Teacher
This week I am welcoming some guest bloggers. This one is from Rebecca Meeder. Professional development helps expose teachers to new trends in their field and aids them in growing in their profession. However, with the tremendous amount of work teachers already have, is regularly attending professional development sessions even feasible? Online news aggregators can […]
Video Projects for Every Classroom – PD Webinar
On Sunday on Practical Ed Tech I posted a reminder about the three online PD opportunities that I’m hosting in November. One of those is a three night course called Video Projects for Every Classroom. This course is designed for teachers who would like to learn how to create meaningful classroom video projects. The course […]
For the Love of Lit – Four Free Webinars for ELA Teachers
This week PBS Education is hosting the first webinar in a four part virtual professional development series called For the Love of Lit. This series features free webinars designed to help ELA teachers engage their students in learning about literature. The four webinars in the series are as follows: Inspiring Young Authors, with NaNoWriMo founder […]
Social Media Scenarios for Teachers to Consider
This afternoon I facilitated a faculty meeting in which my goal was to get people thinking critically about how they are currently using social media. Rather than just talking at the faculty and telling them about some real life situations, I decided to create a little a game. To create the game I simply wrote […]
FAQs About Upcoming Practical Ed Tech Courses
This weekend I have answered a bunch of questions about the two Practical Ed Tech courses that are starting next week. I figure that if even one person asks there are probably a few others who are curious about the same topic too. Here’s a list FAQs about the Practical Ed Tech courses that are […]
The Places Where I Will Be Presenting This Fall
I am fortunate to be invited to speak at many conferences and schools every year. In the last couple of years since my first daughter was born I have had to alter my travel schedule. I still speak at a couple of events every month and work with a school or two every month. The […]
Join Me Tomorrow Evening to Get Organized With Google Classroom and More
Tomorrow at 7pm EDT I’m hosting a Practical Ed Tech webinar titled Get Organized With Google Classroom, Calendar, and Keep. In the webinar I will showcase the new features that were added to Google Classroom for the 2018-19 school year. We’ll then dive into how you can use Google Classroom, Calendar, and Keep to stay […]
Participate – Create and Share Collections of Resources
Participate offers a variety of free professional development resources for teachers. Last month I featured one of their free online book clubs. Today, I’m featuring Participate’s free collections service. Participate Collections provides you with a place to create organized collections of resources. You can make your collections on your own or invite colleagues to build […]
Join me on Thursday for Fast & Fun Formative Assessments
Cancelled On Thursday afternoon at 4pm Eastern Time I’m hosting a Practical Ed Tech webinar titled Fast & Fun Formative Assessments. I hosted this webinar last year, but a lot of things have changed for the better since then so I’ve updated it to better equip you for the 2018-19 school year. Whether you teach […]
Using Google Forms to Track Professional Development
Last week I had the pleasure of working with teachers at Sigsbee Charter School. In doing so I gained a good idea from their librarian and technology specialist, Jay Schwermer. Jay is using a Google Form with the Certify’em Add-on installed to issue certificates to teachers when they develop skills by completing tasks in a […]
Three Ways to Develop Programming Skills This Summer
Summer is almost here and it’s a great time to learn a new skill that you can bring into your classroom next fall. One of the skills that seems to be mentioned in almost every education periodical these days is programming or coding. Learning to program isn’t as difficult as you might think that is. […]
Only Five Openings Left
Over the years I have been fortunate to visit hundreds of schools to help teachers use technology to create better learning experiences for their students. Sometimes that means helping people get up to speed on G Suite for Education. But I also do a lot of work with teachers on topics related to coding, media […]
Join Me Tomorrow for 5 Ways to Blend Tech Into Outdoor Lessons
As the winter fades and spring begins to bloom here in New England, kids and adults are itching to get outside more often. This is a great time to take your students outside for some lessons. In a live webinar tomorrow afternoon at 4pm Eastern Time we’ll explore five ways that you can incorporate technology […]
Coming In May – The Complete Guide to Classroom Video Projects
Back in March more than 100 people participated in my one hour webinar titled 5 Video Projects for Almost Every Classroom. If you missed it, you can access the recording here. That webinar was designed to provide an overview of some of the tools that you can use to make videos with your students and for […]
G Suite Training for Individuals and Groups – On Sale Now!
As you start to plan for your summer professional development needs, think about the benefits of self-paced, online courses. You can start and finish the course on your schedule from wherever you have Internet access. If you’re like me, in the summer that schedule and setting includes sipping coffee while sitting on your deck or […]
I Don’t Hate TPT
Last Friday on Practical Ed Tech I published an announcement of my new webinar How to Ditch TPT & Sell Your Digital Products. Over the weekend I fielded emails from a handful of people who were defending Teachers Pay Teachers. I want to clarify that I don’t hate Teachers Pay Teachers. I’m all for the […]
Reminder – The Library of Congress Seeks a Teacher-in-Residence
Last month the most visited post on this blog was the announcement that the Library of Congress is seeking a teacher-in-residence for the 2018-19 school year. Applications for the program are due by next Monday, April 9th. The 2018-19 Teacher-in-Residence program is open for applications from visual and performing arts teachers in the United States. […]
Chrome Tablets And Cheaper iPads Are Worthless!
Now that I have your attention with that clickbait headline, I have some thoughts to share about the new Chrome OS tablet that Google announced today and some thoughts about Apple’s “education event” that is happening tomorrow. Watch my video to hear my thoughts about both of these topics. Can’t see the video or don’t […]
FAQs About Tomorrow’s Video Projects Webinar
Tomorrow at 4pm Eastern Time I am hosting a webinar that is titled 5 Video Projects for Almost Every Classroom. As I write this, 25 people are registered and I’ve answered a bunch of questions from readers who are interested in registering. I recorded the following short video by using YouTube Live to answer those […]
5 Video Projects for Almost Every Classroom
Update: This webinar is now available on-demand. In this one hour webinar you will learn how to create and complete five video projects that can be done in almost any classroom. You’ll learn how your students can make five types of videos in your classroom. Examples from real students and teachers will be shared during […]
Science, Wikispaces, and Timelines – The Week in Review
Good morning from the almost completely renovated Free Technology for Teachers World Headquarters in Paris, Maine. If you have followed my week-in-review posts since last fall you know that I have been converting some space in a barn into office space. I’m in the home stretch now as I just have bit more painting to […]
Common Craft Explains Flipped Classrooms
The flipped classroom concept, in the right setting, can be an effective way to maximize classroom time. Perhaps you’ve tried it yourself and have been looking for a way to explain it to parents or colleagues. Common Craft recently released a good video that could help you do just that. Flipped Classroom Explained by Common […]
Love Your Presidents Sale!
It’s Valentine’s Day today and President’s Day is coming up so I’m having a sale on three Practical Ed Tech courses. I’m calling it a “love your presidents sale.” During this sale you can save 20% on my Teaching History With Technology and G Suite for Teachers courses. You can take 20% off when you […]
The Ed Tech Starter Kit
Throughout the year I host I many professional development webinars on Practical Ed Tech. Recently, I bundled some of the most popular of those webinars into one package that I call the Ed Tech Starter Kit. The webinars selected for inclusion in this package cover topics and skills that can be applied to almost any […]
New Workshops and Keynotes for 2018
Facilitating on-site workshops and giving keynotes at conferences is one of the ways that I am able to fund Free Technology for Teachers and, in turn, future college tuition costs for my daughters. For 2018 I have developed some new standard offerings to go along with the custom workshops that I am always happy to develop […]
The 2018 Practical Ed Tech Coaching Group Begins Tomorrow
The 2018 Practical Ed Tech Coaching Group kicks off tomorrow afternoon (4pm Eastern Time). It would be great to have you join us. This small group of teachers, librarians, and technology coaches will participate in three live meetings every month of the year. And between meetings we’ll connect through a private Slack group to talk […]
The First Six Webinars for the Practical Ed Tech Coaching Group
The first meeting of the 2018 Practical Ed Tech Coaching Group is next Tuesday. Another member joined last night and another person inquired with a question about the topics to be covered in the group. The first six webinars will be as follows: Building Digital Portfolios – January 9th AR & VR in the Classroom […]
Social Studies Teachers, This Is For You!
Back in November I released my popular Teaching History With Technology course in an on-demand format. It has proven to be a popular format as more people have participated in the on-demand course in December than in all of the combined live versions of the course offered earlier in the year. If you would like […]
G Suite for Teachers FAQs
In the last week since I announced my new G Suite for Teachers professional development course I’ve fielded a bunch of questions about the course. Here’s a list of FAQs about G Suite for Teachers. 1. How early can I start? The first lesson of the course will be available on January 1st. After that […]
5 Things You Need to Know About the Practical Ed Tech Coaching Group
Earlier today I went live on YouTube to answer a couple of recent questions regarding the 2018 Practical Ed Tech Coaching Group. If you missed that broadcast, you can see it here. Here are some other questions that are frequently asked about joining the Practical Ed Tech Coaching Group. 1. How many hours does it […]
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities With Me
As you may know, part of the funding to keep Free Technology for Teachers running comes from speaking fees and registration fees for my online courses. For 2018 I have some new online course offerings, new on-site workshops, and new keynotes. You can learn more about these offerings through the links and descriptions below. 2018 […]
Group Discounts on Practical Ed Tech Courses
Learning a new skill is often better when you do it with a friend. That’s why we recruit our friends to try yoga with us or go to that new rock climbing gym for the first time. And that’s why for the rest of the year I am offering group discounts on three of my […]
FAQs About the 2018 Practical Ed Tech Coaching Group
Last weekend I announced the launch of the 2018 Practical Ed Tech Coaching Group. The first members have already registered. Many of you who have emailed me for more information about membership in the group. Yesterday afternoon I went live on my YouTube channel to answer those questions. If you missed the live broadcast, you […]
But I Gave You Credit… Lessons About Copyright
The blog post that I published yesterday in which I listed people and organizations who have recently stolen my work has elicited quite a few responses already. A couple of those responses have included, “you were given credit at the end.” That comment shows a baseline misunderstanding of copyright. Copying and pasting entire blog posts […]
Apply for a C-SPAN Fellowship
Next summer might feel like it is a long way away, but it’s not too early to start thinking about how you’ll spend your next summer break. Social Studies teachers in the United States might want to consider spending part of the 2018 summer as a C-SPAN fellow in Washington, D.C. The C-SPAN Teacher Fellowship […]
5 FAQs About How to Teach With Video
This coming Monday night is the first night of How To Teach With Video hosted by me with special guests Tom Richey and Keith Hughes. I’ve answered a lot of emails about the course. Here are the most frequently asked questions and their answers. 1. What is the format of the course? This is a […]
How to Teach With Video
According to YouTube the average teenager spends more than 45 minutes per day watching videos. That presents a great opportunity to teach them valuable lessons from your curriculum, if you know how to do it right. In How to Teach With Video Keith Hughes, Tom Richey, and I will teach you how to create engaging […]
Three Things That Can Help You Teach With Video
Whether you want to make your own instructional videos or you just want to make sure that your students are learning something from the videos that you share with them, there are a few basic things that you should know. 1. Short and sweet. Two well-made videos that are each two minutes long are better […]
To Geography and Beyond With Google Maps & Earth
I loved Google Earth since the first time I used it. And I have enjoyed teaching it to many teachers over the last decade. That’s why I’m excited to offer To Geography and Beyond With Google Maps & Earth. This course will meet on three Thursday afternoons starting on November 30th. In addition to social […]
Using Video to Improve Teaching Practice
This is a guest post from Harrison McCoy. Speaking transparently, I have to admit I don’t like the way I appear in videos. To be totally truthful, I dislike the way my voice sounds even more. Yet, I recognize the effectiveness of using video in teaching, coaching, and training, and one of my professional goals […]
Join Me for Fun With Formative Assessments
Conducting formative assessments is one the ways that we can gauge our students’ understanding of the topics that we teach. Formative assessment doesn’t have to be boring for your students and it doesn’t have to be tedious for you. To help you make formative assessment fun for your students and informative for you, I am […]
Fun With Formative Assessments
Gauging your students’ understanding of the topics you teach is a process that involves discussion, a bit of intuition, and some formative assessment activities. Next Monday afternoon I’m hosting a webinar to introduce you to some fun ways and fun tools to use to conduct formative assessment activities. In this webinar you will learn how […]
How to Teach With Video – Live Event With Tom Richey, Keith Hughes, and Me
In case you missed my excited post on Twitter last week, last week two of my favorite YouTube video producers, Tom Richey and Keith Hughes, agreed to help me host a live three night event all about teaching with video. Between us we have more than 250,000 YouTube followers. All three of us share a […]
Every Teacher Should Have a Blog – Still True
Almost ten years ago I published a little cartoon to illustrate one of the reasons that every teacher should have a blog. It’s still as true today as it was nearly ten years ago. Take a look… Every Teacher Should Have a Blog from Richard Byrne Want help getting your blog started? Join me tomorrow […]
Join Me Tomorrow for Quick & Powerful Video Projects
As mentioned in yesterday’s post, Get to Know Free Technology for Teachers, workshops and webinars is one means through which I keep this blog running. To that end, tomorrow afternoon at 4pm EST I am hosting a webinar titled Quick & Powerful Video Projects. In this interactive webinar you will learn how to design a […]
Get to Know Free Technology for Teachers
On a fairly regular basis I get comments on the Free Technology for Teachers Facebook page and in my email that read something like this, “do you guys have anything about X?” or “can someone on your team help me with X?” My answer is usually, “yes, I can help you.” You see, the Free […]
5 Things You Can Learn in Tomorrow’s Practical Ed Tech Webinar
Last week on Practical Ed Tech I hosted Google Forms & Sheets for Beginners. The webinar sold out and many people have since asked if I was going to host it again. So by popular demand I’m hosting it again tomorrow at 4pm EST. There are five main items that will be addressed during the […]
Teaching History With Technology – Expanded to Four Weeks
This afternoon at 3pm EST I am starting the latest version of my Practical Ed Tech online course Teaching History With Technology. I’ve hosted this course six times this year and the last two times I had to schedule additional sessions to cover all of the content and questions. So I finally decided to just […]
Hyperdocs, Chromebooks, and Customized PD
A couple of weeks ago I featured two Chromebook training opportunities. One of those I’m hosting next week in Portland, Maine. The other is being hosted by my friends Ernie Delgado and Malia Hoffmann in Palm Springs, CA on August 2nd and 3rd. Yesterday, Ernie and Malia joined me on Zoom to talk about hyperdocs, […]
Go Back to School With Me
Throughout the year I am fortunate to work with teachers all over the United States and Canada. I have recently opened up some space in my August calendar. If you need a back-to-school keynote or professional development workshop, send an email to richardbyrne (at) freetech4teachers.com and let’s talk about how I can help your school […]
Four Online PD Opportunities Starting In July
In June I hosted four online courses for teachers and school administrators. In July I am offering four more online learning opportunities. A description of each course, its dates and times, and registration links are included below. If you’re a subscriber to the Practical Ed Tech newsletter be sure to use the discount code “subscriber” […]
An Easier Way to Register for Practical Ed Tech Summer Camps
Last week I publicized the group discount rate for the Practical Ed Tech Chromebook Camp and the Practical Ed Tech BYOD Camp. Since then I’ve had a few people inquire about an option to register with a payment plan instead of paying all at once. So I looked into it and I’m happy to announce […]
Group Discounts for the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camps
The first of this year’s two Practical Ed Tech Summer Camps is just six weeks away. Group discounts are still available to school districts that are sending four or more people. A group of four can save $600 when they register together compared to the standard registration. Registration for the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camps […]
Six Hours of Professional Development for $25
During the school year we tend to think to ourselves, “I’ll do some professional development during the summer.” Then the summer arrives and we find our schedules a little more busy than we expected. That’s when on-demand professional development is handy. I offer six on-demand professional development webinars. You can download them and watch them […]
Some Seats Still Available at the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camps
For the last five years the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camps have drawn educators from all over the world to Maine. This summer the Practical Ed Tech Chromebook Camp and the BYOD Camp will be held in July. There are still some seats available in each camp. You can register by using the forms below […]
Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp Registration Discounts
Every summer for the last five summers teachers from all over the world have come to Maine for the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camps. The registration fee for this year’s workshops is the same as the previous two summers. But that price is only available for one more day. The Practical Ed Tech Chromebook Camp […]
Online PD Opportunities With Me Starting Next Week
Last summer more than 200 people joined me for online professional development. This summer is shaping up to have even more people earn professional development hours and graduate credits through my online courses. The next section of courses is going to begin ten days from now. A description of each course, it’s dates and times, […]
Practical Ed Tech Chromebook Camp & BYOD Camp Discounts Extended
Every summer for the last five years teachers from all over the world have joined me in Maine for the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camps. Due to a couple of people having to cancel their registrations, I’ve re-opened sales for early bird registrations. The Practical Ed Tech Chromebook Camp will be held on July 20th […]
Three Tips for Getting More Out of Webinars
About nine or so years ago I watched a webinar for the first time. I can’t remember exactly what the webinar was about (it was something about Second Life), but I do remember thinking that I didn’t get “it.” After that I watched bunch of free webinars about all kinds of things because that’s what […]
I Love a Good Keynote…But I’ll Take the Workshop
I love to listen to a good keynote presentation. Dan Meyer’s Math Class Needs a Makeover is still one of the best I’ve seen in terms of challenging status quo in education. Angela Maiers and Vicki Davis speak with passion that is infectious and unsurpassed. And when I am given the opportunity, I enjoy giving the keynote at […]
11 FAQs About the 2017 Practical Ed Tech Summer Camps
Early registration discounts for the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camps are available for sixteen more days. In the last couple of weeks I’ve answered a bunch of similar questions about the Practical Ed Tech BYOD Camp and the Practical Ed Tech Chromebook Camp. Here are those questions and their answers which includes a guest appearance […]
Keeping Track With Google Keep and Calendar – PD Webinar Tomorrow
From keeping track of the websites you bookmark to keeping track of your to-do list to scheduling appointments, Google Keep and Google Calendar have you covered. In Keeping Track With Google Keep and Calendar you will learn how to use these powerful tools to bring order to the task lists in your professional and personal […]
The Month in Review – Spring Is Here (Kind of)
The calendar tells me that it is spring here in Maine, but the weather tells me otherwise. We’re expecting ten more inches of snow to fall overnight tonight. But that hasn’t kept me from enjoying the outdoors as I did on Wednesday when I took a walk around Portland Head Light. Portland Head Light is […]
Anchor Adds New Features for Simple Podcasting
Anchor is a simple and free platform for creating short podcasts. I started using it in December to publish occasional podcasts. A couple of things initially drew me to Anchor. First, recording is simple of matter of just holding down the record button on your phone then releasing it when you’re done talking. Second, when […]
Practical Ed Tech BYOD Camp FAQ
We’ve had three snowstorms in less than a week here in Maine. In other words, it is the perfect time to think about summer. This summer I’m hosting the Practical Ed Tech BYOD Camp in Portland, Maine. In the video below my assistant Isla and I answer one of the most frequently asked questions about […]
Search Strategies Students Need to Know – Last Call
Today 4pm Eastern Time I’m hosting a webinar called Search Strategies Students Need to Know. In Search Strategies Students Need to Know you will learn why informational searches are the hardest types of Internet searches for students to conduct. You will learn how to help students break-down complex search topics into manageable pieces then put the whole picture […]
Wednesday Webinars Resume Next Week
In December and January I hosted a series of professional development webinars on Wednesday afternoons. A couple of those webinars sold out. After a week off, the series will resume next week at 4pm Eastern Time with a webinar on Mind Mapping and Collaborative Brainstorming. The following week the topic will be using Google Maps […]
If You Missed a Wednesday Webinar…
Six Practical Ed Tech Wednesday Webinars were offered in December and January. Many people have asked about accessing the recordings. All of the recordings and corresponding handouts are now available on-demand on PracticalEdTech.com. A brief description of each of the webinars is included below. Search Strategies Students Need to Know In Search Strategies Students Need […]
Blogs & Social Media for Teachers & School Leaders
Have you ever started a classroom blog with the best of intentions only to see it fall by the wayside after a couple of months? Are you wondering, “what’s the big deal about Twitter?” Would you like to engage your students, their parents, and your community as a whole in more consistent and efficient manner? […]
Anchor – Simple Podcasting
Earlier today I Tweeted a link to my first Anchor.fm recording. Anchor provides a simple way to create and publish short podcasts. In fact, you can’t record for more than two minutes at a time on the Anchor apps. I like that you cannot record for more than two minutes at a time. The time […]
Teaching History With Technology – An Online PD Course
Last summer twenty-five middle school and high school teachers joined me to learn about tools and tactics for teaching history with technology. During the fall quite a few people expressed interest in participating in the next offering of the course. Registration is now open for the January section of Teaching History With Technology. The course […]
Apply for a National Geographic Teaching Adventure
The Grosvenor Teacher Fellow Program is an annual program administered by National Geographic. This unique professional development program, open to teachers in the U.S. and Canada takes teachers on field work expeditions to interesting places all over the world. Some of the places teachers could go through the program include Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands, Iceland, Greenland, and […]
Wednesday Webinars – A New Professional Development Series
I teased this earlier in the month, but now I’m ready to officially announce a new series of Practical Ed Tech webinars that I’m calling Wednesday Webinars. Wednesday Webinars is a series of one-hour webinars designed to give you practical ideas that you can use in your classroom right away. Each webinar will provide you […]
A 5 Week Jump-start on G Suite for Education
Next Monday night I will be starting a new section of my popular online course Getting Going With G Suite for Education. This course is designed for folks who are new to using G Suite for Education (formerly called Google Apps for Education) in their classrooms. People often ask me for an outline of what […]
Twitter Bingo – A Fun Way to Introduce Twitter to Teachers
I spent yesterday working with teachers in Canton, Connecticut. A Twitter Bingo board was one of the first things that I noticed when I walked into the room in which I gave my opening talk. I immediately snapped a picture of it and Tweeted it. Throughout the day that picture was liked and reTweeted dozens […]
New Online Course – Getting Going With G Suite
I wasn’t planning to offer a new section of my course on G Suite for Education until January, but I’ve had a lot of requests from folks who want to take it before the end of 2016. Therefore, I got in touch with the Midwest Teachers Institute (my partner for graduate credit offerings) and we […]
NEW Apple Teacher Site Offers FREE Professional Development
This is a guest post from Sabba Quidwai (@AskMsQ) of EdTechTeacher, an advertiser on this site. Last week was a big one for Apple enthusiasts, but perhaps the best surprise was for educators with the release of the Apple Teacher program. It’s free to sign up, and once you do, you’ll enter the Apple Teacher […]
A Google Apps Guidebook Published by Students
My friend Kern Kelley and his students at Nokomis High School in Newport, Maine have spent most of this year putting together The Google Apps Guidebook. Kern and his students, collectively referred to as the Tech Sherpas, created the book for teachers who are new to using Google Apps for Education. The guidebook takes teachers […]
A Week of Presentations – A Slide of Slides
Over the last week I gave presentations and facilitated workshops Texas, Arizona, Kansas, and Missouri. Many people asked for copies of the slides that I used (slides were not used in every workshop). I put links to all of my slides on one slide that is embedded below.
Learn How to Create CK-12 FlexBooks In a Free Summer Course
Yesterday, I shared the news that CK-12 is once again running a summer math and science program for students. This evening I learned that CK-12 is offering a summer program for teachers too. CK-12’s Jumpstart Your Curriculum is a six part course for teachers who want to learn how to create great CK-12 FlexBooks. FlexBooks […]
Practical Ed Tech BYOD Camp – Only 7 Tickets Left
Leading the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp has been the highlight of my summer for the last three years. This year I am leading two versions of the event. The Practical Ed Tech Chromebook Camp and the Practical Ed Tech BYOD Camp. There are some people coming for the third year in row! The Practical […]
5 Questions to Consider in BYOD Schools
This post originally appeared on one of my other blogs, Android4Schools.com. More schools are allowing BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) now than even just a few years ago. As a teacher BYOD can be a good thing as it allows students to work with a computer, tablet, or phone with which they are familiar. At […]
10 Things You Can Learn at the Practical Ed Tech BYOD Camp
This summer I will be hosting two Practical Ed Tech Summer Camps in Portland, Maine. The first one on July 11th and 12th is designed for people who are working or will be working in BYOD (bring your own device) and 1:1 programs. The Practical Ed Tech BYOD Camp is based on my framework of […]
FAQs About the 2016 Practical Ed Tech Summer Camps
Last month I announced that I will be hosting the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camps again this year. The two day event will be held in Portland, Maine at the Holiday Inn By the Bay. The dates are July 11th and 12th for the BYOD camp and July 18th and 19th for the Chromebook camp. […]
Apply Soon for the Discovery Summer Institute
A few years ago I had the privilege to speak at Discovery Education Network’s Summer Institute. It was a great event and I have wholeheartedly recommended it to teachers ever since I attended. This week long event brings together educators from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. This year’s event is being held […]
Join Me This Summer for the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camps
All winter people have been asking if I will be hosting the Practical Ed Tech Summer Camp again this year. I’m excited to announce that not only will I be hosting the Practical Tech Summer Camp this year, I’ll be doing it twice! This summer I will host the Practical Ed Tech BYOD Camp on […]