Sometimes, the results of a basic google search can be overwhelming, so, to list ALL of the resources available to us as educators would be impossible and unhelpful. As educators we should be working together sort through and determine which tools are most effective, and then as individuals determine which are applicable to your class. It is important to not feel as though we have to: incorporate everything that we find, or use online resources all the time. Remember that resources are meant to support learning and should only be used when the enrich and enhance learning. I am currently learning that exploring all these new resources is time consuming and exhausting, but don’t let that turn you off, as it is our professional responsibility as teachers to provide our students with the best tools to assist their learning. This means being up to date with endless options. If you feel it is too much, discuss and share with colleagues, as they are one of our best resources; they may know of resources that would help and you may be able to do the same for them. From one educator to another, here is a link to some resources that may prove helpful. Of the resources listed in the linked document, here are a few that I would or have used in my class: MathematicsKhan Academy - Great resources for diverse learners. Use this as a support tool in the classroom; having students watch videos and take notes, or as a source for students to refer back to at home in times of confusion while doing homework. This is also great refresher tool for parents so they can confidently help their son or daughter with homework! Stats Canada - Excellent for research projects, and essential for data management classes. Students can find everything they need to form a thesis, gather and interpret data and then write a persuasive report on their findings. OAME - Being directly linked to the Ontario curriculum and sorted by grade and then specific class, this resource is good for lessons where you feel a more engaging activity is needed. Consider getting together with other math teachers and trying these lessons together as "students" to determine if you will get the result you want (this was something we did in teachers college and it was lots of fun). Visual ArtsCanadian Museum of History & Virtual Museum Canada- It's one thing to talk about artwork and artifacts that were used to make them, but when you can see the item or artwork then it brings it to the next level, especially for visual learners. These are great sites for bringing history to life and making those boring lectures more hands on and engaging, allowing students to explore the works that interest them even further. MediaSmarts - This is a good tool for guiding the appropriate use of technology and social media, or could be used as a resource for students to research and create a presentation on the dangers of the internet and social media. Also great reference when talking about ownership and intellectual property - who's work is this, and can I use it as part of my own? PD and General Tech ResourcesPD Place/Staff Workshops - These are often courses that you would have to pay for through a conference, workshop or AQ so take advantage of the fact that they are paid for (or sometimes you are getting paid to take them) because as educators, more education only helps!
DSBN Education Resource Centre - Although you may not have all the tech or supplies you may like at your school, find out if you have a Board Resource Centre or explore what is available at the local library. Free to borrow tech and tools to support your lesson ideas, engage student interest further, and don't damage our frugal nature!
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Candace BlackA story of my transition into teaching, and the educational tools and life lessons collected along the way. Archives
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