Old School Ways- 2.0 twist

Teacher Pal app image from google

End of the school year is here and I think how different things are since I started teaching 12 years ago. When I first started I was calculating my grades by hand with an old school gradebook and a calculator. Now I input my grades into a computer and it does the calculating for me. One might think that is the end of the process and we just click submit but that is not the case. We now have to check to make sure the weighting is accurate, we have input everything accurately like comment codes and assignment grades. I am always checking and rechecking. I have even moved away from the stereotypical gradebook and found an app that allowed me to input daily behavior and homework assignments, have a seating chart, do my attendance, and email parents all from the iPad. I have seen some really great positives with this but it is a shift in mindset and something that once you get out of the routine it is hard to get back to. The app is called Teacher Pal and can be found in the app store. I would give it a look. There are also easy graders that allow you to calculate what percentage scores would be based on how many questions you have. Some tech can help and make things easier but I say always have a back up and now how to do it old school.

Symba Who? Symbaloo

The Internet can be a very overwhelming place at times if you don't have a good sense of organization. I am not sure how many different log in and passwords I have. It is almost like a cyber multiple personality disorder. Am I "gocartracer57" or "cheeselover1983" (both of these names were randomly picked so if anyone viewing my blog is one of these names more power to you). I feel like if all my passwords were keys on a ring it would be too heavy to carry. I have yet to come up with a great system and would love people to share systems that work for them. However, I have used a tool which gives me a sense of sanity as I unlock the door to the Internet each day. It is called Symbaloo and so far has been the most user friendly and consistently used Web 2.0 tool for keeping all my important bookmarks. Now I just found that there is a Symbaloo.edu and I am going to look at moving my materials over to this for my next school year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oOA4xx-1s9s

I do not have a Facebook account. Does this make me a cyber outcast? I wonder what the world is like for those that have become fully "linked" in and base a lot of their interests on what is "liked" the most on-line. Am I missing out on true social time or am I connecting the old school way and doing just as well? I wonder how long I can hold out. I have received comments about sharing pictures, news, and reconnecting with others through Facebook but I still haven't gotten pulled in. Now I get things about Linked in. How does anyone find the time to keep up with all the latest updates and innovations to truly call themselves connected? Would I have known a long time ago that neon was back again? Old fashions come back into style so maybe I should just hang in there for this trend to end. 

Image from: https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS2ky3eTG7BkBbyevDruPFhIUHvgyWU63NHhCXpG6yjVuyqHG-cdw