Tools I Recommend That Help You Work Smarter Not Harder

Learning is such a wonderful part of our lives.  Even though I am nearing the half of a century mark, I love to be a learner more each day.  One of the best parts of being an educator is that we are surrounded by learning, whether we facilitate the learning, or we are the learners.  Unfortunately, times have been very difficult for many of you and I sense much frustration.  As new standards and new initiatives weigh heavily on teachers, it saddens me to see less opportunities for new and innovative strategies to be implemented.  Part of my job is to research new strategies as it relates to technology and I am trying diligently not to "bombard" teachers with... "try this and try that" mentality.  I will continue to look at new engaging tools for you, but for now I am focusing on tools that help you "Work Smarter - Not Harder".  Below are a few examples:

1. Google Apps For Education - All of the tools below are Collaborative, Easy and available to students grade 3-12.  This is a no-brainer!  If you have not embraced these Google tools, you will quickly find yourself behind.  If you know how to use Microsoft Office tools, then this has a minuscule learning curve.  Don't delay on this one.  It makes student work and your work, much simpler.  Trust Me!
1. Google Docs
2. Google Sheets
3. Google Slides
4. Google Forms
5. Google Drive
2. AirPlay/Air Server - this tool allows a district owned ipad to send it's display to another computer connected to the projector so all students can see what is on the ipad.  Great success.  Requires a program downloaded on a host computer for a cost of less than $10.
3. Doceri - This tool has multiple benefits.  1. It allows a teacher to use a district owned or personally owned ipad or ipad mini to connect to their teacher workstation and control that computer.  It allows for teacher and student mobility.  Several teachers are using this to record lessons they teach on the interactive board and once completed simply stop recording and then send the video to youtube (which we all have a youtube account with our school Google Account).  Teachers can share the videos with students, parents other collaborative teachers to modify and/or reinforce student work.