Free Professional Development - A Starting Place

Being an educator in 2008 requires using a different set of skills, tools and strategies than used even ten years ago. Many have blogged about the paradigm shift required to reach/teach/promote learning with the current generation of students in our classrooms.

We know how crucial professional development is to ensure effective (seamless) technology integration. Hardware availability alone has never produced the results promised.

So, where to begin? How do we promote effective technology integration in an age where some teachers continue to resist change? Crafting your own PD plan is a great place to start, a plan that you control. This post is the first of a two part series that will serve as a starting place for "just-in-time," FREE professional development.

Check out these resources:

Online journals:

1. Edutopia - Published by the George Lucas Foundation
2. Learning & Leading with Technology - Published by ISTE, preview the current article, or search the archives
3. eSchool News - Technology News for Today's K-20 educator
4. T.H.E Journal Online - Technology Horizon's in Education
5. Technology and Learning -
6. From Now On - Jamie McKenzie's Publication

Online Resources for Web 2.0 Newbies (Learn from two of the best Media Specialists)

1. Connected Libraries Wiki - Carolyn Foote's excellent resource wiki for all things Education 2.0
2. New Tools for Learning Wiki - Joyce Valenza's excellent resource wiki for all things Education 2.0
(This list is intentionally short so as not to overwhelm you).

Within each link, are numerous additional resources that will inspire you to reflect on your own educational practices and think about what best practice looks like in your classroom. Explore, ponder, reflect. Choose one or two tools that you have never used which support learning with your students. Model lifelong learning for your students. Isn't that why you chose to become a teacher in the first place?

Additional resources welcome.