21st Century Skills

Picture of member, Ben Sender

Ben Sender
Chief Executive Officer, TechKNOW Associates

Integrating Technology Through Project Based Learning in Newark Public Schools

During the 2009-2010 school year, the Special Education Department in Newark Public Schools in New Jersey initiated an “Integrating Technology through Project-Based Learning Pilot Program” in the Samuel L. Berliner School (Berliner School). The pilot utilized SAFARI Montage, customized project based learning activities, and job-embedded professional development.

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Picture of member, Ryan  Semans

Ryan Semans
Education Consultant, Tierney Brothers, Inc.

Marrying SAFARI Montage & Mobile Devices: Three Integration Strategies

I recently collaborated with an innovative group from Hastings School District. This district, which is located in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, has many forward thinking staff. While meeting with this group of education professionals the topic of mobile devices and SAFARI Montage was discussed. Can they work together? What would it take to get this done? What are the benefits of marrying our [Hastings School District] SAFARI Montage system with mobile devices? Those, among many other questions, lead to great discussion and a list of integration strategies. Below I have shared three of these strategies in detail.

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Picture of member, Jill Hobson

Jill Hobson
Director of Instructional Technology, Forsyth County Schools

Expanding the Boundaries of Learning Beyond the Classroom Walls

Forsyth County School District in Georgia is visioning for how to change education in our school district to meet the needs of students today and in the future.

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Picture of member, Carolyn Faulkner-Beitzel, PhD

Carolyn Faulkner-Beitzel, PhD
Director of Curriculum, SAFARI Montage

Teaching the iGeneration: Integrating Digital Content into Instruction

In today’s world many teachers are starting to integrate more and more digital content into instruction. With SAFARI Montage teachers do not have to download internet content the night before class and hope it will play the next day! Our content is not streamed from the internet but instead we use a file sharing process, where the content is provided on a server that “lives” in your school building or district. What this means to you as a teacher is with one click, from one interface, you can access thousands of digital assets to include in teaching.

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Picture of member, Carolyn Faulkner-Beitzel, PhD

Carolyn Faulkner-Beitzel, PhD
Director of Curriculum, SAFARI Montage

Advanced SAFARI Montage Users Workshop

On Sunday, June 26 from 1:00-2:50 in the SAFARI Montage Effective Digital Classroom, Meeting Room 105A at ISTE, we will be offering a free hand-on workshop for advanced users of SAFARI Montage.   If you are a SAFARI Montage experienced user, then this session is for you!   

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Picture of member, Carolyn Faulkner-Beitzel, PhD

Carolyn Faulkner-Beitzel, PhD
Director of Curriculum, SAFARI Montage

Teaching the iGeneration: Integrating Digital Content into Instruction

In today’s world many teachers are starting to integrate more and more digital content into instruction. With SAFARI Montage teachers do not have to download internet content the night before class and hope it will play the next day! Our content is not streamed from the internet but instead we use a file sharing process, where the content is provided on a server that “lives” in your school building or district. What this means to you as a teacher is, that with one click, from one interface, you can access thousands of digital assets to include in your lessons. 

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Picture of member, Alyssa Smith

Alyssa Smith
Library Media Specialist, Baltimore County Public Schools

Not Too Soon to Plan For Next Year

Reading my current issue of School Library Journal, I was impressed to read an item about SAFARI Montage’s launch of an app for iPads and iPhones. While I have not treated myself to an iPad yet, I am enthusiastic to see technical applications for the “popular” tools such as the iPad get into the hands of educators.

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Picture of member, Lori Griffin

Lori Griffin
Executive Editor, SAFARI Montage

And the Winners Are…..

Thank you to everyone who participated in our playlist contest!

Our Grand Prize winner was Jason Sharrock of Sarasota County Schools in Florida. Jason, a science teacher, submitted a great playlist about the cycles of matter in the environment, called Round and Round We Go

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Picture of member, Fran Glick

Fran Glick
Resource Teacher, Library Information Services, Baltimore County Public Schools

Maryland Society for Technology Educators

After a long, snowy winter in Baltimore spring has finally sprung! An annual spring event in Baltimore is the highly anticipated Maryland Society for Technology Educators conference.

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Picture of member, Ernest Perry

Ernest Perry
Chief Innovation Officer, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Using Technology to Foster Learning About Social Issues

Teaching and learning with technology has been proven to raise student achievement. We also have a recent body of evidence that points to our ability to use these powerful experiences to engage students in civic action and take on socially responsible roles in their local communities. At the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, we use SAFARI Montage to do just that.

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