Online Resources for Teachers and Education Professionals

Teachers, step through the door to new opportunities and technologies!

The online world has changed many facets of our lives and this is especially the case for teachers and the way we approach education. The Internet is, after all, a collection of data that's unparalleled in the whole of human history. Unfortunately, not every educator is aware of some of the excellent online resources that are available to them.

As the face of education changes, it's important that our education professionals are able to adapt to a changing society that is becoming more influenced by online approaches and techniques. At institutions like the University of Phoenix San Diego, professors are using the Internet as a tool to give students a more diverse experience. Here's a list of some of the best sites that have show to be highly effective:

Google Docs

This is a free program that has been highly effective in information distribution. Through this site you can share assignments with your class that may be accessed from anywhere. These “view only” files are accessible to everyone and improve how the students can access any information pertaining to classroom discussions and assignments. Students can go on Google Docs and make a quick copy of any file on the page. This has also allowed educators to share source material and information from anywhere in the world. Google Docs is a multi-user based system that gives students the ability to compartmentalize multiple classes and assignments in separate folders and has done away with the need for hard copies. This way you can share information and not risk misplacing notes or assignments.

iTunes U

The iTunes program is the most popular music database used by a majority of people to categorize and manage their music and video collection, but iTunes may be used for more than just music. iTunes U is a distribution system that's a iTunes add-on which allows anyone, including education professionals, to share lectures, lessons, audio books, lessons, and pretty much any media format you can think of with each other. This is a way that teachers can provide quality source material and teaching lessons with their students using the power of multimedia. Basically put, you can lean anything from anywhere at the touch of a button.

Online Education Database

Online Education Database is a resources that isn't widely known but has proven to be very useful. It's for both students and teachers and allows participants to take a class online at no cost. You can't get a degree through this site, but it's a great supplemental tool for individuals to expand their knowledge on specific areas of interest.

Not every college has the resources that meets the demands of the entire student body. In times like these, the OED can be access from anywhere in the world and provide users with a wealth of knowledge and source material that covers topics across many sectors and areas of interest. From the University of Phoenix to Cambridge, you can share knowledge at an unprecedented scale. It's not an education so much as a source for supplemental material that will provide extra material for classes or areas of interest.

These are a few of the excellent online resources already on the web, but many more exist to help educators provide a more comprehensive learning experience for every student. Tools like the ones listed above will likely become more common place as technology paves the way for the future and improves our ability to learn and achieve.

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Tips for New Preschooler Teachers by Adrienne Carlson

It’s never easy to teach children. Kids are unpredictable, they tend to become cranky when they’re uncomfortable or hungry, and they may throw tantrums when they don’t get their way. But, they’re so much fun to be around; their energy is infectious, and they show their affection for you in more ways than one. Kids are both exasperating and lovable, so when you’re teaching a group of preschoolers, you need to learn how to remain calm under all circumstances.

Don’t stay strictly to your plans: When you’re teaching preschoolers, you cannot stick rigidly to your plans, either for your lessons or schedules. You must be able to improvise and go with the flow; otherwise you’re going to end up feeling very frustrated.

Use stories to good effect: If there’s one thing that’s bound to hold a child’s attention, it’s a story. Use costumes, props, and story related activities to keep their interest. They also enjoy things that are not routine, like a trip to the playground or a game of catch in the park. So mix up ideas and routines when you’re in charge of preschoolers.

Discipline should be firm but gentle: Be firm in your authority without frightening the child into submission. You must be able to make the child understand that in the classroom, he or she is just like the rest of the children and they must follow the classroom rules. Get children involved in setting the rules so they will be more likely to obey them.

Maintain good relations with the parents: When you teach preschoolers and interact with them on a regular basis, you must know their parents well and be able to maintain good relationships with them. Treat all kids and parents equally to avoid criticism and accusations of bias.

Kids are quick and enthusiastic learners, so you can bet your teaching experience will be rewarding and satisfying.

By-line:
This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of accelerated online degree http://acceleratedonlinedegree.org/. Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: adrienne.carlson83@yahoo.com

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