Show Me the Moodle … and More

More Technology Tidbits for Teachers

The Tech Team has been busy … to say the least. A new phone system with voice mail, a new network and the impending addition of some other wonderful tools has been a challenge. In between, we have been dealing with the work orders through School Dude and, as a credit to the Tech staff, they have gotten most of the bugs out of the new systems.

On Monday (Sept. 29) at 6:00 pm, RETA will be presenting another one-hour webinar, Show Me the Moodle. Moodle is an acronym for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment. This presentation promises to show how teachers from other districts are using Moodle in their classrooms to enhance student engagement and learning. The Tech Team is currently undertaking steps to make Moodle available to all Socorro teachers and staff.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’d rather be curled up in couch-potato position by 6:00 on Monday night. However, the opportunity to learn how to improve my effectiveness as a teacher drives away the aches and pains of another Monday. My curiosity has been piqued by the RETA experience, and this promises to be another exciting session of professional development.

You can’t beat the price … it’s free! Join us in the conference room at C.O. or check it out online from the comforts of home.

In the meantime, this weekend was a good time to catch up on some reading (in between naps), and there were pleanty of good nuggets to inspire some analysis and reflection..

It’s Not What We Teach, It’s What They Learn


WOW! What a title! It’s easier to concern yourself with teaching than with learning, says Alfie Kohn..

Report: Retool instruction, or U.S. will fail:


Creating a 21st-century education system that prepares students, workers, and citizens to triumph in the global skills race is the central economic competitiveness issue currently facing the United States, according to a new report from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21). The report provides a sobering wake-up call for the nation’s civic and education leaders.

Teaching Secrets: What Kids Wish Teachers Knew

According to Laurie Wasserman, students are far more aware of their teachers’ style and approach than you may think, and their perspective can be valuable.

Lesson Planning: Format and Strategy


The folks at Inspiring Teachers share their thoughts on lesson planning. There is also a link to their free monthly e-zine.

Networking Teachers Coaxing Colleagues to Use Technology

The Discovery Educator Network offers hundreds of webinars, blogs, meetings, and workshops to help explain and show how various devices and applications work and ways to adapt them to the curriculum.

More Nuggets from NCTE … the titles below say it all!

… “I’ll Take My Lecture to Go, Please” Inside Higher Ed, September 23, 2008

… “Sharing Your Notes Online — and Getting Paid for It” Inside Higher Ed, September 19, 2008

… “Laptops in Schools Help Research, Writing, but Not Test Scores” Argus Leader, September 23, 2008

… “A Quarter Million Teachers to Get Free Wikis” cnet news, September 15, 2008

This week’s Spotlight on Technology Award goes to the first two volunteers for the Technology Committee … Janice Armijo (SHS) and Lindsey Montoya (SMS). We still need volunteers … call Vern Smith directly at ext. 3134 for more information. We’d like to have the first meeting no later than October 7.

Stay tuned … there is more exciting news on the horizon!