10 Professional Development Books for Teachers

I have a colleague whose husband is working his way through the interview process for a middle school science position at a nearby school. He caught word from a friend who is also working there that the principal just loves to ask candidates about the last book they read relating to education. My colleague came to me for advice on what her hubby should read, and since only a few titles came to mind, I turned to my Twitter followers for help. Special thanks to @AngelaStockman, @marlawitkowski, @thor_winnipeg, and @vickyloras for suggestions. Extra special thanks to @newtechnetwork for the idea to post the results of my little survey.

Visible Learning for Teachers
By John Hatte

Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland? 
By Pasi Shalberg

The Answer is in the Room: How Effective Schools Scale Up Student Success
 By Alan M. Blankstein

Driven by Data: A Practical Guide to Improve Instruction
 by Paul Bambrick-Santoyo

Teach Like a Champion: 49 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College 
 by Doug Lemov and Norman Atkins

Changing the Way You Teach: Improving the Way Students Learn
By Giselle Martin-Kniep and Joanne Picone-Zocchia

Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds: Move to Global Collaboration One Step at a Time 
 by Vicki Davis Julie Lindsay

The Dragonfly Effect: Quick, Effective, and Powerful Ways To Use Social Media to Drive Social Change by Jennifer Aaker, Andy Smith, Dan Ariely and Chip Heath

When Kids Can't Read: What Teachers Can Do: A Guide for Teachers 6-12 
 by Kylene Beers

The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education 
 by Diane Ravitch

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Social Media and Why it's Important in Education

This afternoon I had the honor of joining Tonya Hall as a guest on her radio show to discuss using social media in the classroom. In preparing for the interview, I found myself thinking about some of the essential advantages to social media and these ended up driving much of our conversation. I will back-link to the recorded show when it's posted, but for now, here are my 3 passion points for social media.

Social Media means Transparency
Transparency is a common buzzword in business, politics, and education and therefore is often dismissed as an overgeneralized ideal. But the use of social media, personal branding, blogs, etc. make it a powerful tool – especially for educators. Currently, there is a distinctly negative public perception of the education system in America. Transparency through social media can help dispel the myths that the education system is archaic and ineffective.

Social Media is the Power or We, not the Power or Me
At the #140edu conference in NYC, Edutecher founder Adam Bellow made an observation regarding the roles of teachers and students. He explained that teachers are no longer a well from which to draw knowledge and students are not vessels that need filling. Social media and the connectedness of the web have shifted the needs of education away from content attainment toward higher-level skills such as analysis and synthesis of information. Students need to learn how to harness and use the collective knowledge of all.

Social Media never Forgets
Google has become your resume and it never forgets. My 7-month-old daughter has an online footprint. How will she feel about the picture I post of her someday when a potential employer discovers my blog or Flickr account? Social media sites are a specific telling of your accomplishments, values, strengths, and ethics. Every professional – teachers included – must realize that personal branding on the web can mean the difference between hired or fired.

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Teacher Uses for Skype

A few days ago I saw a request on Twitter (a twi-quest?) for someone to speak with a group of secondary Social Studies teachers in Nebraska about the advantages of using Skype in the classroom. I always jump at the chance to share my experiences, so I eagerly volunteered. The conversation was between myself, the teachers, and their facilitator, Corey Dahl. Corey is the Instructional Technology Facilitator for the Educational Service Unit #8 in Neligh, NE and is also on Twitter - @coreydahlesu8. He was nice enough to allow me to record the call so I could share it on on my blog.

Skype Podcast by Classroom in the Cloud

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