Yep, it’s another post about the value of Twitter. Yes—Twitter. If you haven’t yet adopted this social media platform as one of your go-to places for professional development, you really don’t know what you’re missing! And it’s not just the latest celebrity drama!

Seriously, despite the 140 character minimum, tweets—articles, thoughts, opinions, inspiration, quotes, images and more—allow like-minded individuals (you and me) to connect, collaborate, discuss, exchange and even debate all sorts of ideas with virtual colleagues. Whether it’s best practices, instructional strategies, the latest and greatest tech tools or an innovative project, invaluable information is just a hastag away!

Check out the infographic below for additional info about why you should build a PLN on Twitter. Who knows… Maybe it will inspire you to become a “cereal” tweeter!

A shout out to edu rock star Krissy Venosdale for creating and sharing yet another very useful and motivational infographic!

Check out the infographic below for an interesting look at some data related to the perceived crisis on the educational scene as well as the latest trends—technology game changers such as the use of Web 2.0 tools, social media and blended learning movements—that could potentially resolve some of the issues.

Of course, this Geeky Girl most definitely thinks technology—when integrated thoughtfully—can impact the teaching and learning process in ways never before possible. Not only can it meet the demands and increase learning opportunities for all learners, but tech tools and resources can also reduce costs without sacrificing instructional quality. What do you think? Feedback and comments are always welcome!

A shout out to TopMastersInEducation.com for creating and sharing this informative visual.

Well, guys… It’s that time of year again—time to embark on another excellent adventure known as the beginning of a new school year. If you’re like me, you’re always looking for ways to get to know the individuals that are about to walk through your classroom door—if they haven’t done so already. Regardless, here is a list of 26 thought-provoking questions crafted by TeachThought to set the tone for the next nine months.

In addition to the questions, the TeachThought site also provides teachers with some nifty implementation strategies. Check out these tips here.

Classroom Connection:

Effective teaching is all about developing relationships. That said, use this resource to learn what makes your students tick so you can best meet their needs throughout the upcoming year.

If you ask me, utilizing activities like this one is just another way to ensure your impact is a lasting one!

Phones, tablets, iPads and e-readers… What do these mobile devices have in common? It’s probably a pretty safe bet to say that most students own at least one of them in this day and age. So, instead of continually confiscating these items or telling students to put them away, why not take advantage of the handheld gadget craze and leverage these tools for learning?

Allowing students to utilize their own devices provides them with access to a variety of digital activities, essentially creating a 1:1 environment with a tool they already know how to use.

Furthermore, with many schools experiencing limited budgets, the BYOD concept is one that should be seriously considered. Without devices to complement learning, students are missing out on a modernized education as well as the development of important life skills. Yeah, that means actually having the know how to use technology beyond gaming and social media!

Sure, I know what you might be thinking: That sounds great, but what about privacy, security and safety? Yep, the concerns associated with implementing mobile devices in the classroom are legitimate, but they can be addressed by developing clear expectations and guidelines and by teaching our students the importance of digital responsibility.

Check out the infographic shown below outlining ten simple yet effective ways to impact the learning process with mobile device and real-world activities. Perhaps the tips included will entice you (and your administration) to give it a shot!

A shout out to Splash Math for sharing this nifty visual.

Classroom Connection:

Use the ideas mentioned in the infographic/visual to kick start or further enhance a mobile movement in your school and/or classroom.

So, you think you’re a digitally competent teacher? Or maybe not so much… Either way—check out this fun graphic depicting some characteristics that digitally competent teachers possess. My guess is that if you mess around with a smart phone, shop online or use any type of social media whatsoever, you’re probably more of an ed-techie than you think as these skills can definitely transfer to the classroom! Go ahead—see for yourself where your abilities rank in the digital scene!

A shout out to the DailyGenius site for designing and sharing this very cool visual.

Classroom Connection:

Use the information presented in the infographic to become a more digitally fluent educator.

As I’ve mentioned before—it is not only important for educators to encourage students to push the technological envelope, but it’s equally essential that we teach them to navigate the digital world in a responsible manner. But in order to do so, we must first become familiar with copyright rules and fair use guidelines ourselves—a task that can seem very daunting and frustrating at times.

If you’ve ever used online materials for teaching and learning, then I’m sure you have wondered one or more of the following: Do I need permission to use this image? Can I share this video on my classroom web site? Would it be best for my me and/or my students to create my/their own media?

Well, it may not answer all of your burning questions, but the copyright flowchart shown below will surely help with some of the confusion surrounding this very relevant and significant topic.

Thanks to Silvia Tolisano, author of the Langwitches blog, for designing and sharing this useful resource! For more information about this infographic, check out the original blog post here.

Classroom Connection:

Unfortunately, some educators and students (as well as people in general) have the tendency to ignore the fact that media is regulated and requires compliance of copyright rules and fair use guidelines. That said, both teachers and students need to learn that just because media is accessible, downloadable and free that this does not necessarily mean it’s acceptable to use or reuse without possible restrictions.

That said, this very cool flowchart can serve as a great resource for assisting with properly locating and/or using media obtained from the Internet as well as creating your own.

Looking for some interesting K-12 edtech data? Then look no further than the New Digital Learning Playbook, Project Tomorrow’s annual Speak Up National Research Project which provides districts nationwide and throughout the globe with new insights into how today’s students want to leverage digital tools for learning.

In fall 2013, over 403,000 online surveys from K-12 students, parents, and educators representing over 9,005 U.S. schools were used to establish a more comprehensive understanding of the various ways students are currently tapping into a wide range of mobile devices to enhance learning anytime, anywhere.

Check out the infographic shown below to see how mobile devices enable new and customized learning that is un-tethered and digitally-rich.

A full page version of this infographic can be found here.

Classroom Connection:

Educators are always looking for data to support the value of digital tools related to the learning process. The findings provided in this infographic (and corresponding report) provide additional rationale to support the integration of technology into classrooms and beyond.

A shout out to my colleague Jim Gates for sharing this valuable edtech info!

OK, so who can’t identify with the modern social media craze known as the selfie? Yep, taking self-indulgent pictures has become so popular that the term selfie was even officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary last year.  These types of photos seem harmless enough, right? After all, what’s wrong with sharing a little love of one’s self?

Well, before you (or your students) jump on the latest bandwagon and potentially expose yourself to approximately 2.4 trillion Internet users, think about this: Just because you can snap a selfie, does it mean you should? Check out the infographic shown below for some advice.

Classroom Connection:

Share this flowchart with students to encourage them to think before they snap and click!

A shout-out to AlliWorthington.com for creating and sharing this very useful and relevant infographic!

Now more than ever teachers are embracing technology and finding new and innovative ways to integrate devices, apps and tools into the classroom. In fact, many educators claim technology is a catalyst for more effective teaching and learning.

Did you know that 75% of teachers surveyed state that technology reinforces and expands content, motivates students and accommodates multimple learning styles? With stats like that, it’s no wonder teachers love technology! Hopefully you are—or will become—one of them!

Check out the infographic below to learn more about the edtech phenomenon!

A shout out to OnlineUniversities.com for creating and sharing this super cool visual!

Today’s students are no doubt immersed in a variety of technologies from a young age. They’re wired, digitized and quite frankly, their skills and knowledge never cease to amaze me. They have no fear so they experiment, think and innovate in ways that have no limits—which from an educational point of view is just awesome! Tools, apps and devices present students with endless ways of expressing themselves via audio, images, video and multimedia projects.

But as educators, it is not only important to encourage our students to push the technological envelope, but it’s equally essential that we teach them to navigate the digital world in a responsible manner. Unfortunately, students (and people in general) have the tendency to ignore the fact that media is regulated and requires compliance of copyright rules and fair use guidelines. Just like they need to be taught the basics of math and science, students need to learn that just because media is accessible, downloadable and free that this does not necessarily mean it’s acceptable to reuse it in a project of their own—especially without possible restrictions.

That said, the nifty infographic shown below can serve as a great resource for teaching students how to properly cite images and graphics obtained from the Internet.

Thanks to Med Kharbach, author of the Educational Technology and Mobile Learning blog, for sharing this useful visual!