Websites of interest to Educators

As we stand on the dawn of the 21st century, it is obvious that things have changed dramatically. Just as society has changed, so has education. We now should expect our school age students to master technology. A website that educators can access to increase their technology skills, so that they can effectively prepare students for the 21st century, is http://www.thirteen.org/. WNET thirteen, which is a television station, has created a website to assist teachers with professional development. The website is easy to navigate and clearly labeled. It loads quickly and has an appealing design. The website has tabs for educators, students and parent/caregivers. The Professional Development tab offers projects, lesson plans, courses/workshops and video resources. It offers additional links to PBS.org and NTTI - National Teacher Training Institute. Some of the courses incur a fee while a large number are free! The down side is that everything seems to be geared toward New York teachers, but do not let that alarm you. The courses are geared toward NETS for teachers! There is also something quite comforting with working with a PBS affiliate. Most of us grew up learning from PBS! WNET has recognized the need to emphasize technology in the classroom. This website is a valuable resource for teachers and even a tool for students and parents. I also like the "Inside Leadership" section which is a tool kit for new and developing principals. You will find the information quite valuable.