Smart ideas for busy educators: Tip #2

It's the age of technology my friend, and it's time that educators kept up. Using social media isn't beyond in realm of education. In fact, I could argue that it is the duty of the educational system to show students of today how social media can be used for more than just recreation.


A simple, easy, yet fabulous idea is to set up a class-related twitter account! You could use the account to send out reminders about homework and assignments. It's also another means you could use to be accessible to students. You'd find that most students are willing to send a quick tweet to you about things they either forgot to, or we're too shy, to talk to you about face-to-face. ("Hey, can I bring my project in on a flash drive instead of emailing it?" or "Could we go over Newton's theories again? I'm still lost.")


Also, you can get extra creative, and use the account to offer extra credit questions, giving credit to the first person who tweets back the right answer.


This idea works! Check out a working example from a tech-savvy teacher @nicolaihw


A word of caution: I would suggest making a stand-alone twitter account that is not connect to any personal account in anyway. Do not have your personal email address, website, Facebook, pintrest, or other social media attached to the site. Keep your tweets only related to class reminders and content. No personal opinions or jokes that could be misunderstood. In addition, fight the urge to make the profile private. Keeping the content and conversation open is actual a protection for you!

Smart ideas for busy educators: Tip #1

#1: The Out Of Town Trip

So it's going to happen: one day you are going to have to leave your students to go out of town. Maybe it will be business, a family emergency, or even a much needed vacation. If so, here is a fun, easy, educational game you can leave behind for them to play.

Have you ever seen the game "Where In The World Is Carmen Santiago?" Essentially it's a geography game where kids try to figure out a location based on clues. If you have to leave your students you can do the same thing. Leave one clue per-day for them to research and see if they can figure out where you've been before you return. You can add some competition to it by promising the first student who figures it out a special prize from where ever your going. A $3 or $4 item from the gift shop will do, and it will excite the kids.

The most important thing for this game is to keep your lips sealed! Don't give any clues before you leave, and make sure no one you left behind leaks the information either. Trust me, the kids will try to get you to leak information once you introduce the game; therefore i suggest announcing the game towards the end of the day or period right before you leave. You can collect your student's guesses (I'd suggest only one guess per student) easily by a leaving behind a lock box or even email.

The game is fun, and inspiring (kids are noisy and will dig to figure out the location!) You can make it as easy or difficult as you'd like.

Here is an example of the clues I left behind for my kids over my 5 day absence. See if you can figure out where I went!

1. Yes, I needed a passport to go where I am.
2. In 1970, this place had only 3 residence.
3. I'm currently sitting on the Yucatan Peninsular.
4. The average annual temperature is 80 degrees, and there are about 240 sunny days every year!
5. The Mayans used to call this city "nest of serpents" or "snake pit"