The Teacher's Guide to Tech  by Jennifer Gonzalez

What is it?

The Teacher's Guide to Tech is a Digital Binder of Tech Tools for Educators.

What's inside of it?

• "Getting Started"
• "The Tools"
• "The Terms"
• Index

"Getting Started"
In this section, Gonzalez includes a number of helpful tips for tech noobies and experts alike.

"Getting Started" Takeaways

• Be purposeful with your tech use!
• Tech can increase efficiency and instructional impact.
• Start small with tech use.
• Always start by finding a video tutorial for your new tech tool.
• Prepare for setbacks, and if something doesn't work, reflect and then change it!

Part 2: The Tools

Key Tool #1: Kaizena
With this great tool, you can leave recorded vocal feedback on student work via Google Docs. This will allow you to grade much more quickly, and students are less likely to misinterpret a voice recording than a written comment.

Key Tool #2: Zotero - Zotero is a "research management system." Basically, it allows student groups to "bookmark" websites and resources into collections which function like an Itunes playlist (one resource can be in multiple collections). Collections are searchable and can be tagged.

Key Tool #3: Volunteer Spot - This application allows users to create online event sign-ups organized by time slot. This is a great tool for parent teacher conferences, or school events that need volunteers (such as field day)

There's more! The book contains over 200 tools grouped into 30 categories. Without doubt, a great resource for educators.

Part 3: The Terms

Part 4: The Index. Exactly what you would expect from an index. A bonus: Each page # is clickable.

Teachers Guide to Tech - The Pros

• Reasonably Priced - $20 for the digital binder
• Free Updates every time the text is updated for one whole year
• Extremely easy to navigate, you can get to any page with just a few clicks

The Con: Can be overwhelming at first. Is more of a "resource to come back to" than a book to read cover to cover.

In conclusion: This is an affordable and valuable text for any educator interested in integrating technology in their classroom. It may be possible to find much of its information on the internet, but the Teacher's Guide to Text is invaluable as a go to resource guide.