When mentoring our pre-service and in-service teachers we need to describe
and model both research-based and clinically tested best practices, and
demonstrate how these best practices can be applied in the real (i.e. physical)
and virtual (i.e. online) classroom for both teaching and teacher training. The
combination of face to face instruction in a physical setting and online
learning is called blended learning. In this section of the blog we will describe
how the internet can serve as a supplemental resource for instruction and the
mentoring of pre-service and in-service Jewish educators. In this post we will
discuss how, Easel.ly, an infographic web tool, can
be used to promote Judaic instruction and to mentor/train Jewish educators.
Assumption: The teacher or mentor teacher has an interactive white board (i.e. SMART
Board, Promethean, etc.), a Tablet PC (also called a Slate or Blade), a
computer presenter or computer with internet access attached to an LCD
projector in the classroom. It would be ideal if students or mentees had access
to their own laptop computers or iPads. Given parental and school
approval, and the development of specific guidelines, smartphones can be used
to enhance instruction as well.
Note: Although Easel.ly can be applied in the Judaic Studies blended learning
classroom, it can be also be used for training pre-service and in-service
Jewish educators for professional or staff development. It is our hope that
Jewish educators around the globe will form an online community of practice, a CoP, a group of people who share
an interest, a craft, and/or a profession, to enhance the delivery of
instruction and training of Jewish educators. For example, here is a CoP you might want
to join.
Note: Easel.ly can be used in a face to face and virtual classroom.
What is Easel.ly?
Easel.ly is an infographic web tool.
What is an Infographic web tool?
An infographic web tool
or app is an internet application or kind of software which enables the user
to create a meaningful pictorial or visual display of complex data.
According to http://www.techopedia.com/definition/27808/information-graphic-infographic an infographic is:
a visual
representation of a data set or instructive material. An infographic takes a
large amount of information in text or numerical form and then condenses it
into a combination of images and text, allowing viewers to quickly grasp the
essential insights the data contains. Infographics are not a product of the
Web, but the Internet has helped popularize their use as a content medium.
According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infographic info graphics are graphic visual
representations of information, data or knowledge intended to present complex information quickly and
clearly.[1][2] They can improve cognition by
utilizing graphics to enhance the human visual system’s ability to see patterns
and trends.[3][4] The process of creating
infographics can be referred to as data
visualization, information design, or information architecture.[2]
Click here too see sample
infographics on American Jews which were reported from the 2013 Pew Research
Survey of American Jews.
Where is Easel.ly located on the internet?
How the infographic web tool, Easel.ly,can be used to
promote Judaic instruction and to mentor/train Jewish educators
Click
here and see an example of how the infographic web tool, Easel.ly can be used
to promote Judaic instruction and to train or mentor pre-service and in-service
Jewish educators.
On the next post we will begin our discussion of how Google Drive and Google Templates can be used to make infographics.
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