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 PDFaid,
a web tool that enables the user to modify (e.g. split, combine, convert, etc.)
PDF (i.e. Portable Document Format) files, can be used to promote instruction in the blended learning classroom.
For
additional information on PDF files click here.
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 PDFaid 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: PDFaid can be used
in a face to face and virtual classroom.
What is PDFaid?
PDFaid is a web tool that enables the user to
modify (e.g. split, combine, convert, etc.) PDF files.
Where is PDFaid located on the internet?
How PDFaid can be used to
promote instruction in the blended learning classroom
Click
on the links below to find resources explaining how PDFaid can be used to
promote instruction in the face to face and virtual classroom:
- http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=15888
- http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/07/free-tool-to-easily-extract-images-from.html
- http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/09/4-awesome-tools-to-easily-watermark.html
- http://cffmv.blogspot.com/2010/12/catch-of-day-pdfaid-12132010.html
- http://youtu.be/qfXgw2T1LVI
- http://www.screencast.com/t/gZpCiRt2mG
On the next blogpost we will discuss how PDFaid can be used to
promote Judaic instruction and to mentor/train Jewish educators.
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