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Monday, February 29, 2016

How Eduplace, a website that provides free and downloadable graphic organizers, can be utilized to promote instruction in the blended learning classroom



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 Eduplace, a website that provides free and downloadable graphic organizers, can be used to promote instruction in the blended learning classroom.

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 Eduplace 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: can be used in a face to face and virtual classroom.

What is Eduplace?

Eduplace is a website that provides free and downloadable graphic organizers to enhance teaching and learning.

Where is Eduplace  located on the web?



How Eduplace, a website that provides free and downloadable graphic organizers, can be utilized to promote instruction in the blended learning classroom

Click on the links below to find resources explaining how graphic organizing websites like Eduplace  can be used to promote instruction in both the face to face and virtual classroom:

Click on the links below to find examples of how graphic organizer websites like Eduplace can be used to enhance Judaic instruction and staff development.



On the next blogpost we will discuss how Eduplace, a website that provides free and downloadable graphic organizers,  can be utilized to promote Judaic instruction and to mentor/train Jewish educators.

Friday, February 26, 2016

Introduction to Eduplace, a website that offers Judaic Studies and secular educators with free and downloadable graphic organizers



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 begin our discussion of how Eduplace, a website that provides free and downloadable graphic organizers, 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 Eduplace 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: can be used in a face to face and virtual classroom.

What is Eduplace?

Eduplace is a website that provides free and downloadable graphic organizers to enhance teaching and learning.


Where is Eduplace  located on the web?

Where can you find helpful tutorials on how to use Eduplace?

Click on the links below for tutorials on how to use Eduplace:



On the next blogpost we will discuss how Eduplace, a website that provides free and downloadable graphic organizers,  can be utilized to promote instruction in the blended learning classroom.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

What is a graphic organizer? How graphic organizers can facilitate teaching and learning



What is a graphic organizer? How graphic organizers can facilitate teaching and learning

A graphic organizer is a visual display or representation of one’s thought, ideas, or concepts. It is a kind of concept map.

For additional details on graphic organizers refer to this link:


According to http://aim.cast.org/learn/historyarchive/backgroundpapers/graphic_organizers#.VaZ7dWAou6U, Graphic organizers come in many varieties and have been widely researched for their effectiveness in improving learning outcomes for various students. The following five sections present a definition of graphic organizers, a sampling of different types and their applications, a discussion of the research evidence for their effectiveness, useful Web resources, and a list of referenced research articles. We have focused this overview on applications of graphic organizers to reading instruction, with the intention of later expanding the discussion into other subject areas.”

How to use graphic organizers in instruction

Click on the following links to finds ways that graphic organizers can enhance instruction:

(graphic organizers can be used to teach students cause and effect, note taking, comparing and contrasting concepts,organizing problems and solutions, relating information to main themes and ideas, organizational skills, vocabulary knowledge and sequencing)



Click on the links below to find examples of how graphic organizers can be used to enhance Judaic instruction and staff development.




On the next blogpost we will discuss Eduplace, a graphic organizer website.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

How PDF Filler can be used to promote Judaic instruction and to mentor/train Jewish educations



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 PDF Filler, an IOS (Apple) and Google app that enables mobile device users to place and edit all their PDF (Portable Document Format) files into one location, can be used to promote Judaic instruction and to mentor/train Jewish educators.

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 PDF Filler 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: PDF Filler can be used in a face to face and virtual classroom.

What is PDF Filler?

PDF Filler is an IOS (Apple) and Google app that enables users to place and then edit all their PDF (Portable Document Format) files into one location on their mobile device.

Where is  PDF Filler located on the internet?


How PDF Filler can be used to promote Judaic instruction and to mentor/train Jewish educators

Click on either of the links below to see how PDF Filler can be used to promote Judaic instruction and to train/mentor pre-service and in-service Jewish educators:




On the next blogpost we will begin our exploration of web tools and apps that enable the user to make graphic organizers.

Jewish Education News Blog

Richard D. Solomon's Blog on Mentoring Jewish Students and Teachers

http://nextleveljewisheducation.blogspot.com/