Tech Lessons of the Week These engaging lessons that focus on content while incorporating technology will help even tech-phobic teachers integrate technology into the curriculum -- painlessly.

• Tech in Science Using an Earth Image database (Space Shuttle images) and world map, students identify places on Earth where there is ice and snow. They create a table showing where they found the information and show the geographic location (locations?) of the snow and ice.
• Tech in Language Arts This middle- and high-school lesson plan uses a wiki -- a Web site that allows users to add and edit content collectively -- to write a one-act play.

Techtorials Step-by-step tutorials -- for teachers and students -- on using a variety of technology tools.

• Getting RSS Feeds Learn how to subscribe to an RSS Reader, add an RSS feed, and check for updates.
• Creating Test Forms Use Microsoft Word to make interactive fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, and drop-down menu tests.

Sites to See Explore these themed lists of the best sites on the Web. Topics include American Literature, bugs and insects, Native Americans, parent involvement, Shakespeare, Webcams, and many more.

• Podcasts Podcasts -- audio recordings available online -- are relatively new to the K-12 classroom, and knowing just what you need to podcast and how to create a podcast can be challenging. So, we've compiled the Web's greatest resources to help get you started.
• New-Teacher Resources Whether you want to find fresh ideas for classroom lessons, explore better ways of integrating technology, keep current on education issues, or exchange problems and solutions with colleagues, these Web sites provide all the tips and tools you need.

Tech Classroom Spotlight Discover how other teachers are integrating technology into their lessons and learn how you can incorporate technology into your classroom culture too.

• Poetry Packs a Punch Harold Olejarzs sixth graders illustrate poems through digital video productions.
• Book Club in Cyberspace Jamie Boston and students share ideas in an online book club.

Tech Articles Explore our library of teacher-friendly articles focusing on educational technology written by our own and outside experts.

• Ten Things Everyone Needs to Learn Your school will try to teach you the facts you'll need to pass their tests, but schools won't teach you the things you really need to learn to be successful. What are they? Stephen Downes offers a list of his top ten things you need to learn.
• Integrating Technology and Science Discover how technology enhances the science program in the Greece Central School District, Rochester, New York. Includes five integration activities any teacher can do.

Tech Team Get down-to-earth advice from our ed tech experts on subjects ranging from tech training to tech tools to integration lessons and activities.

Hardware and Software Essentials We asked members of our Tech Team: What hardware and/or software do you consider essential -- or invaluable -- for todays educator? Discover what they told us.

You Must Remember This Education Worlds Tech Team and Teacher Team answer the question, If you could give a brand new teacher just one piece of advice, what would it be?"

TechProof Doug Johnson, director of media and technology for the Mankato Public Schools and an adjunct faculty member at Minnesota State University, provides an up-close, common sense look at teachers and technology.

• Is Educational Climate Change Ahead? I believe a meteor is on the educational horizon that will so dramatically alter the school climate that our current dinosaur-friendly environment will cease to exist and give rise to a new breed of educators -- and that meteor is affordable 1:1 computing."
• Do You Need a Second Life? Imagine walking into a library and simply talking to a librarian who walks through the library with you, pointing out the resources you needor taking an entire class to watch a glacier build and meltor attending a seminar with educators from across the world. All without ever leaving your classroom."

Brendas Blog Brenda Dyck, an instructor of preservice teachers at the University of Alberta (Canada), and moderator of the MiddleTalk listserv, explores a variety of ed-tech topics and issues.

• Using Digital Place-Based Storytelling to Teach Geographical Thinking I admit it -- I am a virtual eavesdropper. It was on a blog that I first read about a new form of digital storytelling called place-based storytelling, an adaptation of digital storytelling that combines digital mapping tools with the power of the narrative."
• A Leap in Leadership True leaders (and their followers) will not resort to throwing up their hands in despair. It is imperative that leaders create a culture of empowerment, a place where creative problem solving reigns. True leaders do not perpetuate a culture of We Cannot Do.'"

Reflecting Poole Bernie Poole, an associate professor of education and instructional technology at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, has published several books related to instructional technology. He shares his knowledge with EW readers in this monthly column.

• Create Your Own Web Site Youre a teacher and you want to create your own Web site, but you dont know where to start. Or you train pre-service or in-service teachers and you want them to create their own Web sites. The set of handouts provided in this article should do the trick."
• Gradebook Programs -- Why Use Them? "The goal of good gradebook programs is simple: Data transformed into information enables students, teachers, administrators, and parents to better assess a students progress in school."

Cyber Savvy Nancy Willard, a former educator and attorney, is director of the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use. Her column focuses on helping parents and educators recognize -- and minimize -- online safety risks.

• A Web 2.0 Approach to Internet Safety Student use of Web 2.0 technologies is expanding, along with incredible opportunities for interactive educational activities -- and a host of risk and management concerns. An effective school-based strategy to address the issue of online safety should include these six key components."
• Schools, the Internet, and Copyright Law When teachers and students use the Internet, they have access to a wide variety of material -- much of which may be protected by copyright law. Both educators and their students need to be aware of the kinds of activities that risk copyright infringement and they need to develop strategies to minimize that risk."

Teacher Templates Are you tired of reinventing the wheel every time you need a letter, form, certificate, graphic organizer, game, notepad, calendar, newsletter? Check out our printable, editable templates before you do the work.

• Classroom Organizers Keep it all together with these schedules, checklists, assignment sheets, class lists, seating charts, and more.
• Graphic Organizers Help students organize their thinking with these tools: Venn diagrams, a family tree chart, concept maps, a comparison chart, an event map, a spider map, KWL charts, and more.