Yahoo is expected to buy the blogging platform Tumblr for $1.1 billion and formally announce the deal on Monday. [UPDATE: Here is Yahoo's official press release.]
Tumblr may be best known to the general public as a haven for animated gif files, humor and short-form self-expression. The Tumblr universe is also filled with gems for educators, however. Here's a look at five such resources that Yahoo will welcome to its fold after the deal goes through:
1. THE CLASSROOM COLLECTIVE TUMBLR ACCOUNT
As we have seen on other social networks for educators, one of the finest services that platforms such as Tumblr provide is a means to swaps strategies. The Classrom Collective offers teachers the opportunity to peer into other classroom lessons with photos, diagrams and other teaching props that they may wish to employ.
2. THE #TEACHING RESOURCES HASHTAG
For a broader sampling of what educators on Tumblr are sharing, we recommend checking out the #teacher resources hashtag. Those who are already familiar with Twitter hashtags know how this works; whenever someone makes a post on their personal Tumblr blog and thinks it will be of interest for users seeking out teaching resources, they mark it with this tag, and the post will show up at that link.
3. THE #EDTECH HASHTAG
Looking for a wide range of photos, videos and blog posts about technology for the classroom? Check out the always handy #edtech tag and browse to your heart's content.
4. SCHOLASTIC'S TEACHER EXPRESS TUMBLR
For the K-12 crowd, Scholastic keeps a brilliant little Tumblr blog featuring resources, lists and links to places teachers may find useful. The Scholastic Teacher Express account is heavy on reading material (primarily Scholastic reading material, of course), but if you keep books for kids in your classroom, this is one feed you will want to pay attention to.
5. THE TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION TUMBLR BLOG
And here is a classic blog approach to Tumblr that stays true to the short-form and visual spirit of the service. The ThinkTechEd blog's author Manjinder shares insights, charts and little interactive pieces that that may inspire you to related to your students in a new way or rethink your lesson planning.
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