Summertime Blues

Unlike The Who of rock and roll fame, I have a couple of suggestions for getting rid of those summertime blues that often set in when spring classes end.

Tip #1 is to buy a 3-month, around-the-world air ticket and explore every exotic place on earth. Not an option? Don’t worry. The next suggestion is much more affordable.

Tip #2 is to refresh your mind with a good book or two, and to acquire some new skills and insights for your fall classes. Good books, of course, are no further than your local library or Barnes & Noble. But where do you find really good training, especially if you are using, or plan to use, technology in your classes?

My first choice is Lynda.com. For $25/month, or $250/year, you get unlimited access to the most professional video tutorials I’ve ever seen. Learn all about blogging, web design, course management systems, social networking, and lots more from experts in their respective fields. Every tutorial has several free lessons that you can try before you buy. Highly recommended.

Atomic Learning is another quality site and is aimed exclusively at teachers. Offerings are extensive but prices have climbed considerably since the company’s start ($79/year initially). Annual subscriptions now range from $150 to $300, depending on the collection of tutorials you choose.

There are numerous free resources as well, such as videos hosted on YouTube and TeacherTube, and more recently through Apple’s iTunes U application. But if you prefer more depth and methodology (and having everything in one place), a paid subscription service might be the way to go.