Q: Do you know a technology to make a process of watching video materials for students active?

A: The researchers from Leeds University, Vania Dimitrova and Lydia Lau, designed a system I-CAW that gives you semantic linked data at the end. Meanwhile you can use this tool to have your students posting comments while watching the video on Youtube.  Students are labeling their comments with a corresponding aspect. You as a teacher design the aspects to emphasize the outcomes. This tool transforms students experience from passive to active. Read more

Q: What is a status of MOOCs?

A: Failure. What did we learn from it? I am following the results of this experiment.  See the article by Rebecca Schuman: The King of MOOCs Abdicates the Throne How long the inertia of implementing online on a big scale will go? No status report yet...

Q: Please refer me to the examples of teaching approaches which are based on game design principles?

A: The scavenger game http://www.scvngr.com/ developed by Seth Priebatsh aims to envision education as a game ecosystem. 
The Center for Game and Impact at Arizona State University  http://gamesandimpact.org/ has exact same goal.
If you are interested in embodied games visit SMALLab Learning http://www.smallablearning.com/

Q: What technology is available to improve students' writing strategies?

A: There is an option, as I discovered, to contact local researchers at the university who are developing educational technology tools. At Arizona State university we are fortunate to have a Learning Science Institute. Recently I started implementing W-Pal, a writing tutor, in collaboration with Danielle McNamara group at LSI ASU, in the student success class for freshmen. This intelligent tutoring system helps students to make their written communication more effective. http://www.soletlab.com/ I encourage you to expand your network in the direction of artificial intelligence in educational technology - the resources are there.

Q: I'd like to stay tuned in my career as a teacher. Do you have any suggestions how I can squeeze a professional development training into my busy schedule?

A: You can have fun playing video game during your coffee break and refresh the best practices in teacher education. The following article describes “Teacher Leader: Pursuit of Professionalism”. It is the first in a series of interactive, three-dimensional video games being designed by ASU’s Center for Games and Impact and the Sanford Inspire Program.
https://asunews.asu.edu/20130924-future-teachers-games

Q: In my class about student's success I'd like to use My Map tool in Google Maps. How do I create personalized, annotated, customized map?

A: Follow this tutorial : How to create a "My Map" in Google Maps   

Q: Where I can find good quality classroom ideas?

A: The Interesting Ways series continues to be a great example of crowdsourcing good quality classroom ideas