ALEX

ALEX, which is an acronym for the Alabama Learning Exchange, is a program designed for teachers and administrators, allowing them links to useful web pages, as well as allowing for custom lessons plans to be made at the teacher's discretion. Covering the entire teaching spectrum (from kindergarten all the way through high school, using subjects to divide the information efficiently), it is ideal for any teacher who would like help in making lesson plans, or just needs some extra information on a subject that he or she has to teach.

What was impressive about this site was the amount of information available to teachers. Whether you are teaching Biology to a first grader or a senior in High School, ALEX can help point you in the right direction, even showing high school teachers what issues are to be covered by the Alabama High School Graduation Exams (AHSGE). It also allows you to submit you lesson plans so that they may be reviewed by other teachers on the site, with emailed feedback and critiques.

I would use this tool in order to make the most efficient lesson plans as possible. Since I will most likely be teaching several different subjects at the same time (as most teachers do), ALEX will make it easy for me to assemble lesson plans, and even share them with others. And since this tool appears to be free, there is little reason for a teacher not to have an account.

I could also see using this program to help keep my classes organized and on track with what the AHSGE test requires. Since the information is given to me as to what is on the test and what is not, I can adjust my schedule accordingly. For example, I may save sexual reproduction until the very end of the semester, since it is not predominately featured on the state mandated tests.

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