The Best of Learning & Leading with Technology: Selections from Volumes 31-35
I have been given the opportunity by Jennifer Roland to give away a copy of the book. To select who receives the book, I'm turning to you my awesome readers. If you would like to have a copy of the book (list price $35) leave a comment on this post containing your best tip for technology integration. Comments will be open until next Friday. I'll then post a poll asking for your vote on the best tip. Whichever tip wins the polling will receive the book. (The book will be shipped by ISTE).
Let's hear your best technology integration tip, we all have something to share and something to learn.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Share Your Advice - Win a Book
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36 comments:
Don't try to tell others (students, administration, or parents) how to use technology in the classroom, show them the value of technology in the classroom.
When helping colleagues integrate technology in the classroom, show them at least 10 ways to do the same thing, then let them decide which tool works best for them. Keep them from getting hung up on the device and focused on the results.
Don't be afraid to let go of some of your control of the classroom.
Let students show you what they know about technology - don't be afraid to learn from your students. You will be amazed at their knowledge and creativity and they will be empowered in their own learning.
When considering how a new technology will fit into your classroom, don't look for a place to ADD it, look for a way to replace something you are already doing. Technology as an "add-on" leads to burnout and lack of effective use.
Don't use technology for the sake of using technology. Pick something where the technology enhances learning. If it can be done better with pencil and paper, do it with pencil and paper.
Technology must only be used when it can do something that traditional tools CANNOT do. Replace old paradigms about teaching and learning. Put students in the driver's seat. Then (and only then!) will you see the power that technology can bring to your classroom!
Implement 'show & tells' to open faculty meetings. A five minute demonstration of student use of technology in your classroom will inspire other teachers to jump on the train.
As a tech support and computer lab manger, I teach the kids first! Then they share with the teacher!
Don't be afraid of technology. The reason kids are so good with it is because they are not afraid of things yet. Teachers need to let go of their fear and jump right in with both feet. You will be amazed at how easy it really is to understand and use.
The most excuse I hear from teachers as to why they don't use technology in the classroom is that they "don't have enough computers." As simple as the solution is, most teachers don't realize that they can use even one classroom computer as a station that the students take turns rotating to and using. I have found this technique very useful for review games like those that can posted on Quizlet, for taking surveys, and even building a story on Etherpad...where each student edits and adds another part to the story.
I think teachers need to realize that their job in the classroom is to be a RESOURCE, not THE ONLY SOURCE. Too many teachers believe that THEY must be the expert of everything. We are more powerful as a group than we are as individuals.
It's time to let the kids try out new technology even if you the teacher don't know everything about it. Let them experiment!
Best advice: If you are a teacher, make sure you do the assignment yourself first and then share your own process (good and bad) with your students. Making the process transparent, and allowing for multiple ways to accomplish a goal, are crucial skills for students to understand.
Kevin
Step 1: Find a really fun, cutting edge, or just plain cool tech toy, gadget, or web-link.
Step 2: Use the fun tech gadget yourself. (Make sure you really like it)
Step 3: Be creative and find a way to make it fit into your curriculum.
Learning happens when it is fun!
Engage teachers in professional development by using small group instruction and allowing the teachers to do rather than just watching and oooing and ahahahing. The more teachers feel comfortable with technoolgy the more they will use it in the classroom.
Make sure things work for busy classroom teachers- essential in the beginning! Plus, it show them it is not about technology but about improving your teaching.
Share everything. Colleagues are easily inspired by success stories from the classroom. Soon, teachers are helping teachers learn ways to use technology effectively. A small spark of excitement can open the eyes of weary colleagues.
Be willing to learn and keep learning from whatever sources show up. I have learned from colleagues, statewide programs, free on-line classes, and students too. If you model learning as a strategy, how can you go wrong as a teacher?
Be available! Technology is a scary thing for veteran teachers that are not comfortable with technology. Tools us techy teachers think are so cool can frighten and overwhelm those less familiar with technology. If teachers feel someone is there to teach them and support them through the process, they will be more willing to take the "plunge".
I agree with many of these tech integration suggestions, such as sharing sites and tools you find are fun, empowering the students to teach each other and their teachers, work with small groups, and use technology to do something better (not as an "add on"). I DISAGREE that technology "must only be used when it can do something that traditional tools CANNOT do." I enjoy using technology for lots of things I can do by hand -- writing notes, drawing pictures, making a graph, writing letters to the Editor, creating photo albums... The key, for me, is whether or not the process is fun and the product is something I truly like. If I can show a teacher how using technology 1. will make her/his job easier, 2. will create more attractive products (handouts, movies, charts, etc.), 3. will inspire her students to want to learn more, or 4. will be worth the time it takes to play with and use it, then there's a chance that teacher will integrate technology. I try to send a "Tip of the Week" email to my staff as a little tech inspiration. But, nothing succeeds like success, so providing one-to-one support while teachers try integrating new technology tools into their repertoire is like giving them training wheels. Hold onto the bike and gradually let it go! (Sorry for the length of this comment.)
Write a blog. Invite your students to read it. Invite your students to comment. Invite your students to write. Invite your students to invite you to comment. Comment. Student writing deserves an audience.
Model, model and model some more! Whenever possible, model uses of technology that you want your staff to utilize. Show the benefits of using that particularly technology to demonstrate that you 'walk the walk and talk the talk' and aren't just paying lip service to using technology. When you are passionate about particular technology tools, your passion can ignite and spur reluctant people to try and take a risk with technology.
Don't leave teachers in the lurch with new technology. Shadow teachers during a lesson and show them one or two things that they could do to integrate in that subject area. Keep it simple! They already have a huge workload. Show them one or two things that will go more smoothly with the use of technology
Encourage administrators to become involved in learning the technology. Model for them how a classroom with technology integrated works so when they do walk-throughs and observations, they have a better understanding of what to look for. Also by including administrators, they recognize what the teachers need in resources and professional development and therefore can offer the appropriate support.
When I show teachers a new technology or at least something that is new to them, I try to scaffold the skills for them. By this I mean that I show them a very easy way to use it, then once they have the hang of that, a more advanced skill, and so on.
For example: When our school got new SMARTboards, I had the teachers use them as "glorified chalkboards" at first. I encouraged them to just practice writing in Notebook with the pens until they got comfortable. Many times they would then explore on their own, but if not I would then show them something more they could do, and then leave them alone to practice. Each time I add a little, manageable skill. This makes it less daunting to learn new things.
I'm working with a small group of middle school students and calling them the Tech Squad. These students are learning the ins and outs of using devices like the Flip Cameras or resources like Wordle. Every week we learn new things to share! When teachers need some help with technology, they can call on the Tech Squad!
Make multiple applications available for the same kinds of tasks. For example, focus on learning "word processing," not just MS Word. Allow students to learn Word, Wordperfect, or Pages for word processing. Let them create presentations with PowerPoint, Lectora, or Keynote. (Better yet, teach them more than one application!) The skill is in learning the process, not just the application. Then, as students are confronted with new challenges, they'll have a broader range of computing skills to draw on.
When working with teachers, I always encourage them to start where they are. Teachers often feel they have to learn and master everything about a particular tool before they begin to use it. I try to focus on helping them use ideas or products they are comfortable with in a way that reflects their comfort. Success with the basics will increase both their skill and comfort levels and will provide them with more motivation to try new things.
Technology Integration Tip:
When incorporating technology into the classroom, be a "Guide On The Side" and not a "Sage On The Stage."
This is the best way to prepare students to use technology to solve problems in the real world.
There has to be an impact on student learning. I like asking the question: "How does technology change the way we teach and learn ______(insert subject area, i.e. math, science, reading, etc)?" Also, a response to the argument that technology shouldn't be used because someone might use it inappropriately: "We don't stop testing just because someone cheats, we shouldn't be blocking tech access because someone uses it inappropriately. It is up to us to teach appropriate use."
Offer teachers a time when they can get together and learn how to use technology on a personal basis. For example, show them how to digitize their family pictures, or download an mp3. We call ours Tech Tuesday. It builds confidence that can be transferred into the classroom.
Be organized and intentional with how you plan on teaching teachers to use a SMART Board (or any IWB). Have a checklist of skills that you think someone in stage one needs to know, then give them a specific assignment to make a file for their classroom that will demonstrate that they know how to do these things. Once teachers are forced to play around with software, like SMART software, it becomes much less scary and much more fun. http://bit.ly/30XVpH
For TECH to remain an effective tool we must have willingness for change. A 'gadget' becomes "I GET IT!" when teachers are prepared to apply new TECH-niques that match the learning goals of students. Accept that with innovation, we are in a continual flux. Embrace what makes us better communicators, educators, & creators for the future where success no longer results from standing still.
Make sure the technology training or tip you are sharing can immediately be implemented into their curriculum without much work on the teachers part. From past experiences I have realized that if I give them real examples on how the technology fits into the curriculum, they will tend to use it... this gets them to let go of their fears, once that has happened, this opens their eyes to: hey technology worked in this way, now I will try it in this way. Basically put it on their level. If you are training teacher that lack any tech skills make it so basic and easy they want to implement it. Also go slow and let them try it out...set the training up so that they could mimic the same lesson in their own classroom.
When instructing your students on how to respond to a blog; remind them that blogging is different than texting, instant messaging and e-mailing their friends. Posts should be written in complete sentences, professional, keep biases out of response and try to answer or respond as clearly as possible.
Understanding takes place through PROCESS not PRODUCT. Technology helps FACILITATE process (ex word processing, presentation tools), OFFERS A MORE DYNAMIC process (multi-media design tools, and global connections via the internet) and OFFERS A WINDOW into process (web 2.0 tools like blogs, discussion boards and wikis). It is a tool, not a teacher.
Don't let computer technology be just an appendage or novelty in your room. Use it to complete your learning environment - sort of like that overhead projector and textbook.
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