Thursday, July 30, 2015
Discuss for the integration of information and computer technology instruction from a school or system perspective. What are the challengesand barriers? Identify professional learning and supports that would enable deeper use
Challenges and barriers:
Parents - Many have an older view on how school should be run and they are very narrow minded on how technology is not only changing the education system as a whole but the way we will operate in the future. We need to educate the parents, we need to invite them into our classrooms to see what we do. They need to understand why this is important for their child to learn these skills.
Funding - Deficits are happening and education is where the government likes to take the money from. Sad but true. We need more money for technology yet we are receiving less and less. We need to think about how we can overcome this challenge. High school students creating apps during class? Can we somehow monopolize from that? I am not sure.. we need research and law to see what we can do.
Traditional teachers - Many teachers who have been teaching a certain way want to continue teaching and do not want to learn new skills especially if they are close to retirement.. Then they retire, go on the supply list and the homeroom teacher doesn't get their plan followed because the supply did it their own way.... (sorry just a little frustration of mine)
I think the government needs to spend a little money to make PSAs or commercials promoting technology in education and educating parents. Only then do I see a change for the better.
How does access to a variety of information and computer technology tools and resources allow teachers to foster a culture of fair and equitable assessment and evaluation practices?
Similarly to my previous post, having access to many different tools can benefit both the students and the teachers for an equitable practice. I don't tend to use the same tool twice which is beneficial for many reasons. I find that rubrics or checklists are always missing elements and that a piece of work that I think deserves a level 4 sometimes gets a 3 and vice versa. It is extremely hard especially when you are teaching in a subject/grade that you have never taught before. Having had 5 years with each different subjects or grades, I have NEVER been able to reuse my rubrics and therefore never have been able to tweet them to my liking. I am frustrated that even though the essence of a rubric is equitable, it doesn't always work out that way. When using different forms of assessment and evaluation tools, it does make it equitable to a certain degree because each tool is different and caters to different areas of assessment.
Another reason I like to switch it up with assessment is to give students choice. If they grow up not having to choose or know what they are good at, they won't have the skills when they are asked to choose. My assessments tend to have to be generic as I want students to exhibit their creativity in any format they choose (as long as they meet specified expectations). Students tend to be more engaged and therefore will do well.
Lastly, I like students to see more than just one type of rubric or assessment. In life, things come randomly and you need to be prepared. The way I see it, if they are accustomed to getting very different types of evaluations, they will always want to try their best because they do not know what to expect. If you get the same evaluation time after time, you know what the teacher looks for and how to "get an A." Sure you might be thinking that that is the point, but does that really mean that this student is learning or just trying to get an A because they know what format works with their teacher? I like routine to a certain extent but I think its important that students be prepared for change as you never know what to expect in the future.
Another reason I like to switch it up with assessment is to give students choice. If they grow up not having to choose or know what they are good at, they won't have the skills when they are asked to choose. My assessments tend to have to be generic as I want students to exhibit their creativity in any format they choose (as long as they meet specified expectations). Students tend to be more engaged and therefore will do well.
Lastly, I like students to see more than just one type of rubric or assessment. In life, things come randomly and you need to be prepared. The way I see it, if they are accustomed to getting very different types of evaluations, they will always want to try their best because they do not know what to expect. If you get the same evaluation time after time, you know what the teacher looks for and how to "get an A." Sure you might be thinking that that is the point, but does that really mean that this student is learning or just trying to get an A because they know what format works with their teacher? I like routine to a certain extent but I think its important that students be prepared for change as you never know what to expect in the future.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
How can technology be used to support the development of an equitable, inclusive learning environment that addresses the needs of all learners?
Technology is great for supporting needs equitably because there are many different tools with different functionalities and so students can choose the one which works best for them. Some factors could include: different devices and needing software which is supported, user friendliness, tools with with other gadgets to use, advertising limits, etc.
In my classroom, if I want a certain tool to be used I will show my students a couple different sites or apps which do the same thing. I give the children time to play with all of the tools and then they can use whichever they feel more comfortable with. I find this makes for a more equitable experience because all of the students pick their most preferred tool which relatively gives the same result and the students feel that they were able to have a choice in their learning.
I also like the fact that we use tools in the classroom especially the assistive devices ones as in the past, students who had SEA claims, stood out like sore thumbs. They were the only ones with the software on their devices to help them and even though they need the support, it might not have helped their self esteem as everyone knew who they were and assumed that they were not like everyone else. I had a couple students this past year who refused to be identified because they didn't want the whole class thinking that they were "dumb." I had a paperless classroom so I would teach all students to use tools like word Q or Google Read and Write. I found that those who needed it, didn't feel as targeted because it was offered to the whole class. I also felt that those who were not identified but might also need support, were able to. To me, technology is a win win for all students.
In my classroom, if I want a certain tool to be used I will show my students a couple different sites or apps which do the same thing. I give the children time to play with all of the tools and then they can use whichever they feel more comfortable with. I find this makes for a more equitable experience because all of the students pick their most preferred tool which relatively gives the same result and the students feel that they were able to have a choice in their learning.
I also like the fact that we use tools in the classroom especially the assistive devices ones as in the past, students who had SEA claims, stood out like sore thumbs. They were the only ones with the software on their devices to help them and even though they need the support, it might not have helped their self esteem as everyone knew who they were and assumed that they were not like everyone else. I had a couple students this past year who refused to be identified because they didn't want the whole class thinking that they were "dumb." I had a paperless classroom so I would teach all students to use tools like word Q or Google Read and Write. I found that those who needed it, didn't feel as targeted because it was offered to the whole class. I also felt that those who were not identified but might also need support, were able to. To me, technology is a win win for all students.
Friday, July 24, 2015
What does it mean to be a leader in the area of ‘Computer and Information Technology integration?
Provide an overview of necessary knowledge, skills, competencies and attributes.
A leader is one who sees weaknesses in a system and takes charge to make those weaknesses either go away or find solutions to make things better. A leader with regards to Computers and IT needs to see where schools are not as up to speed as others and educate the staff as they see fit. A school with less technology could look at how to equitably use the technology amongst the classes. They might even make weekly lessons and goals on what the students should be accomplishing. Schools with more technology need to make sure it is being used to its fullest potential. Ideally to have technology on constant use. Educating teachers on how to use the technology is key. Providing workshops or online presentations for those who cannot make the meetings might be beneficial.
This leader works with the administration on whether or not the budget permits more purchases and if so, which devices will be most used.
This person must be patient because IT help desks don't aways answer right away and the leader within the school is often more approachable and provides quicker answers. The leader needs to be reading news, testing new tools and web 2.0 sites in order to be knowledgable in case asked. They need to model in their own classroom and use students to help if it becomes overwhelming. Lastly, I would say that the leader would have to be flexible and open to having other staff members coming into their classroom in order to see the model in place.
These are just a few qualities that i feel are necessary in a leader for IT.
A leader is one who sees weaknesses in a system and takes charge to make those weaknesses either go away or find solutions to make things better. A leader with regards to Computers and IT needs to see where schools are not as up to speed as others and educate the staff as they see fit. A school with less technology could look at how to equitably use the technology amongst the classes. They might even make weekly lessons and goals on what the students should be accomplishing. Schools with more technology need to make sure it is being used to its fullest potential. Ideally to have technology on constant use. Educating teachers on how to use the technology is key. Providing workshops or online presentations for those who cannot make the meetings might be beneficial.
This leader works with the administration on whether or not the budget permits more purchases and if so, which devices will be most used.
This person must be patient because IT help desks don't aways answer right away and the leader within the school is often more approachable and provides quicker answers. The leader needs to be reading news, testing new tools and web 2.0 sites in order to be knowledgable in case asked. They need to model in their own classroom and use students to help if it becomes overwhelming. Lastly, I would say that the leader would have to be flexible and open to having other staff members coming into their classroom in order to see the model in place.
These are just a few qualities that i feel are necessary in a leader for IT.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Ways schools can work with the community to teach effective online behaviour
Discuss ways schools can work with parents and community partners to guide students to wise, ethical, safe behavior when working, learning and socializing online. Suggest strategies for effective, continuous, meaningful, detailed and supportive communication with parents/guardians and the community.
Schools can work with parents and community by opening up the communication about the risks involved with children online. They can have professionals come in and discuss how to be safe online, as well as how parents can model good behaviour. The board should think about opening up a forum for parents to ask questions regarding online risks so that they could be answered in a somewhat immediate manner. I think the main thing is not keeping parents and community members in the dark because they need to be on the same page as the schools in order to keep students safe.
Schools can work with parents and community by opening up the communication about the risks involved with children online. They can have professionals come in and discuss how to be safe online, as well as how parents can model good behaviour. The board should think about opening up a forum for parents to ask questions regarding online risks so that they could be answered in a somewhat immediate manner. I think the main thing is not keeping parents and community members in the dark because they need to be on the same page as the schools in order to keep students safe.
Benefits of social media in the classroom
What are the benefits of using social media in the classroom? What are the risks and challenges? How do teachers ensure a positive, equitable, accepting and safe learning environment? What other factors should teachers consider when planning for instruction that integrates social media?
I am a firm believer of using social media in the classroom. It is not only easy to get information to the students quicker, but it teaches them to practice proper use of social media.
There are many risks if social media is not used properly. Students are quite young to understand long term effects of using social media inappropriately. Even we as teachers are unsure exactly how posting inappropriate things on any website might reflect on a child's future. Students can do something silly and that one mistake can/might have a negative impact on future job prospects or might get them suspended for cyber bullying etc. What I try to do in my classroom, is model how to use social media for my profession and hopefully students will see that I too follow the rules of the school. I allow students to follow me on Twitter and Instagram. I do not post personal things, only professional ones therefore students will not be shocked or infringing on my privacy. It also means for the most part, that they don't keep searching for my other accounts. If you limit students from your accounts, they will be more motivated to hack in or try to find a loop hole to see what you post anyway. In addition, how will students know what to model if they don't have one to watch?
If a student does follow me, I always make sure I cannot access their accounts or that there are no aspects of their privacy that is public. I did an experiment a couple years ago where I found one student's Facebook profile which was public and from hers, I accessed 12 other students who did not have their profiles public. I showed students that just because they were private, it didn't mean people couldn't find them. They were very scared by this and that night each and everyone of them either added privacy to their accounts or deleted them. These are also aspects that parents don't necessarily know about or test out.
Going back to social media in the classroom, students create their accounts without their names and they input their profile information on a shared google doc. I use blogger for students to share their writing and so we practice what descriptive and positive feedback looks like. Since I know their profile information, I can see what is being written and cross reference who wrote it. If a comment is near crossing the line, I address it to the student. I explain how verbal communication has many other factors in finding meaning (body language, intonation etc) where as typing is harder to understand tone and therefore could be taken a different way from the original meaning.
I think its important to have a plan B when using social media sites because there are always unforeseeable things that come up so its better to have a back up plan in case your lesson doesn't go as planned.
I am a firm believer of using social media in the classroom. It is not only easy to get information to the students quicker, but it teaches them to practice proper use of social media.
There are many risks if social media is not used properly. Students are quite young to understand long term effects of using social media inappropriately. Even we as teachers are unsure exactly how posting inappropriate things on any website might reflect on a child's future. Students can do something silly and that one mistake can/might have a negative impact on future job prospects or might get them suspended for cyber bullying etc. What I try to do in my classroom, is model how to use social media for my profession and hopefully students will see that I too follow the rules of the school. I allow students to follow me on Twitter and Instagram. I do not post personal things, only professional ones therefore students will not be shocked or infringing on my privacy. It also means for the most part, that they don't keep searching for my other accounts. If you limit students from your accounts, they will be more motivated to hack in or try to find a loop hole to see what you post anyway. In addition, how will students know what to model if they don't have one to watch?
If a student does follow me, I always make sure I cannot access their accounts or that there are no aspects of their privacy that is public. I did an experiment a couple years ago where I found one student's Facebook profile which was public and from hers, I accessed 12 other students who did not have their profiles public. I showed students that just because they were private, it didn't mean people couldn't find them. They were very scared by this and that night each and everyone of them either added privacy to their accounts or deleted them. These are also aspects that parents don't necessarily know about or test out.
Going back to social media in the classroom, students create their accounts without their names and they input their profile information on a shared google doc. I use blogger for students to share their writing and so we practice what descriptive and positive feedback looks like. Since I know their profile information, I can see what is being written and cross reference who wrote it. If a comment is near crossing the line, I address it to the student. I explain how verbal communication has many other factors in finding meaning (body language, intonation etc) where as typing is harder to understand tone and therefore could be taken a different way from the original meaning.
I think its important to have a plan B when using social media sites because there are always unforeseeable things that come up so its better to have a back up plan in case your lesson doesn't go as planned.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
My E-learning strategy
Provide a brief overview of the princial e-learning strategy, explaining how aspects of the strategy can be used to respond to individual needs of students.
My e-learning strategy at the moment is most definitely a blended learning one. With my paperless classroom, my goal one day would be to have everything organized so that if I wasn't there one day, the class could continue as if I was there. I am away quite a bit because of my technology strengths and my love for learning and so when supply teachers come into my classroom, it is basically a wasted day because they are scared of the technology and the students this past year played "dumb" in that they would act like they weren't sure of the expectations and where to go to get resources even though it was clearly laid out for them the day prior or on the supply plan.
It would take some time, but to have a digital copy of instructions whether it be typed or on a vlog would be where I would like to go with my teaching. I know that grade 6 is early to be thinking about elearning on a permanent basis so that is why blended would be perfect because they still need the teacher there for structure, to solve drama issues and to boost confidence but that they start to learn how elearning works so that when they are older, they can fit right in with society (assuming society will be more elearning based by the time they are older of course).
My e-learning strategy at the moment is most definitely a blended learning one. With my paperless classroom, my goal one day would be to have everything organized so that if I wasn't there one day, the class could continue as if I was there. I am away quite a bit because of my technology strengths and my love for learning and so when supply teachers come into my classroom, it is basically a wasted day because they are scared of the technology and the students this past year played "dumb" in that they would act like they weren't sure of the expectations and where to go to get resources even though it was clearly laid out for them the day prior or on the supply plan.
It would take some time, but to have a digital copy of instructions whether it be typed or on a vlog would be where I would like to go with my teaching. I know that grade 6 is early to be thinking about elearning on a permanent basis so that is why blended would be perfect because they still need the teacher there for structure, to solve drama issues and to boost confidence but that they start to learn how elearning works so that when they are older, they can fit right in with society (assuming society will be more elearning based by the time they are older of course).
Monday, July 13, 2015
SAMR and TPACK Models
Discuss considerations for system adoption of one of the models (SAMR or TPACK). What do school or system leaders have to take into account when promoting adoption of one of the models?
I think that for my school, the SAMR model is a little easier to understand and implement at this time. Most teachers are not using their technology to the fullest extent and are really only using the Substitution area. By using the SAMR model to show teachers where they fall, it might force them to think about their pedagogy and maybe they will try to push themselves to Augmentation or Modification stages this year.
The leaders need to take into account what stages the teachers are at before they introduce the method so that they can have a plan in place in order to encourage staff members to go up to the next level.
I also think that leaders should be checking in at certain points during the year to assess the changes made to teaching practices. I think teacher should bring a lesson plan already taught to a meeting and have others give suggestions as to how to make it richer or to the redefinition stage. Only then, I can see teachers actually using the model in their planning and trying to make a difference.
I think that for my school, the SAMR model is a little easier to understand and implement at this time. Most teachers are not using their technology to the fullest extent and are really only using the Substitution area. By using the SAMR model to show teachers where they fall, it might force them to think about their pedagogy and maybe they will try to push themselves to Augmentation or Modification stages this year.
The leaders need to take into account what stages the teachers are at before they introduce the method so that they can have a plan in place in order to encourage staff members to go up to the next level.
I also think that leaders should be checking in at certain points during the year to assess the changes made to teaching practices. I think teacher should bring a lesson plan already taught to a meeting and have others give suggestions as to how to make it richer or to the redefinition stage. Only then, I can see teachers actually using the model in their planning and trying to make a difference.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
First post for my specialist course!
Question: What is your vision for technology use in education? How does this compare or contrast with the required readings?
I really liked the first quote in the Achieving Excellence required reading that read :
"We want schools ... where students will feel free to dream about their futures, where they are able to connect their passions with possible career options, and where the opportunities and resources needed to support these decisions are provided. "
This quote shares my vision for technology as it enables students to not only explore and find what really interests them but it seems more inquiry based as apposed to traditional teacher facilitated learning. I do envision students of the future to be the ones learning on their own because that is how they will develop problem solving skills which is pertinent for their future careers. No boss ever has liked someone asking so many questions because they are either too afraid to take risks or they do not have enough knowledge to work independently! I find students at the moment are used to the teacher directing their learning and when they get a chance to do something on their own, they are lost and overwhelmed. If they got used to this bit by bit in elementary school, I feel they will be great problem solvers and independent workers by their teenage years. This is a domino effect as if students are confident and engaged in their learning, they will be less likely to want to leave the education system too early thus our 83% high school diploma rate as mentioned in Achieving Excellence (although I find that a bit low, I account for the fact that in the area that I teach, there is probably a 99% diploma rate).
I also envision many teachers using technology in their daily practice. This would mean that they would have the budget to have technology in each classroom as well as the opportunities to teach PD around what teachers should know/use. I was pleasantly surprised in Achieving Excellence that it is a goal of the Ministry of Education to do so as outlined in the following quote:
"Provide new online learning and professional development opportunities for both teachers and students, particularly those in rural and remote communities, ..."
I do know that in my board, consultants are constantly engaging teachers to use more digital resources in their daily practice.
I also like the emphasis on digital literacies on the Digital Learning article and how it is important that we teach how to go online properly and what the implications are if we post/write/say negative or inappropriate things. Even if students don't have a computer at home, they have or will have a smartphone in the future, they already have access to computer at school and the library so they will need to know how to act appropriately online. The problem at the moment with this push for technology in the classroom is the bandwidth in the schools. It is not strong enough to handle soo many devices online at the same time. What ends up happening during class time are students not being able to connect and therefore becoming frustrated that they cannot go along with the class and end up missing important steps in their learning. What I would like to see is state of the art wifi/bandwidth so that these problems do not happen as often.
I really liked the first quote in the Achieving Excellence required reading that read :
"We want schools ... where students will feel free to dream about their futures, where they are able to connect their passions with possible career options, and where the opportunities and resources needed to support these decisions are provided. "
This quote shares my vision for technology as it enables students to not only explore and find what really interests them but it seems more inquiry based as apposed to traditional teacher facilitated learning. I do envision students of the future to be the ones learning on their own because that is how they will develop problem solving skills which is pertinent for their future careers. No boss ever has liked someone asking so many questions because they are either too afraid to take risks or they do not have enough knowledge to work independently! I find students at the moment are used to the teacher directing their learning and when they get a chance to do something on their own, they are lost and overwhelmed. If they got used to this bit by bit in elementary school, I feel they will be great problem solvers and independent workers by their teenage years. This is a domino effect as if students are confident and engaged in their learning, they will be less likely to want to leave the education system too early thus our 83% high school diploma rate as mentioned in Achieving Excellence (although I find that a bit low, I account for the fact that in the area that I teach, there is probably a 99% diploma rate).
I also envision many teachers using technology in their daily practice. This would mean that they would have the budget to have technology in each classroom as well as the opportunities to teach PD around what teachers should know/use. I was pleasantly surprised in Achieving Excellence that it is a goal of the Ministry of Education to do so as outlined in the following quote:
"Provide new online learning and professional development opportunities for both teachers and students, particularly those in rural and remote communities, ..."
I do know that in my board, consultants are constantly engaging teachers to use more digital resources in their daily practice.
I also like the emphasis on digital literacies on the Digital Learning article and how it is important that we teach how to go online properly and what the implications are if we post/write/say negative or inappropriate things. Even if students don't have a computer at home, they have or will have a smartphone in the future, they already have access to computer at school and the library so they will need to know how to act appropriately online. The problem at the moment with this push for technology in the classroom is the bandwidth in the schools. It is not strong enough to handle soo many devices online at the same time. What ends up happening during class time are students not being able to connect and therefore becoming frustrated that they cannot go along with the class and end up missing important steps in their learning. What I would like to see is state of the art wifi/bandwidth so that these problems do not happen as often.
Friday, December 12, 2014
The end of my Aq course
Hello all,
While I am sad to see the end of the course for the amount of useful/practical work that I have accomplished, I am happy to see the extra work be over.
This course really forced us to think more about how we are leaders within the school system and how to help the staff become comfortable themselves with technology.
One of our projects had to do with a parents night for technology. I have been meaning to do one of these since September but it has been so incredibly busy this year thus far that I let it slip my mind. This assignment was not only quite useful but it enabled me to be ready in case I need to do one in January. Being in a paperless classroom this year, parents are hesitant about the shift in learning and have lots of questions. By starting the year off on the right foot by introducing what the children will be learning and what tools they will be using, parents should have their minds at ease.
The only drawback I see to this type of night is that the school wifi requires students to log in so either we would have to open this night up to both parents and students to learn together or it would be more of a lecture format rather than a "stay to play" night. Another worry is that we may not have enough technology for all the parents who might want to attend. I would either have to limit it to my classes (54 students) or have two possible nights. I think parents would be very keen on knowing how their child's learning will be impacted/heightened.
I also had the pleasure of doing my first WebQuest! While fairly basic, I wanted to get the Hour of Code out there because there are still many teachers afraid to try coding in school. I myself don;t have any formal coding background having only dabbled a bit in html in high school but I was excited to see my students taking risks and making cool little programs! In the new year, I want to see how they react to making their own math app!!!
Well, this is my last official assignment and I have one more week until holidays... or I guess I should say marking season... I really need to catch up and start 2015 on a better foot!
See ya later!
Ashley
While I am sad to see the end of the course for the amount of useful/practical work that I have accomplished, I am happy to see the extra work be over.
This course really forced us to think more about how we are leaders within the school system and how to help the staff become comfortable themselves with technology.
One of our projects had to do with a parents night for technology. I have been meaning to do one of these since September but it has been so incredibly busy this year thus far that I let it slip my mind. This assignment was not only quite useful but it enabled me to be ready in case I need to do one in January. Being in a paperless classroom this year, parents are hesitant about the shift in learning and have lots of questions. By starting the year off on the right foot by introducing what the children will be learning and what tools they will be using, parents should have their minds at ease.
The only drawback I see to this type of night is that the school wifi requires students to log in so either we would have to open this night up to both parents and students to learn together or it would be more of a lecture format rather than a "stay to play" night. Another worry is that we may not have enough technology for all the parents who might want to attend. I would either have to limit it to my classes (54 students) or have two possible nights. I think parents would be very keen on knowing how their child's learning will be impacted/heightened.
I also had the pleasure of doing my first WebQuest! While fairly basic, I wanted to get the Hour of Code out there because there are still many teachers afraid to try coding in school. I myself don;t have any formal coding background having only dabbled a bit in html in high school but I was excited to see my students taking risks and making cool little programs! In the new year, I want to see how they react to making their own math app!!!
Well, this is my last official assignment and I have one more week until holidays... or I guess I should say marking season... I really need to catch up and start 2015 on a better foot!
See ya later!
Ashley
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Advantages and Disadvantages of Blogger
Now I am no where near new to blogging, having made over 7 blogs for all my different hobbies and classes but there are some things that I just don't understand with blogging.
Here are the advantages and Disadvantages in my opinion of Blogger:
Pros:
Some Bloggers in the technology world who I have bookmarked their sites are:
ICT 4 Kids
Brian Aspinall's Blog
Free Technology for Teachers
Here are the advantages and Disadvantages in my opinion of Blogger:
Pros:
- Easy and fast to post
- Fairly dummy proof to start up (gets more complicated when you change layouts)
- Visually appealing
- User friendly
- Can post pictures, videos and links
- A google app
- URL does not tend to be too long
Cons:
- You cannot upload documents so if using this site for a classroom, you need to have additional software to help you with that
- you are limited in the layout changes and designs do not always work out so they take time to master
- You are limited to the columns on the side and cannot always place items where you want them to go
- Pages which you can make are fairly 2D and cannot do much with them
Some Bloggers in the technology world who I have bookmarked their sites are:
ICT 4 Kids
Brian Aspinall's Blog
Free Technology for Teachers
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Reflection on my course thus far
These last couple of weeks have been concentrated on technology for special needs students. After having completed all of my assignments and reflecting on what we have looked at this far in the course, I have come to the conclusion that I still don't like to differentiate for a few students when I have far more students who are not officially identified or have parents who didn't want to "label" their child in my classroom. Don't take it as that I don't want to help anyone, but more along the lines of I want to help everyone become successful. It is far more difficult to differentiate for a few than to do it for everyone. My way of accommodating is to give every student the same piece of technology and it is up to them how they choose to use it. Instead of using smart ideas with some, I use it with all students as they will all benefit from the structure. If I need to give extra time to one student as mentioned in his IEP, why can't I give extra time to others as well since I have to stay in for recess anyway! I just don't like seeing non identified students struggling because their parents don't want them to be labelled. Struggling is struggling no matter how you call it.
I have seen some great new programs that I have had a bit of time to test out thanks to having taken this course. I cannot say that all this is new to me as I try and keep up with the ongoing technology changes (especially with google drive! STOP changing it!) but at least this course is designed to have you choose things at your comfort level which helps me be able to look at programs that I have never had the time to look at until now.
It is obvious from the discussion had in the discussion forums that we are all here to further engage our students and through that our commitment is definitely apparent (Standard of practice #1 Members are dedicated in their care and commitment to students.) and that we strive to further our own knowledge with the direction the world is turning (Standard of practice #2 Members recognize that a commitment to ongoing professional learning is integral to effective practice and to student learning).
What I would love to do, is be more in depth with some newer programs and maybe even tackle how we approach paperless classrooms in the math world as it seems as though there is not much mentioned about paperless math in the world. What does it look like? Who has successfully gone through a year without using paper for math concepts like Geometry and Data management?
These are just some things on my mind at the moment now that I have a couple more minutes not clouded by report cards!
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Assistive Technology: "Necessary for some, good for all"
As I finish my learning module on Assistive Technology, I am to reflect on the quote above. I resonate with this quote because I acknowledge that everyone learns differently and it is up to the teacher to show the same lesson in a variety of different ways in order to "hook" the students. I have quite a few non identified students who definitely need extra care so why do I need to spend more time with my identified students when I know there are plenty more who need it too? This is where technology comes in. In my board, we are lucky enough to have google apps for education for all students and staff. I am definitely taking advantage of it this year with all my students. Yes assistive technology is great, but why only for some? Everyone should benefit! Of course some programs and software are not available to everyone but this is why I like to look at web 2.0 tools to find something similar so that all students can benefit. That way, not only am I not getting confused because everyone is using something different, but also the students can use their app/program to their comfort zone.
Another thing that I think benefits the students is the ability to give them a choice on how they want to be assessed. If they need to do an oral presentation, they can record themselves and show a video, they can use software that they know (ie. powerpoint, slide rocket, slides etc.) or they can do the traditional way of standing up in front of the class and presenting. Just because a student doesn't feel comfortable standing up in front of others, does not make them less intelligent from the next child.
This module really reminds me of the new show called "Canada's Smartest Person". This show tests contestants on their multiple intelligences and really shows that people are smart in their own way. I have downloaded the app for my students and they test themselves on a daily basis. They become so confident when they see where they lie in their "smarts". One student came up to me and told me she scored 100% in social smarts... She tries extremely hard in class but doesn't get the best marks. I told her that she will rock when she gets older because many jobs need people with social skills. This in turn makes her more confident and everyone goes home happy.
As much as I know that there are students with learning difficulties, I really try and make a point to offer the same things to everyone also so that the IEP'd student is not singled out as well. Ive had students in the past who refused to work on their SEA equipment because they didn't want to look different than the rest of the students. I don't blame them. As much as it helps them, it sometimes ruins their self-concept. At least with everyone working on the same device, the students who use an extra program or need extra time are not so self conscious with their work because no one is the wiser.
Another thing that I think benefits the students is the ability to give them a choice on how they want to be assessed. If they need to do an oral presentation, they can record themselves and show a video, they can use software that they know (ie. powerpoint, slide rocket, slides etc.) or they can do the traditional way of standing up in front of the class and presenting. Just because a student doesn't feel comfortable standing up in front of others, does not make them less intelligent from the next child.
This module really reminds me of the new show called "Canada's Smartest Person". This show tests contestants on their multiple intelligences and really shows that people are smart in their own way. I have downloaded the app for my students and they test themselves on a daily basis. They become so confident when they see where they lie in their "smarts". One student came up to me and told me she scored 100% in social smarts... She tries extremely hard in class but doesn't get the best marks. I told her that she will rock when she gets older because many jobs need people with social skills. This in turn makes her more confident and everyone goes home happy.
As much as I know that there are students with learning difficulties, I really try and make a point to offer the same things to everyone also so that the IEP'd student is not singled out as well. Ive had students in the past who refused to work on their SEA equipment because they didn't want to look different than the rest of the students. I don't blame them. As much as it helps them, it sometimes ruins their self-concept. At least with everyone working on the same device, the students who use an extra program or need extra time are not so self conscious with their work because no one is the wiser.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Reflection of Learning Module 1
As mentioned in a previous post, I am taking a computers course to upgrade my qualifications for my career. We have been asked to reflect on what we have learned/saw throughout the first module. We read an article about computer labs versus a couple computers in the classroom and found that labs are more effective because everyone is learning at the same time. I would have to agree not only for the learning but also for the teacher to be able to give instructions once (ok twice... lets be real here!)
If I had students at a centre who constantly need my assistance to use the computers, I would go nuts!
Moving on, we looked at our school and board computer policies where I think for the most part, they are up-to-date but need a little tweaking in the future to be applied to students who hack into or are very advanced in their skills. If the administrator does not know a lot about technology, how advanced is the policy?
Moving on, we looked at web 2.0 tools. I use them a lot but I get very stressed when I can't use them all. I have a tendency to need to be an expert on all things technology because staff members are always asking me how to do things but it is impossible with the amount of tools popping up daily! This portion of the course was a bit of a review for me as I have tried to use many of the available websites mentioned. I liked how it was differentiated though to apply to different levels because as I feel very comfortable with sites like edmodo, or blogger, others do not. In part one of Integration of technology in the classroom, because it was in class, we looked at a different web 2.0 site in depth. It allowed me to play and then plan how I was going to use it the next day in class. This item around, I was able to take a look at geogebra to tackle how I am going to teach geometry in math with a paperless classroom. Win, win for me! I had been meaning to do that anyways! I think that is also why I took this course. To "force" me to take the time to look for new things!
Next post, I am going to attempt a math quiz with google forms.. Not course related but stay tuned for my pros and cons!
If I had students at a centre who constantly need my assistance to use the computers, I would go nuts!
Moving on, we looked at our school and board computer policies where I think for the most part, they are up-to-date but need a little tweaking in the future to be applied to students who hack into or are very advanced in their skills. If the administrator does not know a lot about technology, how advanced is the policy?
Moving on, we looked at web 2.0 tools. I use them a lot but I get very stressed when I can't use them all. I have a tendency to need to be an expert on all things technology because staff members are always asking me how to do things but it is impossible with the amount of tools popping up daily! This portion of the course was a bit of a review for me as I have tried to use many of the available websites mentioned. I liked how it was differentiated though to apply to different levels because as I feel very comfortable with sites like edmodo, or blogger, others do not. In part one of Integration of technology in the classroom, because it was in class, we looked at a different web 2.0 site in depth. It allowed me to play and then plan how I was going to use it the next day in class. This item around, I was able to take a look at geogebra to tackle how I am going to teach geometry in math with a paperless classroom. Win, win for me! I had been meaning to do that anyways! I think that is also why I took this course. To "force" me to take the time to look for new things!
Next post, I am going to attempt a math quiz with google forms.. Not course related but stay tuned for my pros and cons!
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Make a form for Parental communication
I was on google plus this evening and my board has a lot of technology posts that I fall behind with reading. I happen to read this post on creating a google form so that each time you speak with a parent, you can fill out the response and keep tabs on who you spoke to and the reason!
All I can say is FANTASTIC!!! I for one will be using this technique considering I will be evaluated next year and my communication binder is non existent!
Basically you create the form to say date and time you spoke to the parent, then you can fill out the reason, who called whom, next steps etc!
Just needed to share this because I love it! Oh and if you want to see a live link, click here
All I can say is FANTASTIC!!! I for one will be using this technique considering I will be evaluated next year and my communication binder is non existent!
Basically you create the form to say date and time you spoke to the parent, then you can fill out the reason, who called whom, next steps etc!
Just needed to share this because I love it! Oh and if you want to see a live link, click here
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Reflection is part of your work
I am taking another course and this time it is my part 2 of computers in the classroom. Not only will be I writing about my classroom, but I will be reflecting on various texts that I am required to read for this course. That way, I can share with you my thoughts. The first reflection is from the article Another Reason to Blog; Proactive Through Reflection by George Couros who talks about blogging as a way of narrowing your ideas and focusing on one thing. I find this extremely important in my life because technology is changing soo much and its easy to get caught up in wanting to implement something in your classroom but then before you become confident in your practice, another concept is introduced.
While I find that keeping a blog/journal of your daily initiatives would be helpful, I find at times I become overwhelmed with the daily grind and the last thing I want to do at times is to write about it. What I did find useful in this post was that George seems to blog during the day as his students are. That has given me a new perspective because I always feel guilty when I am not 100% focused on the students but yet we are trying to model how to do certain things and why not take the time when teaching students to blog their reflections to do the same? After all, "reflection is part of your work!" This way, hopefully I will be able to become more organized with respect to which apps will benefit my classroom more rather than knowing the most apps possible and not having vision as to how I will use them in the classroom.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
First online math test
Hi everyone,
Welcome to my paperless classroom blog where I will discuss what I am doing in the classroom as well what works and doesn't in my quest to find the perfect balance in room 209.
I should start off by saying that I teach grade 6.... After having spent 2 years with the 8's, these cute little students are a bit inexperienced.
I have spent the first 3 weeks of school teaching them how to use google apps and the iPads in our classroom. I am most frustrated with the fact that not every student has the same windows or options when I try to model how to do certain tasks. Having said that, I wouldn't trade this for the world because I love trying new things and teaching students new things. :)
Friday we had our first Math test on patterning. It turned out great but there were some things to note.
1. Platform for tests. I am still having trouble with this one. I was going to do a google form until I realized that you cannot show the test back to students nor give feedback in a visual way. After looking through multiple sites on giving tests, i concluded that the technology has not evolved yet to a point that we can go away from traditional style tests. Therefore I made a test on Microsoft word, imported it as a pdf in google drive and had the kids access it from there.
2. How do they write on the Pdf? Well in my class, students use GoodNotes or Notability as their work folders. I have each class use a different app so that they aren't confused with each others work. So far this works well because they only need to toggle between google drive accounts.
The students can annotate the pdf and do everything they would on normal paper. The kids love it because they can choose to type or write with a stylus, whatever is more comfortable to them.
3. How does the teacher get the test back?
Now once the student finishes, they need to export the test back to google drive and put it in a shared folder that we had previously created called "Math Tests". I am shared with it and off we go!
4. How does the teacher mark it? Well I haven't got there yet but I would assume the same way in that I can import the document to Goodnotes and use a different colour to mark. Ill let you know what happens.
Now the great thing about this is that I always have a copy of the test in case the student "loses it". I can email parents with the attachment or trust that the child shows it to them via google drive. Regardless, I will send out an email to tell them the tests have been marked.
I haven't figured out if this process was hard for the kids or whether they are just slow at tests because this basically took the whole day on Friday....
Please leave feedback if you are more tech saavy than I am. I welcome any comments in order to better my practice!
Welcome to my paperless classroom blog where I will discuss what I am doing in the classroom as well what works and doesn't in my quest to find the perfect balance in room 209.
I should start off by saying that I teach grade 6.... After having spent 2 years with the 8's, these cute little students are a bit inexperienced.
I have spent the first 3 weeks of school teaching them how to use google apps and the iPads in our classroom. I am most frustrated with the fact that not every student has the same windows or options when I try to model how to do certain tasks. Having said that, I wouldn't trade this for the world because I love trying new things and teaching students new things. :)
Friday we had our first Math test on patterning. It turned out great but there were some things to note.
1. Platform for tests. I am still having trouble with this one. I was going to do a google form until I realized that you cannot show the test back to students nor give feedback in a visual way. After looking through multiple sites on giving tests, i concluded that the technology has not evolved yet to a point that we can go away from traditional style tests. Therefore I made a test on Microsoft word, imported it as a pdf in google drive and had the kids access it from there.
2. How do they write on the Pdf? Well in my class, students use GoodNotes or Notability as their work folders. I have each class use a different app so that they aren't confused with each others work. So far this works well because they only need to toggle between google drive accounts.
The students can annotate the pdf and do everything they would on normal paper. The kids love it because they can choose to type or write with a stylus, whatever is more comfortable to them.
3. How does the teacher get the test back?
Now once the student finishes, they need to export the test back to google drive and put it in a shared folder that we had previously created called "Math Tests". I am shared with it and off we go!
4. How does the teacher mark it? Well I haven't got there yet but I would assume the same way in that I can import the document to Goodnotes and use a different colour to mark. Ill let you know what happens.
Now the great thing about this is that I always have a copy of the test in case the student "loses it". I can email parents with the attachment or trust that the child shows it to them via google drive. Regardless, I will send out an email to tell them the tests have been marked.
I haven't figured out if this process was hard for the kids or whether they are just slow at tests because this basically took the whole day on Friday....
Please leave feedback if you are more tech saavy than I am. I welcome any comments in order to better my practice!
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Paperless Classroom
So I've been Mia for 2 years but I am back and now Paperless! Grade 8 has been fun but Im back with the 6's to teach them the ins and outs of technology! Yes, they need it! They are a generation of point and click but they need to learn the other parts so that they can function in the world out there!
This year, I have been fortunate to be able to have 27 iPads to teach with. My subjects are English and Math and from what I hear, no one around does math paperless.... I guess I'll take the challenge!
Please stay tuned for my hopefully weekly posts on projects or sites to be of use for 6th graders!
This year, I have been fortunate to be able to have 27 iPads to teach with. My subjects are English and Math and from what I hear, no one around does math paperless.... I guess I'll take the challenge!
Please stay tuned for my hopefully weekly posts on projects or sites to be of use for 6th graders!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Technological ice breakers for the first days of school
I saw this article from a teacher who brings the first day of school up to par with both traditional get to know you strategies as well as using technology. I like this idea, because in my classroom I will be using plenty of tools using students' smart phones, laptops, ipods etc. I feel that this effectively sets an example right from the beginning of how this year will unfold. Take a look for yourselves!
I really love the idea of making a Pinterest board of 10 things that represent you! I will definitely be using this tool not usually used for education purposes!
I really love the idea of making a Pinterest board of 10 things that represent you! I will definitely be using this tool not usually used for education purposes!
Friday, July 6, 2012
The new TLT in my school!
This post is just to say how happy I am that I was named the Technology Lead Teacher in my school for the 2012/2013 school year! In september, I will no doubt look back at this post when I am bogged down with tons of stuff and say, why did I take this on, but for the moment I am ecstatic!
I will be on hiatus probably unless i find cool sites to use but I will continue with this blog in August. I will be attending a technology conference which I am super excited about so I will probably have lots to say then!
Have a fantastic summer!
I will be on hiatus probably unless i find cool sites to use but I will continue with this blog in August. I will be attending a technology conference which I am super excited about so I will probably have lots to say then!
Have a fantastic summer!
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