I attended my first technology committee meeting this past Monday. The meeting was to revise the district technology standards in order to turn it into the state by July 1, 2010. We broke up into three groups, according to the goals. The group I am in is the Instructional Integration.It happens to be my goal for my GAME plan, integrating technology to improve student learning and to discuss technology with colleagues. We only began revising the plan, therefore there are going to be many more meetings. The committee members are mainly teachers. One of the teachers got a grant for iPods. I talked with her about the iPods vs. iPhones. She told me that she does not think the district would okay the I phones, since it is a phone and the iPods are cheaper than the iphones. The iPods do not have a video camera; therefore, I would need to get Flip cameras also. She also mentioned to get an Apple lab top to synchronize the iPods. On a PC, I can only synchronize one iPod at a time; on an Apple, I can synchronize all 30 at the same time. Now, I need to start my grant writing. I also, find out when writing a grant it is a good idea to include standards from the state. It was exciting to be in a room with educators with the same interest, which is wanting technology in the classroom.
Today will be the first time I have used a technology game for studying vocabulary words. It is a jeopardy game. It will be interesting to see if it will help with student learning. I have briefly discussed with my GT teacher technology lessons she has used in her classroom. I need to get concrete ideas from her in order to try it in my classroom, so I can compare my results with her.
I am developing a supportive learning committee at my school, in my district and on the internet. I joined edutopia http://www.edutopia.org/ It is a web site for educators from all over the world to discuss their area of interest. I have only begun to investigate the site.
Overall, I feel I am making progress. There are areas I mentioned I need to implement and areas I am currently evaluating. It is an exciting journey, a learning curve for me to improve my teaching strategies’.
Take Care,
Lynette
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Lynette,
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to be part of the change so many of us are longing for! I am sure it will be an intensive process, but please keep up the hard work! My district could certainly use a group of teachers with the insight you have gained at Walden to alter the current views of technology. Most consider it just for fun or google searches. Many fear it and do little to incorporate it into their lessons. The few who try (myself included) are often discouraged by administration for doing something different. I applaud you for your efforts! Way to go! Keep us updated!
Aundrea
Hi Lynette -
ReplyDeleteWhat is the teacher's proposal involving the use of the iPods? How many can she get? Are you planning on using them? It seems all of my stduents have them so I am looking for ideas on how to integrate them into my lessons.
Good luck with your plan - it sounds as though you are making definite progress.
Maria
Lynette,
ReplyDeleteHow fortunate for your school that you are a graduate student whose specialty is technology. I am sure that you are able to bring some important information and experience to the table. Good luck with encouraging technology integration into the 21st century classroom. Kudos to you for starting a supportive learning community at your school. As educators we can learn so much from each other as we all endeavor to use best practices in the classroom. Please pass along any gold nuggets you glean from your supportive learning community!
Ruthie
To Aundrea, Maria, and Ruth,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comments. It definitely is an adventure and learning experience.
There are some teachers at my school that feel technology is a waste of time. I think the only way to get those teachers interested in trying technology is giving them data based on research conducted on using technology in the classroom, along with personal experiences from myself and other educators using technology. I am fortunate, in that, my Vice Principal knows I am looking for technology grants, therefore, she keeps her eye open for me.
Maria, I want to write a grant for 30 iPods. The teacher that has iPods is at another school, so I will not be using hers. I mainly want to use the iPods for internet use. There are many applications that can be downloaded and used on the iPods. At my school we have a computer lab and we are assigned days. I want to be able to use the internet as needed on any day. I want to use the iPods for ePal,blogging, Podcasts and so on.
Thank You for the encouragements!
Lynette
Lynette,
ReplyDeleteWith your interest in technology, I am sure that the teachers in your district are excited that you have been placed on the Instructional Integration of Technology group. Normally, staff who has no interest in integrating technology is placed on the committee, and nothing is every accomplished. Your supportive learning community will be of great value to those who may feel intimidated by technology or reluctant to try technology. Keep up your good efforts, reach your goals and carry all of the reluctant educators with you as you help to create the rules for integrating technology into curriculum instruction.
Shirley
The Ipod project sounds like a great way to engage students in leanring. You certainly have a challenge to try and get 30 Ipods "authorized" as you have stated in your post. Maybe with enough influence from educators, Apple will come up with software to support the Ipods being set up for classroom use. Cenamo, Ross, and Ertmer, note that "project based" acitivies is on way to assess students. The project using the Ipod would fit into this catergory, calling for students to produce a performance product that is more open ended for evaulation? Have you thought using rubrics to guide students throughout their projects and help them to "self evaluate," which fits into the GAME Plan (Cenamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2009, p. 14)? Great post! Best of luck to you in your goals.
ReplyDeleteReferences:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach (Laureate Education custom edition). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning