Classroom 2.0 Presentation on Blogs

Does Technology = a "Good" Teacher

A question was asked last week that I have been thinking about.  (I can't remember the exact wording of the question, so I am putting it in my own words.) 

"Is a "good" teacher one who uses technology?  Is a teacher who doesn't use technology considered a "bad" teacher?"

During my first semester of graduate school one of my professors asked the question, "What is technology?"  We had a class discussion on what could be considered technology.  We came up with a pencil, paper, computer, and a cell phone are all examples of technology.  What has happened is that technology has changed over the years.

  

So to answer the original question, I think a "good" teacher is one who is aware of the different technologies available and decides the best technology to use.  Does technology have to include just computers and computer programs?  Technology should be used to enhance student learning and not take away from it.  We should look at what technology the teacher is using in the classroom, and is it the best technology available to enhance student learning?   Teachers should be "master learners".  It us their job to make sure they know what technologies are out there, and they shouldn't just stop there.  Teachers need to learn how to use those technologies in a way that can benefit their students.

And that is where I come in as an Educational Technology Specialist.  I will be the one to help educate teachers about the different technologies out there.  I will model how to use this technology in this classroom.  I will be their support.  I am excited to get into the schools and meet the teachers I will be working with.  If I have learned anything this week, it is how important the relationships between me and the teachers will be.

My Favorite Part of the Retreat

My favorite part of the retreat last week was all of the advice we got from different individuals who have experience with educational technology and working with educators.  Listening to what each person had to say and what advice they had to give fueled my motivation to be a strong asset to each teacher I will be working with this coming school year.  Here are some of my notes about what each person said.

Sheryl Nussbaum

• Some teachers will need you more than others.
• Develop a strong platform for change.  Get teachers to want to change.
• Most powerful thing you can do is model the use of technology.

• Put kids first.

Jeff Utecht

• Build relationships with the teachers you will be working with.
• Hardest part is getting your foot in the door.
• Helpful to go to team meetings or department level meetings.
• You are there to support the teachers in developing units/lessons.
• Get in with teachers at ground level.

Robin Ellis

• We are smarter together than as individuals.
  
Be in front of faculty.  Make sure they know who you are.

For teachers who are uncomfortable with technology, start with something small.

Will have to be a hand holder.

The more accessible you will be, the better you will be.

Meet with individual teachers.  Give them options.  Make yourself available to the teachers.

Be flexible.

David Jakes

It's about developing the relationships with people.  It's not about technology.

It's about being patient

Listen to their needs first and foremost. Put aside personal agendas.

How are you going to model learning?

How will you grow that person?

jakesonline.org - great resources for digital stories

jakes.editme.com

David Warlick

Technology integration.....NOT
Many teachers get overwhelmed by the abundance of information that is out there

Not just ability to read text, but the ability to find the information

We need to be teaching kids how to teach themselves

• "What are the students learning by finding?" Students are learning to make the decisions on what information they are going to use.  They are defending those decisions.
  
• "What are the students learning by working the information?"
  
• "How are the students getting their work published so it is available to the community?"  Students are then not just writing for the teacher...great motivator.
  
21st Century in just one word....."conversation"

Teachers are asked to redefine what it is to be a teacher. Teachers need to strive to be master learners.

Bring in as many examples from the internet as they can.  Will model him/herself as a master researcher.  This becomes part of the conversation of the classroom.

Teachers are like "curators" of a museum (their classrooms)

Sue Waters

the more connected you become the more exponential learning becomes

the more connections the more ideas you get

network learning is a great way to make and get those connections

when blogging, write about what you want to write about not what others want to read

teachers need to focus on the comments in blogs.  Commenting, replying to comments is a great way to get blogging on the way.

Doug Johnson

fair use is a set of guidelines

look carefully at what you CAN do rather than what you CANT do under copyright fair use policy

look at fair use guidelines and use them as a guide

Our goal should help people get to a comfortable level with this fair use.

Help teachers to understand this.

Dean Shareski

The idea of becoming social is VERY important.

Building relationships with administrators and teachers is crucial.

Connecting with people is the best part of the internet.  IF you think the best part of the internet is looking up stuff, you are missing out.

You should see yourself as a learner first, a teacher second.

The best teachers are embracing the change.

The more you can celebrate the good work that people are doing, you are giving them creditability and motivation.  People like to hear about others successes.

Chris Lehman

Projects.....Let students decide what media to use for projects.  

Students should be able to explore and create.

Have students do "real life" work that matters.

What if a school wasn't getting kids ready for the real world, what if school was the real world?

Each project graded on a common rubric...scienceleadership.org

Do it for a reason, don't learn it because its a new tool, use it when you see a purpose.

Don't put the tools first, put the pedagogy first.

Research, collaborate, create, present, network

Let's Get This Party Started

It's official.  I am an Educational Technology Specialist for the Canyons School District.  This past week I had the opportunity to sit down with my new colleagues.  Not once during this week did I say to myself, "What did I get myself into?"  The more the week went on and the more I learned, the more sure I was that this is where I want to be.  I am excited to be a part of such a dynamic group of educators.