Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Halloween
We started our festivities last night at the Downtown Rescue Mission Fall Festival. This will now become a yearly family tradition, because the kids had such a great time and learned so much. They were able to give out candy to trick or treaters and help serve dinner to those in need. It makes my heart happy to watch my children serve others willingly. The DRM serves around 600 meals daily to those in need. If you are interested in volunteering, their website is http://downtownrescuemission.org/ Trick or treating for us tonight didn't go quite as well. After three houses and 2 injuries, Chandler called it an early night. Macie managed to fill her pumpkin to the rim and apparently consumed what couldn't fit in the bucket. It is now two hours past her normal bedtime and she is still wide awake from the sugar. Hopefully she will crash before long, but I am sure we will reap the "benefits" of all that sugar tomorrow!! Happy Halloween!!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
What to do with old Technology...
When I get new technology, I either give my old technology devices to someone else who could use them, trade them for the upgraded device, or throw the device away if it is not useful. Here is an article I found with some suggestions for old technology...http://www.thingsnerdslike.com/geek-life/what-to-do-with-old-tech/. One suggestion is to make art out of the old devices. No Thank You :)
However, I did learn that the landfill is not a good place for my stuff. I guess I need a better plan than the garbage can!
However, I did learn that the landfill is not a good place for my stuff. I guess I need a better plan than the garbage can!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Student Choice...Classroom Designs
One of the things I miss about being in the classroom is creating and designing a room for the students. I love making the classroom a place that fosters a sense of community and learning. These are photos of my Hollywood themed classroom for this year.
I am also posting pictures of last years Sports themed classroom...I am not sure why I changed it, but it was WAY too much work!
A Helpful Website for Teachers
A website I recently found out about is www.techforteachers.net
This website is all about technology integration for grades k-8. From mobile devices to content area resources, the ideas and resources on this site cover many areas. In addition to print resources, there are also "how to" videos. This is a great source!
This website is all about technology integration for grades k-8. From mobile devices to content area resources, the ideas and resources on this site cover many areas. In addition to print resources, there are also "how to" videos. This is a great source!
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Student Choice...Fall Break (oh how I miss thee)
I miss Fall Break! When I first came to Madison County, I came from a system that did not have a fall break. During my first year we had TWO weeks in the Fall and Spring. This was great! While I don't think two weeks is necessary (or even a full week) it would be nice to have a couple of days :). Since we had already planned a vacation, we are still getting a mini break with a quick trip to Gatlinburg. However, it comes with the price of 2 1/2 personal days and a ton of makeup work for a first grader, a fourth grader, and a teacher. Nonetheless, the memories being made are well worth it!
Technology Integration Guiding Principles for Administrators
I feel like I am repeating myself in this post, but I feel that this post has some overlapping ideas to my previous posts. Technology should never be put into the classroom just for the sake of adopting technology. A clear plan for adoption of technology should be determined and this plan should include not only equipment, but also professional development for the equipment. In order to make the adoption of the technology effective, the professional development is crucial. This is especially true for teachers who are resistant or feel overwhelmed by the technology. It will not be used efficiently by most teachers if this piece
is neglected.
is neglected.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Resistance by Teachers to Use Technology
I am a little out of order in my blogging assignments, but this one fit right in with my last post. I promise to go back and hit the other topics soon.
I have found that most teachers who are resistant to technology in the classroom usually lack confidence In their ability to use the technology they have been given. In everything, change can be hard, and technology changes daily. Teachers who are resistant need to be given less technology upfront and more PD on he technology they currently use (or have in the classroom). I have seen schools equip every classroom with a projector, smart board, document camera, clicker system, and slate only to see some teachers using only the projector and a computer. In addition to all the equipment, many schools only provide a one shot PD session, and teachers spend the rest of the year "discovering" on their own. This isn't done on purpose or with intentions of leaving teachers feeling helpless, but usually time and money limit the support for the technology once it is placed in the classroom. Teachers who are resistant to using technology should be given only one or two pieces of technology at a time to learn and master before adding more to their plate. Overwhelming someone who already feels inadequate using a basic computer will only set them up for failure. Effective administrators know their teachers well and should be proactive when determining how technology money should be spent in a school. If the majority of the teachers would be resistant to technology, then more money should be set aside for professional development for the technology being purchased. This Beginners Guide to integrating Technology would be a great place to start with resistant teachers: http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech130.shtml
I have found that most teachers who are resistant to technology in the classroom usually lack confidence In their ability to use the technology they have been given. In everything, change can be hard, and technology changes daily. Teachers who are resistant need to be given less technology upfront and more PD on he technology they currently use (or have in the classroom). I have seen schools equip every classroom with a projector, smart board, document camera, clicker system, and slate only to see some teachers using only the projector and a computer. In addition to all the equipment, many schools only provide a one shot PD session, and teachers spend the rest of the year "discovering" on their own. This isn't done on purpose or with intentions of leaving teachers feeling helpless, but usually time and money limit the support for the technology once it is placed in the classroom. Teachers who are resistant to using technology should be given only one or two pieces of technology at a time to learn and master before adding more to their plate. Overwhelming someone who already feels inadequate using a basic computer will only set them up for failure. Effective administrators know their teachers well and should be proactive when determining how technology money should be spent in a school. If the majority of the teachers would be resistant to technology, then more money should be set aside for professional development for the technology being purchased. This Beginners Guide to integrating Technology would be a great place to start with resistant teachers: http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech130.shtml
How Can Technology Effect the Learning Process
At ISTE back in June, I heard the terms "digital natives" and "digital immigrants" over and over. These terms, coined by Mark Prensky describe a change that has occurred from the previous generation to the one that is presently being educated in the following paragraph... "Today‟s students – K through college – represent the first generations to grow up with this new technology. They have spent their entire lives surrounded by and using computers, videogames, digital music players, video cams, cell phones, and all the other toys and tools of the digital age. Today's average college grads have spent less than 5,000 hours of their lives reading, but over 10,000 hours playing video games (not to mention 20,000 hours watching TV). Computer games, email, the Internet, cell phones and instant messaging are integral parts of their lives."
So, to answer the question about "how can technology effect the learning process?". It is going to effect the learning process no matter what because even if we don't use technology in the classrooms, the students are using it so much outside the classrooms that the way they learn has already shifted from the way we learned in the classroom. In other words, we can embrace technology in the classroom or resist it, but the bottom line is your students are using it and learning from it on their own. I think this leads me to my next blog post...
So, to answer the question about "how can technology effect the learning process?". It is going to effect the learning process no matter what because even if we don't use technology in the classrooms, the students are using it so much outside the classrooms that the way they learn has already shifted from the way we learned in the classroom. In other words, we can embrace technology in the classroom or resist it, but the bottom line is your students are using it and learning from it on their own. I think this leads me to my next blog post...
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