One thing that I think we need to keep in mind about Technology Integration is that it is true, the kids probably know more about using a computer than we adults know. However, do the kids actually know how to learn with a computer? I believe the answer to this is No. Using a device is not the same as actually learning with a device.
Kids today know how to Google pretty much everything, but they don't necessarily retain what they have searched. This in turn is not what I find to be "True Learning". It's learning on the fly for that moment, unless they take what they searched and actually put it into practice.
I found the following article about student centered classrooms from edweek.org, and I really felt this article gave me a lot to think about. 5 Ways to Make Your Classroom Student Centered
I think if students are given a project without specific requirements, they will need to have goals and objectives for their project to help them measure and hold themselves accountable.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Reflection Module 5--Classroom Management
I would say in our district the majority of the Classroom atmosphere's are "Control by Authority." This is one challenge in Educational Technology that is a hard challenge. While there are many great "Screen Control" software programs out there for Laptops and iPads, it is usually something that the teacher needs to set up and maintain. This is one more added task with all the daunting challenges already added in by the DOE.
In our Technology Department, we often laugh that our job is to "Do more with Less." We are fortunate to have some free time to look into programs that can be incorporated for little or no cost, yet sometimes to get the full "bells and whistles" there is an associated cost. Who really is responsible to pay for that one costly subscription for one classroom?
Self-Control, I think that is one challenge that we will always have a challenge with our teens and technology. I don't know if it is so much a lack of self-control as a need for validation. With all the social media to choose from, our kids have now gone from the need to socialize with many people to collecting as many followers to feel "popular." Even my daughter is checking daily to see how many Pinterest followers she has gained in a day, and finds delight in having more followers than myself.
I think when we as a society can teach our kids that your worth is not through your social media followers, then we will see them be able to show a little more self-control through the use of technology. But parents must be the role models that teach our children the merits of what is out there to find to benefit and enrich your life, not give you value and worth.
I am not a huge social media fan, which puts me on the outer edge of technology sometimes. I find much merit in what I do follow out there, but I have to remember to model self-control to my children. This shows my children that time with family and friends and paying attention to that around me is much more valuable in the learning process than just staring at a computer screen. I try to follow a few content rich items rather than just everything possible out there.
In our Technology Department, we often laugh that our job is to "Do more with Less." We are fortunate to have some free time to look into programs that can be incorporated for little or no cost, yet sometimes to get the full "bells and whistles" there is an associated cost. Who really is responsible to pay for that one costly subscription for one classroom?
Self-Control, I think that is one challenge that we will always have a challenge with our teens and technology. I don't know if it is so much a lack of self-control as a need for validation. With all the social media to choose from, our kids have now gone from the need to socialize with many people to collecting as many followers to feel "popular." Even my daughter is checking daily to see how many Pinterest followers she has gained in a day, and finds delight in having more followers than myself.
I think when we as a society can teach our kids that your worth is not through your social media followers, then we will see them be able to show a little more self-control through the use of technology. But parents must be the role models that teach our children the merits of what is out there to find to benefit and enrich your life, not give you value and worth.
I am not a huge social media fan, which puts me on the outer edge of technology sometimes. I find much merit in what I do follow out there, but I have to remember to model self-control to my children. This shows my children that time with family and friends and paying attention to that around me is much more valuable in the learning process than just staring at a computer screen. I try to follow a few content rich items rather than just everything possible out there.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Reflection Module 4--StakeHolders
In reflecting about the StakeHolders for a successful Technology Integration, I think I'm going to target Parents/taxpayers in my final Project. There is so much to share with them to make sure that we are all on the same page. As I've taken over as Technology Director, I have found there is a lot of "misunderstandings" about what we are trying to accomplish. Parents seem to feel as if they have no right/control over their child's use of technology. This is quite the contrary, even though students may be assigned school work that will be enhanced with Technology, there is still a line where parents need to feel that they still have some control over what their child is doing.
My plan would be that for starters, have a parent meeting before handing out the student's 1:1 device. Even if the device stays at the school all the time, make sure parents know what the plan for usage is actually going to be before the students start to use the device. Explain some of the programs to be used, and how they are "controlled".
The key items that we need to share with Parents/TaxPayers about our 1:1 initiative are the following: Digital Literacy/Digital Citizenship, RUP (Responsible Use Policy), and possible "penalties" for mis-use/abuse.
Many parents, and some teachers are not aware there is a difference between Digital Literacy and Digital Citizenship. Everyone needs to know basic usage concepts and troubleshooting (Digital Literacy) of the device they have been handed. Many times in the Technology Department we see students whose "Computer does not work." We reboot the computer and everything is fine. This is a basic step they need to know when at home. Digital Citizenship is something I personally feel should be learned in the home, and the school just re-enforce this concept of behavior. However, we all know not all parents themselves practice good Digital Citizenship. Therefore pointing out the highlights of this concept at a "student" meeting will help to educate everyone.
Sharing the RUP at a Parent/Student meeting will make sure that everyone is on the same page. Also, all staff members need to know what is stated in the student RUP in order to make a Classroom Management plan that follows these same rules.
And finally, if we share our Plans for usage of the device, then parents might feel that they even have some ownership in the process. I know this past year, I have had parents contact me that they did not want their child to use the laptop they brought home for anything other than homework when at home. I proceeded to talk with the parent and let them know that they had full authority over the device once the child was at home. If they wanted to put the laptop up after homework, by all means they could do that., but please send it back to school the next day with the child. Or if a Parent did not want the laptop coming home at all, we have worked out a check-in/check-out system with the library for these devices as well.
Flexibility is a part of the whole process, not everything in Technology has a one size fits all solution.
My plan would be that for starters, have a parent meeting before handing out the student's 1:1 device. Even if the device stays at the school all the time, make sure parents know what the plan for usage is actually going to be before the students start to use the device. Explain some of the programs to be used, and how they are "controlled".
The key items that we need to share with Parents/TaxPayers about our 1:1 initiative are the following: Digital Literacy/Digital Citizenship, RUP (Responsible Use Policy), and possible "penalties" for mis-use/abuse.
Many parents, and some teachers are not aware there is a difference between Digital Literacy and Digital Citizenship. Everyone needs to know basic usage concepts and troubleshooting (Digital Literacy) of the device they have been handed. Many times in the Technology Department we see students whose "Computer does not work." We reboot the computer and everything is fine. This is a basic step they need to know when at home. Digital Citizenship is something I personally feel should be learned in the home, and the school just re-enforce this concept of behavior. However, we all know not all parents themselves practice good Digital Citizenship. Therefore pointing out the highlights of this concept at a "student" meeting will help to educate everyone.
Sharing the RUP at a Parent/Student meeting will make sure that everyone is on the same page. Also, all staff members need to know what is stated in the student RUP in order to make a Classroom Management plan that follows these same rules.
And finally, if we share our Plans for usage of the device, then parents might feel that they even have some ownership in the process. I know this past year, I have had parents contact me that they did not want their child to use the laptop they brought home for anything other than homework when at home. I proceeded to talk with the parent and let them know that they had full authority over the device once the child was at home. If they wanted to put the laptop up after homework, by all means they could do that., but please send it back to school the next day with the child. Or if a Parent did not want the laptop coming home at all, we have worked out a check-in/check-out system with the library for these devices as well.
Flexibility is a part of the whole process, not everything in Technology has a one size fits all solution.
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