How are you using Technology?
Technology is a wonderful tool when it works correctly. Here is a little bit of background about my teaching experience with technology. When I was teaching, I worked for a newer charter school. During my first year of teaching (which was 10 years ago), I had a new classroom in an old building, which means the room was very antiquated. Technology was lacking in my room and in the school. The school had one computer lab with two printers that the whole school used to print. I had one old computer in my classroom, that worked for email (allowing me to communicate with parents and other staff members) and word. I used it for typing classroom newsletters and that was about it. The following year, the school built a new building and upgraded their technology 100%. Each classroom had two new computers, one for the teacher and one for the students. We also had our own printer,classroom televisions, listening centers in the lower grades and overhead projectors. I know what you are thinking, that was all the technology in the classroom? The staff was happy to receive that. The school also had two new computer labs, so students received computer classes once a week and teachers were able to check out the lab once a week. The following year, the school received classroom pods of 4 student friendly computers for each room. We also had an "ELMO". This was a wonderful tool. It was much like an overhead projector but it also recorded and played back lessons or experiences for students who were absent.
I used the student computers during reading centers. The students would play educational games. We also used the classroom computers to type and research different animals for our science units.
What are some ways you have heard or seen Technology in use and want to learn?
So ten years after I started teaching, technology has really changed. I am currently not a full time teacher but I do volunteer in my son's first grade classroom once a week. His school has "Smartboards" in every room. That was something I dreamed of having when I was teaching. His teacher uses it as a center during math and reading centers. She also uses it to show reading groups, where I had laminated 8 1/2 by 11 pieces of paper to show my groups. Some of the classrooms also have Ipads. I have a tablet at home but that is mostly for Pinterest and Candy Crush. I would love to learn more educational apps and activities to help students when I return to the classroom. On our home tablet I also have a handwriting app. This app has helped both of my children learn to write their letters in a fun way.
I personally would also like to learn how to make a better classroom webpage.
Smartboards are also my dream! Recently our school purchased Chromebooks for our 2nd and 3rd grade students, so we will have more regular access to computer and hopefully their skills will improve. What handwriting app do you use? My 2nd graders recently began cursive writing. Although they love it, it is a bit challenging for some. My goal is for them to be able to read cursive and write their name and other basic words by the end of the year. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI agree cursive is challenging to learn, even as an adult I don't write in cursive 100% of the time. The app I use at home for my 4 year old is called BT Handwriting. It is very basic. It teachers her how to form the lines to make the letters. They have a website www.buildandteach.com. It looks like they also have word families and sight word apps that would come in handy for 2nd graders.
DeleteKristi, my school also just purchased a set of Chromebooks. We are still in the phase of working out the kinks and getting them all up and running on the network. When we first tried to use them in my classroom it was a disaster because they would not connect. Next week I am having a wireless hub installed in my room, so that should solve the problem.
DeleteWhat kinds of things do you use the Chromebooks for? I am used to only having access and planning lessons for the computer lab. I'm hoping to create a whole new use of technology since I can actually have them in my classroom. Our Chromebooks are not equipped with Microsoft Office, but I'm hoping to put them to use for research projects and to visit sites that reinforce what I am teaching. Any suggestions on ways that you use them in your classroom would be helpful :)
I can completely relate to your beginnings. When I first started 22 years ago, I had 1 big and old computer, no printer, an overhead projector, and that's it. Now, I am the technology teacher and I oversee computer labs and iPad carts. My experience has drastically changed. However, I am I always trying to learn more, so please share with me how you use the ELMOS to record lessons. I don't have one, because I use my smartboard for everything, but several colleagues do and I would love to show them how to do that. Right now, they mainly use their ELMO for displaying whatever they are working on (way better than the overhead projector) but that's it. I think they would benefit from the video recording. Can you walk me through how to do that? Do you use it for recording material other than lessons for absent students?
ReplyDeleteWe used the ELMO to also record lessons that the students were struggling with. This would allow them to watch the instruction again while the teacher is working in small groups. It is also a great tool to use if the teacher knows they are going to be absent, they can prerecord the lesson to help the sub teach.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember all the steps but I did google it and there are a couple of step by step instructions out there. Sorry I wasn't more help with teaching you how to record on the ELMO.
Rachel It was very refreshing to read about the technology in your school. Sometimes I feel like every school is going to 1:1 and my school will be left in the dust. I was just apart of a grant team that wrote a grant asking for 34 Panasonic 3E devices and we are still waiting to hear back. The devices would be the only ones in our school and they will be shared between 6 grade levels K-5 with 5 teachers at each level. It's not anywhere near 1:1 but it innovative for our school.
ReplyDelete