Although I haven’t been the most prolific cohort 21 blogger since our first face to face meet up, my mind has been busy with questions about edtech.
Fellow cohort 21 member Andrew Ruston asked me to flip the question about introducing tech in the classroom. What is the problem I have been trying to solve in my work that technology might be able to help with?
The first experiment with this kind of thinking happened around teaching printing. My students regarded it as lacklustre to say the least. I decided to carefully introduce teaching printing on the smart board in the grade one classroom, including a “sick letter clinic” game in which students manipulated letters so that they were in the right placement. Such a simple idea but they were captivated. They enjoyed using the smart board in new ways, the lesson was more interactive, and the students were engaged during the teacher directed part of the lesson.
Bolstered with this small success (which I imagine as dipping just the tip of my baby toe into the water of technology), I began talking with other faculty at my school about utilizing technology in the primary grades. Former cohort 21 member Jillian Green and I decided that we are both going to look into iPad apps to alleviate another problem: the students’ cumbersome task of transporting and logging in to laptop computers during literacy and math centre time. Surely iPads will be easier to deal with, we realized. My first goal for the year, then, is to research and experiment with math and early literacy apps.
My second goal, as I am a brand new teacher, is to find out how I can leverage technology (more specifically, Twitter and Diigo) to help me with my “new teacher” questions. To enumerate those questions here would likely be boring, and needless to say I have lots! I am looking forward to our meet-up tomorrow: to connecting with the other members, having more courage to ask some #firstyearteacherquestions and learning more about Twitter and Diigo!
The young learners in my classroom love using the Smart Board! I find it’s nice to have a mix between whole group and small group learning, so that they remain engaged for the entire duration, without having to wait too long for “their turn.” The first year of teaching can be overwhelming, so bravo for undertaking this great challenge with your students!
That sounds like an incredibly fun and valuable activity!
Tia,
Great post! Have you tweeted with the #firstyearteacherquestions yet? I just did a search and it doesn’t appear that hashtag is in use, so you could totally start that chat you and I were talking about on Saturday. I am sure that there are many other teachers out there with the same questions that you have and it’d be great to see a forum where they can be answered. In the meantime, check out another chat (here’s the list again) and follow along, or even participate.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AiftIdjCeWSXdDRLRzNsVktUUGJpRWJhdUlWLS1Genc#gid=0
If that list is overwhelming, try this one:
http://thejournal.com/articles/2013/09/23/13-twitter-chats-for-educators.aspx
Looking forward to hearing how it goes!
Leslie
Hi Tia,
Sounds like the ‘gamification’ of the printing with technology was a success! Kids are definitely captivates and motivated by technology so it can take a boring task it make it more engaging.
I have been using iPads for a year and a bit now and I have found that when selecting apps it is important to consider (a) if the students will be able to sign into their own account (if shared iPads) (b) will you be able to get any data out of the app (do you need to get data)? With the little ones it can be challenging to remember passwords/usernames so developing a system to help is key!
Good Luck!
– Marcie
Tia Tia Tia!
I loved reading about how you are using your questions and challenges in your classroom to drive your explorations this year: your approach is such a great example of a teacher who values an inquiry approach at the heart of your practice!
Les created this wicked amazing document on design thinking that I wanted to make sure you see: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qBbK9uGnZKc1Mq2Ma9Vy7meCQgv6U5MbqNRqozRvQWY/edit?usp=sharing
It is just one way to think about how you could design your action plan, but what I love about it is how it demands that we start with our questions.
Thanks for the daily dose of inspiration!
Tia,
Looking forward to your “action plan” post before our third face to face session. It is ok to not have it all worked out yet but a general overview of what challenge or question you would like to answer will help us build support around you.
Looking forward to catching up!
Justin