I am huge believer in Twitter and the power of a Personal Learning Network (PLN). One of the people that I follow on Twitter is http://twitter.com/thenewtag and she is passionate about "Sharing new ways to engage, motivate, reach and teach the young people in our lives." She also writes a quality blog worth looking into offering tons of resources and ideas for education.
Recently, she decided to take a huge step. She is participating in the contest on Oprah to find the next big star and the opportunity to host their own show. Her show concept “Kids These Days” features the things that are making a difference in young lives and the ways kids are impacting and being impacted by their worlds. But it’s not just a show; like so many of Oprah’s projects, “Kids These Days” is a game changer, a transformative resource available to every parent, educator and kid in the country and it’s going to reshape the way we perceive and engage youth in America
In order to help show support, take a few minutes to visit her audition site. Watch her video, and then vote for her and "Kid's These Days"
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Common Misconception #8 - Student's Know More About the Technology Than I Do
My Students Know More About the Technology Than I Do.
Most kids in this generation do know more about technology in general, but the idea that they know more about a technology resource you are trying to integrate is completely false. Kids in this generation are capable of learning how to use a resource easier then most teachers, but they DON'T KNOW how to use the resource as it relates to the content you are trying to teach them. That is where YOU come along to assist in the use of the resource.
Most teachers will tell you that they fear the idea of a student knowing more about technology. If anything, that fear should make teachers want to learn more about technology so that they can be a step ahead of the students. I personally relish the idea that a student might have more knowledge on how to use technology. Why? 1.) Because they will be able to help me better understand it and 2.) I have someone in the classroom that can help me assist other students. It is like free help. How many teachers turn down a peer tutor in a classroom? Not many, because that peer tutor is a very valuable resource in a classroom. Think of the student that knows more about the technology as a peer tutor.
It is a misconception to believe that students know everything or more about technology. They don't. They might know how to use their cell phones in ways we don't. They might know how to use the Internet and other software more then we do, but they don't. It SEEMS like students know more because THEY SPEND TIME USING TECHNOLOGY WITHOUT FEAR. If teachers want to know more about technology they must start using it more within their daily lives, not just between the hours of 8-3 or 3-10 for those of us that use it at home, but not at school.
What is true is that even though students might know how to use it, the majority of students do not know how to use the technology to make a quality product. They don't know how to manage their time in order to create a quality product using technology. They don't know correct ways to cite sources when creating a product using technology. They don't know how to organize information on a web page or Power Point.
Why is all this true? Because the majority of teachers THINK students know how to use this technology and they don't. I remember the first Power Point project I had my students do. They were AWFUL. Why? Because I assumed they knew how to create a Power Point presentation. I realized that my first lesson should have been how to use Power Point. The lack of knowledge about how to use Power Point by my students negatively impacted the effectiveness of relaying the content within the presentation.
Assuming students know how to use technology WITH the content is a huge misconception. We must teach students how to use the technology first, then teach them how to integrate the technology with the content. From there, it is my opinion that students will have the best opportunity to understand the content because they are using the content for a purpose greater than a presentation in the classroom.
If there is one thing you can take away from this post it is this: For this generation and future generations of students, it is/will be critical for teachers to have an understanding of how to integrate technology in order to better teach CONTENT to students. Students don't know how to integrate technology with the content being taught and must be taught both the technology and the content for successful retention of information.
Remember, students might know about technology, but students don't know about EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Common Misconception #7 Knowing Everything in Order to Integrate Technology
I Have to Know Everything About the Technology in Order to Integrate it in the Classroom.
The great thing about so many of the new technology resources available to educators is that generally each resource offers so much and so many different options that we don't have to learn everything about it before we use it.
I can think of a personal experience when I discovered Prezi. I really did not grasp the idea of a 3D infinite canvas. I put all my notes on the same "plane" and in a circle and then presented the presentation I created in a meeting. It did not get a good reaction, but teachers did see an alternate to Power Point. I went back to Prezi after it changed its editor and learned more about it. I used it as it was intended, and the reaction to the software was much better. I did not know everything about it, but enough that I felt comfortable enough to use it and present with it. Now Prezi is one of my favorite new tools.
So often with many of the Web 2.0 tools I try it, find a way to use it, and while using it discover something new about it that makes the resource even better. Originally, with the social bookmarking site Diigo, I hated the extra features of post-it notes and highlighter. I just wanted to save links, so I went with Delicious. After switching to Diigo recently, I realized how much more it offered me and how much more I could use it other than just a way to save links. I needed to use it first to realize everything it could do that I could use.
If you wait till you read about it, watch videos about it, and wait for someone else to use the resource the opportunity for integration will pass you by. THE BEST WAY to learn how to integrate technology is to just step out and start using it. Once you use it, it will become more comfortable. Fear of failure or mistakes because you don't know everything means that you could miss out on new and innovative ways to use technology. We learn from our attempts and our failures.
Through my position I have had the opportunity to share several Web 2.0 resources with teachers. The ones that jumped in and started integrating the tools had the most success. I found it easier for them to start using it and then ask questions, then for me to try to explain everything and then they use it. Since I explained it to them and they took notes, they were intimidated to ask for more help. The teachers that jumped right in are also the same teachers who ended up using the same tools and other tools for future projects with their students. The teachers who feared the technology and were unsure of everything ended up having less success with the resources and generally struggled with integrating technology in their classroom. Technology integration REQUIRES self-reliance on your part.
Technology is constantly changing. You cannot know everything about a technology resource. Since most of the software is fairly new, companies are constantly updating and tweaking their product. If you wait to learn everything about a resource it will change before you ever get started. If you have an understanding of the resource, adapting to the constant change makes things easier. I look back at my Prezi experience. When they changed the editing tool and other options, I found myself liking it more and being more comfortable using it.
There is a reason that I titled this Blog, "The Pursuit of Technology Integration Happiness." It is difficult to be completely happy when it comes to technology integration. There is one thing you can count on with technology and that is that it is always changing. This change creates a constant pursuit in finding successful ways to integrate technology. Happiness in technology integration is a willingness to work at learning new things. I don't have to know EVERYTHING about technology integration to be happy. It is the pursuit of successful technology integration that creates happiness; because once that light bulb goes off in a teacher/student, or a project is enhanced using technology, there is no greater feeling for a person in my position.
Teachers, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION AND RESOURCES. The great thing is, you don't need to know 100% about the resource when you only plan on using 25% of its capabilities. Remember, learn how to use the resource to meet your needs, then allow for exploration.
What are your thoughts and experiences when it comes to teachers feeling the need to have an understanding of EVERYTHING when it comes to technology integration?
Monday, June 14, 2010
Common Misconception #6 - Technology Integration Across all Subject Matter
There Can't Possibly be any Technology to Integrate in the Subject Matter that I Teach
Number six in the 8 Common Misconceptions about Technology Integration in Education deals with discovering technology that relates to the content areas that we all teach in education. The idea that there is little technology available for your subject matter can't be farther from the truth. No matter what you teach or even how you teach it, there are an abundance of resources available for your subject matter.
Gone are the days of relying on what comes with a textbook for additional resources in your classroom. There is WAY more than that available. I remember just getting new textbooks in 2008 and being concerned about the type of resources they were offering because I had little knowledge about anything else available. I have come to the conclusion there is very little that textbooks can offer me that I can't get on the web for free.
First place you might want to look for resources for your subject matter is my Links Page that has links broken down by subject matter. There are tons of great websites beyond just what is on my list. The purpose of exploring my list of links is just to showcase some of the resources that are available for your subject matter. I hope to be updating that list this summer, so check back before the start of the school year.
Next piece of advice is to join Twitter. Once you have done that, search the Twitter4Teachers Wiki and start following teachers who teach the same subject as you and see the resources that they are sharing and using in their classroom. You can then discuss through Twitter the different resources, lessons, and activities for use in your classroom. Instead of going across the hall for questions, go global and use Twitter for those same questions. You will get more than one opinion.
Once you have done that, create a Diigo account so you can start bookmarking resources that you find. You can also go to the links below to find resources that have been tagged as your subject matter. The resources are organized by the ones tagged the most.
If you teach another subject, visit any of the above and type in your subject and see what resources are available. If you teach a certain curriculum, like Government, Algebra, Biology, Poetry, type in those subjects as well. This is a great way to start discovering resources in your subject matter. If you teach a certain grade level, try that as well. If you prefer, you can search Delicious, another type of Social Bookmarking website.
Another option is to search through Wikis that are subject based. I recently discovered some that have discuss several resources. You can read my Wiki Wednesday Blog Post about those Wikis.
The above will help you find specific subject based resources. Other Web 2.0 resources are available and they can be used in several different ways across ALL subject matters. For those, I suggest that you search through the Web 2.0/21st Century Tools and Web2.0 Tools 4 U 2 Use Wikis. Don't think that you have to find subject based resources when there are TONS of resources that can be used across the curriculum.
3-5 years ago, it would be a good argument that there were very few technology resources to integrate into your subject matter, but with the development and integration of Web 2.0, I am going to go out on a limb here and say that there is no subject matter that does not have a resource for it. With all these available resources, the argument that your subject matter keeps you from integrating technology is no longer valid.
As teachers, it is time to use the creative minds that we have and develop NEW and APPEALING lessons for our students. We have to bring the technology they currently use into our classrooms. Finding what works for your subject matter is what is important. Start using it and start sharing how you are using these tools for other teachers. No longer does WHAT you teach keep you from REALLY being able to teach to your students.
When your students think your subject matter is boring, many of these tools make it interesting to them. It is up to you as a teacher to make the lessons interesting. Taking time to learn how to use these tools can turn those uninteresting lessons into ones you look forward to teaching, and students look forward to learning. You chose to teach a certain subject because you had an interest in it. Use these tools to help create that same interest in your students.
What are your thoughts? Have you found a resource that really brought out your subject matter?
Friday, June 11, 2010
Common Misconception #5 - Technology Integration Takes too Much Time
In continuation of the series on the 8 Common Misconceptions about Technology Integration in Education I bring you reason #5, which is one we all have heard. There was even a time in my teaching where I said this before I realized there was more available to my students then a Power Point Presentation/Project.
I have said and heard this statement many times through my short tenure in teaching and involvement in technology integration. I realized that it is not about HAVING time, it is about MAKING time. What is important for educators to understand is that our students have time and make time for technology in their lives and it is important that as educators, we do the same so that we can relate better with our students.
What I have seen and heard in my few years of teaching helps me to know that teachers do have time. We/They just choose to do other things with their time. For example, sitting and chatting during planning, going for a walk during planning, surfing the Internet for things that have nothing to do with teaching, all things that I myself have once done. All this time could be better spent learning how to use technology, something I learned myself and am working to pass along to other teachers.
It is important that we help those teachers who don't use time wisely or use time as an excuse not to integrate technology that in the long run understand that it will actually help with time management in their classroom. There are several uses of technology that will help reduce the amount of time that teachers put into grading assignments and creating activities.
It is a lot easier to grade a Glog after a presentation then to grade a poster board the student created. It will take less time to read and grade a research paper if a student turned it into a web page instead. Take those questions from a book and have students respond to them on a site like Wallwisher and then display that wall in front of the class and discuss the answers provided by students. What is great is that as a teacher, the average setup time for all those sites is fewer than 30 minutes.
If there is one thing that all educators know it is that technology changes, and it changes at a rapid pace. More and more technology is going to start being integrated into schools. For teachers to keep pace with these changes they are going to have to dedicate time to learning how to integrate it into the classroom. Next teachers meeting ask your teachers the following question: "What if our district decided to go to 1:1 classrooms next year and reduced the funds for paper and printer ink, would you make time to learn about integrating technology in your classroom?"
Not having time to integrate technology for some teachers is the excuse for other fears they might have. Teachers need to be shown that time is not the real issue. For many teachers, time is only covering up a real fear that they have about integrating technology. That is why we hear time so much.
Teachers must get over that beginning fear of giving up their time to integrating technology. They have realized that in the long run integrating technology has really helped provide them more time for other things. Remember the time it took to create Power Points for the first time, you never had to create them again. Or remember the time you wrote lecture notes the first time, you never had to write them again. Technology integration works the same way. Integrate it once and you know what to do and how to do it in the future.
What made you start spending your time learning about technology?
Common Misconception #5 - I Don't Have Time to Integrate Technology in my Classroom
I have said and heard this statement many times through my short tenure in teaching and involvement in technology integration. I realized that it is not about HAVING time, it is about MAKING time. What is important for educators to understand is that our students have time and make time for technology in their lives and it is important that as educators, we do the same so that we can relate better with our students.
What I have seen and heard in my few years of teaching helps me to know that teachers do have time. We/They just choose to do other things with their time. For example, sitting and chatting during planning, going for a walk during planning, surfing the Internet for things that have nothing to do with teaching, all things that I myself have once done. All this time could be better spent learning how to use technology, something I learned myself and am working to pass along to other teachers.
It is important that we help those teachers who don't use time wisely or use time as an excuse not to integrate technology that in the long run understand that it will actually help with time management in their classroom. There are several uses of technology that will help reduce the amount of time that teachers put into grading assignments and creating activities.
It is a lot easier to grade a Glog after a presentation then to grade a poster board the student created. It will take less time to read and grade a research paper if a student turned it into a web page instead. Take those questions from a book and have students respond to them on a site like Wallwisher and then display that wall in front of the class and discuss the answers provided by students. What is great is that as a teacher, the average setup time for all those sites is fewer than 30 minutes.
If there is one thing that all educators know it is that technology changes, and it changes at a rapid pace. More and more technology is going to start being integrated into schools. For teachers to keep pace with these changes they are going to have to dedicate time to learning how to integrate it into the classroom. Next teachers meeting ask your teachers the following question: "What if our district decided to go to 1:1 classrooms next year and reduced the funds for paper and printer ink, would you make time to learn about integrating technology in your classroom?"
Not having time to integrate technology for some teachers is the excuse for other fears they might have. Teachers need to be shown that time is not the real issue. For many teachers, time is only covering up a real fear that they have about integrating technology. That is why we hear time so much.
Teachers must get over that beginning fear of giving up their time to integrating technology. They have realized that in the long run integrating technology has really helped provide them more time for other things. Remember the time it took to create Power Points for the first time, you never had to create them again. Or remember the time you wrote lecture notes the first time, you never had to write them again. Technology integration works the same way. Integrate it once and you know what to do and how to do it in the future.
What made you start spending your time learning about technology?
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