If we take the approach that students learn in different ways and we must find way of meeting individual needs through a variety of approaches then why do we not do this for teachers.
I propose allowing teachers to act as professionals and have them choose where they spend their time and money to learn. Having teacher conferences and in-services in schools are not meeting the needs of all teachers in schools.
Of course as a professional it should also be on the teacher to demonstrate how this learning has effected their learning and use in the classroom.
Thoughts?
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
My experiences with the iPad and where to go from here.
As I have mentioned I have the opportunity to use the iPad 2 in the class for my teaching and for my students. I have had the opportunity to use many different apps and uses for the iPad which I hope to share. Some are my own ideas, some adapted from other teachers, some completely taken from others.
1. tchr_nts - I was frustrated with this app at first because it takes a bit of trial and error, however, this is one of the most useful apps for someone who believes in and attempts to use observations to get a great understanding of what/how my students learn. I can take pictures, photos and sort notes based on name, subject area or skill.
2. Numbers - I hate excel and spreadsheets. This app has made me a believer in spreadsheets again. I use this app as a daily planner, observation checklist, checklists for reading/writing/tasks. This is one of the ways to go paperless in the class.
3. GoodReader - This is an app for keeping scanned and created documents. It allows you to organize and use annotated copies of documents.
4. Dropbox - Allows me to share documents between myself and other teachers.
5. Paperdesk - Note taking for anything.
6. Twitter - Couldn't learn without my PLN (Professional Learning Network)
There are many apps for the LOTS - Lower Order Thinking but not many for HOTS - Higher - So my goal is to now use the iPads in this manner with the students.
1. tchr_nts - I was frustrated with this app at first because it takes a bit of trial and error, however, this is one of the most useful apps for someone who believes in and attempts to use observations to get a great understanding of what/how my students learn. I can take pictures, photos and sort notes based on name, subject area or skill.
2. Numbers - I hate excel and spreadsheets. This app has made me a believer in spreadsheets again. I use this app as a daily planner, observation checklist, checklists for reading/writing/tasks. This is one of the ways to go paperless in the class.
3. GoodReader - This is an app for keeping scanned and created documents. It allows you to organize and use annotated copies of documents.
4. Dropbox - Allows me to share documents between myself and other teachers.
5. Paperdesk - Note taking for anything.
6. Twitter - Couldn't learn without my PLN (Professional Learning Network)
There are many apps for the LOTS - Lower Order Thinking but not many for HOTS - Higher - So my goal is to now use the iPads in this manner with the students.
Breaking News: I am a horrible blogger
Everytime I start a blog I feel i will have the task of creating a new post on something similar to this. I have had the opportunity to teach in a grade 1 class. It has been a great learning experience, one in which I want to share my observations and views with. Unfortunately this position has also put me on a steep learning curve with little time in the day, and exhaustion when I get home. So once again it is my goal to start blogging about my experiences on a more consistent basis. Not just for anyone who may or may not read it but also for myself as a professional.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
iPads and student engagement
I have had the wonderful opportunity to use many technologies in my classroom including Apple iPad. I have had many discussions with many users of the iPad and how they have used it in their class. Up to now I have used it purely as a reinforcer of activities and ideas that we have learnt already. I really didn't enjoy this mostly because I knew students were not getting much benefit from this use of technology. Don't get me wrong....they enjoyed it. Perhaps that is the greatest aspect of using new technologies in the classroom....the engagement of students.
While these activities have their place in the class it is my belief that technology is a great tool for learning but is being greatly misused. Engagement does not equal learning and through all the hot key words that are used in education many educators ,new and experienced, forget this.
For true learning with technology students must be using it to become creative and critical thinkers. Producing their own work rather than solely showcasing other peoples ideas (See generic powerpoint). We all get suckered into using these presentations because they are easy.
It is my goal, that while I am working in a grade 1 class, to try and use the technology available including the iPad to have students become creative, responsible thinkers and users.
While these activities have their place in the class it is my belief that technology is a great tool for learning but is being greatly misused. Engagement does not equal learning and through all the hot key words that are used in education many educators ,new and experienced, forget this.
For true learning with technology students must be using it to become creative and critical thinkers. Producing their own work rather than solely showcasing other peoples ideas (See generic powerpoint). We all get suckered into using these presentations because they are easy.
It is my goal, that while I am working in a grade 1 class, to try and use the technology available including the iPad to have students become creative, responsible thinkers and users.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
#SocialMedia #FTW
The Following is a blog I submitted for Rocky View Schools "Power to Enrich" blog:
There is lots to be said about social media and its uses, advantages and vices. I myself have recently been added to the addicted to twitter list. I have been on facebook for years with varying levels of interest and I engage in the ‘always connected’ lifestyle without a second thought to it. When talking to colleagues about simple things such as email I hear about how they don’t check their emails once they leave school (or after a designated time). I cannot fathom this idea and it is not because I feel I would miss something, but rather this is what life has always been like for me. I can remember getting my first hotmail account and using MSN messenger to talk to friends that were two blocks away. I don’t feel like I lacked social encounters or made myself a shut in. This was life and for our students their lives are becoming drastically more like this each day. Rather than argue the issues this may or may not cause our society we must embrace this reality of this new social life and use it to teach students ALL the skills necessary for a world we do not know.
Over the past month I have been able to learn about and share amazing new resources, and ideas all through 140 characters (or less), #hashtags and RT’s. That’s re-tweet for those unfamiliar, as I was when I began. This blog from a teacher in Red Deer discusses the use of Social Media in a high school math class. The teacher had created an account, and a facebook group for math students and soon had over 100 members. He gives his students questions or tasks and allows them the option of choosing to answer through facebook or the “traditional” way. Of the 92 responses, all but 5 answered through the facebook group. This was not because it was easier on the computer, but simply this is how they engage in their thinking process – how they are able to express their ideas.
Teachers and all professionals must be cognizant of their expanding roles and the time they are available for those they are working with. However, as the above teacher noted when he was unable to answer questions through the social media site, other students started answering questions and created discussions on all topics. This is a benefit that student email does not have.
We must also be wary of the uses of social media within the school. Social media should be used as a tool of collaboration, debate and at times disagreement. It is important to teach students to use #socialmedia-socially. Digital citizenship is a term that is often thrown out during awareness weeks and after tragic events. It is important that we teach digital citizenship as we would global citizenship. The right to vote goes hand in hand with the right to access and share information, but the responsibility is to participate in both with respect and an informed mind. Stephen Colbert phrased it correctly when he termed the word #truthiness. Almost anyone can create information, but it takes a digital citizen to analyze, critique and produce knowledge.
I believe that social media will soon be a consistent feature in the classroom of the 21st century. The beauty of social media is that it does not conform to a particular use and is always evolving. This in turn will help educators evolve with new ways to engage.
There is lots to be said about social media and its uses, advantages and vices. I myself have recently been added to the addicted to twitter list. I have been on facebook for years with varying levels of interest and I engage in the ‘always connected’ lifestyle without a second thought to it. When talking to colleagues about simple things such as email I hear about how they don’t check their emails once they leave school (or after a designated time). I cannot fathom this idea and it is not because I feel I would miss something, but rather this is what life has always been like for me. I can remember getting my first hotmail account and using MSN messenger to talk to friends that were two blocks away. I don’t feel like I lacked social encounters or made myself a shut in. This was life and for our students their lives are becoming drastically more like this each day. Rather than argue the issues this may or may not cause our society we must embrace this reality of this new social life and use it to teach students ALL the skills necessary for a world we do not know.
Over the past month I have been able to learn about and share amazing new resources, and ideas all through 140 characters (or less), #hashtags and RT’s. That’s re-tweet for those unfamiliar, as I was when I began. This blog from a teacher in Red Deer discusses the use of Social Media in a high school math class. The teacher had created an account, and a facebook group for math students and soon had over 100 members. He gives his students questions or tasks and allows them the option of choosing to answer through facebook or the “traditional” way. Of the 92 responses, all but 5 answered through the facebook group. This was not because it was easier on the computer, but simply this is how they engage in their thinking process – how they are able to express their ideas.
Teachers and all professionals must be cognizant of their expanding roles and the time they are available for those they are working with. However, as the above teacher noted when he was unable to answer questions through the social media site, other students started answering questions and created discussions on all topics. This is a benefit that student email does not have.
We must also be wary of the uses of social media within the school. Social media should be used as a tool of collaboration, debate and at times disagreement. It is important to teach students to use #socialmedia-socially. Digital citizenship is a term that is often thrown out during awareness weeks and after tragic events. It is important that we teach digital citizenship as we would global citizenship. The right to vote goes hand in hand with the right to access and share information, but the responsibility is to participate in both with respect and an informed mind. Stephen Colbert phrased it correctly when he termed the word #truthiness. Almost anyone can create information, but it takes a digital citizen to analyze, critique and produce knowledge.
I believe that social media will soon be a consistent feature in the classroom of the 21st century. The beauty of social media is that it does not conform to a particular use and is always evolving. This in turn will help educators evolve with new ways to engage.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Welcome and Hopes for this Blog
Hi There!
While I have many reasons to create a personal blog about teaching, it really comes down to the simple fact that it is fun. It is professional reflecting without the paperwork and the awkward review and a disappointment in not achieving goals or finding out your goal really wasn't all that helpful or interesting.
I hope that you enjoy the things that I write about and I promise to try and keep them on topic of professional learning. If you enjoy what you read please share the website with other educators or just those interested in professional learning, education policy or sharing ideas.
My hopes for this blog are simple:
1. To consistently share ideas and opinions about professional learning and tools to use within the classroom.
2. To help at least 1 person understand or discover a new way of thinking about a topic.
3. To learn from those that may respond to this blog.
4. Not to forget or give up on this blog....to remember that creating discussion takes time.
If you have suggestions of topics let me know!
While I have many reasons to create a personal blog about teaching, it really comes down to the simple fact that it is fun. It is professional reflecting without the paperwork and the awkward review and a disappointment in not achieving goals or finding out your goal really wasn't all that helpful or interesting.
I hope that you enjoy the things that I write about and I promise to try and keep them on topic of professional learning. If you enjoy what you read please share the website with other educators or just those interested in professional learning, education policy or sharing ideas.
My hopes for this blog are simple:
1. To consistently share ideas and opinions about professional learning and tools to use within the classroom.
2. To help at least 1 person understand or discover a new way of thinking about a topic.
3. To learn from those that may respond to this blog.
4. Not to forget or give up on this blog....to remember that creating discussion takes time.
If you have suggestions of topics let me know!
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