My Blog of Potential

Main focuses of the training

• Internet Safety refresher
• Optimizing learning space around technology
  • What resources are available, and how can you arrange your space to make optimal use of those resources?
• Teaching teachers to integrate technology into their planning

Goals – what do we want teachers to take away from this training?  i think we need to clarify this first – it will direct the scope and scale of the whole training.  If we are just showing them the options available to them, then I don’t think we’ll accomplish much.  First we need to sell the idea of re-thinking how they engage students in the learning process.  For some of our more traditional teachers this may be the first time in the Information Age that they have been challeneged to change their pedagogical methods, and will jolt them out of their comfort zone.

Have we been too gentle in trying to sell them on the idea that technology integration is easy and seamless?  It is not – it requires patience, flexibility, courage, and a willingness to let go of some of the control in the classroom and some of the control of the learning outcome.

How do we get the administrative buy in that is required to put some muscle behind the impetus to change?  Without it, we’re just whistling up a breeze and hoping for a favorable direction in the wind.

Possibile types of training – how much time will we get?

• Ongoing discussion – first class conference – assigned weekly readings and discussion
• Professional Learning Networks
• 23 Things?
• 2 hr training one time (worthless I think)
• Different focus each year
• Grade Level Scope and Sequence Matrix
• Collaborative or cross-curricular projects

 Possible skeleton:

• Issue a challenge -
  show the video ‘Is this your student’ – remind teachers how we experienced education (filmstrip, LP audio, overheads and worksheets) – is this what our students are experiencing, only now with Unitedstreaming and DVDs?
• Look at LoTI – ask teacher to assess their current teaching style – not as a right or wrong, just to establish a checkpoint.
• Discuss the idea of just-in-time learning – is it really necessary to wait until students develop technology skills before we use technology?  Students will rise to the challenge if we give them a real target.
• Discuss Importance of rubrics – examples of good projects.  Let teachers explore Rubistar and other rubric generating websites[Note to self - stop using term 'technology projects' - that implies that there is a difference between a technology project and a non-technology project. If it is to be integrated then the technology component should be assumed, at least in the terminology of the project].
• Planning -

1. start with learning goal (TEKS or set of TEKS)- what do we want students to be able to do? 

2. Look at level of rigor that is required- if all we want is knowledge, then that isn’t a good use of our time to plan a project, but if we want synthesis, evaulation, and creation, then a longer project that employs various aspects of technology would be well worth the time it takes to design and implement it.

[Get away from thinking in terms of technology 'activities' and think in terms of units of study]

Example units – find some examples of units that have been implemented that make good use of technology throughout the unit and not just added on.