Thursday, June 18, 2009

To Add or Not to Add?

My guidelines for incorporating technology (web tools in particular) center around the idea in the title. When is it appropriate to add technology? What tools can I (and my students) truly utilize? What are my motivations for incorporating technology?

I desire to (through technology):
  • Address my 5 E's: Engage, Enhance, Excite, Explore, Express
  • Use "new things in new ways" when appropriate and applicable
  • Make the technology fit my lessons instead of making the my lessons fit the technology
  • Address the needs of my particular students (with mild to moderate learning disabilities) particularly their various learning modalities
  • Allow my students to become more independent thinkers
  • Ensure that the content is still the focus and that the students are not getting bogged down in the mechanics of the applications
Hopefully through these guidelines (which I'll continue to refine throughout this course), I'll be able to address the question: To Add or Not to Add?
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4 comments:

  1. Sandy ClimenhagaJune 18, 2009 at 9:31 PM

    I love the 5E's! I agree with you about using tech to enhace a lesson not the other way around. I was taught to podcast but couldn't find a place that I really thought it fit this year so i am waiting until next year. Also I think knowing the student is crucial. Many of mine are scared of technology and I have to keep it simple. I have many girls that are not into computers. Some wouldn't go on the blog page unless I made it an assignment.

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  2. ktheobaldJune 18, 2009 at 9:40 PM

    Sandy, interest is a big problem that I've had. We did some online discussions through Edline (which is our homework posting and grade uploading site). For many (usually most) of the students, I had to practically force them to post. This is unfortunate because I think for many of them that are nervous about discussing in class it would be a great medium for them to express themselves. There will always be a few that are just not into it and that I can't help but...

    So what I need help with is how to implement those things in a different way. Are there ways to better facilitate online discussion? Are there techniques that get students interested?

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  3. RandyJune 19, 2009 at 7:29 AM

    I find that I have to be very careful when I write my blog prompts to make sure they actively engage the students. When I write good ones, I use them over. When I write poor ones, I toss them out.

    I also find that I have to be very hands-off as a facilitator. Even if students head down the wrong track when thinking through a prompt, someone usually rights the ship. I think that's where the actual learning occurs.

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  4. Sandy ClimenhagaJune 21, 2009 at 8:52 AM

    WE also have edline but I use it more for parents, posting grades, videos, power points, notes and announcements. Most of the teachers really wonder at the number of parents that use the site (we want to track number of logins but the IT dept hasn't addressed that yet). When I asked for permission to set up a blog for my 7th graders it was for a friendlier format that students would see as theirs. I did offer participation points for those that blogged and some days did put students on the computer to check out the updates and used it for projects. I will use it in the HS next year as a real part of the class, at least that is the plan!

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