Fun Ideas On Intergrating Technology Into The Classroom
Designing and planning engaging lessons with technology
How do you creatively design lesson plans, interesting to the students, including technology? This question could be answered in many different ways based on how your level of technology experience. Technology can be incorporated into all grades and subjects with just a little time and effort! For writing, a useful tool could be blogging. Blogs can be viewed as an online journal where students can brainstorm, organize, write, revise, and review assignments amonst their peers. With the use of blogs, teachers can manage and monitor what is being written on these blogs in order to keep everyone safe. Other reading and writing tools include: wikis, podcasting, digital storytelling, and digital diplomacy. In math and history students can use reliable voice recorders online to record information onto their ipod's, to ensure learning on-the-go!
Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). new tools in school. In G. Solomon, & L. Schrum, Web 2.0 new tools, new schools(pp. 80-96). Eugene: International Society for Technology in Education.
Presenting Concepts Effectivly With Technology
An effective way to present concepts effectively is through concept mapping ("tag clouds" when referring to Web 2.0). Through tagging, other people are able to collaborate their thoughts on the concept and "show how the terms relate to one another". Some helpful ways to bundle your tags together is through del.icio.us.
Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). New Tools; Tutorials. In G. Solomon, & L. Schrum, Web 2.0 new tools, new schools(pp. 52, 199). Eugene: International Society for Technology in Education.
Assessing Students for Learning With Technology
When assessing students on what they have learned with technology, we are basicly asking them to "show what they know in a wide variety of media". Web 2.0 is a great tool for assessing students on this skill. Some ways to assess students is by "blogging their questions, adding to subject matter on wiki, or creating a phased podcast of what they are learning and what questions they are struggling with". Throughout a students' learning experience with technology, an electric portfolio could be used to "collect their work in a digital archive". This allows for educators to view their work, assess it, and provide feedback.
Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Systemic issues. In G. Solomon, & L. Schrum, Web 2.0 new tools, new schools (pp. 168-176). Eugene: International Society of Technology in Education.
Managing Classroom and Technology Use Effectively
Some helpful ways to better manage your classroom when using technology includes; secure search engines, electronic portfolios, content management, and calendars. Students are key targets for false information provided on the internet, thats why it is important to make sure your students are staying safe on the internet. Electronic portfolios help teachers keep track of the continuous activities and ongoing work their students accomplish throughout the year. Content management is usually built on the foundation of online communities (such as Moodle.org). These sites help teachers to "organize learning content as a course divided into modules and lessons, complete with quizzes, tests, and discussions, and sometimes integrated into the school or district student information system". Last, but not least, calendars are great tools to use to help organize a classroom so students feel a sense of consistancy with scheduling.
Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). New tools. In G. Solomon, & L. Schrum, Web 2.0 new tools, new schools (pp. 65- 66). Eugene: International Society of Technology in Education.
Facilitating Engaging Learning Experiences In The Classroom With Technology
In order to ensure your students are being engaged in technological learning experiences, it is important to remember to track, observe, and evaluate your student's progress through these educational experience. Keeping records on hand help to keep thing flowing smoothly. Some key tips to remember are: collaboration encouragement, create an enviornment of safety and trust, eliminate confusion, make learning interactive, and give constructive feedback and support.
Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Professional Development. In G. Solomon, & L. Schrum, Web 2.0 new tools, new schools (pp. 102- 107). Eugene: International Society of Technology in Education.
Supporting Learning Outside the Classroom With Technology
21st-Century students have a great advantage over teachers now adays when it comes to the knowledge over technology. Schools are lacking the modivation to encorporate technology into an everyday learning experience due to their text-driven tradition, limiting students access to technology outside of the classroom. Though that is slowly changing, we, as teachers, need to encourange and support the use of technology, out of classrooms, for learning purposes. Some ways to encourage is through the use of class blogs, wikis, and specially made website. With these tools students will be able to build on their technology skills, while relating subject learned in class.
Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Students and learning. In G. Solomon, & L. Schrum, Web 2.0 new tools, new schools (pp. 26- 44). Eugene: International Society of Technology in Education.
Supporting Diverse Learners With Technology
For ESL and ELL students, technology can play a huge role in their ability to learn the language faster and more accurate. With the simple IPod device, students are able to record vocabulary, conduct question and answer conversations, check pronunciation, and store their language exercises for a teacher to evaluate and for instant replay to practice. These voice recordings, in both English and their native language, could also be added to group presentations.
Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). New tools in schools. In G. Solomon, & L. Schrum, Web 2.0 new tools, new schools (pp. 95- 96). Eugene: International Society of Technology in Education.