Managing Technology in the Classroom

Managing Technology in the Classroom

Whether you have a class set of iPads, clickers, laptops, or even students with their own personal devices; the most important thing a teacher must consider and make a plan for is how to manage students and those items.

Organization

As hard as it is to be organized...trust me, I know!...maintaining organization with devices that are worth hundreds of dollars should be a priority in any classroom. The students in my class have a number (which I'm sure many teachers already do). Having the students numbered is a convenient way to class-manage. I have an iPad cart in my classroom so everyone's iPad is located under their number.

This also lends itself for you to easily assign a "Tech" job for a student. (ummm hello? Distinguished for VSET!) I trained a student to receive the iPads from students and to check to see if they need charging and to plug them in.

I also organize my Clickers by student numbers; so each child is responsible for that clicker. Also, I have baskets valcroed to their desks and they are to keep their clickers in the baskets when they are not in use.

This is useful for when I need to move on to another activity, the clickers are in a safe place and out of their hands.

Behavior Management with Technology

As much as I like to think that my students won't do anything inappropriate on their iPads, it happens. So what are my options for consequences to a technology infraction. Well, to begin with I have a place on their weekly report under behavior where I can check off if there was a technology infraction and write in what occurred. My immediate response though, is to take the iPad away. Now, what if there isn't an alternative to this assignment. Then I have my desktops and 2 lap tops that I can have that student work on. This way, they are still able to complete the practice or assignment, but now I am able to see what is on their screen at all times. 

Classroom management takes time and trail and error. What works for some teachers may not work for others. But I believe with planning and strict consequences, any teacher can be successful.

Digital Storytelling

Check out my example of Digital Storytelling using the Storykit App.
I teach 4th grade (FCAT Writing!) and this is a story that we use at the beginning of the year to help teach student how to form and write to a narrative prompt. I used Storykit app because I have a class set of iPads. When I shared the story I created I was hoping to have the link show the story in the Storykit app instead of a website. I tried to use the link on an iPad, but it brought me to a website.

My one concern was copyright. I wanted my students to either draw the pictures or use pictures on the internet. I was contemplating how to approach this dilemma with 4th graders. Thank you for the feedback.

Narrative: Tell about a class trip.

Learning Activities + Technology

"Technologies are adopted more readily when cast in the context of existing teaching and learning activities."        

Implementing technology in an existing lesson will prove to be more effective than creating a lesson built around certain technologies. After all, we have standards to teach and a lesson in mind, we have technology to enhance those lessons.

An easy way to look at implementing technology in your lessons is to think of a lesson in its more basic form: what the teacher's role is and what the learner's role is. For example, if the teacher's role is to communicate then the learner's role is to read/listen. So in a lesson where the teacher needs to communicate information on a new topic or standard the technology that could be utilized could be Podcasts. The teacher could record the lesson and then post the podcast to the class LMS and the students could listen.

However, I am an elementary teacher and all of my teaching is primarily done in the classroom. I could create the podcast in class by recording the lesson as it happens. That way, the students could listen to the podcast at home when they are attempting homework and need that reminder about what they learned that day.

Digital Storytelling in my Classroom

In my Fundamentals of Technology for Educators class, this week we were asked to draw upon the ideas of curriculum integration and digital storytelling to implement in my classroom. The first curriculum integration that came to mind for me was writing (as I'm sure every 4th grade teacher would). I would like to use digital storytelling as a means to plan, organize, and write to a prompt.

Teaching 4th grade writing is 99% about ensuring success on FCAT Writes. At this point of the year we have planned and brought writing to completion together quite a few times. The problems I am facing the most are: motivating the students to write and organization. If I am able to provide students with technology for their writing from beginning to end, motivation may improve. Also, the students who are having a hard time organizing their writing may need a different visual/media as technology. Some apps that I have previewed for their use include: StoryKit, Idea Sketch, Evernote (all free).

My next step is to decide on which app will be the best to create a digital story. I will prefer to use an imaginative narrative prompt; I believe that the digital stories will be more creative and high interest. I would like to hear suggestions on how to use iPads for Digital Storytelling....this is definitely a learning process!

A Need for Authentic Project-Based Learning

The Need for Authentic Project-Based Learning

created/retrieved on October 26, from www.wordle.net 

The need for project-based learning is growing as fast as the need to prepare our students for 21st Century skills. As a matter of fact, I believe that they coincide. Project-based learning, by definition, is when students explore real-world problems, simultaneously developing cross-curriculum skills while working in small collaborative groups. (Do I sense common core as well?!) This is the formula for preparing students with career-ready skills.

6 Reasons why you should use project-based learning

1. Deeper Knowledge of Subjects - Research indicates that students are more likely to retain the knowledge gained through this approach far more readily than through traditional textbook-centered learning.
2. Develop Confidence and Self-Direction - Students move through projects with both team-based and independent work.
3. Develop Better Communication - Students will hone their organizational and research skills and develop better communication with their peers and adults.
4. Meaningful Assessment - The students can easily see how academic work can connect to real-life issues and they are evaluated on the basis of their project rather than on the comparatively narrow rubrics defined by exams, essays, and written reports.
5. Integration of Technology - Project-based learning easily lends itself to the integration of technology. The internet can be a resource that students may use when conducting their research.
6. Spark Students' Desire to Explore, Investigate, and Understand their World - 'nuff said!

-Information organized/retrieved on October 26, from www.edutopia.org/project-learning-introduction

Robotics is a club that I co-coach after school. Robotics embodies project-based learning. The best way to summarize First Lego League is to say that it is a robotics program for 9 to 16 year olds. It is designed to get children excited about science and technology - and teach them valuable employment and life skills. In FLL, the children do the work! The work being; programming an autonomous robot to score points on a thematic playing surface, creating an innovative solution to a problem as part of their project, all while being guided by the FLL Core Values. Our team attends two competitions in a year. This year the challenge is called Senior Solutions. The students must research and design a solution to a problem that senior citizens face. It truly is inspiring to see students collaborate together to solve a real-world problem. One of the Core Values is gracious professionalism. This core value, for me, is the most rewarding attribute to Robotics. It isn't about winning or solving a problem and keeping it from everyone. Teams, especially at competitions, help each other when a problem arises with their robot and assist each other when they can.

Project-based learning IS authentic learning. What better way to prepare our students for careers after graduating.

Quality Assurance in Blended Learning

What constitutes the best combination of online and face-to-face learning experiences?

Truth is, you can't. Just like in an exclusive face-to-face classroom, there is no one best combination of traditional practices much less for the newer world of blended learning. I think we can all agree that elementary is "a horse of a different color"...in many ways, but I will keep it related to blended learning in this post. :-)

Elementary teachers establishing a blended learning environment is more about gradual implementation. First, the teacher must be comfortable and knowledgable with the online component that is being used. I will use Edmodo for example since this is a website I am comfortable with and could constitute as a type of learning management system at a lower level. 

When I first start the school year with Edmodo I gradually introduce to the students how to use Edmodo, usually with a question or poll that they can respond to. As the year progresses, I have the students take more control of their Edmodo profile. At this point in the year I have literature circles exclusively online through Edmodo. I am able to create small groups and each student in the group has an assigned literature role that rotates every time we read a new chapter. (I use the literature roles from Super Teacher Worksheets website - which charges a yearly membership fee, but is completely worth it) I read aloud a chapter book during class and they are responsible for preparing their literature role post on paper first. The students will then have time to post to their group on Edmodo during class time or even at home. The idea is to create discussion completely on Edmodo; learning how to respond to questions, form opinions, all while maintaining Netiquette. The main idea being that learning doesn't just end at 2:05, the discussion continues at home.

The best combination of online and face-to-face learning experiences really depends on the teacher and students. What the teacher is comfortable with and gradually including more through the year. Also, we must consider what the students are ready for. A lot of time, preparation, and training goes into elementary students using online components - not just using, but using successfully. 

Digital Storytelling

Digital Storytelling on Prezi