Barriers to Technology Integration

Money, Fear, Time, Committment, Resources, Trust... these are all things that can keep us from implementing technological initiatives in our schools.

I found this article about Overcoming Technological Barriers. Here's the link. It is much more informative than anything I could write. :)

http://www.edutopia.org/technology-how-to-implement-classroom 

Happy Tuesday,
Ginger

A Friend or a Foe?

I think the answer to the question posed this week, "Does technology help or harm literacy?" is a big... IT DEPENDS. (not yelling, just emphasizing)

 

It could be said that it hurts literacy because children are spending more time "hooked up" to technology, they're texting, playing games, watching you-tube videos... and they are spending less time reading and writing.

 

It could be said that it helps literacy, because children who might not be interested in traditional learning activities might be more apt to read something if it is technology based.

 

I see ways that children's choices affect their literacy. If they prefer to play Wii instead of reading a book or if they prefer to watch you-tube videos instead of reading an article.

 

Technology has its own literacy I think. Reading an article online is different than reading an article on paper. Maneuvering through a website takes literacy skills as well. Students must be able to process many different bits of information when using technology to learn.

 

So to restate my opinion... I think it depends. :)

 

I'm hopefully doing my research paper on how technology can be used in strategic teaching. I haven't found a lot of support yet, but as I find some I may change my response to it helps. We'll see. :)  

 

It's Friday!!!

Ginger

 

Article Review

I found an article through AVL called "Using Technology to Support a wide Range of Instructional Practices, Approaches, and Methods."  It is written by Dr. Leaunda Hemphill and was published in Leadership in Reading which is the Illinois Reading Council Journal.

It made several points that are relevant to technology integration no matter what grade a person teaches.

Here are a few important points made in the article:

• There's no "one size fits all" in reading instruction or selecting technology tools.
• Have a "Technology Toolbox" that contains a variety of technology tools. This will enable you to use different types of technologies to fit the needs of the students and different ways of teaching.
• They mention the "ASSURE" model when planning for lessons.
• 1. Analyze learners
• 2. State objectives
• 3. Select methods, media, and materials
• 4. Utilize media and materials
• 5. Require learner participation
• 6. Evaluate and revise the plan
• It also mentions other technology tools that could be beneficial in the classroom. It mentions a few that we haven't discussed in class...Inspiration  and Kidspiration, as well as Teach-nology.

Book Fairs and Baseball Cards

Well I thought I had decided what to write about until just now, and the conversation I just had with my younger son moved to the top of the list.

He's sitting in the floor beside me working with his baseball cards (which is what I was going to write about first) and he says to me, "I'm going to set up a book fair in my room."

I said, "A book fair?"

He replied, "Yes, I'm gonna make me a little money, but I'm not going to sell my awesome books."

So, I'm anxious to see which books he thinks are awesome and are allowed to stay on the bookcase. It is also interesting to think about his entrepreneurial interests. I'm wondering if his cousins will make any purchases tomorrow when they come over. We'll see how good of a salesman he is. :)

On to baseball cards, it amazes me that even in 2012 kids love baseball cards and other trading cards. My boys at school were talking about their football cards the other day. This morning my younger decided that he wanted to look at and add some new cards to his baseball card notebook. With all the "high tech" and media things children are involved with, it is exciting to know that they still find interest in the simple things, like a baseball card.

Keep your eyes open and watch for other "simple things" that the children you know enjoy.

Enjoy your day,

Ginger

Out With the Old? Probably Not...

What do I do with old technology... I use it. :) As an example, I have an overhead projector in my classroom. I don't use it for whole class instruction like I once did. However, it serves a wonderful role as a station in reading, language, and math.

I have been amazed at the "products" my children have created while working with the overhead projector. I placed an overhead tangram set back there and I had two boys that decided to create animals out of the tangrams, they traced them on a transparency and then wrote a story using the animals they were creating. As I look at what they do each day in that station, I always am thankful that I didn't put it on the curb. Just because it is old technology to me, it is new to them. I don't know if any of them had ever seen one before. :)

A couple of students even mentioned writing story problems for other students and putting them in a special place so people know where to find them...

Now, what to do with other technology that is antiquated? I would think that the system would have a plan in place for disposing of old computers, software, hardware, etc. I would definitely think that each school would have a plan, so that items don't just get trashed before an official decision can be made. What is it they say... one man's trash is another man's treasure.

Happy Wednesday...on to Thursday...

Ginger

Friday Post

Well if you thought my voice sounded bad on Wednesday night, you should have heard me today. Or should I say, not heard me. This morning I couldn't talk above a whisper. I let some students be the "spokesperson" this morning and I'd tell them what to say and they'd repeat it for the class. The funniest thing is about it, I'd whisper to them and every time they'd whisper what I said to the class. I just laughed.

As the day went on, my voice got a little stronger, but my children were exceptionally good listeners today. Maybe I should have laryngitis more often. :)

I'm sipping peppermint tea trying to get my voice stronger for Sunday's stroll. We'll see. Virginia Clay Clopton may be a little raspy on Sunday.

Have a great weekend,

Ginger

Website of Use

This is a tough question. There's no telling how many websites I go to, use, bookmark, think I'll use this again, and then when I get ready to work on a new project I just "google" the topic and it leads me to where I need to go.

Probably the site I use the most is a reading wiki. The address is... http://literacymalden.wikispaces.com/  This site has open ended frames that I use to teach my children how to respond to questions in writing.

This morning I let a few of my before school tutoring students do an educational phonics activity on the Professor Garfield site. Everytime I let children use that site they practice skills and enjoy it at the same time. :) http://www.professorgarfield.com/pgf_home.html

Happy Tuesday,

Ginger

Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll

Looking for something fun to do next Sunday, October 14? Well come out to the Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll. This year there will be more than 70 characters telling the stories of people who are buried there. Did you know there are more governors buried at Maple Hill than anywhere else in the state? Did you know that Abraham Lincoln's brother-in-law is buried there? As far as I know, Tallulah Bankhead will be there. Even though she isn't buried there she usually comes back to see her parents.  The past few years, Lilly Flagg has also made an appearance.

It is always a fun filled day, a day when Alabama History comes to life.  It starts at 2:00 and is over at 4:30.

Ginger

Resisting Technology

How would you approach resistance by teachers to use of technology in the classroom?

We have to make technology integration "irresistable" to our teachers. It has to be appealing. Does resistance exist? Yes, it happens all the time. But as administrators, how can we curb this resistance and help our teachers see technology as a useful tool.

There are different kinds of teachers. There are those who jump right in and learn as they get their "hands dirty in the technology garden". Then there are those who with a little training will keep the ball rolling and do more study to learn how to use the technology. Next there's a group who needs more professional development, they need more one on one assistance to feel comfortable in using technology. Finally, there are a few teachers who are just scared to death to use technology in their classrooms.

As an administrator, I'd have to look at my faculty and really see what kinds of technology is being used in their classrooms. Then, I'd need to spend some time finding out why some people aren't utilizing technology. I think if we find the root of the problem it boils down to fear, lack of understanding, lack of confidence in their ability to teach using it, and not being sure of how best to integrate the technology in lessons.

So... now what. Once we know the why behind the "resistance", proper professional development and support can be provided to aid the teacher in effective use of technology. If there were a technology coach at a school, this person could go through the coaching cycle with different faculty members to begin establishing technology integration.

If we help resistant teachers to take baby steps into use of technology then over time their stamina and independence will grow!


Happy Friday,
Ginger

It's One of My Favorites

I love books. It isn't a secret. Everybody who knows me well knows I have an addiction. As a friend of mine says, "It's my hobby." I'd say that fits me too. I love to sit in the children's book section at the library and bookstore and just explore all the new literature that is available.

In my classroom we work together to build the classroom library. We do book passes and countless times, I've said to my children... "This is one of my favorites." So I decided for this entry, I'd just share with you a few of my "favorites." The list is endless, but here are a few...

The Other Side Jacqueline Woodson

Epposomundas Colleen Salley

Bubba and Beau (There are 3 books in the series) Kathy Appelt

Stellaluna Janelle Cannon

Imogene's Antlers David Small

Saturdays and Teacakes Lester Laminack

Let Me Be The Boss Brod Baggert


Chapter Books...

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane Kate DiCamillo

Tuck Everlasting Natalie Babbitt

I Have Lived a Thousand Years Livia Bitton-Jackson


Reading is a key part of our children's lives, and even though technology is an essential part of our lives, in my opinion, there is nothing like turning the page in a book... the crisp crinkle  and the look on the children's faces when they see the next set of illustrations, like when we read  I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!

There's also nothing like these words as well... "Read us just one more chapter, please..."

Happy Reading!

Ginger

Guiding Light

Ever seen Nemo? You know that light that is dangling in front of them and they are mesmerized and then they realize it is something dangerous and AAAAHHHHH! They have to get away fast. The pretty light wasn't all it appeared,  it was much worse.

Administrators can't be tricked by the pretty light. There are so many companies that just want our educational money (ha!) and will do most anything to get us to purchase their hardware, software, gadget, etc. We have to be grounded in best practices in technology as well as good technology investments.

So how do we decide...

• what technologies can we implement that will prepare children for their future?
• what technologies can we implement that support critical thinking?
• what technologies can we implement that support creativity?
• what technologies can we implement that support communication?
• what technologies can we implement that support collaboration?  (NAESP)
• what training do our educators need in order to implement technology integration with our students?

Administrators must stay informed of current and "ground breaking" technologies that could be beneficial in the classroom. Administrators must make choices based on what his/ her school needs, not what someone else is doing.

If we stay grounded in what is best for our students and provide high quality professional development for our teachers then we are providing a strong foundation for instructional technology implementation.

I found an article from NAESP that correlates with this topic. It discusses the 4 Cs that I mentioned above.

http://www.naesp.org/principal-januaryfebruary-2012-technology/technology-integration-new-21st-century-learner

Happy Tuesday,
Ginger