Thanks to summer, I've had some time to put a lot of effort into my game plan. I've been able to find what I need so far, though I wish some of the educational technology blogs I read would update more frequently!
I subscribed to a few new technology blogs on my Google Reader and they have given me some new insight into what tools are available. I've spent a bit of time brainstorming how I could use applications like Twitter in the classroom. I read how one group was performing Romeo & Juliet through Twitter. It was interesting to see how they didn't necessarily use the dialogue but focused on the emotions. This could be a good activity with my students. I have one like-minded colleague at school that I see often over the summer. We bounce ideas off of each other and I've made a point of steering our conversations to technology and the classroom.
As of now, I wouldn't modify the overall framework of my plan, but I would add a few things to it. For example, in order to hit the ground running this fall, I would like to contact some former or future students and have pilot my ideas to see if they are feasible. In the past I've had students launch into new technologies and there are always hiccups along the way. It would be nice to get those worked out beforehand.
Looking forward, I'd like to get a feel of how any new technologies in the classroom will be received. For example, last year, I had my students working with blogs all year and found them blocked at school in mid-May, making it very difficult for students without computers at home to get their work done. It would be nice to have an idea of what will be available at school before we get started. This will involve contacting some administrators.
Moodle Presentation
13 years ago
The twitter idea sounds really interesting and something the kids would get into. Is that blocked at your school because I know it's blocked in my district. I wish I was motivated in the summer (like you) to plan more things for the fall. July has historically been my "recharging" month so it's tough for me to think about school at all. August 1 marks the end of summer in my mental calendar and I start to ramp up things for school.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious how you involve former students to pilot things for you. Do you call them or email them? Do you meet as a group or simply throw out things for them to test on their own time? I really like this idea and it would be incredibly helpful.
It is very frustrating to learn all these techniques and have all these tools at hand and not have the district up to speed. I am sorry you found your lessons cut off halfway through the year.
ReplyDeleteI would contact the Webmaster at your school with your ideas, then talk about who you need to contact to get the clearance you need.
I have a colleague as well that we bounce off ideas with each other. Unfortunately, we do not work in the same grade level but this just means that we need to tweek ideas to suit our needs within our classroom. Also, she has a technology room while I am still waiting. So she is lavishing in the things that I am learning about through my studies and I am teaching them to her over the summer. My hopes are that she can try out these great ideas that I am learning about and exploring, work out many of the kinks that happen along the way, and together we can find solutions to those nagging hiccups that go with the territory.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, she works with 4th graders while I work with first graders. I am hoping that we can find time during the year to do some 'buddy technology' activities where we can have her kids works closely with mine on certain activities that involve technology.
Best of luck with these new technology endeavors for the upcoming school year!
Wow, twitter would be a great tool to be able to utilize inside of the classroom because it is so prevalent in the world right now. Make sure that your school will enable you to use it first before you come up with all these great ideas because last year my class was using a website that was not blocked for almost 2 weeks then they blocked the website. I had to go downtown to our district headquarters and jump through hoops to get it unblocked. It took almost 3 more weeks to get it unblocked, then we just gave up. My students and I both were very fed up.
ReplyDeleteI would absolutely make sure that your district will enable you to do this program before you start this project. It is great to see you that you are using Blogs to help you find new and more exciting technologies to use in the classroom. There are so many great resources out there that we do not ever get a chance to see or hear about. Blogs definitely are a great resource.
I love the idea of using Twitter in the classroom! I had some time this summer while running a detasseling bus to brainstorm some different ideas and bounce them off the students who work for me. I found this to be a great way to get ideas and feedback from the students as to what they would like to do within the classroom and what motivates them to perform. Personally, I am looking to implement some Skype sessions with high school alumni who are success stories in their own right and to talk with my senior students to help prepare them for whatever they choose beyond college. I hope this will be the start of a great network that students can learn from and use to their benefit.
ReplyDeleteAdam,
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you have been able to keep up with all the information and blogging from the resources that you chose. The challenge will be to stay informed when school starts. That's really cool how they used twitter to act out the play. Did they get to use "text language?" As I was looking ahead I noticed that one week we will be utilizing social networking. I'm sure the learning from that week will greatly help you and send you on the right track. One obstacle you may encounter is the acceptance of social-networking in education. How does you school or district react?
As for you idea to try out ideas for feasibility, I think a blog or facebook would be a great tool to use. Or maybe you could have your students take a survey afterwards.
Also, to avoid any mid-year blocks, see if you can get a blog set up through your school website. I feel your pain as I too struggle with many great educational resources being blocked.
Good Luck,
Richard