In order to
collaborate and share ICT development with other teachers and staff at the
school, it is important for myself to be comfortable with my own ICT
knowledge. One of the best ways to
quickly update my ICT is to attend
workshops and conferences so that I can share my understanding with others. It is also good for me to practice the
ICT and model how it can support the inquiry process, the curriculum, problem solving, critical thinking, reflection, and deeper understanding for the
learners.
In my last blog,
I mentioned there are many different ways of sharing with educators and
professional sharing. Since my job
currently isn’t in the school system, I asked my boys about what ICT is
available at their school. To my
surprise, my younger son mentioned that most of the computers at their schools
are broken and they no longer have computer lab this year. The school does have iPads and I asked him if they use the
iPads for their learning or any particular apps. He mentioned that he has only used the
iPads for taking math contest test in Math Club with another teacher.
The only technology that his teacher uses is the SMARTBoard.
So if I am the TL
at his elementary school, I know that the school is at the beginning stages of ICT. It will take small encouraging steps to move the school community towards 21st century learning and collaboration. Just as we need to build relationship with our students, it is important to build relationships with each teacher and discuss what their ICT needs are. Good relationships help to build trust, respect, risk taking, and open communication.
I would work initially with the technology that is available at the school to provide engaging, meaningful, and fun learning experience with the staff. During the workshops, I would have the staff work in their grade groups collaboratively using different technology and programs as more heads are better than one and they have similar curriculum interests and needs. Another way that I would group the staff is to have different ICT abilities and knowledge within the groups so that those who are more comfortable can be a good resource for those that are less so.
I would work initially with the technology that is available at the school to provide engaging, meaningful, and fun learning experience with the staff. During the workshops, I would have the staff work in their grade groups collaboratively using different technology and programs as more heads are better than one and they have similar curriculum interests and needs. Another way that I would group the staff is to have different ICT abilities and knowledge within the groups so that those who are more comfortable can be a good resource for those that are less so.
For the
SMARTBoard, the following resources have suggestions that can make
learning more engaging and meaningful:
Janelle Cox's article, "Technology in the Classroom: The Benefits of Smart Boards" which can be found at http://www.teachhub.com/technology-classroom-benefits-smart-boards. This article mentions that other gadgets beside a computer such as "video cameras, digital cameras, [and] microscope" can be attached to engage learning.
The SMARTboard website has different software and types boards. There is also a YouTube commercial video on the site. The website can be found at https://education.smarttech.com/en.
The following YouTube video called "Professional Development with SMART Products" discusses the importance of collaborating and using the Smartboard effectively to benefit students inquiry needs. The video can be retrieved at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxiW1LXQxpU
For the iPad, the following articles would be helpful for professional ICT needs:
Kathy Schrock's iPads4Teaching website can be found at http://www.ipads4teaching.net/ipads-in-the-classroom.html
This is a really comprehensive resource. It would be good to try some of the "classroom use" out and share with the school community which ones I think would be most meaningful to use.
Danny Mareco's article, "31 Reasons You Should be Using iPads in the Classroom", can be retrieved at https://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/31-reasons-you-should-be-using-ipads-in-the-classroom.
He provides good reasons why teachers should be using iPads.
The iPads can be used for research links, taking photos and filming that can be added to create and share new understanding.
Janelle Cox's article, "Technology in the Classroom: The Benefits of Smart Boards" which can be found at http://www.teachhub.com/technology-classroom-benefits-smart-boards. This article mentions that other gadgets beside a computer such as "video cameras, digital cameras, [and] microscope" can be attached to engage learning.
The SMARTboard website has different software and types boards. There is also a YouTube commercial video on the site. The website can be found at https://education.smarttech.com/en.
The following YouTube video called "Professional Development with SMART Products" discusses the importance of collaborating and using the Smartboard effectively to benefit students inquiry needs. The video can be retrieved at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxiW1LXQxpU
For the iPad, the following articles would be helpful for professional ICT needs:
Kathy Schrock's iPads4Teaching website can be found at http://www.ipads4teaching.net/ipads-in-the-classroom.html
This is a really comprehensive resource. It would be good to try some of the "classroom use" out and share with the school community which ones I think would be most meaningful to use.
Danny Mareco's article, "31 Reasons You Should be Using iPads in the Classroom", can be retrieved at https://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/31-reasons-you-should-be-using-ipads-in-the-classroom.
He provides good reasons why teachers should be using iPads.
The iPads can be used for research links, taking photos and filming that can be added to create and share new understanding.
Since their are school inquiry research projects such as Science Fairs, Heritage Fairs, Genius Hour and 2 classes that participate in Destination Imagination, I would also provide a workshop on ICT literacy as found on the Manitoba Government site. It mentions the importance of teachers to have the students learn all the necessary ICT literacy of becoming 21st century digital citizens as show below:
 |
| Retrieved from https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/tech/lict/teachers/index.html |
Another workshop that would be beneficial is on the Points of Inquiry. It is a framework that the students learn to be critical thinkers, be innovative, and reflect on their learning. There is also "technological tools" to each stage which we can use and learn collaboratively to increase ICT needs and skills. The following below is a screenshot of what can tools can be used at the beginning of the inquiry process:
 |
| Retrieved from http://bctf.ca/bctla/pub/documents/points%20of%20inquiry/pointsofinquiry.pdf |
Within the LC, I would try to ask the administrator and PAC for more funding to purchase Chrome Books so that the students can use them when I collaborate with their teachers or for the Makerspace. It would also provide access to students who may not have computers or internet at home. I would also try writing some grants for more money too.
References:
BC Heritage Fairs. Retrieved October 20, 2017 from http://bcheritagefairs.ca/about/
Cox, Janelle. Technology in the Classroom. TeachHub.com. Retrieved October 20, 2017 from http://www.teachhub.com/technology-classroom-benefits-smart-boards
Destination Imagination: British Columbia. Retrieved October 20, 2017 from http://destinationimagination.ca
Literacy with ICT for Teachers. Manitoba. Retrieved October 20, 2017 from
https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/tech/lict/teachers/index.html
The Points of Inquiry: A Framework for Information Literacy in the 21st Century. (2011).
BCTLA Info Task Force. Retrieved from http://bctf.ca/bctla/pub/documents/Points%20of%20Inquiry/PointsofInquiry.pdf
Mareco, Danny. (2014). 31 Reasons You Should be Using iPads in the Classroom. Securedge Networks. Retrieved from https://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/31-reasons-you-should-be-using-ipads-in-the-classroom
Science Fair Foundation. Retrieved October 20, 2017 from http://www.sciencefairs.caMareco, Danny. (2014). 31 Reasons You Should be Using iPads in the Classroom. Securedge Networks. Retrieved from https://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/31-reasons-you-should-be-using-ipads-in-the-classroom
SMARTClassrooms. (2015). Professional Development with SMART Products. [YouTube]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxiW1LXQxpU
