While some type of technology is present in nearly every classroom in the country, it is rarely used to its fullest potential (Royer, 2002). Some of this discrepancy is due to the teachers' lack of comfort with using technology for teaching and learning. Even teachers who report a high degree of comfort with technology tend to use it in fairly rigid ways, such as searching for activities to use with students, communicating with other teachers, and word processing (Price, Cates, & Bodzin, 2002). Although students frequently use computers in the classroom, often the use is limited to information gathering and word processing rather than using multimedia tools and digital content to design and create products, communicate or collaborate with other learners.
For these reasons, one of my main objectives is for this project is to keep the activities simple enough so that any teacher, despite their level of technology confidence, would be comfortable joining this project. Another objective is to connect classrooms to share and exchange educational experiences. We aligned the monthly activities with common educational standards from the Iowa Core in the areas of writing, math, science and 21st Century/technology skills.
This week I am working on creating a wiki with a detailed explanation of the project goals, information for teachers and monthly classroom activities. Our first grade teachers are working on completing the first month's activities so that we can post them on the wiki as an example of what to do. If there are any first grade teachers who would like to join us on this adventure - stay tuned! I will share the wiki and more detailed information in my next post!
Resources:
Price, B., Cates, W. M., & Bodzin, A. (2002 June). Challenges in implementing technology-rich curricular high school biology materials: First year findings from the “Exploring Life” project . Paper presented at the 23rd National Educational Computing Conference, San Antonio, TX.
Royer, R. (2002). Supporting technology integration through action research. The Clearing House , 75(5), 233-237.
Cindy,
ReplyDeleteWow! What a great project--I only wish I was a first grade teacher so that I could join you! I think you have done a great job putting your GAME plan into action. I'm curious what types of activities you will be doing with your students. It is great when teachers are willing to work together toward a common goal. Great job and good luck with your new adventure!
Jill
Cindy~
ReplyDeleteYour project sounds like a GREAT idea! Like Jill, I wish I taught first grade, too just so I could be a part of it! Alas, high school math is not much like first grade...
Keeping the activities simple is a great idea for getting teachers who are less comfortable with the technology to try. I think you are working on something great! Keep us posted!
Cindy,
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a wiki to organize and present material. It's not only a wonderful way to present student with valuable information, but also to help work directly with colleagues in your school, or from other districts. I am really intrigued by the idea of using wiki's in the classroom. What kind of success have you had with the use of this type of technology?
Daniel - Our school uses a wiki to share all of our minutes from committee meetings and PLC meetings. Our principal also puts all important documents on the wiki so that they're readily available to all teachers (master specials schedules, field trip forms, policies, etc etc) We also have linked the google calendar that the teachers use to schedule themselves to check out the iPod touches, laptops and iPads. I upload technology "how-to's", links to teacher resources, etc.
ReplyDeleteSome of the fourth grade teachers have their students collaboratively use a class wiki to post book reviews, make book recommendations, share educational links, documents, etc.
As far as this project goes, I'm hoping that a wiki will work out to share all the information gathered from various schools. This is more trial and error for me - but I'm willing to try some uncharted waters and modify the plan if necessary.