Many teachers are so excited over the Web 2.0 offerings. (I looked at Zoho today.) But is it uncommon to find that there are still so many educators at the beginning stage of tech integration?
AppleWorks Draw was used this week by the Art teacher. I’ve been at the school for 7 years and this is the first time it has happened. I was thrilled and posted their efforts on the web. The students are K-1.
But what about having the students using digital tools to create and explore content? What denotes good integration practice? A teacher using Discovery Education Streaming, embedded in a PowerPoint presentation? A teacher who uses RealeWriter to create RealeBooks (http://www.realebooks.com)? What about a teacher who uses PhotoBooth to have students take a photo of themselves and then write a composition “All About Me”?
What has the most impact on students and learning?
There is a K-1 teacher at my school using a wiki for the first time this year. She attended training I gave earlier this year on using PBwiki. Her wiki is called The Gingerbreadman Adventures. Here’s what she says about the experience when asked if it helped her Home-School Connection:
“I am able to personally manage a wiki and use it to communicate what students are learning in class. Parents and students can access it from home. I am able to include a lot more information than a weekly or monthly newsletter could communicate, and it can be updated quickly.
I am able to post “Good Work” made by my students on the wiki to share with students’ family members. Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts, and Uncles can access the wiki to see what their loved one is doing during the school day.
Family members can offer positive encouragement to their students by posting comments on the wiki. Students use technology skills modeled in
school to access the wiki, and navigate to their own personal mailbox of comments.
The wiki also serves as an “extrinsic motivator” for my students. It is a healthy, tangible reward for good behavior, effort, or completed work.
Students can access their comments and check the progress of our project when they have completed their daily work successfully. This replaces sticker charts, candy, and junk toys that a lot of students work for. It also gives them extra time using technology on an educational site. “
I asked the teachers at my school to answer this question…
“Has technology improved your home-to-school connection?”
Most indicated how email has helped to keep the communication open between home and school.
Teachers and parents don’t always have the time for a phone call or to write a note. eMail is quick, convenient, and
readily available. Most of the parents work full-time. It’s another way to communicate with parents quickly
and effectively (i.e., not relying on the student to take home a message). A few indicated that their parents do not use eMail. Question is, how do we encourage its use?
One teacher is using SightSpeed, which has improved communication with her homebound student. The student has
been able to stay in touch with classmates and has had a chance to feel part of the class this year.
One of the teachers is using a wiki with her students and it is turning into a wonderful experience. Especially since the children are in kindergarten and first grade. More on that in the next post.
I am a new DEN Star Educator. I’ve experience with blogs, wikis, Google Tools, Twitter etc. and can only hope that I will be able to provide worthwhile information
on this blog that will be read by peers. I am a Master Digital Educator in Florida and look forward to networking with you, learning new things, and sharing information.
I selected Tech Tidings because technology has swept me along on a huge wave. I began using computers back in the 80’s and thought it was a great tool as I used Number Munchers for Math practice. Then I had math students create original scripts on various math topics, filmed it, and there you have a first movie attempt.
At one middle school I worked with students on a grocery price activity. At the time, I emailed individuals from around the country and we received grocery ads from California to Scotland. The next year I taught Grade 6 Critical Thinking and this time I had the students contact family and friends. We marked a map to indicate where the ads came from. We talked about why beef prices were higher in one part of the country compared to another. Today, I would use Google Maps. We could go to the town/city virtually. We could blog about our experiences.
The wave just keeps moving along and what a wild ride it is!
