I have always embraced technology. Perhaps it was because my husband brought home a laptop so he could work at home, waay back in the day. We all picked it up. Our family has been blessed. Once bitten by the tech bug, we always had to make sure our computer was fast enough for ALL of us-no easy feat! I was always pushed off until the kids were in bed!! Fast forward to when I am actually an educator. When I could integrate any tool of technology, I did. I am not afraid to ask questions. If I don't know something, I find someone to ask or get help until I get it. They get excited about doing something on the iPad or their own BYO device-they lose that "Gee, homework!" mentality and it is replaced with, "We get to work on the iPad?" The kids don't mind learning something new from other kids and quite often, I let it go that route. When a kid can also be a teacher, that works--life skill! The kids have taught me tons as they have way more play time than I do. I challenge them to come up with something I can use. Some things we’ve done: 1)We have talked about sequencing, but rather than traditional mode the students made videos, showing the importance of order. Fun and they ALL couldn't wait to do this. 2)As a review of our English concepts we'd talked about all year, the students created their own digital "English" books, adding pictures, video, etc. All were engaged! AND They had to go back and review less-used concepts!--sneaky me. 3)I personally love the assessments-I can take a test and add it to My Big Campus and the kids get practical test-taking on the computer skills, while I get something so much easier to grade. I can control the dates for their submissions and that forces them to be on-task. Those that are absent for any reason can also take them at home IF they have Internet. 4)Each morning they clamor to take a daily reading comprehension quiz on the iPads. I don't think they'd do this if I had papers sitting on their desks. 5)I had several students that created virtual step pyramids for a final project in Social. It was something they really loved doing. 6)I have kids that are now reading more than ever. They can't tell how "thick" those digital books are, plus I have shown them how to download books on their own devices via our local public library or from other sources. 7)Our new project is going to be creating a movie trailer about a book we’ve just read. We are covering all the academic standards, more dynamically. Disadvantages: 1)Some kids have their own devices and fast Internet, so they have more familiarity on what can be done. Some kids have zero Internet (and I include dial-up in that category as that is too frustrating for any project usage), or they have older computers or devices. They don't have that advantage of extra "play" time. Our school corp. is spread out, rural, and with a wide range of income. I would love to be able to assign something for them to watch/do at home the night before, then have them come to school with some background knowledge. Our days are so TIGHT and this would give me more time to expand projects for those quick finishers, and assist and push those that just process slower. Other disadvantages include the basic upkeep of devices. Kids can be inadvertently rough, things break, apps don't work, Internet doesn't work, etc. The infrastructure/upkeep is critical. I think that there are so many more advantages, and I am hoping that the new technologies offer some help with the disadvantages. We are looking at 1:1 that kids can take home, that save "bundles" of things they can work on/view/etc. at home even without the Internet. They can view, and work and all is good the next day. I know some schools already have this capability and we are ready to try. I just love how excited kids get when we get to do something in a way that is not traditional. They hop on board, and are eager to get started. Technically, real world experiences!
I have always embraced technology. Perhaps it was because my husband brought home a laptop so he could work at home, waay back in the day. We all picked it up. Our family has been blessed. Once bitten by the tech bug, we always had to make sure our computer was fast enough for ALL of us-no easy feat! I was always pushed off until the kids were in bed!! Fast forward to when I am actually an educator. When I could integrate any tool of technology, I did. I am not afraid to ask questions. If I don't know something, I find someone to ask or get help until I get it. They get excited about doing something on the iPad or their own BYO device-they lose that "Gee, homework!" mentality and it is replaced with, "We get to work on the iPad?" The kids don't mind learning something new from other kids and quite often, I let it go that route. When a kid can also be a teacher, that works--life skill! The kids have taught me tons as they have way more play time than I do. I challenge them to come up with something I can use. Some things we’ve done: 1)We have talked about sequencing, but rather than traditional mode the students made videos, showing the importance of order. Fun and they ALL couldn't wait to do this. 2)As a review of our English concepts we'd talked about all year, the students created their own digital "English" books, adding pictures, video, etc. All were engaged! AND They had to go back and review less-used concepts!--sneaky me. 3)I personally love the assessments-I can take a test and add it to My Big Campus and the kids get practical test-taking on the computer skills, while I get something so much easier to grade. I can control the dates for their submissions and that forces them to be on-task. Those that are absent for any reason can also take them at home IF they have Internet. 4)Each morning they clamor to take a daily reading comprehension quiz on the iPads. I don't think they'd do this if I had papers sitting on their desks. 5)I had several students that created virtual step pyramids for a final project in Social. It was something they really loved doing. 6)I have kids that are now reading more than ever. They can't tell how "thick" those digital books are, plus I have shown them how to download books on their own devices via our local public library or from other sources. 7)Our new project is going to be creating a movie trailer about a book we’ve just read. We are covering all the academic standards, more dynamically.
ReplyDeleteDisadvantages: 1)Some kids have their own devices and fast Internet, so they have more familiarity on what can be done. Some kids have zero Internet (and I include dial-up in that category as that is too frustrating for any project usage), or they have older computers or devices. They don't have that advantage of extra "play" time. Our school corp. is spread out, rural, and with a wide range of income. I would love to be able to assign something for them to watch/do at home the night before, then have them come to school with some background knowledge. Our days are so TIGHT and this would give me more time to expand projects for those quick finishers, and assist and push those that just process slower. Other disadvantages include the basic upkeep of devices. Kids can be inadvertently rough, things break, apps don't work, Internet doesn't work, etc. The infrastructure/upkeep is critical.
I think that there are so many more advantages, and I am hoping that the new technologies offer some help with the disadvantages. We are looking at 1:1 that kids can take home, that save "bundles" of things they can work on/view/etc. at home even without the Internet. They can view, and work and all is good the next day. I know some schools already have this capability and we are ready to try. I just love how excited kids get when we get to do something in a way that is not traditional. They hop on board, and are eager to get started. Technically, real world experiences!