Our Sound of Music Moment Getting to know you: 1.Please find your color-alike nametag group 2.Introduce yourselves to each other in reverse alphabetical order by first name 3.In the same order, list (up to 3) who/what you would want with you if you were on a deserted island today instead of in Champlin Park and why you made you selections Getting to know you: 1.Please find your color-alike nametag group 2.Introduce yourselves to each other in reverse alphabetical order by first name 3.In the same order, list (up to 3) who/what you would want with you if you were on a deserted island today instead of in Champlin Park and why you made you selections

Confession I don’t know everything. I will give you what I know. I don’t know everything. I will give you what I know. I’m not Jim Burke. :)

How do you use technology in your classroom? Think Pair Share

Why Technology in the Classroom? Kids love it (wow factor) Connection opportunities –You with other educators –Kids with other kids Kids learn to learn –Doing something new to learn how to do something new Preparation for 21st Century Economies –The World is Flat Kids love it (wow factor) Connection opportunities –You with other educators –Kids with other kids Kids learn to learn –Doing something new to learn how to do something new Preparation for 21st Century Economies –The World is Flat

Some scary thoughts According to a March 2008 article in NEA Today: 30 million American households don’t have a computer Many children only have the opportunity to use computers at school: –39% of Hispanic children –45% of Black children –11% of Asian/Pacific Islander children –15% of White children According to a March 2008 article in NEA Today: 30 million American households don’t have a computer Many children only have the opportunity to use computers at school: –39% of Hispanic children –45% of Black children –11% of Asian/Pacific Islander children –15% of White children

Connecting dots According to the same article, Increased household income = increased computer use Increased computer use = increased college attendance Increased time online = increased experience and comfort According to the same article, Increased household income = increased computer use Increased computer use = increased college attendance Increased time online = increased experience and comfort

So, do we crawl into bed and cover our heads with the sheets? Whenever possible, we want to give kids opportunities to prepare for the world that may be…Shift Happens. We must recognize that the experiences we give them may be the only digital experiences they get. Whenever possible, we want to give kids opportunities to prepare for the world that may be…Shift Happens. We must recognize that the experiences we give them may be the only digital experiences they get.

We hear a lot about this …and these.

So, what about…

A Home Page with links to class pages along with a daily calendar

A Class Page with links to handouts and daily PowerPoint presentations

Student Projects Student Review and Overview of A Brave New World

Student Discussion

Day 28 Research Students who did not finish their test yesterday need to sign the top of their paper to show they only used their book and turn it in to the basket. Crucible Research Assignment You need to have a pack of notecards for Monday. write down three topics you are interested in from the list on the back of the sheet. circle the topic you find most interesting and then write down five questions you have about that topic. you need to bring this sheet to class on Monday. come up with a list of 20 questions you should ask to ensure that a website you view is worthwhile and useful for a school project. return to your question sheet (#4) and write down three specific sources you could look at to start answering their questions. Students who did not finish their test yesterday need to sign the top of their paper to show they only used their book and turn it in to the basket. Crucible Research Assignment You need to have a pack of notecards for Monday. write down three topics you are interested in from the list on the back of the sheet. circle the topic you find most interesting and then write down five questions you have about that topic. you need to bring this sheet to class on Monday. come up with a list of 20 questions you should ask to ensure that a website you view is worthwhile and useful for a school project. return to your question sheet (#4) and write down three specific sources you could look at to start answering their questions. Keep track of daily events

Easily save discussion notes

A way for students to contact you, even if they have lost your address (for the third time)

How to begin Consider what kind of access your students have. –Do they have home access? –Can you get time in the school computer lab? Consider what you want to accomplish. –Information dissemination? –Student discussion? –Student publication? Consider what kind of access your students have. –Do they have home access? –Can you get time in the school computer lab? Consider what you want to accomplish. –Information dissemination? –Student discussion? –Student publication?

Baby steps Include kids in the process as much as possible Before they get to work on the read/write web, review the district technology policy with them, and discuss the importance of keeping their identity secret Prepare to spend some play time Include kids in the process as much as possible Before they get to work on the read/write web, review the district technology policy with them, and discuss the importance of keeping their identity secret Prepare to spend some play time

Surprises Starting point Learning curve Frustration level Starting point Learning curve Frustration level

Student Responses How would you rate your understanding of material that is presented using technology (e.g. PowerPoint presentations)? The Beginning of the Term How would you rate your understanding of material that is presented using technology (e.g. PowerPoint presentations)? The Beginning of the Term

Student Responses How would you rate your understanding of material that is presented using technology (e.g. PowerPoint presentations)? The End of the Term How would you rate your understanding of material that is presented using technology (e.g. PowerPoint presentations)? The End of the Term

The Beginning of the Term

The End of the Term

Responses from the Audience

What frustrations have you experienced trying to incorporate technology in your classroom practice? number of computers can ’ t book computer labs or computer carts when I need them compatibility technical difficulties without tech support no computer lab facilitating the creation of blogs and posting of comments limited time to practice lack of technical help and things just going wrong. severe lack of time and little follow-up to implement availability of technology in our district. time it takes to prepare lessons on the SMARTBoard software. number of computers can ’ t book computer labs or computer carts when I need them compatibility technical difficulties without tech support no computer lab facilitating the creation of blogs and posting of comments limited time to practice lack of technical help and things just going wrong. severe lack of time and little follow-up to implement availability of technology in our district. time it takes to prepare lessons on the SMARTBoard software.

What might need to change in your building or district in order for you and your students to make best use of technology? money allotted for technology to be best used tech help more training more computers and update our software. parents also need to view the use of technology not only as valuable but they must also agree to support it financially embrace the technology students carry with them more time to plan, use and practice more technical support. educating the parents money allotted for technology to be best used tech help more training more computers and update our software. parents also need to view the use of technology not only as valuable but they must also agree to support it financially embrace the technology students carry with them more time to plan, use and practice more technical support. educating the parents

Some ideas for coping Partner up Plan ahead Have a back-up plan Ask for help –Ask the kids, colleagues, friends –Community Broadband: one-economy.com Collect district cast-offs for classroom use Patience, patience, patience Partner up Plan ahead Have a back-up plan Ask for help –Ask the kids, colleagues, friends –Community Broadband: one-economy.com Collect district cast-offs for classroom use Patience, patience, patience

What technologies do you think could be most useful? network of connected TV ’ s programs to create/compose music operate in a paperless system (papers) SMARTBoard blogs and wikis and other on-line tools online book software for the kids at home blogging and podcasting iMovie and iPhoto network of connected TV ’ s programs to create/compose music operate in a paperless system (papers) SMARTBoard blogs and wikis and other on-line tools online book software for the kids at home blogging and podcasting iMovie and iPhoto

Resources Google Reader Slideshare SurveyMonkey.com lieslsactionresearch.wikispaces.com Google Reader Slideshare SurveyMonkey.com lieslsactionresearch.wikispaces.com

Old-fashioned resources, made of paper! Adolescent Literacy: Turning Promise into Practice, ed. K. Beers, R. Probst, and L. Rief. (2007) Heinemann. Especially Jim Burke’s chapter, “Teaching English Language Arts in a ‘Flat’ World” Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, W. Richardson. (2006) Corwin Press. Great for those just beginning Illuminating Texts: How to Teach Students to Read the World, J. Burke. (2001) Heinemann. Adolescent Literacy: Turning Promise into Practice, ed. K. Beers, R. Probst, and L. Rief. (2007) Heinemann. Especially Jim Burke’s chapter, “Teaching English Language Arts in a ‘Flat’ World” Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, W. Richardson. (2006) Corwin Press. Great for those just beginning Illuminating Texts: How to Teach Students to Read the World, J. Burke. (2001) Heinemann.

Professional dialog, a click away Will Richardson’s Webblog-ed –The Web 2.0 guru – Vicki Davis’ Cool Cat Teacher –Gives specific instructions for starting blogs, etc. and is really on top of new technology as it becomes available – Epiphany in Baltimore –An East Coast Math Teacher who is getting his Master’s and trying to improve his teaching all the time: sound familiar? – Will Richardson’s Webblog-ed –The Web 2.0 guru – Vicki Davis’ Cool Cat Teacher –Gives specific instructions for starting blogs, etc. and is really on top of new technology as it becomes available – Epiphany in Baltimore –An East Coast Math Teacher who is getting his Master’s and trying to improve his teaching all the time: sound familiar? –

Your Questions SMARTBoard: strengths and weaknesses? useful for every type of classroom? implementation time? training/professional development? smart classroom/district involvement? sharing? Ideas, strategies to utilize the technology students carry on themselves in the classroom? How did you adjust your teaching? Effect on classroom environment? Should technology be incorporated in every classroom? Is this best practice? What is a good way to make the technology at home not required, but still make it very useful for the kids? Can we make it mandatory? Has anyone had a parent informative session? Was it a success? Is it a good idea? Favorite tool? SMARTBoard: strengths and weaknesses? useful for every type of classroom? implementation time? training/professional development? smart classroom/district involvement? sharing? Ideas, strategies to utilize the technology students carry on themselves in the classroom? How did you adjust your teaching? Effect on classroom environment? Should technology be incorporated in every classroom? Is this best practice? What is a good way to make the technology at home not required, but still make it very useful for the kids? Can we make it mandatory? Has anyone had a parent informative session? Was it a success? Is it a good idea? Favorite tool?

Wrap up What can you do next? What’s your next read? What can you do next? What’s your next read?