Tech Tools for Every Classroom

Hello,

As educators in classrooms today we need to stay up to date with the technology available to us as teachers. If used properly, these tools can allow us to provide an interesting way for our students to learn. Teachers need to stay up to date with the newest tools and apps available to their students.

Studies show that students who use their smartphones as study devices study more often and more efficiently. They are three times likely to track their studying progress! We should use the tools students are bringing to schools to improve skills such as studying. Every teacher should develop different tech tools to make their job and connecting with students a little bit easier. There are a few websites that teachers need to be aware of. These include:

Khan Academy: a website that has an excellent collection of math, science, and finance lectures and quizzes to supplement their classroom materials.

Google earth: a great site for students to use when learning geography. Googledocs is a great way to upload documents for students to see. Artciles and journals can be found using google scholar.

LiveBinders: This site replicates a real-life three ring binder, this tech tool allows you to collect and organize resources. Much better than a binder, however, the site also comes with tools to connect and collaborate and a virtual whiteboard.

Youtube: Every teacher should be implementing this website into their classroom. Teachers can find a variety of videos that will assist them with any classroom subject. Youtube videos are a great way to introduce a topic. BBC is a great channel to follow.

Prezi: Every teacher should also be aware of this site in order to wow their students‼ It adds a creative dimension to traditional PowerPoint presentations.

In many classrooms today, schools are using funding to provide students with Ipads. There are a variety of ipad apps useful for both students and teachers. Some of these apps include:

·         Evernote: allows you to create and organize notes, outlines, lesson plans, etc. in one place

·         Drop Box: an easy and effective tool to share and synch files from your mobile device

·         Mobile Mouse Pro: turns your mobile device into a remote control for your interactive whiteboard and computer

·         Eduteacher:  puts the best online tools and reviews of educational websites right on your mobile device

·         Attendance: choose a class, add a new date, and check off which students are present, absent, or late.

·         Gradepad: allows users to evaluate students on the go

·         iScheduleFinder: provides access to student information without having to call the front office

·         Hot seat for Teachers: makes learning students' names easier at the beginning of the school year by matching pictures with names

·         Skype: What better way for you and your students to communicate with colleagues from around the world, free-of-charge?

·         How Stuff Works: student stump you with a question? Look up the answer at your convenience with this app.

·         Quick Graph: a free graphing calculator that allows you to plot up to three equations simultaneously

·         TeacherKit: upload all of your classrooms and students. Keep track of  attendance, grades, and behaviour. Plan your class desk arrangement by moving desks around.

Smartboards are also great interactive tools for the class! In order to incorporate computer use in the classroom, teachers should also encourage students to create interactive posters, create digital stories, and design podcasts. A forum is a great way to allow communication within the class.

Teachers should share their technology tools with each other in order to discover new ways for student learning. This link provides many ways in which to incorporate the tools above. Take a look!

http://www.slideshare.net/sandrapintopires/12-essential-techy-tools

Two Standards Vital to My Goals As a Teacher

Hello,

This week we were required to read the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) document. It described the standards for educators in how to improve teaching by using technology in the classroom effectively. The document covered five different strands.

The first strand that is meaningful to me is to facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity. With this strand, teachers can use their wisdom of subjects, teaching, learning, and technology to create experiences that further student learning and creativity in different environments. Some ways in which teachers can implement these ideas include:

•  Encouraging and supporting creative thinking and inventiveness
• Creating situations in which students can explore real-world issues and solve problems using digital tools
•  Emphasizing reflection by using collaborative tools to help students reflect on their  understanding

Teachers need to create a classroom environment where students aren't afraid to take risks. Students should be comfortable to try new approaches in their learning. This is why looking at real world issues can help student to change their perspectives and provide them with a deeper appreciation for what they are learning. There is a wide range of technological tools available for us to use in order to keep our students interested and up to date. Teachers need to use whatever students find to be helpful to them in reaching their learning goals. Students can use digital media and environments to communicate and work. They can use their critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, organize projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using digital tools and resources. 

The second strand which I find important is professional growth and leadership. It is important that as teachers, we are constantly looking for ways to improve our practices. Teaching is a journey in which we can continually grow. There are always new ideas we can incorporate into our classrooms and there are always areas in which we can grow. We should look for additional courses and ideas from others to improve our teaching strategies. It is important to be up to date with current ideas and methods of instruction in order to offer our students the best chance of reaching their full potential. This is why incorporating technological use in the class is so important‼

Ways in which to ensure professional growth and leadership:

•  Each time you find a great technology tip or resource for an upcoming theme, lesson, or unit, you are contributing to the knowledge available to your school’s learning community.
•  Show your leadership by displaying a vision of technology incorporation by participating in community building and developing the technology skills of others

o   Each time you use a technology tool, you are opening the doors to new ideas for your colleagues. If you are successful with your new tool, your co-workers will likely try a similar strategy in their own classrooms.

•  Reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make use of emerging digital tools and resources for student learning

o   Discover a blog about a new technology strategy and show it to your co-workers and try the strategy in your class. Ask your students what they thought of the new technology.

This was a very useful article which allowed me to reflect on how important it is to continue to professionally grow as a teacher. Every educator should know these strands and be aware of which strands contribute to their teaching philosophy and teaching goals. 

An Introduction

Hello Everyone!

My name is Stephanie Brouwer. I am currently in my final year at Redeemer University College in the Concurrent Education Program. I graduated from Redeemer in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts with an English major and Physical Education/Psychology minor. The month after graduating, I got married! I met Richard Brouwer at Redeemer, while both playing varsity soccer. My husband also graduated from Redeemer with a Bachelor of Education and we both wanted to do some travelling before finishing up my final year at Redeemer. We researched a little and decided to move to South Korea for one year to teach English as a Second Language. What an amazing experience! We both taught in different public schools and taught children from grades 1-6. The students were very excited to have a blonde, green eyed teacher from Canada and couldn't wait to get to know me through their Korean, English speaking teacher. I taught in a low-income area of Daejeon and the students couldn't afford to take too many extra English classes. Therefore, they could not understand a lot of English. With the help of my co-teacher I was able to teach and have full conversations with further advanced students. The students always seemed to very interested in taking English classes from a foreign English teacher and always had questions for me. It was quite the experience, adjusting to a new culture and trying to communicate all year long with many people who could speak very little English. I loved learning new things about the culture each day, eating different food, and above all else...teaching!! My husband and I also visited Thailand on our winter vacation and had an incredible time. My interests include playing sports, singing, and spending time with friends. 

Here are some pictures of me teaching in SK as well as Thailand. 

My areas of interest in education include the role of creative arts in the class as well as the role of daily physical activity in the classroom. I believe both of these are components of education that often become ignored or pushed aside when it comes to fulfilling other subjects. I think creative arts play a huge role in education and are a way in which students can showcase their talents as well as improve their attention in other subjects. Daily physical education is also very important because not enough children are getting the daily exercise they need outside of school and this is essential to their health. 

I am taking this course because I don't believe I am technologically inclined enough to include a variety of different computer tools to strengthen my classroom practices. I hope to learn ways in which to appeal to student's interests and abilities through using technology. I also hope to learn useful resources that I can share with them to further their learning. 

I believe educators should use technology in education because there's no getting away from it. Technology plays a huge part in the daily lives of our students and we need to be familiar with what our students are interested in. However, it has to be integrated effectively if it is going to make a difference in the way teachers teach and students learn. 
The website below identifies six essential technology-related skills every good teacher should possess -- or acquire. The website below it has numerous resources and articles regarding technology in education. 

http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech227.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech227.shtml

I also believe teachers have a responsibility to prepare students for today's society. If teachers aren't using technology in the classroom, they clearly aren't fully preparing students properly.