Friday, June 21, 2019

IICT Part 2 - the final post!

So, this is my final reflection post for the IICT Course.

It is a course that I have really enjoyed. There has been a lot to learn and although I do think of myself as a proficient technology user, I have definitely been out of my comfort zone a couple of times and been challenged in my thinking.

The last part of the course was excellent. I really enjoyed taking the idea of a parent evening and using it to talk about technology use in the school. I would love to head something like this up in a school and get teachers onboard to showcase the technology that they use in the classroom. It is easy to forget that many parents do not get to see the classroom on a frequent basis and so this would be an excellent way to bring them in. At our recent Lego Expo day, we had parents judging the projects and many of them ended up in my room to see the 3D printer that they had heard about from their children.

The post I wrote about Blogging in the classroom was tough to write. I didn't think I would post it, until I had read posts from other students. Its not that I don't like blogging, I just find it a lot of work and my classroom already has established routines in terms of connecting with parents. In another classroom, this might be the way to go though. I also like giving students the opportunity to write posts as well. I would consider having students tasked with writing a summary of the week to post on Friday. What a great way to have them write and to assess their work. Peer assessment through Google Docs was a popular activity in my classroom, so writing blog posts would be the next obvious step.

Anyway, hoping I will return to this blog sooner than later and I am looking forward to taking my specialist soon.

Friday, May 31, 2019

Supporting Staff Development

This is a blog post for the Learning Experience #3 in IICT Part 2. The purpose of this unit was to look at supporting staff development in the school, although the content was much more varied than that. We created a survey to identify staff needs in technology, looked at software such as GAFE and Math software, designed a calendar that planned training for a year, and designed a workshop and a lesson that incorporated 2 subjects with technology.

 The biggest idea that has come forward for me is that it only takes one person to begin to initiate training in a school. The survey was inspiring for me, it was nice to see teachers respond honestly with how they feel about technology and self identify their needs. Creating a calendar was an excellent way to see progression in the learning of teachers, although this can also come informally as well, through teachers asking questions when needed. And designing a workshop that could be used by teachers was fantastic. Although I have done similar tasks before, I have already shared it with my current principal and will be using it at the end of June.

The collaboration between member of the group has been great. The most valuable part has been having other group members ask question that really make me think and justify my thoughts. It has been valuable to see the different interpretations of the tasks, even when the same software has been reviewed. Everyone comes at each task from a different angle, be it the grades or subjects that they teach, their previous experience, or the school that they are in. It has been refreshing to read posts, although sometimes difficult to keep track of. I am looking forward to part 4 of the course and how school wide instruction can be used in my teaching.

Friday, May 10, 2019

Technology and Special Needs

I am now at the end of the second unit of IICT Part 2. Upon starting this unit on technology and special needs, I thought it was definitely out of my comfort zone. I think that this is down to my experience, having taught in a private school for the majority of my teaching career. But saying that, working through the unit, I was able to draw on software that I have used and skills that I have acquired and apply them successfully to my learning. I did find myself returning to the same software a few times. I wondered why this happened. In the past, I have used software that was touted as the next best thing, only for it to be discontinued or replaced by something else. So I do hold back little when looking at new software to ensure that not only is it right for the students to use, but is easily accessible, works with the technology within the school, and will last beyond the class when I no longer teach them.

The software that stood out for me was Mindmeister and Tellagami. I have previously explored and used mind mapping with students, but this was when the software was installed on computers in my lab, and the students rarely used it. Now that computers are used throughout the school and are more readily accessible, especially Chromebooks, I can see my students using this more actively in their learning. The other resource is Tellagami. My initial thought of this was that it was gimmicky. I still hold back a little on using it, bearing in mind that it might not work on the iPads in my classroom. But that being said, I can see the opportunities for the students' learning and will be exploring it further. Even if the app does not work, I will be looking for similar software to use within my classroom.

One of the things I enjoy in the course is being to read the posts and comments from a wide and varied group of teachers. I do tend to hold back and take in what others are saying, both in online posts and group conversations. I think it is my personality and while that does make it look like I am not contributing, I am taking everything in and trying to make connections to my own experiences. (I do subscribe to the notion in social media that while everyone has a voice, not everyone has to hear it ;) ). So I find myself really connecting with a post when I do like to comment on it. 

So far in the course, I have learned a great deal and have shared some good insights from my own experience. I am looking forward to unit 3!

Sunday, April 21, 2019

IICT Part 2 - Back to the Blog!

Okay, I am going to admit first of all that I cheated a little with this task. I have a blog. You are reading it. I started using TypePad and then in 2014/2015 I moved to Blogger. I shared some posts, a few videos. And then I stopped.

It’s not that I don’t have things to share. I do have a great deal of experience teaching with technology, and that has become more apparent as I have moved from a private school to supply teaching in Peel. It’s just that I feel that it takes a while to craft what I want to say. Knowing that what I write is permanent and has the potential to be read by others means that I have to think about what I am saying.

That being said, George Couros has a great blog. I first heard about him when I started to write my blog. I have read his book; which is fantastic. I have heard him speak; very inspirational. But he has a huge audience. He sells books. He runs workshops.

I teach. I don’t have a huge audience. I reflect on my teaching without blogging. Maybe it’s my English upbringing. I can quietly get on with my work without sharing it. I don’t even like compliments!

That being said, I am willing to start this again. I know that being reflective in my teaching can help me grow and discover more areas to grow, to expand, and to develop my skills further.