Approach To Integrating Technology

Watch Before Reading.

Some view this as funny (I did), but I immediately thought,

"This represents different perspectives of teachers and integrating technology into the classroom."

The father represents teachers who may not feel comfortable integrating technology tools into their classroom.  They know it may be the right thing to do (Dad knew it was the right thing to accompany his daughter on this ride), but their not at all comfortable.  Honestly, I wasn't that comfortable in 2008 when I started, but attended the TIES conference in Minneapolis and realized 3,000 other educators moved me to start and thrive using these tools.

The daughter represents the teachers who know that technology can be the tool that thrills the learner to become self-motivated, creative, and collaborative.  They smile from ear to ear when a new tech tool is introduced to them, they find a useful and appropriate way to integrate it into their content, and successfully do so with students.

Ironically, the dad got a taste of the thrill of the ride.  He had a choice of getting off for the second ride and chose not to.  Awesome!  It is the responsibility of all educators, not just library media specialists or technology integration specialists to introduce the first initial ride.  The ride of the tech tool that enhances a lesson because the process was well planned out and all things went smoothly.

The teachers who are like the little girl who loved the ride or loved incorporating technology can be the biggest motivator for continuing the process.  Get those teachers to share via blogging, Twitter, or YouTube the wonderful successes that can happen.

If these two types of people can work together, then everyone becomes like the ride.  Constantly, enabling teachers on both ends of the spectrum to feel safe and secure while experiencing the thrill of integrating technology into any lesson.

Technology Integration Specialists Unite On Twitter

Let's unite our thoughts, ideas, and inspirations so that we can become of better service to the teachers in our districts!

Please complete the form below or VIEW THE RESULTS

ZITE to Evernote

As a Technology Integration Specialist, part of my job is to provide resources for teachers.  To help me manage these resources, the ZITE app provides numerous daily resources.  In the past, I would email my self, then go to my email, click on the link, and place it into my Google Bookmarks.  A three-four step process.  Since becoming addicted to Evernote for categorizing all notes, I have found that the ZITE app provides a "Share Article" option that allows direct access to Evernote.

Eliminating a step.  Providing more time to find more resources!



Produced with Explain Everything App

Technology Integration Help Form

Being a Technology Integration Specialist, will require me to manage many different projects at one time.  Teachers will have ideas and concepts of integrating technology, and it will be my job to provide resources and teaching of how to implement that tech tool.

To do this, I will use a "Technology Integration Help Form" in two ways.  

1. As I am walking through the halls of our schools or at a specific meeting, I will complete this form so that I can recall the specifics of the idea that the teacher has.  I will do this with my iPad.
2. I will provide this form for teachers through emails and on my professional blog and website for them to access at any time.  

When an idea hits, I want the teachers to have a "go to" place to record the idea.  

edCampGB Why Haven't You Registered Yet?

As we get closer to edCampGB, you may be unsure of what it is!

Watch.
 
  Now Register.

Blog Set Up For Teacher and Classroom Digital Presence

To create a blog from scratch, I walked two teachers through a short step by step process.

1. Log Into Google Account
2. Create new tab in Google Chrome browser
3. Type in blogger.com in the URL area (this will automatically have you logged into your Google account)
4. Click "New Blog" on left hand side of screen
5. Type in the title of your blog...this can be changed later
6. Type in address of your blog.  This will be the EXACT web address you provide to your students.  Take into consideration that you may create a new one of these each year.  Suggestion:  use the year in your web address.  Example: teacher1213
7. Choose a template (this can be changed later)  don't spend too much time at this point deciding.  Start with SIMPLE.  The dynamic gets slightly complicated.
8. Click Create
9. You may be asked to create a profile.  Just choose the left "limited blogger" profile.
10. The title of your blog will be in the middle of the screen.  Click on it.
11. On the left side, will be a list of nine words.
12. Click on Layout
13. Numerous sections will be in your blog.  You can decide which sections you want.  The main section "Blog Posts" is a section you will want to keep.  This will be where you make the content of each day known.
14. This section will allow you to add or delete any gadget that you want.  Gadgets are tools that can be added. 
15. If  you are unsure of choosing GADGETS, now will be a great time to contact me for additional help.  

IMPORTANT: a navigation bar always exists in a Google Blog.  Use the following code to remove the navigation bar so students cannot advanced to a random blog.  The complete directions are here.

         

#navbar-iframe {display: none !important;}

Blog vs. Site For Digital Teacher Presence

Teachers are starting to inquire about which tech tool may be better for their classroom presence.  After a thirty minute session with two outstanding teachers, I decided that a blog post detailing blogs and sites would be appropriate!

Two happy clients on their way to having a classroom digital presence.

• If you don't have time to read the entire post, take this:  blogs are updated always, and sites are static.  You may also need to create a new blog each year!

Google Blog Positives

• Updated information always at the top of the website.
• Labeling as a use of categorizing
• Embed YouTube videos
• Embed Google calendars
• Embed Gadgets
• Embed Pictures
• Links to anywhere on the web
• Create pages
• Multiple layouts, designs, templates 
• Shorter URLs (web addresses-your address(.)blogspot.com
• Searchable by Google 
• Can leave comments to blog posts
• Archiving of blog entries
• Can create pages, but cannot have blog posts on these pages
• Multiple authors (great for collaborating with other teachers)

Google Site Positives

• Static
• Insert a wide variety of tools (see below)

• Create pages
• Updated announcements (similar to blog posts) can be placed on a page, but cannot be organized or labeled
• Pages can have an area for comments to be placed, usually on the bottom
• Can upload files in numerous formats (could be useful for previously created documents in Word)
• Protect certain pages for viewing by a select group
• Templates available, but not as many as blogger
• Multiple authors (great for collaborating with other teachers)

Articles from other sources that may help you decide.

• Google Sites - in depth professional development site I created in 2011 for our school district. View It
• Fantastic article outlining the differences: Blog vs. Site
• Blogs vs. Sites What's the difference?
• Should I start a blog or a site? Good Question
• Blog vs. Site Where should I start?

Bottom Line:
Both are great!  You decide!  Either way, your students and parents will be provided with great resources from your classroom!

Are They Clients?

My role in our district will be changing as of the 2012-2013 school year.  I will be a technology integration specialist.  I will be a resource for teachers and their ideas of using technology tools in the classroom.  I have been pondering whether I can call the teachers in our district that I will be working with "clients".

Clients?

Client(s): a person or group of people receiving the service or professional advice from a source DEFINE

Am I that?  I professional advice person, a service?  I think so.  My vision is for teachers in our district to provide their content and their idea for implementing technology as a tool to accomplish a task relating to the content.  I am the professional advice.   The person who can take their "big idea" and provide specifics.  Specific technology tools to accomplish their goal.  My whole focus will be to make the teacher's job of implementing technology as easy and painless as possible.

As @followmolly would say:  "I am not trying to change the content being taught.  I am trying to change the way the content is being taught."

Classroom teachers want to use technology but don't always know the best tool to use.  Since it is my passion to continue to "fill the tech toolbox" as @kmtitler likes to say, I will provide teachers details of technology tools that can be used.  I will co teach a lesson with them.  They deliver the content, I help instruct the details of the tech device.  Maybe I create a tutorial of the tech device for the teacher to view and they teach it.  Whatever the teacher (client) wants,  I will help in whatever way I can.

In order to do this, I have begun the process of developing a Google form that will allow any district staff to complete in order to receive help.  

See the questions to be used on the form!

Client?  Yes, client.  Me: professional person, helping teachers integrate and implement technology tools.