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This page was designed to have resources, templates, and ideas that are not specific to one classroom.
1. Using Technology to Assess
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Technology does not need to be used solely for learning. Using technology as a way of assessing can be an extremely powerful tool. Not only does this provide a copy of assessments on some sort of hard drive, but it is also an easy way to share with parents, administrators, and colleagues.
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Research has shown that many students do not feel the anxiety associated with assessment when they are able to use some sort of technology. This is because it does not trigger the same emotions and memories as a paper or written test. Through the use of technology, teachers could be able to get a more accurate assessment of what students understand. This understanding would provide significantly more insight to how a teacher should proceed. Some ways to use technology to assess include :
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Students can create screencasts using a free iPad app like Educreations, ScreenChomp or Doceri, or they can record their explanation in groups using a digital camera or computer webcam
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Have students record their work going through the steps of a problem you've designed for them.
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Have students design their own real-world problems related to polygons and coordinate planes to demonstrate their understanding of this skill.
2. Brain Breaks
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One of the easiest and most effective ways to use technology in the classroom is through the brain breaks. Studies have shown that students who take breaks at regular increments in the classroom are more likely to learn better, more efficiently, and with a more positive attitude. The internet and app developing companies have picked up on this and have made a plethora of ways for teachers to accomplish this.
Teachers are able to use technology in order to provide exciting, unique, and quick breaks. Some different sites that include Brain Breaks are :
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http://brainbreaks.blogspot.ca/
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3. Technology to connect to families
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Technology is becoming more common and dominant in the lives of many people. One of the many jobs of the teacher is to relay classroom material to parents and guardians. There is always the risk of losing notes in translation, parents living in multiple homes, and other situations that present information from being relayed home quickly. Through the use of many different types of technology, information is relayed quicker, more efficiently, and all people who require the communication. In my practicums, I have the opportunity to see how technology has positively affected teacher-parent, parent- student, and school-parent relationships as well as how lack of communication affects these relationships. Parents want to be included in the classroom. They enjoy the updates, stronger relationships with parents improve students success, and make the school environment more positive for all students.
Some examples of technology that can be used to connect to parents include :
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Apps that parents can download on there phone that send quick text messages out to subscribed groups (Remind 101, etc)
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Classroom websites that are password protected that allow parents to access homework, see class work, and comment on their students progress ( google classroom, freshgrade, kidblog, myclassroom, etc)
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4. Questions to ask yourself when trying to incorporate technology in the classroom
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Multimedia-Creation Questions to Consider
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1.Are the school’s technology resources sufficient to produce a multimedia product? Are there workstations available for the time required to develop multimedia?
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2.What authoring program is best,given the previous experience of my students and the time I have allowed for this project
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3.What do my students already know about multimedia? What technical skills do I need to teach? Are there expert students who can help teach others?
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4.How will I evaluate student-created multimedia projects? What are my requirements for the content of the presentation as well as the technical production?
Internet-Related Questions to Consider
1.What structure and skills do I need to provide my students so they can focus their research?
2.What are the research sites available through my access to the Internet? Do students need to use the library computers or can this activity be done in my classroom?
3.How much time will I allow for the Internet search,and what specifically do I want students to accomplish?
4.What directions do I need to prepare for students to focus their research?
5.What skills do I need to teach students about evaluating the credibility and accuracy of information retrieved from the Internet?
6.What kind of “Acceptable Use Policy”for the Internet should our school have?
1.Does the technology-based product help promote meaningful classroom instruction?
2.Does the technology-based product help promote classroom instruction that is integrative?
3.Does the technology-based product help promote value based curriculum instruction?
4.Does the technology-based product help in planning curriculum instruction that is challenging?
5.Does the technology-based product help in designing learning activities that actively engage students in significant curriculum content?
1.Is this product to be used by teachers or students? Do I want to use the entire package or select particular parts?
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2.In what ways will this use of technology enhance my students’learning? How can I assess the impact on learning