Techie Teachers
by: Erin Gough
Thoughts on Professional Development in Technology
This webinar provided a lot of technology information in such a short amount of time. It gave me an overview of some great online resources that are free and will allow me to incorporate more technology to enhance the classroom learning environment. In the beginning, the pace was perfect and the instructor was able to go more in depth with the first few tools, but I felt as though she rushed through the last few in order to “squeeze” them in. The probability of me utilizing those resources is very slim because of this and I would recommend extending the webinar a few more minutes to avoid this in the future.
Also, I feel that more of my questions could have been answered if I was participating in the live session. I would have had the opportunity to collaborate with other participants and gather additional ideas on how to implement these resources with my students as well as learn from their experiences.
Top Tools for Teachers
Word Clouds
Resources:
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/03/five-ways-to-create-word-clouds.html
This website offers additional resources appropriate for elementary students to design word clouds. Some of these tools allow you to define words in the clouds, eliminate nonsense or unimportant words, or even create a cloud from a url address. Also, one website, ABCya!, even offers additional games and resources to develop students’ language and vocabulary.
Word Cloud & Spiral Questions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9pjDVC9Udo
Character Word Cloud
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycwnA6Dy1fg
These you tube videos provide teachers with sample lessons of instruction. One incorporates spiral questions through analyzing the Gettysburg Address. Another video utilizes word cloud to display character traits and will even provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to create the word cloud.
Ideas for Instrcution:
a) Text analysis – can provide students with a visual tool in order to evaluate personal writing and determine of more vocabulary (word variety) is necessary
b) Introduce vocabulary for a new unit (i.e. Geometry)
c) Allow students to design a Wordle for their classmate on his/her birthday; build unity in the class & promote self-confidence of student
Online Sticky Notes
Resource:
http://toptechtools.wikispaces.com/Online+Sticky+Notes
This website offers another online sticky note resource. It offers the option to create a shared or private interactive cork board. There are multiple classroom uses listed in addition to GoogleDrive presentation you can view.
Ideas for Instruction:
a) Provide students will helpful reminders of upcoming
b) Engage students into brainstorming new ideas (aka KWL)
c) Gather input from students
d) Students can provide feedback/comments to each other about questions posted during lesson/activity
e) Serve as lesson “closing”; students can respond to essential question
Survey & Quizzes
Resources:
http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/Quiz+and+Poll+Tools
This website is awesome! It provides teachers with multiple web 2.0 tools for quizzes, tests, polls, and surveys. Teachers can create their own quiz or use one directly linked to an email, design Jeopardy games or vocabulary flashcards, and have data displayed to monitor students’ progress. Also, teachers or students can design surveys and collect responses via blogs, texts, or websites.
Ideas for Instruction:
a) Formative/summative assessment tool – each student can post 2-3 questions on a personal computer while the student rotate to each computer and respond to the questions
b) Students can communicate with the teacher anonymously to report concerns such as bullying or academic expectations and even share good news of classmates or themselves
Going Above and Beyond with Multimedia Presentations
http://www.globalgridforlearning.com/10-reasons-to-use-multimedia-in-the-classroom
As teachers, we are still in transition on the adoption of technology in the classroom. We must provide our students with instruction that will have the greatest impact on their development and learning styles.
This website advises educators on the “hows” and “whys” of multimedia instruction and offers them resources that promote 21st century learners. As models for our students, teachers must move forward in technology if we will truly prepare our students for a successful future in society.
Teachers Training Teachers
Please feel free to share your thoughts about technology and offer suggestions of other technology resources that have been valuable to your 21st century learning environment.
Email: eg01350@georgiasouthern.edu