Integrating Tech: How We Do It Right

Tech in education

Technology—it’s all around us. When we say we want to integrate technology into the classroom, what do we mean? Unfortunately, there is no straightforward answer to that question. We will discuss simple and transformative ways to start integrating tech into your classroom. The role of educational technology is to promote, assist, and support you as an educator and engage your learners. Keep these ideas in mind, and you can make technology work for you and your learners.

Think beyond the computer.

Computers are great technology tools, but does every learner have access to one? Most aren’t lucky enough to be in a school with a 1-to-1 program, so how do you ensure that all learners benefit from tech integration? Other options are economical to purchase or already exist at your school, such as mobile devices, student-polling devices (clickers), digital/flip cameras, interactive whiteboards, projectors, document cameras, or televisions with DVDs video-streaming capabilities.

Take stock.

The latest tech toy displayed at last year’s conference wowed us all, but what tech is right for you and your learners? First, take a look at what you already have. Are you using it to its full advantage? If you have a Learning Management System, capabilities such as journaling, blogging, or flipping the classroom may already be available to you. Do you have computers, interactive whiteboards, tablets, or video-conferencing equipment collecting dust? Start by integrating these tools into your teaching plans. Start small. Even little changes can make a big difference.

Do your research.

Once you’ve taken stock, ask yourself if you’re comfortable using these tools. Will you need to help your learners learn to use them? If you’re not comfortable using the technology, don’t use it in the classroom. A lack of confidence often means that the tech may be little more than a distraction. The reality in most schools is that you will have to train yourself to use the technology. But don’t be afraid to reach out to colleagues or search for support on the internet. Many products have useful websites that can help.

Use tech to your advantage.

Collaborate with others using the internet. Utilize websites, conferences, workshops, and your peers to exchange ideas and share stories about what has and has not worked. Resources include:

Involve the learners.

Don’t be afraid to involve your learners. Have them research different technology-based projects or present a topic using tech tools such as SchoolTube, Prezi, or VoiceThread. You may be surprised at how creative your learners are. Some may have less experience or access to technology—be prepared to spend time with these learners. You may be able to group them with more tech-savvy learners. However you support these learners, they mustn’t become anxious about using technology.

Recognize when tech is not the best solution.

Say what? Isn’t this post about how to integrate tech? Yes, but tech has the greatest impact when used appropriately, not simply because it exists. Take the desired learning outcomes into account and recognize which technology will work best for each situation. Sometimes simpler is better. You are still the educator. If using sticky notes for brainstorming is better for your learners than an online tool, then use sticky notes.

Do not stop teaching.

Technology does not make you irrelevant. Technology does not replace the educator; it simply gives you more options (email, web conferencing, blogs, etc.) to facilitate learning. Be specific when you give tasks, and include detailed instructions and timelines.

So now what?

To integrate tech in the classroom effectively, you must be an active facilitator, give explicit expectations, and foster interaction and communication. If technology is to have a positive impact on learning, it can’t be an afterthought—you must integrate with the understanding that it’s a part of your teaching plan, not an add-on. Over the next few weeks, think of ways to use technology in your classroom. Start with a single project. You may be surprised how easy it is once you’ve done a little planning.  

Special thanks for contributions provided by Jo Kenney of A Pass Educational Group.

Building your PLN with Twitter: A Beginner’s Guide

Welcome to Twitter

Have you heard about education quickly taking over the social media site Twitter? People claim that Twitter is a great way to connect with other educators and build your Professional Learning Network (PLN). It’s true. Understanding how educators use Twitter and incorporating it into your teaching practice can positively impact you and your learners.

Educators worldwide use Twitter to share best practices, create 21st-century learning opportunities, solve problems and support one another. Twitter allows for backchannel conversation during conferences and is a way to take part in large-scale events from the comfort of your home.  

As an educator, I have used Twitter for just under two years, and it has changed my practice. As the only computer science teacher at my school, I struggled to collaborate and develop ideas. My subject area is very specific. Using Twitter, I reached out to other educators to bounce ideas off and learn how they organize their programs. I went from being a one-person show to a connected educator gaining experiences and knowledge from Ontario, Canada, and the World. It has greatly impacted my practice and my student’s learning.

Beyond just connecting with other Educators, Twitter is great to help you develop your personalized PD. Many of the education-based events worldwide include their own hashtag to follow. For example, during all GAFE Summits, participants and presenters are encouraged to add #gafesummit to their tweets so that those in attendance can engage in the learning opportunity. Suppose you have an area of interest that you want to learn more about. In that case, Twitter will open the door to resources and support to help create your own PD experience.

Now that you have an idea of how Twitter can positively impact your practice, here are steps to help you get started.

Create a Twitter Account

Go to twitter.com and create a username and password. When selecting a username, you must create a unique and specific one. When connecting with educators, your username will become your identifier. There are many users, so you may need to add a number or two to help create a unique username.

Understand Twitter Lingo

With Twitter comes a whole new language. Here is a terminology cheat sheet:

  • A tweet is a 280-character message that users post to Twitter.
  • A retweet is when you share another member’s tweet. This tweet appears on your profile and links back to the original tweet.
  • You can favourite tweets from other members. It is a great way to let them know that you like what they say. It also allows you to identify tweets you may want to review later.
  • If you like the tweets of another member and want to add their tweets to your home screen, you then become a follower of that member.
  • Suppose you want to send information to another member but want it to be private. In that case, you can send that member a message (like Facebook Messages).
  • Hashtags are used to group tweets together, for example, under a particular topic or event. It allows members to search for and find tweets relevant to that topic easily.

Become Familiar With Twitter’s Interface

When you log on to Twitter, there are a few key features you need to understand how to use.

  • Home – The homepage will show recent tweets from those you follow and suggestions for who else you may want to follow. You may also use the tweet box in the top right-hand corner to quickly post a message.
  • Your Profile – Clicking on your name in the top left corner will take you to your profile page. Here you can edit your information and images by clicking “Edit Profile.” This page showcases your information, tweets, and favourited tweets.
  • Notifications – The notifications page is a one-stop-shop for all the events that you are linked to. It includes retweets or favourites of your tweets and tweets others have mentioned you in.

Follow the Conversation Using Hashtags

In education, there are a ton of hashtags that you can follow to find information relevant to your grade, subject area, location, or skill area. Here are a few hashtags to get you started.

  • #gafesummit – This is the hashtag used by all GAFE Summits worldwide. Presenters and participants use this hashtag to archive all learning and sharing at each summit. It is a great bank of resources and a network of lifelong learning educators.
  • #cdnedchat – Want to know what other Canadian educators are up to? This hashtag unites Canadian educators and provides a support system specific to Canada.
  • #edtechchat / #edtech – Interested in learning more about how to bring technology into your classroom? This hashtag solely focuses on technology in education, and educators use it worldwide.

For a whole list of educational hashtags that address specific topics and concerns, check out TeachThought’s blog.

Follow Someone

Begin to build your PLN by following other members on Twitter. The more tweets you can find, the more information you will have at your fingertips. The more followers you have relevant to your interests, the more specific your home page will become, and the easier it will be to gain knowledge. Not sure where to start? Try asking these questions to find members to follow:

  • Does your school post announcements on Twitter?  
  • Do any of your co-workers, administrators, or superintendents use Twitter?  
  • During your previous PD events, who inspired or motivated you?  
  • Who is the author of the book you are currently reading?  
  • Which members are contributing to hashtags that surround your interests?
  • Who are your other followers following?

Participate

Twitter is great for both passive and active learning. Every member has the chance to read and follow along without participating in any conversations. You will find that when you step outside of your comfort zone and begin participating in the conversations on Twitter, you will take your experience to the next level. You will find that others build upon and share your ideas and answer your questions (sometimes with even more questions). Participation will challenge and quickly refine your practice and develop it into a better craft. Leap and reply to that tweet that created a question in your mind. Let another member know about your experience or classroom practice addressing their concerns. By participating, you take hold of your passion for lifelong learning and create positive change to impact your practice and your learners’ success.

Collaboration, resources, and teamwork are only a click away as a connected educator. Twitter will help you transform from a sole-island educator into an evolving professional with a network of experiences and opportunities to further your understanding and stimulate learning. In the world of Twitter, many great users create and share content. You can search for content using hashtags and follow influential users no matter where you are. That will connect you with the world and help you integrate those experiences, perspectives, and practices into your classroom. Connect with @LearningBird to learn more about great #edtech reads and professional development opportunities – just like this! #ConnectedChangesEverything