"What are the best ways to expose teachers/students to new technologies?
Some of the biggest successes come when “going with the moment” in teaching. We are able to increase interest and develop a series of workshops where teachers can come to learn about new technology.This is a very teachable moment.
The key to successful technology integration for my mentor revolved around the fact of having total access to the technology cart in her classroom at all times. As a result, I walked into her room on several occasions and found her using the smart board or the document camera to enhance a lesson. Each day, she had found numerous occasions to use the tech cart for a lesson. It is now more of an automatic response to include a tech component to her instruction. She has said that if she had to pre arranged to get the tech cart every time she had an idea that could be enhanced using the smartboard or the document camera, she probably wouldn't have used it as much. Now she thinks of incorporating tech like she thinks of using a worksheet or a textbook. She shares how effective technology has been with her students to her peers and they want to have access to a smartboard, document camera etc. She no longer thinks that tech integration has to always be preplanned; it has become another tool in her teaching box which is the measure of success. I have noticed at our school that teachers have been using the mini PC lab extensively since December. This is the 5th and 6th grade teachers, they are using it to integrate lessons in language, power point book reports, and research treasure hunts, excel with spreadsheets. This is an enormous change since the beginning of the school year. Since they started, more teachers are now requesting to use this equipment and we will probably need to figure out a way to buy another mini traveling lab. I think that the moment for implementation is when the inspiration is apparent. Technology integration advice/info is more readily received when the requestor is inspired and is voicing a need.
At the beginning of this school year the principal at the Junior High wanted all the teachers to have training on projector use. We did that training and gave the teachers time to prepare a "first day" presentation using the projector. We feel it was a success because of three things. The teachers were shown how to use the technology in a non-threatening way: The teachers were given dedicated time to prepare a presentation in there own area: The teachers felt success immediately and have continued to use the technology available to them.
I think the use of technology increases by providing examples and opportunity and encouragement. Elaine In-service training is a must to inform teachers of new technology that will be implemented; the equipment distributed with no in-service is not effective.
The Technology Coaching program has been great; teachers are welcome to ask for help from coaches. I have been always been willing to offer help to anyone asking for assistance.
Be prepared to be exposed to the Smartboard:
Click HERE to view video on Smartboard use.
Team Members Gallie DeJolie: gdejolie@mail.shonto.bia.eduTechnology Teacher, Shonto Prep High School Justin Roberson: jroberson@tcusd.org5th Grade Teacher, Dzil Libel Elementary School Norman Jensen: njensen@tcusd.orgTechnology Teacher, Tuba City Primary School
The key to successful technology integration for my mentor revolved around the fact of having total access to the technology cart in her classroom at all times. As a result, I walked into her room on several occasions and found her using the smart board or the document camera to enhance a lesson. Each day, she had found numerous occasions to use the tech cart for a lesson. It is now more of an automatic response to include a tech component to her instruction. She has said that if she had to pre arranged to get the tech cart every time she had an idea that could be enhanced using the smartboard or the document camera, she probably wouldn't have used it as much. Now she thinks of incorporating tech like she thinks of using a worksheet or a textbook. She shares how effective technology has been with her students to her peers and they want to have access to a smartboard, document camera etc. She no longer thinks that tech integration has to always be preplanned; it has become another tool in her teaching box which is the measure of success.
I have noticed at our school that teachers have been using the mini PC lab extensively since December. This is the 5th and 6th grade teachers, they are using it to integrate lessons in language, power point book reports, and research treasure hunts, excel with spreadsheets. This is an enormous change since the beginning of the school year. Since they started, more teachers are now requesting to use this equipment and we will probably need to figure out a way to buy another mini traveling lab.
I think that the moment for implementation is when the inspiration is apparent. Technology integration advice/info is more readily received when the requestor is inspired and is voicing a need.
At the beginning of this school year the principal at the Junior High wanted all the teachers to have training on projector use. We did that training and gave the teachers time to prepare a "first day" presentation using the projector. We feel it was a success because of three things. The teachers were shown how to use the technology in a non-threatening way: The teachers were given dedicated time to prepare a presentation in there own area: The teachers felt success immediately and have continued to use the technology available to them.
I think the use of technology increases by providing examples and opportunity and encouragement. Elaine
In-service training is a must to inform teachers of new technology that will be implemented; the equipment distributed with no in-service is not effective.
The Technology Coaching program has been great; teachers are welcome to ask for help from coaches. I have been always been willing to offer help to anyone asking for assistance.
Click HERE to view video on Smartboard use.
Gallie DeJolie: gdejolie@mail.shonto.bia.edu Technology Teacher, Shonto Prep High School
Justin Roberson: jroberson@tcusd.org 5th Grade Teacher, Dzil Libel Elementary School
Norman Jensen: njensen@tcusd.org Technology Teacher, Tuba City Primary School