After watching all the video and reading the articles, I feel a little more at ease. Integrating technology into my classroom is very overwhelming considering that I don’t view myself as a ‘tech’ person. I realized that I have a lot of the tools already needed to be a 21st century teacher. I am using Goggle classroom mainly as a way to assign writing assignments where students can learn how to copy documents and create their own. I know that it may seem like a ‘stage 3 Adaptation’ assignment but it’s really more than that. My 8-year-old students are just learning how to type and navigate through Google Drive. They need to know the basics so that they can use these skills when they are older. Now I need to venture out and try to use more technology within my Google classroom. I would love to see how an elementary teacher uses this virtual classroom as a way to teach or provide structure for collaboration or group work.
One thing that I heard or read multiple times was virtual field trips. For me this is something new that I could see integrating it into my Google classroom for each unit of study. What a great way to use technology, allow student experiences outside of the classroom, all while starting to become an innovative learner. I guess my question is, how does it work? Where do I go? How do I start? My personal goal is to try and master this one technology piece this year to help bring life back into teaching. I want my students to be excited to learn and technology along with new experienced is my tickets to get there, so I think. Only time will tell. Mishra and Koehler say you must have lots of ideas to find the one that works. That describes my journey this year, try, try, and try more.
3 Comments
Emily Feil
9/25/2017 09:19:54 pm
I agree that examples of upper grade teachers using technology effectively seem more available than examples for lower grades. You are right to recognize the preliminary skills your students are developing this year. They are learning to use the tools that will help them in the future.
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Madeleine O'Rear
9/26/2017 04:24:07 pm
Stephanie, I am so glad I am not the only one feeling overwhelmed about integrating technology into the classroom. It seems like there is so much out there, I just don't know where to start. I also agree with what you said about how Google assignments can be more than an adaptation level of teaching. Students need to learn how to use all of these different forms of technology and we can facilitate that learning in a "21st century" way.
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Lisa Gottfried
10/1/2017 11:23:16 am
Take a look at what nearpod was to offer, as well as 360cities. I'm happy to show you some of the google cardboard and other 360 viewing glasses I have in my classroom. They are very inexpensive and allow for some of that virtual field trip work to be done. I've seen some even less expensive things out there since I got my set. AND, you don't need the cardboard goggles. If students have phones, many of them can access the content there, or even on their computers. There are apps that allow you to take your own 360 photos and upload them to the web to have other students access and all you need is a phone to do it. I have experimented with creating 360 scavenger hunts. I'd also love to create a virtual tour of our high school and that would be fun to have your younger kids try out.
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