Real World Technology Use

When I sat down to create my list of questions for our field interview, I had a current classroom teacher in mind. I was hoping to gain a more tech savvy perspective on what was currently going on in a well integrated classroom. I had visited that teacher’s classroom blog, and as I was crafting my questions, I was visualizing what the answers might be. Well, when I requested an interview the teacher never responded, so.... when I first contacted Jeff Utecht, I was worried that his answers might not mesh with what I had been visualizing. No need to worry, when I received Jeff’s responses, it seemed like each one fit perfectly with something we had touched upon in class or an assigned reading.  

A brief background on Jeff Utecht. Jeff is currently an educational technology consultant. He started his career as an elementary teacher, and progressed to one of today's current leaders in the movement to integrate technology into our school systems, and the professional development plans of staff. His first book, “Reach” published in 2010, delivers a strong and passionate example of how technology can help people connect from around the globe, improving the student’s and the teacher’s educational journey.

Question #1. What is the best advice you can give to me, as a new elementary teacher, in regards to technology integration?

Easy....create a PLN (Personal Learning Network). Understand that the educational community on Twitter and Google+ is AMAZING and will be the best professional development you will ever get. I have attached a copy of my book...feel free to share it with everyone in your course.....on how to get started.

O.k., that makes since, I had been slowly creating my PLN, since day 1. It started with my Professor, and my Learning through Technology classmates. I uploaded my classmates' blogs into an RSS reader so I could easily view their posts, and I was slowly adding more and more as the weeks passed(Jeff Utecht, Maria Knee, Richard Byrne)…...this RSS feeder was a great way to gain information about how technology was changing our world as we know it, in and out of the classroom. This is my first class on the way to obtaining my teaching certificate, so having a steady feed of great blog sites with current tools and resources I will need throughout my career is a great first step.

“As mentioned earlier, I believe that RSS (Really Simple

Syndication) might just be the best tool that has emerged out of the

Web 2.0 revolution. I recommend starting to build your network

around an RSS reader. Using RSS, as discussed in Chapter One, also

allows you to create your personal learning network without joining a

community. No need to worry about your avatar (small icon picture

that comes with a community profile) or how and with whom you

should connect. Starting with an RSS reader and then moving into a

community of learners is my recommended process.”  Reach, Jeff Utecht, 2010

Question #2. Is there one particular subject area(math, reading, science), that you feel the use of technology during lessons is more impactful or engaging to the students?

Nope....all of the above...and it will depend on what technology you have available with your students. Makes it tough in your pre-teaching program as you don't know what you'll have. I would say....constantly reflect on what you are teaching students and make sure they are the skills they need for THEIR FUTURE not our past.

Examples:

Teach digital maps not paper maps

Teach keyboarding not cursive

Teach how to write an email not a letter

Teach how to read a web page

Teach how to search....the #1 skill for everyone today.

These are skills that are for their future

Jeff’s response, touched on many things I had heard or seen during class. First off reflecting or visualizing what I will do when I first step into the classroom has been tough without knowing what types of "tech" hardware I will have at my disposal. The handful of teachers we have in EDU-533, seem to be spread out over a wide range. We have teachers who work at schools with one to one ratio’s and we have teachers with little or no "in" classroom tech, only computer labs that the students may visit a few times per week. The second would be constant reflection. We have discussed how teachers need to gather information from their own classes and share it with other teachers. Its only through this sharing and reflecting can we make meaningful changes. The things that were relevant in the past, the things that we grew up with, what and how we learned in school has changed. Teachers need to constantly reflect on what they are doing, and why are they doing it? Can it be done better? This quote is from one of our readings on "reinventing the wheel".

“Over time, all teachers become driven by their handouts, their finely tuned worksheets, their greatly loved activities. We begin to forget why we use these and simply use them because we have a nostalgic connection to that one time when the kids loved and learned and we felt accomplished. This sense of accomplishment is something we can achieve often, but only if we change -- often. The argument is frequently made that teachers must reflect because students and their needs change, and that argument has great merit. But we must also reflect as we change, as we grow, and most of all as we become comfortable.”

3. What is the one piece of technology or software application that is currently your favorite for home use and you would recommend for students in 1st-5th grade?

The Internet.....period. It is the most important app on any device and that alone changes learning. It's not about the software, it's about the learning! There is no "one piece of technology". We start with learning and work backwards from there.

This question and answer made me reflect on our discussions about Digital Citizenship. How it is our job as teachers to slowly introduce our students to the internet. Starting when in kindergarten we must build a strong foundation and build upon that each and every day. Teaching appropriate behavior online, just as we would teach appropriate behavior in class. Creating a safe atmosphere where kids can get on the internet, learn by investigating, exploring, and sharing with students in their school, across the country or across the world.

4. Do you feel that classroom blogs/websites have increased parental engagement?

Yes...and every student should have their own blog!

Maria Knee, who is a kindergarten teacher in Deerfield, NH, has an excellent example of how to effectively run a classroom blog. Every student has their own page, and gives them an outlet to express their thoughts, share their work, and start living in today’s world. The students get exposure to things they’ll experience at home, whether that is their parent sending off an email to work, reading the news off of their tablet, or perhaps Mom or Dad posting pictures of their latest vacation and sharing it with friends and siblings via social media. In the past sharing their schoolwork was a magnet on the refrigerator, today and in the future it will be uploaded onto the computer, into their blog, and shared via the internet.

5. Can you think of something that technology has replaced that you or your students miss?

???? Not sure I get this questions. We have to give something up if we're going to use technology.....what we give up is always hard...but this isn't new.....it's always been this way. Oral traditions went away with the book, paper is going away with the computer. Books are being replaced by the Internet. One technology always replaces the other...we need to learn to let go...it's ok.....we'll be OK.

I guess I was looking for a more personal answer here. Maybe not one that meant something big, or had some deep philosophical meaning. Myself, I kind of miss the written personal letter. I remember back to when I first started college, getting written letters in the mail was so exciting. Maybe, if technology allows the school to reduce the physical size of a school library it would make more room for actual classrooms, but would we then be nostalgic about that nice quiet room that had a distinctive paper smell?? I guess to Jeff's point, if we choose to go that route because extra classrooms would reduce the student to teacher ratio, we have chosen the option that is best for our future.

6. How have schools benefited the most from technology integration ?

When done correctly everyone ones. Learning increases, teacher time preparing lessons is reduced, we get to spend more time actively engaged in the learning process.

During class I had watched this webinar about differentiated learning, and was just amazed at some of the products that certain companies are putting out that can help develop individualized lesson plans. The webinar I watched was sponsored by Dreambox, and I know Jeff is involved with helping schools who want to bring Google Apps into their classrooms. I was so amazed at what computers can do and how fast they can do it. It reminds me of the computer “Watson”, that IBM created for Jeopardy, and how it could take little nuances from the questions and come up with the correct answers so quickly. IBM is now taking that technology into the medical field....how about the educational field? Dreambox talks about how they can adapt lesson plans as the student is working….. thats crazy! As the student is answering questions the software takes correct and incorrect answers and adapts the lesson plan on the spot....In years past a teacher may go through a whole unit, test the children, then reflect on their lesson plans, taking action much later, if not too late! Technology can now make sure that no student gets looked over, that each one gets an individualized lesson plan, and the teachers are there to help facilitate the learning , and when needed and can give individualized help… We are not talking about averages anymore….we are talking about exceptional.

7. Do you think technology will help bring down the cost of education? K-12?  Colleges & Universities?

Not in K-12 but in University for sure! By 2025 we'll see a pretty different university system. Some traditional schools will remain but for the most part they will be different......better and more focused on what we know we need going forward. Problem finders as well as problem solvers.

Hope that helps,

Jeff

This last question, is a crucial point when talking about effectively getting schools to integrate technology. Every school seems to be operating on a strapped budget. How will all schools get this technology, and then even tougher is how will they be able to develop and train their faculty so they know how to effectively use this technology. It will probably cost lots of money, in which the schools don’t have. Teachers will have to take their professional development into their own hands. They’ll have to browse the web, listen to webinars, become familiar with tools they do currently have available in their schools. Like most teachers already do, they will have to bring their own resources in, camera or iPad for uploading images into class blogs, digital stories they have created at home. Unfortunately I see no easy answer for the financial hurdles ahead. Bill Gates delivered this TED talk on state budgets and education that feel everyone should see.

In final reflection, Jeff brought together all the things we have been working on in class perfectly. No this financial problem will not disappear. Teachers will have to create their own PLN’s and take professional development into their own hands and then bring what they learn to the students themselves. Technology has the most amazing potential, but it still needs to be driven by teachers who have an unquenchable passion for helping students learn. Once students have been taught how to “find problems and solve problems” they can help develop their own educational path. Each and every one of our students is different. It is now the standard for teachers in the 21st century to develop differentiated lesson plans that use contemporary tools for administering, assessing, and evaluating. The image that started this blog "Success", if you notice some of the essential building blocks that lead to success are; teach, innovation, invention, teamwork. All these things are important in today's classroom and will be important in our student's future.