Fostering Cultural Change in Schools with ICT
What am I doing to develop my own ICT and pedagogy?
I will continue to learn about the various educational Apps and Web Tools and whichever ones I think will benefit my students’ learning, I will introduce it to the class and have students 'play' with it. Such as Wordle and Wordsift, and much more on the following website: http://www.readingrockets.org/article/10-ways-use-technology-build-vocabulary. Wordle is a word cloud generator and Wordsift works in similar ways and both are great for vocabulary development. Wordsift also is good for students that tend to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of words in a text. Wordsift help sifts through a piece of text and identifies important words in the text by making the word bolder, bigger and most prominent. I think these tools would be useful for my English Language Learner (ELL) students, as well as my struggling learners in helping develop vocabulary, foster and encourage reading.
I see my students every day so I think I will explore one App or Web Tool a week and have them ‘play’ and become comfortable with the tool. Perhaps the class can create a list of tools that they like. Sort of like a ‘Word Wall’ but in this case an ‘App or Web Tools Wall.’
I will continue to learn about the various educational Apps and Web Tools and whichever ones I think will benefit my students’ learning, I will introduce it to the class and have students 'play' with it. Such as Wordle and Wordsift, and much more on the following website: http://www.readingrockets.org/article/10-ways-use-technology-build-vocabulary. Wordle is a word cloud generator and Wordsift works in similar ways and both are great for vocabulary development. Wordsift also is good for students that tend to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of words in a text. Wordsift help sifts through a piece of text and identifies important words in the text by making the word bolder, bigger and most prominent. I think these tools would be useful for my English Language Learner (ELL) students, as well as my struggling learners in helping develop vocabulary, foster and encourage reading.
I see my students every day so I think I will explore one App or Web Tool a week and have them ‘play’ and become comfortable with the tool. Perhaps the class can create a list of tools that they like. Sort of like a ‘Word Wall’ but in this case an ‘App or Web Tools Wall.’
(Retrieved from Google)
I will continue to connect with and share with educators and professionals in the field by subscribing to discussion forums, subscribing to and following Wikis, Twitter, and Blogs such as http://teachwithict.weebly.com/. I will also subscribe to PLNs or Professional Learning networks such as LMNet- Library Media Network http://www.lm-net.info/. I really like this site, it is very useful and interesting to learn and read about what teacher librarians or media specialist are doing in their schools. Additionally, it is a great resource to get ideas about anything and everything relating to Librarianship from media specialist and other educators from all over the world.
In addition to what has been mentioned above, I will connect and collaborate with the Teacher-Librarian and the Technology Teacher at my school. Attend District Technology Workshops such as Google Classroom and Google Suite. Attend Professional Development Workshops on this topic such as the ones offered in the upcoming Super Conference on October 20-21st. Continue connecting with my classmates through Twitter and Blogs after the course is over. Most importantly, Keep reading up on the topic and trends/changes in ICT and education such as the following https://learningportal.iiep.unesco.org/en/improve-learning/curriculum-materials/appropriate-educational-technologies.
Digital literacy is my topic of focus for professional development this year. I would like to become more comfortable and proficient in using technology in the classroom, so that means I need to make it a part of my practice on a regular basis. Which calls for me to stretch beyond my comfort zone, take risks, and continue learning.
References
“LM_NET (Library Media Network).” LM_NET (Library Media Network),
www.lm-net.info/.
Portal, IIEP Learning. “Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Education.” IIEP Learning Portal, learningportal.iiep.unesco.org/en/improve- learning/curriculum-materials/appropriate-educational-technologies.
“TeachWithICT Blog.” Teachwithict, teachwithict.weebly.com/.
“What's a PLN? And 3 Ways to Get Connected.” What's a PLN? And 3 Ways to Get Connected, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju54C5A3RCw.
“10 Ways to Use Technology to Build Vocabulary.” Reading Rockets, 6 Sept. 2017, www.readingrockets.org/article/10-ways-use-technology-build-vocabulary.
A good start to developing your ongoing professional development plan for your ICT skills. You have collected and discussed a few good options for staying connected and also finding useful tools and strategies to implement in your own practices. A good list of references, some good labels and links and images included in your post.
ReplyDeleteI especially liked the Teach with ICT blog and it had interesting connections to using magic ; ie understanding the trick behind it ;with literacy; science and math. Also helpful and bookmarked was the many links for gamedesign in the classroom which i had not heard of many of them. I liked Game salad because it can be played by others on any platform and MissionMaker which is an open ended inquiry with animated characters.The top 10 web 2.0 tools is a handy to have and I also bookmarked it. I'm starting my own PLN and the 3 stages with follow/ inquire/share were useful maybe later i will specialize more then I am now and share more too!.
ReplyDeleteI will be looking forward to subscribing to your PLN.
DeleteI have been to the unesco site for a number of things. It surprised me that it was included in the librarian searches I have done. I also have used Wordle and it can be entertaining as well as informative. In fact, in the collaboration I am doing it will be part of the initial learning for the students. It sounds like you are on the road to more ITC.
ReplyDeleteI would love to hear how that goes. I was thinking of having my LA students use Wordle to create a poster of what they think a responsible learner is.
DeleteIt is so amazing that you have another TL and tech leader in your school, it actually makes me jealous. In my district we just got cut our technology specialist from once a week to nothing at all. So in other words if anything goes wrong with our technology we have to figure it out ourselves :(
ReplyDeleteWhile reading your post it I can sense that you work with older students then I do. A web app wall would be an amazing resource for other teachers and your students. Your post reminded me of last week when I took my first graders into the computer lab for the first time in their school career. Call me crazy but I did this with no support, some teachers get another class to come and help each student. So I booked off a two hour period and it took that whole two hours just to get the students to explore LOGGING ON! Thats right just to log on and use a keyboard and mouse, lets just say the students had a great time, some very frustrated moments for them and exhaustion at the end of the day for me.
Do you think it would be more beneficial for my class to have that one on one support at first of to try on their own so they can problem solve and feel accomplished?
I might adapt a web wall for my class of the sites we use, thanks for the suggestion.
I think I would give them instructions beforehand and then let them figure it out or 'play' with it. This would also be a good opportunity for the students that get it right away to help their peers figure it out. Great opportunity to tie in social skills learning etc.
DeleteYes, adapt the web wall for the sites your class uses. Let me know how that works out for you. Good luck!