Tech Integration

[Heather Janik]

At my school the district is finally starting to say that we need to integrate technology into our school improvement goals. I am the lucky soul who gets to help teachers come up with ideas, which I gladly accept the challenge. However, I would like to put together a list of resources for the teachers to have access to. Have any of you found/ know of/ use anything that would be helpful for these teachers in their journey?

I have one my classes creating "propaganda" if you will trying to convince the teachers why they should add in technology... and how easy it can be. I need some other techies to help me put together the list.

Thanks for your help ahead of time!

[Andy Losik]

Here are the resources I use with my elementary kids in my library/tech class. Things can easily be integrated: Infotech with Mr. Losik

Check Ben Rimes' and James Stewart's pages as well. Great resources.

Here is a blog for teachers that we are gearing toward our staff in Hamilton, facing a very similar situation. HCS Geektopia

Check out the METS project from the Ottawa Area ISD.

Hope these help.

[James Stewart]

Thanks, Andy,

I also have links I use with students on my elementary blog, CPS Elementary Media and Technology. Also, I have links divided by grade level on I Keep Bookmarks.com

Thanks for the METS link. This will help me out, too.

[Kelley Irish]

First integrating tech makes teachers lives easier-less papers to correct-and more engaging for students. Here is how I got my teachers to integrate tech.

First I invited them all into the lab after school for a treat- CHOCOLATE_ and played the video I made and uploadedhere.
I show them just one site- Read Write and Think which you can accesshere. The browser based tools are super easy to use and saves the time of locating worksheets.. While these look alot like electronic worksheets they give staff a comfort level of something they can relate to:). They can use these tools to do the same things better and faster with neater results. You have to sell it as a time saver. You are not giving them "ONE MORE THING TO DO" - You are giving them a way to doing something they already do faster, easier and with less paper work.


Next- Invite anyone who is interested to the lab to help find teacher friendly respurces. I set up a Wiki page for each grade level. Each teacher types in some of their favorite things to teach: ( Plants, Dinosaurs ......) We then search together using (Plants+interactive+kids) and the teachers get to play. They are just like the kids-they find favorites "write" away. Pun intended.

We copy and paste the URL on their Wiki page under their topic. Now they have a place to store the resources they find. They can access it in their classrroms or at home. I call it an electronic file cabnet.

Finally I work with the teachers and have them share an assignment the kids are doing. I take that assignment-Post it on my wiki page and then add in the reosurces the kids need to complete the assignment. Slip in a few interactive activities that utilize those sklls, a video from Teacher Tube that gives an nice overview of the subject area, and perhaps even a study guide.

The teachers are amazed by the fact the kids will actually work at home and learn more from the interactive lessons than from listening alone-and love that there are less papers to correct.

From that point on they are mine-Project based differentiated learning! Knowledge+resources+creativity...Welcome to the digital age:)

That's how I did it this year....I like to call my kids "Generation Tech". I call my fellow teacher..digital explorers.

If we wat to teach our kids...we have to reach them!

It