Halfway along...

For me, the one significant idea that keeps popping back into my mind is the need I have to give too many things a try, and then feel overwhelmed.  I keep giving my colleagues the advice that they should just choose one tool, one idea and do it WELL, then once they feel they have learned, and know it, they can move along, and add on.  Sometimes though, I get excited and delve into several things, then have to pull back and let things go.  I think this happens because everything seems to take so long to accomplish with students.  This week I decided to get my students on BitStrips, we'd make a comic, and that would be that.  I should have known better.  This is a huge undertaking!  But we'll get there, and ignore everything else for a bit.  The important thing, students are having fun, and learning at the same time.  I also have some that are not interested, so they are drawing a comic, or making a collage, and that's ok too!



I really enjoyed reading the insight given to us by George Couros.  I know have him on my Twitter, and think often of his message.  I also enjoyed the site teachingtips.com.  I feel like it gave us such a plethora of information all in one spot.  Having all kinds of tools we can use, organized into subject areas was really useful.  I have now stored this into my Symbaloo and will refer to it when I need a fresh idea or inspiration.  It is almost like a bank of ideas, which is something that teachers are always looking for or saying:  "I wish someone would just tell us what to do!".  I will also give this link to my student teachers.  It is important for our upcoming generation of educators to use technology with students.  There is no hiding from it now!

Engaging in professional discussion in the forums has allowed for a few things.  I have learned so many great ideas from people.  I have also been challenged to think outside the box when others have given me feedback on my ideas.  We are so much in our own little bubble in the classroom and we rarely have the opportunity to be given feedback on the things that we do with our students.  Sharing lesson ideas and having someone else look at things from a different angle is so beneficial to our professional learning!  I think this ties in nicely with the themes from our Professional Learning Framework:

The themes resulting from this consultation reinforced the need for:

• linking theory and practice
• practical but also social skills
• reflection
• a focus on diversity
• professional learning that is autonomous and self-directed.

(http://www.oct.ca/public/professional-standards/professional-learning-framework)

We are forced to reflect (think deeply about what we are doing), and in doing so we are making solid links to theory and practice.  This type of professional learning is invaluable.

A few questions I have moving forward...

1. How can I ensure that I am truly having my students learn enough content when we are trying out new tools with technology.  We used to spend so much pencil paper time, and now way less.  Is this ok?
2. In order to really move along with something (my BitStrips) example, students need to log in at home and do some work.  Is this the normal now?  Assigning online tasks for homework?  Are parents going to be ok with this?
3. It is impossible to do it all.  At some point, will we have a new curriculum for technology?  What is most important?  Who says that what I do is pedagogically sound?
4. And of course balance.  What is the perfect balance?  Will we ever achieve that?

Necessary for some, good for all.

This learning experience has allowed for some great reflection about our special needs students and how we are meeting their needs with the use of technology.

It think it's important to note that working with technology in the classroom always has its advantages and disadvantages.  I think of those students who seem to accomplish much more with the use of a device, especially in the area of writing.  However, in reality, they do need to be able to pick up a pencil at times and be able to write their ideas, in whatever form it may be.  I worry that we sometimes rely a little too much on technology to move them forward.  That said, there are so many neat programs that can help them to communicate and have a voice, so can there really be any harm?

Sometimes in the fast paced environment of the classroom, we plan our lessons and at the last minute have the realization that what we are doing does not meet the needs academically of our special needs students.  Reflecting and thinking about how we plan and evaluate for these students was useful and helpful to me.  I often feel that I am failing at reading these students, at truly moving them along so any professional growth in this area is welcome to me.  Seeing other people's ideas and suggestions is helpful.  For me, one goal is to make sure that the independent task I assign is suited to that individual student's needs, and now I have more tools (technology) to be able to do that.

I feel as though my school does a great job at allowing students access to technology.  We have many CIA devices that were applied for, and are used regularly.  Our Resource teacher supports the classroom teachers that seem to be on board with this.  Many of our junior students independently use their devices to support their learning.  More and more I see teachers trying new things in order to use tools, especially with their special needs learners.  This is great.  There is always room to grow, but I think we are well on our way.

I now have a list of Google extensions that I want to try thanks to reading everyone's ideas.  I look forward to assigning small groups of students an extension so they can teach us how to use them.  I think they will enjoy this and we will all learn from the experience.  There really is so much more for us to discover, and why not have our students show us?

It just seems to be growing and growing.... in a good way!

Personal Reflection... Learning Experience #1

Reflecting upon this learning experience made me realize that technology in education can be such a huge undertaking.  There is so much to learn and explore; from apps, Web 2.0, hardware  and Google, then connecting it all to the curriculum.  I think at times it can be very overwhelming, and at others, so empowering.  I realized this week that there are many tools that I have tried that I'd like to revisit, and many others that I'd like to give a try.  I also learned that others are having the same struggles that I am, and that is more thank ok!  I thank George Couros for reminding us all that taking on too much is not the best idea.  Keep it simple, master a few things, and reflect along the way!


I took some time to look into the SAMR model and what it meant.  I had seen it splatted around on Twitter, but I now have a good understanding of it, and where I think I am on that continuum.  It was interesting to do a Twitter search and come up with links upon links that were quite relevant.  I found visuals, bits of information and various websites.  This just affirmed the fact that Twitter is an important part of my professional learning.  And I don't even need to tweet!
After doing some reading about computer labs, 1:1 devices and the integration model in one of our first activities I realized that my dream for 1:1 isn't really necessary, and that perhaps I should let go of it.  I am inspired to make the best use of what I have, and feel lucky to have the devices that I do in order to support student learning.
The discussion forum allowed me to get some great ideas and expand on my PLN.  I was glad to get feedback from others about some of the things that I use in my classroom, in order to challenge my thinking and continue my journey towards mastery.  Reading others' Web 2.0 posts were especially insightful.  I was reminded of websites that I had once used and left behind, and I learned about some features that I was not aware of.  This just goes to prove that many minds collaborating make for rich ideas.

"The goal of professional learning is the ongoing improvement of practice.
Teacher learning is directly correlated to student learning.
The professional learning framework encourages learning activities based
on provincial legislation and policy, system needs, personal growth needs and
student learning needs. The framework also encourages members of the
College to identify and pursue their strengths and personal interests to further
their professional learning."
(http://www.oct.ca/-/media/PDF/Professional%20Learning%20Framework/framework_e.pdf)

I feel that we are well on our way to fulfull this professional learning goal as outlined by the Ontario College of Teachers.  Looking forward to the next Learning Experience!

George Couros and blogging..

As part of my own professional learning I decided to start a blog this year.  I decided to use Blogger and had my students set up their own blogs right away in early September.  The goal for me, was to have a place for my students to reflect on their learning, and to create online portfolios.  My professional blog has been shared with parents, as a way to keep them in the loop.  I also use it to model what I'd like the students to be doing.
I discovered right away that I don't love it.  Perhaps it's just that Blogger is not the right fit for my vision: student portfolios.  Students cannot create separate pages in order to organize their work and ideas.  I was disappointed with this.  Also - with the fast paced learning environment and so much going on, it is hard to keep the students momentum and interest with the blogs.  Perhaps I need to make more of an effort to embed it in our day, or find other ways to keep the students interested.
All that said, I did find that George Couros made some great points.  I completely agree that we often want to jump on all the technology bandwagons.  Try this, try that, and most of it flops and we haven't spent the time to really perfect one thing.  That is why I wanted to focus on blogging this year and let my class Twitter account sit dormant for now, as well as the Edmodo community that I tried last year.  Often there is so much thrown at us that we don't even know where to begin.  We also feel guilty that we are not doing it all.  We don't need to!  We need to focus in on one thing, and be great at it, then move on and grow from there.
I also agree that self-reflection and keeping a journal are great ways to focus our thoughts and that it is "part of our work" to reflect.  For some of us that can be as simple as sitting for a few moments to think things through, for others it may be blogging.  This is coming from a man who has quite a bit on his plate - and a big position.  Perhaps for the classroom teacher, like me, blogging may seem like too much.  Who is reading it?  Do people want to read my thoughts?  Are parents actually taking the time to visit?  Now that I've started my own, I'm not so sure.  I guess only time will tell.
Feel free to visit my school blog.