Blog Post 2: Handheld Devices

Handheld Technology Deepens the Learning Experience

            Modern educational practices must include relevant emerging technologies to stay current on the needs of the 21st-century learner, and that often requires teacher initiative to learn side-by-side with students. Conn's (2013) article, Get Deeper Learning With Tablets, discusses the design and implementation of a science unit by first-grade teachers that featured daily tablet use to observe live animal habitats. Students were highly engaged and explored independently. They researched information according to their own interests and used the tablets to draw or capture images for their projects. The project culminated with a comparison chart of the many different habitats.

Handheld Technology More Convenient

            The use of the school's iPad cart allowed the teachers to begin the observation and research activity at the same time each day. They opted not to use the school's computer lab, which would have required special arrangements with other classes and additional transition time between classrooms that would take away from core subjects. The students, eager and enthusiastic, quickly settled into their work routine each day. Teachers could then make better use their computer lab time for tasks that would have been difficult on the tablet.

Handheld Devices Can Encourage Interdisciplinary Perspectives

            The article showed that daily use of the tablets with internet access, combined with computer lab time, and culminating in a shared class project display, allowed their students a deeper cross-curricular experience. The projects included the core disciplines of science, reading, writing, and technology knowledge and skills. Since the project took place over a period of time, student roles in the project changed and evolved depending upon where they were in the project. The handheld tablets allowed for differentiation according to each child's interest since each was able to choose their topic of research. This could only be accomplished with the use of a personal computing device.

Family Involvement

            Many students in today's diverse classrooms still do not have computers with internet access at home, but they do have tablets with internet access. The teachers in the article included parent communications through flyers with detailed and illustrated steps of the processes their children were using in school. The purpose of including this information for the families was so that parents would understand the processes of the project and continue supporting their children in the use of devices and apps for education purposes at home. In this way, due to the use of the same handheld devices in schools that families have ready access to, parents could more clearly envision how to support their children academically.

Reference

Conn, C. (2013). Get deeper learning with tablets. Learning & Leading with Technology, 41(2), 35-38. Retrieved from  http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2071/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=9c85b0f0-addd-4e2e-b4af-c3cab08a8909%40sessionmgr110&vid=1&hid=127

Blog Post 1: Technology Strengths and Weaknesses

Technology Strengths and Weaknesses

            The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has issued a set of standards by which teachers may judge their level of proficiency in the use of technology in the classroom. I have used the standards to identify areas of effective use and areas that need more consideration.

My Technology Strengths and Weaknesses

            ISTE Standard 2, Designing and Developing Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments, is my strongest area. I routinely design highly engaging interactive learning experiences for my students that take them from learning to higher level thinking skills, and that allow me to assess their learning (ISTE Standard 2a,d.)  My students also have access to computer-assisted learning programs that differentiate their learning experiences according to need (ISTE Standard 2b.) I incorporate projects that allow the student to research, collaborate, design, and display their results using digital resources and tools. (ISTE Standard 2b.)

            My weakness lies in communication. Since I work at a Title 1 school, few of the students and their families have reliable access to the internet. For this reason, I have not put into practice the elements in ISTE Standard 3 in the area of collaboration with parents (ISTE Standard 3b, c.) I would love to have a website that featured weekly news about happenings in our class, links to educational resources for use at home, and tips for parents on working with their children and I do not.

           

Putting Technology Strengths to Use

            I am a consistent user of technology to both assess and teach my students (ISTE Standard 1.) I began analyzing test data before it became wide-spread due to my prior business background. I found analysis essential to understanding the gaps in learning so that I might approach the concepts in other ways (ISTE Standard 1c.)

            My students and I use technology daily on the Promethean board, tablets, and the internet. An avalanche of interactives are available on the Promethean website, and I have learned to make my own interactive lessons through classes presented by my district. In addition, assessments are easily made using the student-held activotes.

            Recently, I obtained tablets for my classroom through Donors Choose. So far, I have only used them for grammar and reading exercises during centers. I'm searching for fresh ideas to use them in collaborative learning among students.

            There are many learning programs for use at school during centers time, whole-class in the computer lab, and even at home, that provide differentiated instruction for Reading and Math. Yearly, I assign research projects in writing and for the History and Science Fairs that nurture student directed learning and require instruction in safe, reliable sources, as well as manners (ISTE Standard 4a.)

Overcoming Weaknesses

            As technology becomes more and more necessary for interacting and working in the 21st century, I believe more families will have access to internet technology. Even now, some districts are providing laptops for their students to use at home. Perhaps this will filter down to the elementary level. Until then, teachers and librarians need to advocate up-to-date resources for all schools. My district provides ample opportunity to teachers for using technology to assist student learning (ISTE Standard 5a.) As a librarian, it should be my job to help both students and teachers to use technology to expand teaching and learning (ISTE Standard 5b.)

Future Learning

            In my classes at UNT and through my profession career developments, I will continue to stay informed of the best professional practices using digital tools to enhance student learning (ISTE Standard 5a.) It will be my pleasure to contribute to my teachers, students, and school through collaboration and renewal.

References

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). ISTE Standards for Teachers. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/standards-for-teachers.