Educational Technology Philosophy
Use of technology in education is necessary as it extends translation of content. We are currently in a world that is growing in technology and education has to match this growth. I look forward to technology the direction technology is taking us and what it holds for our future.
The philosophy that guides my use of educational technology.
The purpose of education is to develop both the value and the capacity to think. The development of both value and capacity is not an easy task. Throughout educational history, there has been various models that erred on one side or the other. Growing both equally requires creativity, energy, knowledge, and intelligence from the teachers to whom the responsibility largely falls. The rise of technology has made this process easier. Technology engages learners. Teachers must continually make efforts to bring new ideas into the classroom, to try those ideas, and to learn from those ideas. New and emerging technology is making vast amounts of information available to teachers, giving educators the opportunity to create an environment that can engage learners in active, and cooperative learning. Technology supports learning-by-doing, conversing and reflecting. Once students are engaged, they learn. It is a tool that facilitates and enhances instruction of content areas; technology should be taught in conjunction with the core area not as a separate subject. In my case, I will be teaching secondary science and I will incorporate technology into my classroom so students will see how technology plays roles in their everyday life and how much science and technology relate to one another.
Technology also can meet the needs of a wide variety of learning styles. Visual depictions, reactions, feedback and choices are all part of technology. For students who are not getting the concept by reading a section in a book and who may have struggled through the class at another time, now may be able to utilize technology to see the concept in a way that was not available years ago. While true of most subjects, I think it is especially key in science when concepts may be things unseen, or otherwise inaccessible. For students who love and excel in science, the technology adds fun. But for the many students where science is not their favorite subject, technology can be the difference that allows them to see something more relevant than anticipated.
I want to inspire students. I want them to see my energy around the subject I am teaching and want that too. To do that, I have to be open to incorporating the pieces of their world, including technology. Whether that be science games, on line discussions that might allow more timid students to contribute, visual depictions, to availability of information for research, technology will be part of the educational experience.
Technology Use in the Classroom
We frequently use technology in my classroom. At the beginning of the school year, as a class, we discuss when it is appropriate to use technology. I give students permission to take pictures of the white board, the Table of Contents for ISN, calendar, and anything else they might find useful. Students often take pictures when I am ready to move on to the next activity and they do not want to miss notes or instructions. Students have permission to use Canvas when it is appropriate. There is a technology stoplight that hangs on my whiteboard so students know when they may use technology. Students know which "color" to follow based on which circle the magnet is located. Looks similar to [ THIS ]
Red = no technology at all. Phone on silent or airplane mode. Not seen or heard.
Yellow = with permission/ask first. Students can use camera, class website (Canvas) or check grades online.
Green = go for it. Students are allowed to use devices but must stay on task. For school use only.
Examples of activities that incorporate technology used in my classroom:
The philosophy that guides my use of educational technology.
The purpose of education is to develop both the value and the capacity to think. The development of both value and capacity is not an easy task. Throughout educational history, there has been various models that erred on one side or the other. Growing both equally requires creativity, energy, knowledge, and intelligence from the teachers to whom the responsibility largely falls. The rise of technology has made this process easier. Technology engages learners. Teachers must continually make efforts to bring new ideas into the classroom, to try those ideas, and to learn from those ideas. New and emerging technology is making vast amounts of information available to teachers, giving educators the opportunity to create an environment that can engage learners in active, and cooperative learning. Technology supports learning-by-doing, conversing and reflecting. Once students are engaged, they learn. It is a tool that facilitates and enhances instruction of content areas; technology should be taught in conjunction with the core area not as a separate subject. In my case, I will be teaching secondary science and I will incorporate technology into my classroom so students will see how technology plays roles in their everyday life and how much science and technology relate to one another.
Technology also can meet the needs of a wide variety of learning styles. Visual depictions, reactions, feedback and choices are all part of technology. For students who are not getting the concept by reading a section in a book and who may have struggled through the class at another time, now may be able to utilize technology to see the concept in a way that was not available years ago. While true of most subjects, I think it is especially key in science when concepts may be things unseen, or otherwise inaccessible. For students who love and excel in science, the technology adds fun. But for the many students where science is not their favorite subject, technology can be the difference that allows them to see something more relevant than anticipated.
I want to inspire students. I want them to see my energy around the subject I am teaching and want that too. To do that, I have to be open to incorporating the pieces of their world, including technology. Whether that be science games, on line discussions that might allow more timid students to contribute, visual depictions, to availability of information for research, technology will be part of the educational experience.
Technology Use in the Classroom
We frequently use technology in my classroom. At the beginning of the school year, as a class, we discuss when it is appropriate to use technology. I give students permission to take pictures of the white board, the Table of Contents for ISN, calendar, and anything else they might find useful. Students often take pictures when I am ready to move on to the next activity and they do not want to miss notes or instructions. Students have permission to use Canvas when it is appropriate. There is a technology stoplight that hangs on my whiteboard so students know when they may use technology. Students know which "color" to follow based on which circle the magnet is located. Looks similar to [ THIS ]
Red = no technology at all. Phone on silent or airplane mode. Not seen or heard.
Yellow = with permission/ask first. Students can use camera, class website (Canvas) or check grades online.
Green = go for it. Students are allowed to use devices but must stay on task. For school use only.
Examples of activities that incorporate technology used in my classroom:
- As a way to check homework answers (students go on QR code hunt around the room) [ Bohr Model ]
- As a card-sort activity with shoulder partner [ Balanced / Unbalanced Forces QR activity ONE and TWO ]
- As a way for students to get to video clips [ Lightyears ] [ Evidence of Chemical Changes ]
- As a review tool in preparation for exams [ (jeopardy games) - Chemistry ] [ Kahoot ] [ Quizizz ] [Quizlet Live]
- Web-quest activities via computer: [ Hurricane Hunters Web-quest ] [ Atomic Structure Web Surfing Science ]
- Using the computer to create student projects: [ Chemistry PowerPoint ] [ EM Spectrum Glogster or Prezi ]
- Vocabulary as supplemental aid: [ 8.9C Topography and Satellite Images] [ 8.7B Lunar Cycle ] [ Review Sheet ]
- Using iPad iMovie for student created projects: [ Bill Nye Physics Project ] [ Plate Boundaries are SHIFTY ]
- Using Google Earth to explore stars, nebulae, and galaxies: [ Journey Through Universe ] [ Space Tour ]
- As a way to gain information on a topic using NearPod: [ Low Air Pressure ] [ Ocean Tides ]
Educational Technology Platforms
- SmartBoard - Used daily for student engagement and information. Interactive learning tool.
- Canvas - Class website that is updated regularly with class calendar, homework, documents from class and online tutorials. Students can work through models, write discussion posts and take quizzes online.
- Extreme Collaboration - Add on with SmartBoard. Promotes active engagement during lessons - questions, thoughts, feelings, ideas, polls from students.
- Gizmos
- Kahoot! - Game-based blended-learning classroom response system. Highly Engaging.
- Symbaloo - Access bookmarks and favorites in the cloud.
- Remind 101 - Text messaging for teachers to keep in contact and update parents.
- Mentimeter - Create interactive and engaging presentations using this polling platform.
- Today's Meet - Online real-time responses.
- GoFormative - Live responses provide the alerts needed to intervene. Give feedback and easily score or auto-grade student work.
- Socrative - Website and app that allows you to quiz students, play a class race game and gain feedback quickly with exit ticket.
- Quizaliz - Differentiate teaching by tracking progress of students through game-like platform. Gain valuable data.
- Plickers - Plickers is a powerfully simple tool that lets teachers collect real-time formative assessment data without the need for student devices
- Google Drive - When working on group assignments or projects students have a way to communicate with each other remotely.
- Google Forms - given for quizzes and questionnaires. Students have to fill out a Google Form every time they used an iPad. Parents are also sent a Google Form at the beginning of the year about the Katy ISD Technology Requirements and information on a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) classroom. Parents and students both fill out the form online to acknowledge they are aware of the technology rules and consequences of the district.
- PHET - Interactive website students use for concept exploration.
- Quizizz - A mix between Socrative and Kahoot allowing for game-based competition and using as an assessment.
- QR codes - Used to make information easily accessible.
- Edmodo - The "facebook" of the classroom. Easy way for students, parents and teachers to collaborate. Classroom website that is updated regularly with class agenda, calendar, homework and other documents. Students can turn in work online as well as take quizzes on the site.
- Lino - A way from students to post their answers and thoughts to a clas message board.
- Google Earth - Used in science with geography, satellite images, environmental changes, plate tectonics and topography.
- Poll Everywhere - This is used to assess understanding, engage and to facilitate classroom discussion.
- NearPod - Create, engage, and assess through multimedia presentations.
- Brain POP - Educational videos, games, and quizzes.
- Study Jams - Educational videos.
- Student Response Clickers / Classroom Response System - A classroom set of clickers is used to assess student comprehension.
- Survey Monkey - Online questionaries and surveys.
- Trackstar - Combines different websites into one page for student viewing during lessons.
- Rubistar - Valuable tool that makes it quick and easy to make rubrics.
- Quizstar - Students can take quizzes online.
- Microsoft Office - PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Email.
Integrating Technology Through Collaboration in Physics
Click here to see the grant I wrote in spring 2017 that incorporates technology into the 8th grade physics unit. This project incorporates TEKS 8.6A, 8.6B, and 8.6C.