ISCI 761 M4: Instructional Technology

-

Something that I really enjoyed from our readings this week was the lessons for technology integration from Amy Overbay, Melinda Mollette, and Ellen S. Vasu (2011). I appreciated the inclusion that tech shouldn’t be about technology but about people and relationships. How individuals can work together about the technology and how they interact with the technology has a large influence on how it is used. In our district, where I currently teach, we are going on our second year of Canvas - our new learning management system (LMS). When it was announced that we would be using Canvas, I went to every professional development I could find and, when I’d attended all local in person training, went to YouTube and Facebook groups for additional support. Preparing a new platform for learning on the heels of an international school shutdown was a nightmare. I am grateful to my district and technology instruction specialists for the work they did to help us make the transition. However, there are still some teachers who prefer Google Classroom. A factor in this switch was based on lesson two: cost. The state department bought Canvas (a three-year license) for us before keeping Google Classroom was an option. Schools and districts don’t always have the choice in technology but the implementation of it can be. Having a technology proficient individual for the school has really been beneficial for us because they were able to teach at least one person per hallway or make step-by-step videos which provided everyone at least two ways to get help if we couldn’t get ahold of him. I love getting to find new websites to incorporate into lessons. For a display outside my classroom, I used an AVATAR MAKER I found while I was planning this response and had students make avatars of themselves to put in our Greek ships while studying The Odyssey. I liked reading Melissa P. Johnston’s study about the librarian involvement in technology implementation because that has not been the primary or even secondary function of the librarian at my school. We have a technology department in the school and instructional softwares has to be approved by the district - when there are issues with those, there are district officials to turn to. I think this is the benefit of being in a smaller district but I recognize that it would be better for the librarian to be more hands on with instructional technology. I liked the idea of a newsletter to staff about instructional technologies because they are quick reading resources that can have links to more detailed information. For example, I could use CANVA to make a virtual newsletter of presentation with quick information and a more detailed video for those who are interested.

My newsletter is attached to show some blogs I found and discuss some fun tech! (Click here!)



References

Johnston, M.P. (2012). "School Librarians as Technology Integration Leaders: Enablers and Barriers to Leadership Enactment." School Library Research, 15, AASL.


Mollette, M., Overbay, A., & Vasu, E. (2011). "A Technology Plan That Works." Educational Leadership, ASCD.

Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 16, 2022 at 10:21 AM

    I love the eye catching visual way you have compiled a fun list of practical school tech resources in this post. Thank you for these ideas and presentation! I am familiar with Canva but not Genially, so I will have to check it out. Classcraft is also a new resource for me that I feel would be a HIT with students. Thanks! - Marné Fletcher

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jacqueline SabreeSeptember 17, 2022 at 9:58 AM

    Hello, I love your newsletter. It is so eye catching and colorful. I'm sure the fifth grade students would love it as well. I also like your opening line, "To tech or not to tech?" It is definitely "To Tech." Not wanting to isn't an option anymore. Technology is our new norm and has been for a while now. It is the way of the world. Thanks for allowing me to share on your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Little Lou LibrarySeptember 18, 2022 at 10:04 AM

    I know it has already been said, but I also love the newsletter you created! The graphics and layout you used kept me intrigued to keep reading and learn more about the tech tools you featured. I know my students would love to create their own personal avatars to use throughout the classroom. I have only used Canva once, but after seeing this newsletter, I am interested in doing some further investigation to see how I could use this resource myself. Thank you for sharing these tech resources as well as your own personal experience with tech integration at your school.

    -Christina Lunetta

    ReplyDelete
  4. AshSeptember 18, 2022 at 8:16 PM

    Learning that technology is about people is important because I feel that people forget that part. Usually when technology needed its what is the latest, newest, or best instead of what will serve the people the best. The simplest example is with phones. Seeing all of the resources like Avatar Maker, Canva, and Google Classroom was interesting. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ISCI 794: Blog Assignment Interview - Explore with Emily Baccomo

-
Image
  This GIF was created by Carson McCallum using Canva with information from "The National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries." The Explore Shared Foundation and Insight with Emily Baccomo from Lugoff-Elgin Middle School Reflections on the Shared Foundation Reading the Explore Shared Foundation and trying to reflect on how I would implement the domains and competencies made me realize the importance of having a diverse collection and toolbox of ideas for serving school students and staff. The Explore shared foundation guides librarian involvement in student learning in both interactions and provision of library resources. The Think domain specifically emphasized the ideas about having multiple formats of materials available and different methods for encouraging questioning and reasons to read, write, or make. Matthew Joesph (2019) wrote an article for Teach Better about strategies for building critical thinking skills with students ...
Read more

ISCI 794: Blog Assignment Interview - Engage with Lorie Willis-Richards

-
Image
  This GIF was created by Carson McCallum using Canva with information from "The National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries." The Engage Shared Foundation and Insight with Lorie Willis-Richards from Union County High School Reflections on the Shared Foundation The Engage shared foundation is geared toward how the librarian interacts with information materials and students. An important aspect of this standard is that information is shared legally and ethically. Students should know how to find information in different varieties that suits their needs and be able to incorporate, respond to, and cite that information without plagiarizing. The librarian should also be that same role model for staff - helping them to find resources and avoid copyright violations. One of the competencies that stood out to me about this foundation was from the Think domain about school librarians demonstrating how to analyze information for accuracy, va...
Read more

ISCI 794: Blog Assignment Interview - Include with Elizabeth Long

-
Image
  This GIF was created by Carson McCallum using Canva with information from "The National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries." The Include Shared Foundation and Insight with Elizabeth Long from Doby's Mill Elementary in Kershaw County Reflections on the Shared Foundation The Include shared foundation put me in mind of how librarians are able to create environments of openness, understanding, and communication. The Think portion of the shared foundation addresses how librarians get learners to think about others and different learning experiences. It also addresses how librarians expose students to diverse points of view so they can become well-rounded, worldly thinkers and speakers. It is important for librarians to diversify the experience of learners so they can make connections between themselves and their local and global communities. The Create domain is about the provision of learning opportunities and the exposure of lea...
Read more