Integrating Technology Into Every Classroom

1. Integrating Technology Into Every Classroom The Procedure in 1990 •I want to teach a presentation about the Boston Tea Party •I check out a movie or slide show from the district’s educational library •I sign out the movie projector or slide projector from the school’s library •Show the presentation one day •Return the materials

2. Technology Available Today •SmartBoard ($3,000) •Promethean Board ($1,300) •Palm Pilots ($3,000 for a class set) •Laptop computers ($650 each) •Wireless computer labs ($13,000) •iPods ($7,500 for a class set) •iPads 64 GB with 3G & WiFi ($800 each) •Kindle ($139 each)

3. Problems With Technology •It’s too expensive! •What happens when the light bulb burns out? •What happens when it malfunctions? •Are teachers properly trained? •Teacher turnover = wasted money. •Obsolete in three years •Your image with the taxpayer as a “waster of money”

4. Problems With Technology •Kids will be distracted with all of the options they have to use technology •Kids will “misuse” the technology we give them •Many of these problems are solved when schools use a digital learning platform •The best is “Digital Learning Tree” •The platform is written in HTML – 5, which means it can be used on iPads, iPods, tablets, laptops, desktops, and chromebooks •The adults are in control of how learning takes place, and what access students have to information

5. A Vision of K-12 Students Today •China has 1.3 Billion people •India has 1.1 Billion people •United States has 300 million people •China has more honor students than there are people in North America •India and China “get it” when it comes to technology in schools, while the US is slow to find its way •76% of US teachers are “resistant” to technology (wikis, blogs, Internet) •When you call for technical support, you often end up talking to someone from India or China (unless you have an Apple device)

6. The Result of our Resistance? •Students “game” 4.5 hours per week •Students spend 16.5 hours watching T.V. •They spend 5.5 hours on the computer •Only 2 hours reading a book •Only 14% of teachers per week let students create something new using technology •63% never do •Good quote: “If we learn by doing…what are we doing just sitting here?”

7. What if it Keeps Going Like This? •The US “outsources” jobs because of a shortage of skilled workers •Our millions of “unskilled” workers are left without jobs, causing further unemployment of our “skilled” workers as well •People without jobs drain government tax revenues, causing further economic turmoil •Governments in other countries buy trillions of dollars of U.S. debt (We send China $100 million per day to pay interest on debt they own) •U.S. dollar loses value (we can’t buy as much) •One day, the entire U.S. economic system collapses…widespread chaos ensues

8. But Don’t We Use Technology? •We are awesome at Facebook •Speedy text massagers •Most teens don’t even have to look at their keyboard! •Twitter…we can say something that is totally irrelevant in 140 characters or less •Students can videotape a fight, and have it downloaded onto YouTube before the fighters make it to the office •We have to do better than this!

9. But Don’t We Use Technology? •We are great CONSUMERS of technology •We aren’t real good at producing anything of value using technology •We are 13 years into the 21st Century…shouldn’t we be teaching students using 21st Century skills?

10. Let’s Do Something! •Cheap website builders •Free educational websites •Using videos to engage students •Teacher Training Videos •“Digital Learning Tree” Student Platform •Communication with parents •Make and/or find “podcasts” for free that students can download onto their iPod or MP3 player

11. Free Websites •www.brightstorm.com •www.YourTeacher.com •Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org) •www.webmath.com •www.algebrahelp.com •Yahoo Answers •There really are too many to list here!

12. Brightstorm.com

13. Brightstorm.com

14. Video Sharing Websites •YouTube •TeacherTube •Vimeo

15. How To Download A YouTube Video •Download “aTube Catcher” to download YouTube videos (it’s free) •Find a YouTube video that you want •Highlight the URL and hit “copy” •“Paste” the URL into the aTube Catcher program •Instruct the program to save the video to your desktop •Watch in amazement as video icon appears

16. Teacher Website Builders •Google Sites –It’s free! •www.deluxe.com –Costs $4 a month •www.intuit.com –Costs $5 a month •Website builder, domain name, and hosting included!

17. The “Flip” Camera •You can buy one for $125 on Amazon •Press “ON” button •Press red button to “record” •Press red button to “stop recording” •Easy download onto computer •Easy download onto YouTube or other site •Embed video in your teacher site or blog This enables students to access teacher instruction at any time, as many times as necessary. This is differentiated instruction!

18. Other Camera Options •If you don’t like the “Flip”, there are other options! •Smartphones •iPods •Other “Flip-like” cameras •It’s not that hard!

19. Possible Uses For Video •Student projects •Remediation (show video over and over) •Teach a lesson while you are away •Learning can be “Fun”? •Parents can get involved •New teachers can observe veterans –How much money can you save in subs alone? –What does it do for accountability and your building’s climate?

20. Differentiated Instruction •Most teachers have between 80 and 150 students •How do you differentiate instruction while using “traditional” teaching methods? •Using videos and podcasts are the easiest way to differentiate instruction •Advanced students watch once and get it, then move on to the next lesson •Other students may need to watch multiple times in order to learn the concept •The teacher doesn’t have to provide the repetition…the video/podcast does that for you!

21. Educational Apps •One way to engage learners is with apps •There are TONS of great apps that work on smartphones, iPods, iPads, and tablets •Kids LOVE apps…they learn without even knowing that they are learning – they think they are just having fun

22. Educational Apps •Here’s an article about the best educational apps •http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/04/21/new-10-shiny-apple-apps-for-education/ •There are just as many (more!) apps in the “comments” section of this article as well!

23. Educational Apps •A great example is “10Q DC” •The app asks students ten questions about every monument, landmark, and museum in Washington, DC •It’s fun, and kids love it! •http://bit.ly/10qdcitunes •Available on iTunes (link above) •Also available on Google Play (link below) •http://bit.ly/10qdcgoogleplay •You can also just type “10Q DC” in the search bar of your phone’s app store! •Don’t forget to put a space between the “Q” and the “D” when you type it in

24. Educational Apps •Another great app is “London Field Trip” •Contains pictures, GPS coordinates, and other information about London •Every event for the London 2012 Olympics is listed (date, time, location, and ticket code) •Keep track of when your favorite athletes are competing! •Every event for the 2012 Paralympics is listed as well •Just type “London Field Trip” in your phone’s search bar •http://bit.ly/londonfieldtripgoogleplay (on Google Play) •http://bit.ly/londonfieldtripitunes (on iTunes)

25. Flip Your Classroom! •Digital Learning Tree has courses for teachers on: –Flipping Your Classroom –New Teacher Help –Integrating iPads •See a video showing you how the platform works –https://vimeo.com/44431392 –https://vimeo.com/44175247

26. Yahoo Text Messaging •Set up a Yahoo email account (it’s free!) •Go to “Inbox” page •Hit the “New” button •Select “SMS” •A little box appears in the lower right-hand corner of your computer screen •Enter parent cell phone number •Type message to parent (140 character limit) •Hit “Send” •Advantage: No one will ever know your cell #

27. Dropbox •Go to http://dropbox.com •Download software for free •Dropbox icon appears on your desktop •You start with 2 GB of space •Drag any of your documents or programs to the box and “drop” them in •They are available to you anywhere there is an Internet connection •Share your documents with anyone!

28. Dropbox •Make a folder, put all of your assignments in it, then ask Dropbox to assign a “link” to the folder…give the link to students •Click on the “Chain” on the right side of the page next to your folder to get the link •You accessed THIS presentation from an “Open” Dropbox folder •Students can download your assignments from anywhere, and print their own if they lose the one you gave them!

29. Why Aren’t Teachers Using Technology? •It is socially acceptable to be “technologically illiterate” just like it is O.K. to be bad at math •The perception is that technology is “for the young” •Young teachers don’t know, either because they aren’t trained in college –Colleges don’t teach techniques using technology because they have been “burned” before –Remember the colleges that grabbed headlines by giving every incoming freshman a laptop computer, palm pilot or iPod? –They unpacked the new technology, then said “What do we do NOW?”

30. Teacher Excuse #1 •“I don’t have any technology to use.” •Your answer: “You do not have to have any technology!” –Build a teacher website that students can access from a computer at home or at the library –Make videos that students can view on YouTube/Vimeo at home or the library –Give students the web addresses to free educational websites –Post assignments and resources on a blog

31. Teacher Excuse #2 •“I don’t know how.” •Your answer: “Get trained!” –Watch free YouTube videos that show you how to do basic tech. functions –Use PD money to take online courses from Digital Learning Tree –Use PD money to hire a presenter to walk you through the process –Use your own money to get trained

32. Teacher Excuse #3 •“This Too Shall Pass” •Your answer: “It’s my fault you feel this way….let’s change your thinking.” •Administrators have caused this attitude! •We have jumped on so many bandwagons, then jumped off or not held teachers accountable for implementation •Technology is not going away!

33. Teacher Excuse #4 •“I’m preparing students for college/high school/the ‘Real World’” •Your answer: “Using technology IS preparing students for college/high school/the ‘Real World’” •Even the UPS delivery man has to know how to use a handheld computer •Companies are looking for workers who are technologically literate, and able to work in teams. •Do you know what prepares students for college? Learning the material you are teaching them in High School!!!!

34. Teacher Excuse #5 •“I tried using technology, and it didn’t work” –Insert teacher horror story about working 4 hours on a presentation and it “disappeared”. –People cannot follow written directions –Attention spans are short –Multiple steps = people quit –Walk through the process step by step –Arrange for teacher training

35. Teacher Excuse #6 •“The students might break the equipment” •Your answer: “They might…so what?” •Put some measures in place –Teacher shoots the student videos –Students sign pledge to pay if they break –Teacher inspects equipment after each student uses it –Teacher “checks out” equipment to student, and inspects it when returned –One student does all video of student projects

36. Teacher Excuse #7 •“I read about teachers who got in trouble for using technology.” •Your answer: “Be smart!” •Put measures in place to protect yourself –Parent permission slips to video your class –Only post videos of yourself on YouTube –YouTube setting of “View by link only” –Don’t use Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter –Use student podcasts instead of student video –Censor all student work before posting

37. Where Are The Podcasts? •www.openculture.com/2007/06/podcast_library.html •www.podcastalley.com/podcast_genres.php?pod_genre_id=7 •www.learnoutloud.com/ •www.productivity501.com/free-academic-podcasts/78/ •Just type “Free Educational Podcasts” into a Google search, and find tons!

38. Why Podcasts? •Podcasts are easily downloaded onto student iPods or MP3 players •Podcasts are easily embedded onto your teacher website •Students can listen to the podcast one time or a hundred times •They are FREE! •You can make a worksheet with questions for students to answer while listening to the podcasts

39. Why Do Videos & Podcasts Work? •Technology engages students! –Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle are dead –They taught 2,400 years ago –We should have new methods by now •We know how the brain works: –We know that in order for learning to be sustained, the brain has to move information from the short-term (working) memory to the long-term memory (procedural, episodic, semantic) –This is done through repetition!