Casey in a Google Earth quest activity with his Math students (3/10)Please reflect on the following questions and post your thoughts as a comment:
How (if at all) has your approach/process/strategy in working with students changed?
How have the PD sessions been helpful in your classroom preparation or instruction?
What needs, suggestions & recommendations do you have for the remainder of the workshop?
5 comments:
I'm interested in the way that Casey is using Google maps in his class. I intend to try to see if I can see the next stage of this work in his classes on this coming week.
I like technology and I think the more I learn the more I can use it in class. However, there are very real limits: in technological capabilities of the school, and as well as the classroom standards taking precedent over forms of expression more relevant to our students.
The PD sessions have been really helpful in shifting my thinking about how I can integrate technology. In the past, I was hesitant about teaching things I didn't know well enough. But I have been slowly accepting that this has some benefits. It can be empowering for students, who are then positioned as experts. Today, one of my students said, "This is the first time in this class that I'm ahead of the game." Several students have been really helpful in teaching their peers.
I have used some basic things that we have learned in PD in my classes already, and allowed students to explore functions further. I have also been storing away information and ideas for future projects. I would love to learn more about Google Maps, Google Earth. I don't feel as comfortable with the audio or video programs, but I would love to show students how to incorporate music and video in their blogs.
These Professional Development times have opened my eyes to some interesting uses of technology in the classroom, including podcasting, blogging and videorecording. I would like to use these items more in my classroom, but my difficulty with doing so has more to do with my personal scheduling than the difficulty of using the technology. Since I am still developing curriculum for my English classes (this is only my second year of teaching), I find it somewhat difficult to manage meeting the standards first and using technology at the same time without feeling like we are getting behind in our classroom goals. I believe that part of the solution to that problem would be for me to ease up on my feelings of urgency as it pertains to meeting English standards.
For future sessions, I could use more concrete ideas on how to integrate this technology with English literature, writing and reading. I would like some references to how other teachers have used these technological tools in English high schools while still maintaining a rigorous curriculum and meeting the standards. I have a hard time imagining what sorts of units and activities that might entail.
Yet to do a tech activity with my class, but that's my goal. I will met with Justin and hopefully plan a activity that my students will enjoy.
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