This week you read Chapter Eight: "Developing a Long-Term Learning Strategy"
Chapter
Eight talks about setting goals or making resolutions for the new
school year. We all have times throughout the year that we decide to
make a resolution. For this blog, you might even want to share some of
the goals that you set for yourself, as a student, at the beginning of
each new term. Do you think some of those goals will also help you be a
better educator?
Don't forget to also blog about your experience creating your social bookmarking sites. Please refer to Blog 8 for directions on Blackboard.
Don't forget to also blog about your experience creating your social bookmarking sites. Please refer to Blog 8 for directions on Blackboard.
This week in Chapter 8, we learn about developing a long-term learning strategy. This chapter talks about setting goals and resolutions for the new school year. This chapter couldn’t have come at a better time being as the new school year for many children in my community has started today. As I end my general education courses and prepare to start my clinical practice next term, this chapter has made me think about my goals for this portion of my education. How will I handle the load of responsibility? Will I be able to take what I’ve learned and apply it in to my instruction? Will I be able to use technology successfully in the classroom? Johnson shares his new school year resolutions in this chapter, and I have to say that some of these resolutions I can relate to and would consider to be some of my own resolutions such as learning a new human relations skill and using new communication strategies that work for everyone (parents, teachers, and staff).
ReplyDeleteAs a student going into clinical practice I have many goals I want to accomplish in order to become the best teacher I can once I graduate. My first goal is to strive to be the best teacher I can be. I will continue to educate myself using the resources I have found throughout my education to stay current on curriculum and learning to present new challenges and keep the job exciting and fun. Second is to not take my mistakes and failures too seriously. We all make mistakes, especially first year teachers and student teachers. Teaching is a constant learning career, I will allow myself to make mistakes and learn from them, which may also inspire my students by seeing that I, as well as them, am still learning.
I think having these goals in mind will help me during my clinical practice and overall teaching career. Every teacher goes through the process of student teaching; therefore I need to keep this in mind and trust that all that I have learned prior to this part of my education has prepared me for what I am about to learn and experience.
Hi Jennifer!
DeleteI agree, teachers should never stop learning. It is a career of constant learning and attending trainings. However, I like that you included that you are going to always be learning when it comes to actually teaching in the classroom. Many teachers, young or old, get set in their ways. They have learned to do something a certain way, or they have always done something a certain way, and they shut out any new strategies they could be learning and using. I always try to keep an open mind when receiving suggestions or hearing of a new teaching strategy. I am a firm believer that there is always room for improvement. Therefore, I am willing to try anything once. I may find that another way works better. I think you are going to be a fantastic teacher!
Hi Jennifer,
DeleteJennifer, it nice that this chapter is has been helpful to you as you get ready for the new school year. I feel like every time I read something I can relate to it. As educators we want to have what we have learned in our teaching to be relatable to our students. However, we have to keep up with what is new and exciting in the classrooms. Going to professional development classes are helpful and allow us to see what is new and exciting in the world of teaching. Good look with clinical! Great post thanks for sharing, Crystal.
I love your post! I could not agree more, I too will be starting my student teaching soon. I am nervous and excited all at the same time. I am hoping to apply what I have learned with technology to make learning fun and exciting. You are right, we are constantly learning, even veteran teachers. The education field is continually learning with new students, new technology, and new strategies. I think it is important to have goals set. We can challenge ourselves to be the best but we also do not need to take on so much that we are overwhelmed.
DeleteHi Jennifer and congratulations! This chapter was a perfect ending for you now that you will be starting your clinical practice. Like Johnson mentioned in this chapter, we must always learn throughout our career as teachers and that's exactly the mindset that your are starting off with. I don't want to be that teacher that is stuck on the same basic routine lesson plans. I want to take full advantage of what technology has to offer us in the classroom. The possibilities are endless if we simply apply ourselves to learn something new. Good post and good luck!
DeleteHi Jennifer
DeleteYes as the teachers and students are going back to school it is helpful as a teacher and as a student to come up with different goals. I do wish you good luck in your clinicals and this class can give you the guidance on when to use technology and how to use it effectively. I know that as I started this class I had no knowledge of any technology other than google docs. It has helped me learning about how to use technology, when to use it, and to slowly introduce it. I do think this class is a good guiding factor for you starting your clinical practice.
Hey Jennifer,
DeleteI agree that teachers never stop learning. Technology is always changing and teachers need to keep up to date on it to make sure they are giving their students all they need to succeed. It's awesome that their are different workshops to be taken to learn about different things. I have never taken a workshop, but I would love to. Now since teachers are always having to keep up to date on things and learn new things do you think that schools should offer workshops for their teachers?
Hello Jennifer,
DeleteYou have written a really great post that you as a teacher will follow. I feel that it is good to be a teacher that is willing and will always be learning new things. In the teaching field there is always a new curriculum and strategy to learn when teaching students. This is why teachers are constantly in workshops and trainings to improve the way they teach children. Seeing that technology will just keep improving itself as teachers we must be able to keep up and learn as you said from our mistakes.
Jennifer,
DeleteI think you make some great points and have good ideas. As educators, it is so important to set goals to keep up with technology and implement those ideas into the classroom. It is also important that you ask questions for yourself to prepare for new school years. Teaching is always a learning experience not just for our students, but for us as well. Great post this week!
During this week I was reading Chapter 8 in the book The Classroom Teacher’s Technology Survival Guide. The Chapter is called developing a Long-Term Learning Strategy. Through this chapter I learned about how to keep educating yourself, how to use technology in the classroom, about Librarian Media Specialists, and lastly how to conduct your own successful workshop.
ReplyDeleteThere are many opportunities to keep educating outside of the classroom. The examples that I have learned through the chapter are professional networks such as Ning sites, blogs give opinions on education, and Workshops expresses information knowledge from research that professionals have acquired. According to Doug Johnson, “these are just a few of the growing number of ‘continuous learning’ opportunities the Internet is making available to those of us engaged in the rapidly evolving field of education” (page 172).
Technology is tricky to use in the classroom, because you do not want to overwhelm the children with to much at one time, but you want to make sure they are knowledgeable about them. As a teacher we want to find the best technology for each specific subject or project. It is about trying them on your own before you start teaching them. It is important to as well only teach one tool at a time in order to get the students focus. One quote that stuck with me from Doug Johnson was, “don’t try to fix that which is not broken” (page 173). If you and the students are working well with a specific browser or software it is not worth the effort to change it because the whole classroom is succeeding.
Doug Johnson explained, “When you are implementing a new project that uses technology, I wholeheartedly recommend that you ask your librarian to be your ‘technology partner’ (page 174). Just a little background about library media specialists is that they will give educators an idea of what the best skills to use are for a specific subject. They will support you as well as give you a positive push toward challenging your classroom with technology and how to ethically use technology.
Having your own workshop goes back to the first point that I made, which is always keep yourself and your peers educated. As someone that ill present a workshop it is important to follow steps and use a lot of research to project all of your points. The first aspect is to always be organized because you are establishing points to an audience that might get distracted. It is important to let the audience know who you are, what you will be talking about, and how you will fix the subject you are talking about. The best way to keep everyone engaged is making sure they are following along with interactive activities. If you are giving a workshop or sitting in one the key is that you want the audience to gain something from it as well as you the workshop leader.
Johnson, D. (2012). The Classroom Teacher’s Technology Survival Guide. Jossey- Bass: CA
I think it is important to set goals for ourselves. We as educators can continue our learning through blogs and other online resources. Just as with anything else, we do not need to take on too much so that we become overwhelmed. Tackle one type of technology before beginning another. We want our students to build on their knowledge and we need to do the same thing with a gradual approach. I think technology can make learning fun and exciting when applied correctly.
DeleteStephanie,
DeleteYou express how you have learned new things throughout this course. Using technology sources in your classroom is great and keeping up with what you learn to help your students is something that will always benefit the child in the long run. As the amount of information we learn in the future continues, it is important to stay on task with that information and keeping up with change as explained in the chapter. I think you have a good perspective and will be a great teacher!
This week we read about “Developing a Long-Term Learning Strategy. As educator we have to keep up on our personal education, stay up on new learning tools, and technology. “Continuing education prior to the Internet connectivity and the rapid rate of change it brought about consisted reading professional journals, attending professional conferences, completing school-based in-services programs, and taking college classes”, (P.171). Now educators can sign up for webinars. Take online classes, education blogs, or tune into a YouTube channel to gain new techniques in teaching. “These are just a few of the growing number of ‘continuous learning’ opportunities the Internet is making available to those of us engaged in the rapidly evolving field of education” (page 172). . Stay on top of what is new in education allows educators to opportunity to bring new and exciting learning techniques to the classrooms.
ReplyDeleteWith all that we know about technology in the classroom can be overpowering when we introduce it to our students. This is what we have to learn about all the new technology before we place it into the classrooms. We do not want out students to use this new information in the wrong ways. I know for me as a new teacher I still have so much to learn when it comes to technology, even in the class I have learned more than I expected. As an educator I want to lead by example when teaching my students. If I myself cannot take the time out to learn and continuously grow in my educational skills how can I reach and motivate my students.
Learning new things takes time. As our book states, “Keeping our Sanity” is a must. Rome was not built in a day. 1. “Start with the problem, not the tool.” 2. Be selective about where you get your information.” 3. Try just one new tool at a time.” 4. One in, one out.” 5. Don’t try to fix that which is not broken.” 6. “Weigh the time-benefit ratio.” 7. Give back and become part of a community of learners”, (P173-174). As educators we have to take in new information daily, however we also have to take some new information in in dosages. We do not want to overwhelm ourselves either.
I know when I am not sure I talk to my instructors, or my librarian they are a wealth of information. “When you are implementing a new project that uses Technology, I wholehearted recommend that you ask you librarian to be your “technology partner. You will find that todays best library media specialists (LMSs) have”, (P.174).
Johnson, D. (2012). The Classroom Teacher’s Technology Survival Guide. Jossey- Bass: CA
Hi Crystal!
DeleteI agree, as teachers, we need to make sure we are keeping up to date with all of the changes in technology and education. I love that you mentioned using Webinars. Webinars seem to be used more and more often in the teaching field. I have used them multiple times, and I have found that they are way more convenient when it comes to being time conscious. They also make it possible for teachers to attend any training without actually traveling to the training site. I also agree that it is important to talk to your librarian, or instructor, when you're not sure about something. I have found that anyone can be a librarian when it comes to knowing how to use a technology tool. I am constantly asking the other teachers with technology tool, but I also help them when I have mastered a technology tool.
I agree I think you have to stay on top of what's new out there because it a so much new things presented in if something is brought too you and you don't know then you will be clueless. Agreeing with there are many references to how to find out on how to navigate websites,or have webnairs, or even workshops. All these resources can be used to define the true meaning of something new and learning in the process. Consequently,my favorite thing is using YouTube and some webinars. With the information presented through these two resources I coined it hard to believe you will miss out anything that contains important factors to continue learning something you already knew or want to know.
DeleteI completely agree that talking to other people that are more knowledgeable on the subject is always a good thing and, if nothing else, it gives you a starting place to get the information that you are looking for. Making sure that you know how to work the technology first is a big thing too.
DeleteLearning new ideas and concepts does take time, when you persevere and continue you will find your endeavors rewarding. All of the resources and suggestions the author gave are easy to do as we practice them. The author simplifies how technology can be used and taught.
DeleteHello Crystal,
DeleteIt is hard for teachers to keep track of what is happening with technology. That is why when the teachers are beginning to back to school training the teachers should have it mandatory to learn about different technologies and ways to introduce it to the classroom. The most important aspects to do this is having school webinars, blogs, and online classes just to educate the teachers because not everyone can know everything about each type of technology.
After reading chapter eight of Doug Johnson’s book, The Classroom Teacher’s Technology Survival Guide, I feel like I have a better grasp on how to use technology when leading a teaching team. There were many great ideas given to enhance not just one classroom, but ideas that could advance all classrooms in a program. There were also tips given on how to teach or present these ideas to a group.
ReplyDeleteIn the Keep Your Sanity Section of this chapter, Johnson mentions that you should only try to learn one teaching tool at a time (Johnson, 2012). I loved this statement, because I couldn’t agree more. This year my program started to do an additional assessment program. This wouldn’t be a huge deal, but the Teaching Strategies Gold website, that we also use, changed almost everything about their website at the beginning of the year. Therefore, we are basically learning to use two new assessment programs at one time. So many people have questions, and there are so many things that the websites are trying to work out. The tools are not being used to reach their full potential. Hopefully this will change soon, but if possible, I would take Johnson’s advice and stray away from learning more than one new tool at a time.
Although I have never lead a workshop, I really enjoyed reading about the Top Ten Secrets For Conducting a Successful Technology Workshop. I think I enjoyed this section so much because I was able to relate to his tips so much. Some of Johnson’s tips suggested that the person leading the workshop focus on the topic, was organized, offered solutions or opportunities, was conversational, and had fun (Johnson, 2012). I loved all of these tips, because I have been to so many workshops for my job. Most of these workshops were not technology related, but all of Johnson’s tips still applied. In order for me to stay mentally involved, in the workshop, I would agree that the person leading the workshop needed to be doing all of the Ten Secrets.
I am not an auditory learner. Therefore, I think having the audience practice and engage in a hands-on way is essential in getting the audience to listen (Johnson, 2012). It may also be the only way they remember what they were being taught. I think this also helps prevent any confusion when initially accessing the technology tool. The audience is able to practice, ask any questions they have, and avoid confusion when using the tool later.
References
Johnson, D. (2012). The Classroom Teacher’s Technology Survival Guide. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Kaylie,
DeleteI have never lead a workshop myself either, however I think it would be exciting to do so. I agree with you about the tips the textbook offered. I feel like you I need to be involved in what is going on so that I can understand what my instructor is teaching. That why I understand what this chapter is talking about. As educators we have to stay up on what is new so we that we (educators) can apply this techniques to the classroom. I have not done Teaching Strategies Gold as of yet, but I am looking forward to the day that I get to actually work with it, I did take the professional development workshop last year. Thank you for sharing your post, Crystal.
I also enjoyed this chapter. The author is very honest and candid about the frustrations you can experience with technology. He is basically saying keep calm and use resources you are comfortable with. As you master certain technology skills you are able to do other tasks. For me this is good information, because it is so much I have a tendency to get overwhelmed.
DeleteHello Kaylie,
DeleteI also enjoyed reading about technology workshop in this chapter. I have always been interested in going to a teaching workshop where I can learn more about how to become a better teacher, but never even thought about conducting one myself. I think Johnson has some excellent tips that would help me get started in doing one if I was ever comforatble enough using and speaking about the technologies. Have you ever attended a technology workshop before?
Hey Kaylie,
DeleteI liked this chapter also. It was fun learning about workshops. I have always thought about taking a teaching workshop. I have a fear of not being a good teacher and not knowing what to do, but I never thought of running my own workshop. It was great to get different tools to help.
Hi Kaylie,
DeleteI agree with you that I really enjoyed reading the Ten Top Secrets of conducting a technology workshop. The text points out some really great key points that will not bore the audience . I have been to workshops that I have walk out more confuse than when I walk in. Having these top ten secrets will definitely help and make a different in reaching the audience especially if they are able to interact.
Chapter eight of The Classroom Teacher’s Technology Survival Guide gives us basic tips on how to develop long term technology strategies. The first tip is to start with the problem not the tool. Use the tools you have to enhance student involvement. Instead of searching for new websites or tools, try to solve situations that are occurring currently. Tip two is to be selective on where you get your recommendations. Select one or two trusted sources from reputable coworkers or librarians. Tip number three is to only try one tool at a time. Trying to learn more than one program at a time becomes overwhelming. Slow and steady wins the race. Tip number four is to unsubscribe to a blog/program as you find a new one. Just as if you would throw out a piece of clothing when you buy new. This keeps your “closet” of tools and programs clean and organized with ones that you are actually using. Tip five is states not to fix what is not broken. Meaning if something is working for you then continue to use it in your classroom. Tip number six ask us to question the time benefit ratio. If we learn a new program will the time it took to learn it save us time in the classroom in the long run? If so, then learning the program is worth it. Tip number seven suggests becoming part of a group of technology learners and learn and teach together. Balancing these things is the key to keeping your sanity! At the end of the chapter Johnson states how he makes a resolution for himself pertaining to gaining and sharing technological skills, programs, and tools. Working together with colleagues and peers is very helpful. We can learn together as well as teach together. The object to learning new technology is to make our classrooms more enticing and interactive as well as save us time on certain tasks.
ReplyDeleteWas there any tool that you thought was really important> I thought his tip about keeping the closet organized was very important. That and becoming a part of a technology learners group of some kind.
DeleteIn reading chapter 8 about "Developing a Long -Term Learning Strategy" I really enjoyed reading about the top ten secrets for conducting a successful technology workshop. This is very good to know seeing that technology has taken over and has made workshops more exciting to attend. the first topic secret is "know your role". According to the text " The real genius of most great workshops is the presenter's ability to take a complex topic and make it understandable and useful rather than give in-depth "coverage" or display his or her commanding mastery of a topic"(p.178). You never want your audience to walk away even more confuse about a subject than they were before the workshop.
ReplyDeleteThe second secret is limit your topic. You don't want to give to much information but bring out three to four key points so it want seem so overpowering. The third secret is Be organized and communicate that organization. You must know where you are going and your participants as well. the fourth top secret is set out a problem or possibility then offer solutions or opportunity. according to the text " one masterful way to develop both interest and attention is to start with seemingly insolvable problem or terrific opportunity and then show how your workshop will help folks solve that problem or take advantage of that opportunity. The fifth secret is Be conversational and have fun. Be able to interact with audience and have fun while doing it this will get everybody involve.
The sixth secret is use good handouts and good slides. These things will complement what you are already teaching in the workshop but giving more detailed information. The seventh secret is less talk ,more action. Make the workshop more interactive instead of just talking through it. The eighth secret is Give participants a chance to practice, apply and reflect. In a workshop there should always be interaction and people allowed to discuss the practices they are using and what they learned. The ninth secret is end in a summary on an upbeat note, and on time. Never what to end boring and go over the time either. according to the text " A little inspiration or a humorous quote brings closure"(p.185). The tenth secret is I'm letting you out early. I know I am so glad when the workshop doesn't goes as long as it was suppose to. This will also make your audience want to attend more of your workshops. I feel that these ten top secrets are key and I will be using them when I give my workshops.
I like your perspective on breaking down the guidelines of what in how to sustain through technology. The mastering of different topics can be precisely what makes you lose focus or it can be used to indulge more interest in the specific topic at hand. Therefore, you don't want to create problems or even indulge into something that doesn't even compliment the tone of the presentation. However, you touched on a successful workshop. I like the fact that you have benefiting factors on what to do and what not to do. Sometimes the educators giving the workshop are not profoundly aware about relaying to much information all at one time. Instead make sure you go over key factors that sustains and each individual will retain when leaving the presentation. Making sure you are heard with the non overwhelming information that they can not use in the future.
DeleteLong-term learning strategy planning is done in recognition of the fact that reaching some of the schools expectations with creating experience in using technology at your pace. Therefore, goals can require an effort undertaken over a number of years, with many steps that must be completed along the way. In contrast, the school's annual plan is focused on how to allocate the school system within guiding teachers to communicate ,utilize ,in prepare for the new technology plan. Consequently, in chapter 8 this week discussed many tips and how to keep your sanity. Within starting with the problem and not the tool. Try I. Find a tool that help solve challenges that are faced within the curriculum or devices used. Second, be very selective as to where and what new device to use. Make sure you get proper known from someone who used the device before or know much detail before you use or buy. In lastly, what stood out to me was weigh the time it benefits. Meaning evaluate the process it may take to learn the new technique of this technology piece and will it subdue the issue you have with covering something else that requires attention to but utilizing it as a resource. However, mastering the program to advocate for the production of time will set you in a place where you learned and discovered that something can be done about wasting time in the near future.
ReplyDeleteAs a educator in practice and teacher we want to derive the contextual clues that shows no harm in technology but show us the correct way of giving students many examples of using tech usage and also finding the best technology to help us all succeed especially the students who are learning. Teaching students within the correspondence of a website that is making progress or has many beneficial factors that not only interests the students focus but helps them succeed in using the website itself. Moreover, I would say stick to something ritual in eventually find something later on if it doesn't fit your plan off curriculum. Guide yourself in students with updated resources in opportunities to interact with continuous learning. Don't stop at one thing further the connections and products of learning technology. Therefore, their are programs that helps teachers substantially learn from online programs about technology and it evolves into trainings that teachers can take. To better come more accurate and acquainted with improving and adhering to students capabilities of learning all about technology. "Every educator should share their ideas on what works best for us." (Pg.170)
Johnson ,D 2012 The Classroom Teacher's Technology Survival Guide
Hi Michellena,
DeleteI enjoyed the end of your post when you stated to not stop at one thing and to further connections of products of learning technology. Like I mentioned in another post, I remember having the same boring and repetitive lesson year after year. It wasn't memorable and it made me dislike school. I think that if we continue to see what technology has to offer our classrooms, we can entice and get students back to love learning. I for one do not want to be known as the boring teacher as I continue my career, I want to be memoreable as the handful of teachers once had. Good post!
This week in Chapter 8 of Doug Johnson's The Classroom Teacher's Technology Survival Guide he discussed "Developing a Long-Term Learning Strategy". All throughout points to keep us, as educators, engaged and interested in the longevity of the benefits of technology in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteTechnology can be an overwhelming thing when introducing for the first time or even when we are trying to learn more from it. It is critical that we go into the learning process with an open mind.
Johnson (2012) says " The real genius of most great workshops is the presenter's ability to take a complex topic and make it understandable and useful rather than give in-depth "coverage" or display his or her commanding mastery of a topic"(p.178), that is the absolute truth. As I mentioned before, technology can be an overwhelming thing so we must break it down to something that is understandable for our students. We must learn to teach it in simplicity because in itself, technology is a lot.
One thing that really stood out to me was Johnsons suggestion and encouragement to engage with other educators and see what they are doing with technology and how they put it to use in their classroom. During field hours for another one of my classes last year we had the teacher from across the hall come in during my host teachers lunch break and ask her for suggestions on math sites that would be beneficial to her students learning multiplication, the teacher asking for the sites was not necessarily tech savvy but she tried her best and with the help of my host teacher she was able to provide another tool for her students. This expereince also ties into Johnsons "Keep Your Sanity" part of the book, While my host teacher was sharing her tech info with the other teacher she did what I call "Keep it stupid simple, keep it simple, stupid" now i know that isn't a "nice" word but it is used for the humor of it all. There is no need to over complicate things, learning technology can be done on a step by step and one by one basis so that it doesn't feel overbearing but also so that we truly remember each thing we are learning. There is always room to keep learning with technology and there is enough time. We want to ensure that we aren't giving too much or too little to those learning about technology.
Johnson, D. (2012). The Classroom Teacher’s Technology Survival Guide. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Summary
ReplyDeleteChapter 8: Developing a Long-Term Learning Strategy
After reading the required chapter this week Johnson (2012) discuses continuous learning opportunities the Internet makes available to us. He explains that keeping technology strategies handy and utilizing them can be a long-term affect for teachers across the world. Some ways he mentions is beginning with the problem and figuring out what can be done rather than making teaching more difficult. As educators, we should be selecting useful tools all the time and doing our research. Test different sites out and navigate through them if this is something we are thinking long term. We should never get ahead of ourselves, and just try a few tools at a time. Furthermore, Johnson explains keeping a balanced lifestyle with times in change is something we need to practice to keep our sanity. (pg. 171-174) This is true, because there have been so many times where we have felt technology has taken over, and we have felt overwhelmed. For example, I could remember a time when I felt technology taking over as a cashier when I worked at CVS/Pharmacy. It was just when self-check outs first came out, and CVS no longer needed my service like before. This was something not only I had to adjust to, but the entire world. There have been times I have heard friends complain about new systems coming in and them having to learn their jobs all over again. This reminds when Johnson (2012) discusses having a healthy attitude towards technology. We should be thinking positive about it, and thinking of all the ways we can implement these new ideas in this generation to life as we now know it. There are many ways that we learn to incorporate technology in the classroom, without getting frustrated or the fear of not knowing. Johnson (2012) explains his top secrets on how to conduct a successful technology workshop. He goes on to explain, to know our role, limit our topic, be organized and communicate, set out a problem and offer a possibility, have conversations, be fun with it, use good sources, allow participants a chance to practice and reflect, and have a good ending. (pg. 178-185). As Educators we are always going to learn new things in this field along the way. How we use this new information is up to us. How can we everything that is new and changing something we put into our work? How can we ever keep up? It will take practice and help from each other to make it happen. Every day our environments are changing with updated technology but we must not fear it we must face it!
Reference
Johnson, D). (2012). The Classroom Teacher’s Technology Survival Guide. San Francisco, CA: Josey-Bass.
Hello Jessica,
DeleteI like how you mention that it is up to us how we use the information we learn in our teaching methods and philosophy. This is so true. As an educator we are always learning, and it is important to take what we have learned and decide how it will help us give our students the best learning experiences possible, while also teaching about safety. I also agree with the thought of keeping a balanced lifestyle. All of these changes, new technologies, standards, and curriculums teachers have to learn it is easy to get overwhelmed. We need to embrace these changes and realize that by learning them, they are not only going to make our teaching experiences easier, but our students learning experience more exciting and effective. Great post!
Jennifer, thank you. Yes, what we learn as the teacher is first, because this allows us to then teach our students what we have learned. Children are so smart now in days too that they should also have opportunities to teach us as well. I'm sure they know more.
DeleteHi Jessica,
DeleteThanks for sharing your post this week. You make some really great points and just like you mentioned it is up to us how we run with that information. I think it is great that even though you have been witnessed other people who have put a halt on learning these new things, that you are still able to gain a great new tool from it. It is also important that we practice what we preach, by that I mean it is important that we learn the same things we are teaching our students.
Reading chapter 8 “Developing A Long-Term Learning Strategy” by author Doug Johnson gives practical insight on how teachers can set long-term goals as they introduce and engage students as they interact with technology. The author asks the question, “Does your school’s mission statement include the word’s “lifelong learning”? It should. And the sentiment should also apply to us as well as our students”. (Doug Johnson, 2012 p. 172). This is a powerful statement and challenges teachers to continue learning so that students can develop these same skills to help them achieve success in learning. When a teacher introduces technology or want to upgrade technology in the classroom the author gives key advice to keep one’s sanity as they try to navigate through different tasks that involve technology. When children are given assignments and they are not being engaged, the teacher may have to find the challenges that hinder learning, look over the curriculum to see what needs to be removed or added (p. 173). Being able to trust a few resources instead of using many resources can save time and frustration. Using too many programs are not practical and he advises using one and try it for one month (p. 173).
ReplyDeleteLibrarians(LMS) can be great partners for resources to use as you learn and teach technological skills to students. They are trained and have good communication skills that can help students as they gain information literacy skills (p.175). They are a great support to have concerning technology projects. They can teach students the proper use of ethical internet protocol, how to practice internet safety and how to use the appropriate materials.
The goals I have set for myself as a student are being set as I continue my education. Taking this course was a requirement and I did not see the connection to education. I now understand why it is important to have the proper skills in technology because they will be needed to teach students. I am fulfilling a goal that is helping me to be more productive and understanding as I take this course. I set a goal to be a better student, I try to find fun in my learning and I try to inspire myself as I face challenging assignments. These goals that I have set will help me be a better educator as I learn to organize the many tasks needed for technology. I will not judge students on technology usage and will be patient to students as they learn new technology skills. I will be flexible to encourage student’s engagement as they learn and I will incorporate effective reading strategies to strengthen technology skills. I also want to be creative with lesson plans and hope I will continue to have a passion for teaching.
Reference
Johnson, D. (2012). The Classroom Teacher’s Technology Survival Guide. Jossey-Bass: CA.
Caprice,
DeleteMr. Johnson’s book title is proving to be true, “The Classroom Teacher’s Technology Survival Guide” as it has provided the information needed for us as teachers to learn and improve our technology skills. He has provided many helpful resources and examples within the text to help us with instructional support to teach our students so that they will be capable of using technology. A mission statement that includes the words “lifelong learning” will let parents, students, and others know that educating is our business and we will do our best to assure success through appropriate teaching. In developing long term learning strategy as teachers continue to learn about technologies in order to relay the information to students. Awesome post!
By reading chapter eight, “developing a long-term learning strategy” it came to my mind the way how doctors and health practitioners need to be committed with always learning, researching and engaging, in order to save lives. In my opinion, educators dealing with technology should assume a similar position, in order to remain in control of information and provide students with good and valid resources.
ReplyDeleteOne statement that surely called my attention was this one: “Does your school’s mission statement include the words “lifelong learning”? It should”. (Johnson, 2012). It definitely should and I support the idea because if we stop learning, it means we stop growing and stay on the same stage, or even worse, we start decreasing.
This chapter provides very good advises on how to implement strategies that are going to help us keep standing in the long run of technology and education adaptiveness. According to Johnson, “A healthy mind toward technology: The LMS considers and teaches not just how to use technology but also why and under what circumstances it should be used” (Johnson, 2012) what I think about this is that if we are really on top of our learning activities, we are going to be welcoming the different tools (and even creating) in order to succeed.
Resources
Johnson, Dough (2012) The Classroom Teacher’s Technology Survival guide. (1st.ed.) Jossey-Bass Teacher, A Wiley print.
Anel,
DeleteIn order for educators to teach students these days, we must be keep ourselves up-to-date on technology skills to engage and help our students to be prepared for the future. The powerful statement by Mr. Johnson about” lifelong learning” should catch our attention. If we do not make progress in our learning of technology how can we expect to teach students the skills they need to achieve. The library media specialist (LMS) can help teachers to take a leap towards good teaching skills and provide support for a healthy attitude about technology. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Anel!
DeleteYou have made a great observation in comparison of the two things, someone learning or teaching technology and the occupation of someone like a doctor. Both of these require what I would consider "maintenance" or "upkeep" we HAVE to keep up or else we'll be left behind without knowledge that could really make a difference. Being open to learning is an important key to being an educator, our minds should never close to learning new things.
In this chapter, Johnson stated that just as students should learn, so should teachers. I’ve heard this quite often, to be a teacher is to never stop from learning. This couldn’t be truer when it comes to technology, there will always be changes, but it is up to us to stay above it all or sink. Johnson provides us with options to continue learning about educational technology and I for one am grateful that such things are available for my busy schedule. The list includes, electronic mailing lists to get update published information, professional networks, blogs, webcasts, and multi-user virtual environments (Johnson, 2012, p. 172). With all these resources made available it has me wondering that there shouldn’t be an excuse to not know how to integrate technology in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteJohnson also provides us readers with strategies to keep our sanity that technology can often bring us. I like how mentions that instead of going straight to what tool one should use, start with the problem. This strategy can help pinpoint exactly what needs to be rather than search through endless tools. Another strategy he mentions that I feel I might have an issue doing is the one in, one out. Johnson mentions that whenever he starts a new blog, he gets rid of an old one. I like to keep track of things just in case I need them later on. I guess you can call me a hoarder but what if I need it in the future? But like the text mentions, just work on things that make a real and positive difference (Johnson, 2012, p. 174). This is something that I will have to work on in my teaching career. I want to have an abundant amount of sources, but only those that will truly help me integrate technology into my classroom successfully. I also know that I am not alone. The text advises to look for the librarian as she or he will be full of knowledge and be available and willing to help should I need it, after all she or he will be my technology partner.
He ends his chapter with advice and examples on conducting a successful technology workshop. Like every great presenter, one should know your role, present in a way that helps everyone understand. Find three or four main objectives that you want your audience to walk away with. Being organized is a must! Provide a common problem to the audience along with a solution that they might be able to try out in their own classroom. Have fun! Provide your audience with good handout and PowerPoint. Be interactive with the audience. And in the end, summarize it all and bring it home. All mentioned above are great ways to taking what we know and sharing it with others.
Reference:
Johnson, D. (2012). The Classroom Teacher’s Technology Survival Guide. Jossey-Bass: CA.
Johnson talks about how to goals or strategies for long-term learning. He also talks about what to do if you are the one presenting a workshop. I thought of the tips he suggested for giving a seminar and realized that you could apply at least some of those tips to teaching a lesson. The two big goals I have for every quarter is staying organized and keeping it simple.
ReplyDeleteI think that these goals are very important for teachers as well. You have to make sure you stay organized in order to keep track of everything that you want to cover with the children and anything that you need to give the children or anything the children have turned in. You also need to keep things simple, hitting on the big points and building off of those, without chasing rabbits. I have had teachers who, in the middle of a lecture, would start to chase a rabbit and by the time they would get back to the topic I would be completely over the lecture and would get nothing out of it. I am not saying keep things so simple that you are dumbing things down, but you don’t want to give them information overload either. I think it also needs to be fun, this way you can get all of the children’s attention and keep them engaged and involved in the lesson.
Resources
Johnson, D. (2012). The classroom teachers technology survival guide. Hoboken, NJ: Jossey-Bass.
Amanda,
DeleteI agree with you, and in my personal experience I’ve seen how some people start working on a given topic and then they lose the main point of it, to the extent that nobody understands what is being done.
I think that a good advice from Johnson is to actually stop using something if you found a better option to it (Johnson, 2012) For me, that is a very hard thing to do, whereas I was raised to not get rid of things so easily, as “they might be needed later” but I now I see how this is actually a habit that may not help as much, if we really want to stay organized and growing/expanding.
Thank you for sharing!
Resources
DeleteJohnson, Dough (2012) The Classroom Teacher’s Technology Survival guide (1st. ed.) Jossey-Bass Teacher, A Wiley Imprint.
" Developing a Long-Term Learning Strategy"
ReplyDeleteConsider common sense would dictate that few adults would choose to make a living in an environment that s/he feared or abhorred. Most teachers enjoyed their school experience and found the classroom to be a haven for learning, sharing and friendships.
As teachers, we must understand and accommodate for the significant anxiety that our students face as they enter the school year. Here are some strategies, techniques, procedures and inspirations that help in getting my school year off to a constructive and supportive start: "Nobody ever plans to fail; but they do fail to plan." Don't wait until they come to you. Communication is an ACTIVE - not a PASSIVE - process.
The first day of school sets the tone for the year. "Getting Acquainted" activities are great… and appropriate. But the majority of the time during the First Day should be spent on academically-oriented school work. If Day One is a Play Day, day two may well be a disaster. "We have to do WORK??!? I thought you LIKED us!
Your three main goals for a successful learning strategy school year is getting to know the children and their families, establish expectations of what the children need to be aware of during the school year and stimulate enthusiasm in wanting to learn. Sometimes we get so focused on (a) and (b) that we forget about (c).
Once your classroom is all prepared and decorated… walk around the room on your knees and get a "kid's eye view". You might find yourself making some changes once you have seen the room from their perspective.
Create a welcoming classroom environment with each kid's name prominently displayed on bulletin boards, desks, folders and charts. This sends the comforting message, "Come on in; I was expecting you and I have prepared for your arrival. Welcome!"
GREET EACH CHILD! Your goal should be to say something personal and individual to each and every child on the first day.
Share yourself. When you introduce yourself to the class, tell a bit about your family life, background, hobbies, pets, etc. When I was a kid, I thought that my teachers went into their big oak closets at the end of the class day… and emerged the next morning. I remember my shock when I saw my first-grade teacher in the supermarket ("They EAT?!?!?!?!")
Be enthusiastic and warm. Teachers used to say, "Never smile until December." They were wrong.
Review each child's cumulative folder BEFORE schools begins. Note each student's special interest and talents… not merely their test scores! I disagree strongly with those who believe that you should not review files before the year begins because you will develop "preconceived notions" about the child. Ridiculous. Wouldn't you want your doctor to review your medical history prior to treatment?
Your first few days should be meticulously planned. Again, this sets the tone for the year!
Post your short, simple classroom rules. Some samples:
Respect material, equipment… and each other.
Raise your hand for permission to speak or leave your seat.
Use "indoor voice" when speaking in class.
Be on time.
One person talks at a time.
Make the students feel welcomed and valued in your classroom. Many special needs kids feel that school is a depersonalizing and irrelevant institution. It is a sad commentary that kids' self-esteem often increases markedly immediately after they drop out of school. Sad. Enforce your rules consistently. To do otherwise erodes students' trust and respect.
Teaching has an advantage that few other occupations have. When you are angered and frustrated with your unresponsive principal, the inedible cafeteria lunches, the demanding and unreasonable parents, the ever-decreasing budgets, the chronically malfunctioning photocopy machine, the inevitably tardy book order and the overwhelming paperwork… you can always go into your classroom, close the door behind you and be with the kids!
Chapter Eight “Developing a Long-Term Learning Strategy” talks about how to keep yourself educated on different technology. It talks about how to use technology in the classroom, Librarian Media Specialists, and how to conduct your own successful workshop. As teachers we educate children, but we also need to educate ourselves on new technology and learning tools for the classroom. “Continuing education prior to the Internet connectivity and the rapid rate of change it brought about consisted reading professional journals, attending professional conferences, completing school-based in-services programs, and taking college classes”, (Johnson, 2012, pg.171). There are so many more opportunities for teachers to educate themselves now than ten years ago. Teachers can take webinars. They can take online classes. Sign up for education blogs, and even subscribe to a YouTube channel to gain new techniques in teaching. I personally use Pinterest and Youtube to look for different activities for my lesson plan, and if I can’t figure out how to do something I Youtube it. There is so much opportunities and information available on the internet to help teachers stay on top of their game. Staying on top of new technology and what is new in education helps teachers and educators to bring new and exciting learning techniques into their classrooms. This help motivate and engage students.
ReplyDeleteNew technology can be overpowering and sometimes misused when introduce to students. We have to learn about all the new technology before we place it into the classrooms. You want to learn all about the new technology and the pros and cons of it. “Keeping our Sanity” is a must. Rome was not built in a day. 1. “Start with the problem, not the tool.” 2. Be selective about where you get your information.” 3. Try just one new tool at a time.” 4. One in, one out.” 5. Don’t try to fix that which is not broken.” 6. “Weigh the time-benefit ratio.” 7. Give back and become part of a community of learners”, (Johnson 2012, pg173-174) Learning takes times. No one expects a teacher to get and understand new technology. Just educating yourself and practicing it will allow yourself to understand it and excel at it. Teachers are always taking in and having to remember new information on a daily basis. have to take in new information daily. I know at work I get overwhelmed when I have a few different kids with different allergies I was overwhelmed because I wasn’t sure what they were allergic too, such as gluten and celiac. I remember going to the library and looking up all this information so I knew just what exactly they couldn’t have. It’s all about educating ourselves.
Johnson, D. (2012). The Classroom Teacher’s Technology Survival Guide. Jossey- Bass: CA
Technology, education, and society itself all seem to be changing at a pace with which few of us can keep up (Johnson, 2012, p. 17, para 1). Technology is a valuable factor in education in our society today and in the classrooms. The many uses and types of technology do pose a problem for some as it is intriguing and fascinated to others as it presents a challenge. I admit that a lot of the technology mentioned in the textbook I have not heard of nor am I familiar with. I am not going to make a resolution as Mr. Johnson did, but I do intend to learn, use, and share some of the technologies from this course. I have noticed that sometimes in doing lesson plans, the teacher and I do not make that many changes, but this past school term we did. We incorporated more activities for instructional support and a better understanding of our theme. Most of the research was done using technology, the computer. The students were excited about learning which leads to engagement and interaction. To be honest, we both learned new things about certain topics. I look forward to sharing some of the skills learned.
ReplyDeleteIn developing a long-term learning strategy, the librarian can be helpful so we as teachers will not go insane. Online education is one of the options offered as a continuation of education to keep up with the fast pace. It allows for an individual to get an education outside of the physical class setting. Sharing is possible through things such as electronic mail, blog, Webcasts, and Second Life to communicate with students, teachers, colleagues, and others. These are a few of the growing number of “continuous learning” opportunities the Internet is making available to those of us engaged in the rapidly evolving field of education (Johnson, 2012, p. 172, para. 5). I can recall when I encountered Google, it was amazing to me how you could enter what you wanted information about and it had a response, thinking to myself how is this possible?
In learning more about technology, one should never overwhelm themselves with learning things like the many different Web sites, programs to be used with curriculum, instead try one or two at a time. If a teacher is comfortable with what he or she has a browser, bookmarking site, cloud-based storage, blogging software, or email system he or she should continue to use as long as it is productive (Johnson, 2012).
Reference:
Johnson, D. (2012). The Classroom Teacher's Technology Survival Guide. Hoboken, NJ: Jossey-Bass.
Emmer,
DeleteIt called my attention how you mentioned that Google amazed you when you first discovered it. I remember that I used to use of “ask.com” and I felt like I had discovered a whole new world just before my eyes.
I think that in regards to keeping ourselves balanced, we need to first understand that new changes come with new benefits and we should take advantage of that. According to Johnson, “Striving for balance is the key to keeping your sanity in times of rapid change” (Johnson, 2012).
Thank you for sharing!
Johnson, Dough (2012) The Classroom Teacher’s Technology Survival guide (1st. ed.) Jossey-Bass Teacher, A Wiley Imprint.
Reflection
ReplyDeleteThis assignment was time consuming but I think it will come in handy to have all the websites in one location. I can refer back to them as needed and use them once I have my own classroom. I did not like the portaportal website. My computer had problems loading it. I also did not think it was very user friendly. There was nothing on the page that explained how to make a folder. I like Diigo much better. It was easier to add a file and you could tag the file so they were organized by subject. This is a great way to reference websites when know a lesson we want to teach about. If I am looking for science lessons, I can click on the Science tab and my website are all organized. This saves the teacher time from searching all over the internet. New websites can easily be added as we find new information that we find useful for the classroom.
Final Post
ReplyDeleteWhile completing assignment eight, I had some difficulties with the Portaportal.com website. It was unclear how to upload the URL's to the websites. I also found myself confused when I first signed up, because there were so many big advertisements in the middle of the page. It seemed like you were supposed to click on the advertisements to start the process of creating a portal. I eventually figured out that the portal button was very small and located in the right corner of the page. When I was using the Diigo.com website, I was not confused once. Everything seemed very easy and user-friendly. I really enjoyed using this website. I can see myself using Diigo.com to organize my online educational resources. I will more than likely continue to add to my list of websites on Diigo.com. I'm very excited that I was introduced to this website. Instead of having a paper list of websites, this website will allow me to easily access each website and read the descriptions.
Reflection
ReplyDeleteI liked different parts of both sites. It took me a little while to get the hang of the sites but once I did it wasn't that bad. I think that I will go back to the Diigo site and try to figure out how to make folders to make it easier to organize for in the future too.
Final Reflection:
ReplyDeleteWith this assignment I have mixed emotions about. I thought one website would be better than the other and found the opposite was true. I had to remember to make sure all spreadsheet information was correct. For some reason I have a difficult time with spreadsheets so I am leery about making corrections. I think I would like this assignment if I had more practice and felt more comfortable. I will practice and try to find out the errors I made. I think this is a great resource for teachers and parents to use. Once data is organized the information given can save time when putting together a lesson plan. The information can help you create a better lesson plan. I like the fact that you can add more subjects.
As I read other blogs I saw most of the students chose the Portaportal website. I thought that was interesting because I found it difficult to use. I will use the Diigo website when I teach, I think it will help me stay organized. Once I learn how to correctly submit information I may like it even more. I will use this website as one of my teacher’s resources. It was a challenge.
Reflection
ReplyDeleteThis week’s assignment 8 was very helpful because I was able to learn what type of technology I would like to use to display my information from my spreadsheet. I did not want to choose the easiest, I wanted to choose the one that fit best with me and would be easier for my audience to look at. This is because when I am looking at other friends website I want to be able to look through it without hesitation. The technology that I chose was Portaportal.com.
The way that this document interested me was because when I was plugging in the information it had a step by step progression. It was not difficult to figure out where to type what information. I really enjoyed that when I typed in the link and clicked finished. The portaportal.com would have the title go straight to the link if clicked on. I was also able to organize every category by subject and place all of the titles, links, and descriptions under it. Everyone is different when choosing technology that works for them, but portaportal for me is very organized and places every page that I chose in the specific category. I hope that you like the portaportal.com that I created!
REFLECTION:
ReplyDeleteI can see myself using a bookmarking site in the future after this week. I loved the organization that Portaportal had to offer. I can see myself providing this to my parents and students with different sites and information. Let's say we're going on a long winter break, I can have my parents refer back to Portaportal and have their children freshen up their skills during the downtime. I can also use it for my own lesson planning and research an organize things that I would like to use in the future. Overall, great assignment as it introduced to me to a new tool that I will be able to use in the classroom.
This week we learned about using different bookmarking websites and I actually enjoyed it. Portaportal was very easy to use. At first I was confused as to how to start but with a little exploring on the website I was able to figure out how to use it and after that it was smooth sailing. Putting information in was really easy and I had no problems. Diigo on the other hand was not great. It was very confusing to understand how to put information in. I had issues with my information staying where I put it. I would copy and paste mu URL and it would disappear and then when I would copy and paste my description that was disappear too. I did not like it at all. I would recommend using portaportal in my classrooms because it was super easy to use and parents would have no problem using it.
ReplyDeleteReflection
ReplyDeleteLearning to use social bookmarking tools Portaportal and Diigo was a great experience. I was relieved once I figured out how to accomplish the task of creating both of them. Social bookmarking can help teachers and students to store, manage and keep organized the Websites they have searched for easy access for later. It also allows them to share sites with other individuals.
Portaportal uses a category style for documenting researched Websites for individuals to access within a dialog box that contains the title, link, and brief description of each site. Diigo is a library of collected Websites that use annotation tools and tags for easy access to sites. Diigo is an abbreviation for Digest of Internet Information, Groups and Other stuff. I believe that I will benefit from using either of these social bookmarking tools in the classroom or personal use because it will help to manage and use for my lesson to guide my students to the appropriate Web sites. The social bookmarks are easily located because the accounts set up using the name that I created when opening the accounts. Editing and deleting is another feature that is accessible to avoid overloading or having outdated information which is no longer needed by users.
This was a fun experience for me because I am used to doing things “the old way,” but as the course goes on I am learning more about technology that may help me move up the ladder in my technologies and skills.
Reflection:
ReplyDeleteI see myself using social bookmarking in the future with parents and my students. I will probably teach my students about the assignment we did for this class. I think the social bookmarking tool is something great to use to organize information/sources. I would probably use it to share with my students if I gave them a research project to do. I would include the sites already to the class and choose a topic I want them to write about. For example, if we are talking about Inventors I would include different websites about those inventors and have a student pick one they are interested in and write about it or write about what they have learned. There are so many ideas we can do with students. I would choose the portaportal site because it was just more organized to me. The Diggo was a little all over the place. Great work this week!
Reflection
ReplyDeleteI can truly say that this week was my first time I have ever heard about social bookmarking tools. Even though I had some difficulties it was a great experience learning how to create social bookmarking tools Portaportal and Diigo. I like Portaportal better because it was easy to develop and it was very organize. Portaportal has easy editing tools to make corrections with no problems. I will definitely be using Portaportal in the furture.
Reflection
ReplyDeleteMy experience with this week’s assignment is that I learned how to organize websites that are going to help me find quick information when I need it. Even though I chose Portaportal over Diigo, I am planning to explore a little bit more into how Diigo works and the advantages that is has, in order to make a better reference of the site in the future.
As mentioned before, Something that I liked about the site is that the display makes it easy to the user to find information and also it works as “at a glance” chart of sites. At first I started going really slow, trying to make sense about how to use it, but then I learned the basics and I could get all of the information in there in less time than I had expected.
A modification that I would do to this site, however, would be to add colors to the folders. I know this would be a good option to visual learners (for me, things get more sense when in color) and it would help improve the overall look of the site.
I do recommend the use of these bookmarking sites, not only for teachers, but also other professionals and even people that would like to have their hobbies websites organized in just one plce to consult and share with others.
I really enjoyed this weeks assignment as well as the discussion post. I found that just by looking at the home pages of the differnt bookmarking sites I thought I would like one over the other, however that was the oppotsite, the one I thought I would like more I had a harder time working with. I really liked using the bookmarking sites and could see myself using this as a resource tool for future lesson plan organization.
ReplyDeleteReflection:
ReplyDeleteThis week we were to create two accounts, one on portaportal. com and one on Diigo. com. Both of these sites are bookmarking sites that were introduced by Ms. Freeman. The first site, portaportal was a total question mark for me, it was not very intuitive and it actually kind of annoyed me that I couldn't figure out how to add a bookmark. Diigo, on the other hand, was super easy to use and very simple to figure out. What I would hope for these sites to improve on is the presentation, I wish they had more color to draw people in and make them want to use it (at least anyone like me) presentation means a lot to me, if the page looks boring I personally am less likely to use it. Before Ms. Freeman's introduction, I had never heard of a bookmarking site so it was very new to me, initially, I didn't know what the benefit would be but when I was done I was able to see how it could help me. Overall, I really enjoyed this weeks assignment as I feel it will be very helpful in the long run as a reference for us educators. The assignment was also very easy to do and I did not have too many questions while doing it.