Parents of Bulldog students in room E3! Welcome to Technically Technological Teaching also known as TTT. Our school has received limited grant money to increase availability of technological tools in the classroom. The Bulldog PTA is willing to sponsor fundraising events throughout the year with a goal to match grant monies so that all students have greater access to technological resources in the classroom. I need your help! Our class goal of $4,000 will put $8,000 worth of technological tools and resources at the fingertips of your children. My wish list is included below with sample lessons how these tools will benefit your children.
This blog has been created to:
- keep our class community aware of current technology utilization in class
- assist families with awareness of how to use technological tools at home to help their children have increased school success
- inform parents of upcoming PTA events, including fundraising
- allow parents to post how they're using technology in their homes to help their children
- encourage student posting of what they're learning with technological assistance
What can my kids use the computer for other than games and simple word processing?
Why have more technology in the classroom? What's the teacher for?
Readin', 'ritin, and 'rithmetic were good enough for me. That ought to be good enough for my kid.
Current trends
"In 1998, it was enough to define what students needed to know about and be able to do with technology. Now, we're defining what students need to know and be able to do with technology to learn effectively and live productively in a rapidly changing digital world." --Don Knezek, ISTE CEO, 2007 (Roblyer & Doering, 2010, p. 10).
Virtual K-12 courses are becoming more commonplace in education. (Roblyer & Doering, 2010, p.19).
Learning Theories for Integrating Technology
There are two learning theories that lead to ways of integrating technology in education: directed and constructivist. The directed model is primarily concerned with information processing and stresses individual work. Behaviorist B.F. Skinner's work is reflected in this learning theory. The constructivist model has more global goals and stresses group-based, cooperative work. Gardner with his work in multiple intelligences has influenced this integration model. A comparison of the two models can be viewed at education.com.
TTT Wish List for Room E3
Ipod Touch (one for every two students)
The Ipod Touch can be used for in multiple ways. Only a few are mentioned here:
Flash card drill on basic math facts, geography, history, vocabulary
Starfall - a phonics program with interactive books
Visual library with vocabulary signs in ASL
A sample lesson using the Ipod Touch featuring specific individual skills supports the directed theory of technology integration.
Learning Objective:
Students will be at least 90% accurate with random order multiplication facts (0 - 9) using the Ipod Touch flash card program.
Lesson:
Students will learn how to use the Ipod Touch to access flash cards in order to practice multiplication facts in random order. A class graph will be maintained for daily results of student progress. These results will be posted on the TTT blog weekly.
Digital Camera (at least six for the class)
Digital cameras are highly versatile and available. Lessons following ideals proposed with the constructivist model will be developed using digital cameras.
Learning Objective:
Working in groups of four, students will photograph themselves making letters of the alphabet with their bodies and create an alphabet book that will be published in class.
Lesson:
Students will learn how to use the digital camera, upload pictures to the computer and prepare a publishable product.
TTT invites you!
Parents, I invite you to participate with your children as they learn technology skills that will help them throughout their lives. Please get involved with our PTA fundraisers so that my wish list becomes reality. Your children will benefit from using these tools and developing additional skills. You can post comments and questions on this blog at any time. I will get back to you within 24 hours.
Reference
A Comparison of Directed and Constructivist Models. Education.com.
Roblyer, M.D., & Doering, A.H. (2010). Integrating educational technology into teaching.
(5th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon/Pearson.
DISCLAIMER: This blog is an assignment for an educational technology course at National University. It is not a real fundraising blog.
