Introduction to Blending and Online Teaching: Post #2

In my Five Star course, we are have starting researching the SAMR and TIM models for using technology in education.  I have been asked to answer a few questions after researching and viewing videos on the TIM model.

1. Where would you rate yourself in each area?

I use many activities throughout the week on the entry level in language arts.  I frequently use Starfall and Reading Eggs to build literacy skills in my kindergarten classroom.  I recently completed a project in the transformation level, by allowing my kindergarten class to create a list of rules they felt to be important for Halloween safety.  They used PowerPoint to write the rules and attached clipart to make it visibly appealing, and then they acted out the scenes to show the importance of following each rule.  It is my goal to do more activities at this level, as the students  were more excited and learned a great deal about collaborating with one another during this time in addition to reinforcing other skills.  

2. Where do you think you could reasonably be at the end of the next grading period?

It is my goal to be mostly at the adaptation level by the end of next quarter, using the technology as a tool for greater learning.  I would like my students to create an alphabet chart, complete with clipart for each letter and words we know.  It would be a terrific resource for our classroom.  

3. What steps will you need to take in order to make the growth happen?

In order for this growth to occur, I will need to continue teaching my students proper use of the technology in our classroom.  We will need to continue to learn more about the device, so that it truly becomes a tool, and not a novelty in the classroom.  I want the focus of the lessons to be about the content, not about the iPad the student holds in his/her hand.  We will also need to continue to work with the word processor in the computer lab, to ensure students are comfortable using it and know how to locate and place clipart into a document.

Introduction to Online and Blending Teaching: Post #1

My school recently offered all teachers in my district the opportunity to take courses through Five Star at no cost to us, so of course I jumped at the opportunity!  One of the requirements for the course involves answering questions via our blog.  Here is the first question.

How could you adapt or change one of your current class/course policies to reflect a moving mindset? Is this a change you are willing to make? Why or Why not?
As I have stated in a previous post, I recently received a grant through the Scott County Community Foundation for 6 iPad minis, headphones, an Apple TV, and an speaker for my classroom.  I have already started to change some of my class policies to reflect a moving mindset  I love the opinion from the Will Richardson, stating that education needs to be taught differently, and we shouldn't always try to be "better."  In some cases, different is better, but it all starts with a shift in thinking.

I wholeheartedly agree that we, as educators, need to understand that students have access to an infinite amount of information within a matter of seconds through the use of the Internet.  In my own classroom, we have utilized bundles through My Big Campus, BrainPop Jr. videos, and other websites to research. I also use an app called Doodlebuddy frequently to replace paper/pencil activities.  When applicable, I make an conscious effort to decrease the amount of paper utilized, instead replacing it with a meaningful technology piece, such as the examples listed above.  The students are more engaged, which in turn results in more learning taking place in the classroom.  It is my hope for all the kindergarten classrooms in our district to become one to one with iPad minis.  We teach a generation of digital natives, and it is important that we teach the children how they best learn.