How do we help the teachers?

[Karen C. Seddon]

Teachers have SO much to do and so many hoops to jump through today. How can we help? (I see Ana online so far!) Click the Member tab and you can see who's online.

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[Karen C. Seddon]

I think creating little videos gives our students the opportunity to become "prosumers." I will be highlighting that great word in my newsletter (if I ever finish it) It comes from PROducer and CONsumer. Our students can no longer be just consumers of information, but producers of information - thus prosumers. I am watching a live video cast on SchoolTube tonight as they experiment with this new technology. SchoolTube has real potential for getting high quality content in any easily accessible area.

K

[Ana]

Karen, I think we need to start making technology PART of rather than APART FROM. I think that is the main mayhem!
Some believe that technology is going to take away from the rest of the curriculum, when in fact it becomes the tool to deliver the curriculum, for me it has always been instead of blackboard or white board and chalk and dry-erase markers, laptop, projector, cameras...ACTION!.

[Karen C. Seddon]

I agree. That is really why I am asking the question. How do we give the teachers the confidence that they can meet all the standards while empowering the students to produce content?

[Mark Hall]

I think one thing is to show teachers that the technology can be used to save time and actually make it easier to teach the content. It may take a little longer as they begin to implement it but the payoff is in the long run, just like the DIV. The students can learn by doing. This still allows the content to be taught but not in the ways that it used to be taught. There's no better way to learn than by doing or teaching.

[Karen C. Seddon]

You are so right, Mark. It may take a while to produce the content, but then you have it to be used over and over again, anytime, any place and at any pace!

K

[Ana]

Starting small. Use programs or applications you are comfortable with. Plan along a couple of activities first, then add a few more, and so on. It is like learning to ride a bike, right? one block, 2 blocks, around, etc.
Then challenge yourself, and be prepared for Failure and celebrate IT! because that is how we learn.
And on the meantime, the kids will be learning to collaborate, teamwork, patience, etc. Once you experience it, you want more, it is pretty addictive, I have to say. Je!

[Ana]

You are so right Mark. It is getting used to teach in a different way where students create Knowledge by doing it!

[Mark Hall]

One method I started using last year was to pick sections of the material and have students develop presentations to teach their classmates the material. The presentations can be video, powerpoint, posters oral reports or whatever they choose. I put them into small groups, give them class time to develop the presentations and then they present them to the class. It takes a little longer but the end result is that they actually learn the material better. I don't teach the material I only add to their presentations when they don't effectively cover the material or put it in a confusing manner. We just finished some of these projects in class today where they researched camera lenses and gave presentations on them.

[Karen C. Seddon]

Do you know what is so important about this project you are doing? It doesn't matter what the subject matter is - there is always something to teach, explain, relearn, describe and produce. It does take time and trust in your students with strong guidelines.

K

[Stephanie Middleton]

Guess I'm getting in on the tale end of this...but as for how we help teachers...for me an inservice to get the info at the start is helpful (but that takes time in my schedule). I agree with Ana...start small. Find 1 thing you want to experiment with and work with it.

I like to work with the tech myself first before I bring kids in, so I feel comfortable answering questions.

And I also agree with Mark, it echos my own belief...it takes time upfront (often LOTS of time) but then you have it forever and then each semester or year I use it, I can improve what's there and don't have to start from scratch.

I also think the battles that have to be fought to use technology in the classroom is often prohibitive to teachers. They get discouraged and give up instead of fighting for what they know can improve thier curriculum.

[Karen C. Seddon]

Tale end or not, you always have great ideas Stephanie. You students are very lucky to have you!

K

[Mark Hall]

I like the way you put that "Students create knowledge by doing it". Can I use that quote in the future?