Essential Question: How do we support teachers in finding ways to effectively integrate technology in their teaching?
David and Mark are joined this week by Tom Pantazes, Instructional Technology Resource Teacher from the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools and Alex Roosenburg, Primary School Learning and Technology Coordinator at the Washington International School. Tom works between two elementary schools to support teachers in curriculum-based technology integration. Alex supports teachers in grades PK-5 to weave technology into their instruction.
In this show, David, Alex, and Tom share strategies and approaches they use to support teachers in curriculum-based technology integration. Despite the differences in their settings, a number of common strategies surface in the discussion.
Tips of the Week:
Alex - So my tip will be this ning site:
http://elementarytechteachers.ning.com/ which is a really great resource for teachers all around the world, in terms of support, ideas, website recommendations, and even photos of what other tech teachers/programs have done. I have it bookmarked on my computer and visit daily, but also post questions in the forums about once every 2 weeks. Members are all very open to sharing ideas and helping each other solve problems or lessons conundrums. It is a fantastic resource!
Tom-
Hackasaurus way to look at the HTML coding of any website. You can make changes to a site and post picturesyour changes to hackasaurus. A great tool for deconstructing sites when learning HTML.
Blooms Taxonomy of Apps is a great resource as well.
David wrote a
blog post in response to the Essential Question so check it out for more information. Connecting to earlier podcast on iBooks and simulations, the Concord Consortium has many simulations to choose from. Here is a
link just to the elementary ones. Use the navigation menu to look by subject and/or division level. My second tip deals with Bill Moyers new show “Moyers and Company”. I am enjoying his in depth coverage of recent and current issues in our society. His first shows focused on the 2008 banking crisis and his most recent show recent is on how liberals and conservatives see the world. He interviews Dr. Jonathan Haidt of UVA. Haidt provides insights as to how liberal and conservative thinkers approach life based on six moral foundations. Here are links to Haidt’s
site, his TED
talk, blog and
survey, if you would like get involved in his research. One can watch the show online or listen via a podcast. Here is a
link to Moyer’s site. I can see all of the podcasts being used in high school social studies classes as well as Haidt’s resources to help one’s students better understand differing viewpoints on issues. As polarized as adult American society has become, it is more important than ever to help our students seek out information for validity and depth. It is also important to skill our students to look at issues from many perspectives.
Mark-
Mission U.S. is a great site developed by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the National Endowment for the Humanities that hosts two interactive online U.S. History simulations. Immersive, role-playing format engages students in decision making related to the rise to revolution (For Crown or Colony) and the underground railroad during the Civil War (Flight to Freedom). The simulations are keyed to core content but also engage students in highlevel historical thinking - particularly in terms of perspective taking.
Next Show: Jeff Nugent to talk higher ed