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Category: Supporting Teachers

Supporting Complex Change

Supporting Complex Change

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Integrating technology, project based learning, personalized instruction, etc all require a change in a teacher’s pedagogical practice.  That is a pretty complex change as there is nothing simple about people, teaching and learning.  The teachers I support are my ‘students’. I need to know what is not working or missing to help them achieve success as they continually fine tune and perfect their craft.  Over the years I have used Knoster’s thoughts on managing complex change. There are various versions…

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Thinking about Professional Development

Thinking about Professional Development

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Summer is a time for relaxation and renewal for educators.  It is the season where we recharge the batteries, reflect on our success and failure and rethink what we will do next year.  During this “down time” many educators participated in curriculum writing and professional development.  Tim Holt recently shared his thoughts on professional development are we preparing cooks or chefs? They echo some of my thinking. I dislike the term “training”  I am often asked if I will be…

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iPads Are Not Interactive White Boards

iPads Are Not Interactive White Boards

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As a tech integration specialist my role is to help teachers learn to use technology effectively in a classroom to support student learning. Most of the technology deployed in the past by schools has been teacher centered such as interactive white boards (IWB).  Now schools are putting technology in the hands of students with a variety of devices. It is my belief this requires a different professional development (PD) model.  Some devices have a steep learning curve; I would place…

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Tech Integration and Classroom Instruction

Tech Integration and Classroom Instruction

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Pre- Reading My thoughts below are inspired by the following: Cast your NETS  by Andrew Vicars Really? Its my Job to Teach Technology?  by Jeff Utecht. My Thoughts I am a tech integration specialist, my title says my job is to integrate technology, presumably that means in the classroom. But I tend to think of myself more as an instructional or learning coach.  It has never been about the tools, but about the learning.  As educators I have always viewed …

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Khan Academy

Khan Academy

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Khan Academy, started out as one individual making math videos to help explain difficult concepts, it has grown 2,100 videos, and includes exercises and assessment.  The mission, to provide high quality free education to anyone in the world.  Topics focus primarily on math and science from elementary trough college levels. There are other topics related to business, finance and a growing history section. This site is well worth directing your students to or adding to any web enhanced learning environment….

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Introduction to eBooks and eReaders

Introduction to eBooks and eReaders

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It is hard to predict the future and even harder when it comes to technology. In my last post Getting Ready for eBooks I wrote about how we need to prepare for eBooks as they are becoming ubiquitous.  As a school we need to make sure we have the infrastructure to support a variety of web ready devices, a process for creating and distributing eBooks and support for staff in how to create and use eBooks and “eDocuments” for their…

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In the Spirit of the Season – Collaborate

In the Spirit of the Season – Collaborate

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The following is a post by Becky St. Onge who is a fellow collaborator and learner. Aesop proclaimed “In union there is strength.” Margaret Meade said we should “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Vince Lombardi maintained that “individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” For centuries…

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