The implementation of technology in my classroom has been a slow process but one that is continual. As time progresses I continue to see the need for a more dynamic approach to instruction, especially being that my main instructional practice is direct instruction. While I feel I am fluctuating between the adaptation and appropriation levels of technology integration I know that with a few simple additions I could easily move closer towards innovating.
My first experience with integrating technology in my classroom was converting all of my lectures into digital slide shows that I could then project directly onto my white board and interact with them. I was effectively using my basic white board as a smart board without any of the fancy integrated tools that would have allowed me to make the slide shows more dynamic. Students loved the change because as I added more examples, photos and eventually videos they could more easily see the content come alive. The slideshows freed me to move around the room and interact with the students in a more meaningful way. I began to feel the freedom to experiment with students coming up to the board or working in small groups. Being that I was not locked to the front of the classroom I could move around and see much more authentically who was effectively learning material. A byproduct of the slide shows was a more dynamic way for students to take notes. Instead of simply reading the slides and writing down information, which most students did ineffectively anyway, I wanted to craft an interactive process where I could help guide the students to the most important knowledge in the lecture while also structuring the way they would organize logical thought in order to facilitate transfer learning. I came up with the system of guided notes where students would have to actively engage with my lecture by filling in missing pieces of information, copying examples and then trying examples on their own. These guided notes could be accessed physically or digitally so that students would be able to fill them out anyway they feel most comfortable. This system provided a structure for their learning, a need for them to engage with technology and a way for me to effectively see who was learning. A huge part of professional development at my school site is sharing with our colleagues the effective uses of technology that we have implemented in our classrooms. I have done workshops in integrating digital slideshows and guided notes as a means of integrating technology in the classrooms of teachers who are reluctant to make the leap. Much like the sentiment of Mishra on “new media ecology” it can be overwhelming for some teachers to implement technology in their classroom when they feel that it has to be all or nothing type of integration. Digital lectures is an easy transition; especially for teachers who use direct instruction as their main means of communicating content. Once lectures are created in a digital space they can be tweaked year after year in order to meet the evolving state standards. Form my colleagues I have learned of amazing tools such as padlett, plickers, kuta, kahoot and khan Academy that I have slowly begun to use with my students in order to build their digital fluency and agency when it comes to demonstrations of understanding.
7 Comments
9/22/2018 04:00:08 pm
I really liked your insight into how using technology has changed your classroom - ie that you now have the freedom to move around and that you're not fixed to the front anymore. I thought the ideas you had about note taking were most insightful - did students download your presentation and then fill in the gaps on notability or something similar? I'd love to try that when trying to teach grammar to my students as sometimes it's just so dry! Thx so much for sharing.
Reply
Brandon DeJesus
9/23/2018 07:52:09 am
Thank you! I project/work through the slide shows on my board and students follow along with me in their guided notes. Students who are absent can download the presentations at home so that they do not fall behind. Having notes available digitally has made it so much easier to help students who habitually miss class.
Reply
Catalina J Goldstein
9/22/2018 04:35:15 pm
Kudos to you for implementing new stuff into your classroom. I've always thought power points were such a great and simple tool to use. And they can be edited to be used year after year. Unfortunately they can take a little time to be made and that's definitely held me back from using them even though I have terrible handwriting.
Reply
Brandon DeJesus
9/23/2018 07:56:38 am
Time has been the most common factor preventing others in my department from using slides and guided notes. While they do take a significant amount of time to create, I find that the time it saves me in the classroom not having to write the same lecture over and over is well worth it. You can also search "Any content area PPT" in google and then modify an already created resources to save some time!
Reply
JP
9/23/2018 06:49:52 pm
I have always appreciated the fact that you take the risks you need to in your classroom, when others do not. Math is not an easy subject to make "dynamic." It either works or it doesn't. It is super challenging to make a math class into a PBL environment. It all starts with a willingness to try and do what is best for our students!
Reply
JP
9/23/2018 06:53:39 pm
oh and yes! Since I have had my first 2 years to create slides for some of my content - this year I am able to spend more time going deeper! Slides are awesome.
Reply
Julie
9/23/2018 07:37:55 pm
Brandon your slide shows sound like a great step into improved delivery and use of technology. I would love to see some of your slide shows. I also like students can access from home very cool. I feel like I want to teach my students how to use excel to do math calculations?
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Brandon DeJesusMath Archives
July 2019
Categories |