EdTech Teachers

October 23, 2007

Introductions

• MyHeritage.com

Today’s Objectives

• clarify the role of EdTech Teachers in PVSD schools

• model innovation in teaching and learning

• provide tangible examples of learning activities which integrate Web 2.0 tools

• demonstrate collaboration with other colleagues

First of all

• We’re going back in time for a few minutes…

Going back in time

• Socrates c. 400BC

– There is no need to write things down. If people write things down, then there will be no need for them to learn or to remember the information (paraphrased)

Going back in time

• Gutenberg’s Printing Press• 1452• Spawned literacy

– Why are those kids reading? They are involving themselves in a world of make-believe. They should be out working.

Going back in time

• Late 1800’s

• The invention ofthe telephone

– The telephone is an interesting gadget but of very little practical use or purpose

Going back in time

• 1920’s

• Books first used by students in schools

– Teachers: We can’t let students use books. If the students are given books, then there will be no need for teachers

Throughout History

• People have always been skeptical of technology

• Afraid of change

Looking forward

• What does this mean to EdTech?

• Last meeting: Woodward’s Education Then and Now video

• Here’s another…

Essentially…

• We need to prepare children for the world they will live in

• Not a world that will no longer exist

A Major Shift

• Information, memorizing no longer a focus

• People have instant access to information – Google – 200 million hits per day

• Einstein’s phone number

What really matters?

• In schools, we need to figure out what really matters– Memorizing the rivers of South America– Problem-solving skills, teamwork,

communication, etc.

A Shift

• A shift in society– Communication (Email, Facebook)– Attention spans (fast-paced society,

instant results, video games)– Teamwork (collaborating with others)

A Shift

• A shift in education– Teaching and learning styles– Attention spans– Topics of interest / have choices– Project-based learning– Assigning “zero” to assignments– Screen-agers

A Shift

• We can laugh

• We can scoff

• We can say that these changes are “wrong” for society

• These “shifts” are a reality

Some stats

• A student will spend– 20,000 hours watching TV– 10,000 hours paying video games– 5,000 hours reading– Not to mention time on computers, internet,

cell phones, text-messaging, etc.

Some stats

• Internet Users– Approx 1.2 billion out of 6.5 billion

worldwide (nearly 20%)– Approx 235 million out 335 million in North

America (over 70%)

Some stats

• Facebook– 25 million users – 100,000 new users per

day – est. 50 million users by the end of 2007

– 60 billion page views per month

Some stats

• YouTube– Over 6 million videos– Growing at a rate of 20% per month– Nearly 2 billion video views– Total of approx 10,000 years of video

Some stats

• Video Games– Biggest entertainment market in the world

(not movies, not music)– Not just kids – adults, corporations– Halo 3

Bad?

• Are all these things bad?– Computers– Internet– Facebook– YouTube– Video Games

• We need to stop comparing today’s realities with past realities

Everything Bad is Good for You

• Research– Movies and TV shows are more complex

now – Video Games stimulate the brain – problem

solving, decision making– Social Networking

– On the contrary, is “reading” healthy?– Why is technology unhealthy?

Finally

• The world is changing quickly– We can’t deny this

• As educators we need to be prepare children for this ever-changing world– It isn’t going to happen overnight

The Challenge…

• Help us get from…

to

The Opportunity…

• As an EdTech Teacher, what can you do?– Demonstrate innovation (in your own

teaching– Promote innovation in others– Provide support to others in their

innovations

How do I …?

– Demonstrate innovation• Probably already doing this

– Promote innovation• Let people know what you’ve done & they could

try

– Provide Support• Actually work with teacher/students in class

projects

What else…?

• Help Desk

• Local Users

• Minor hardware and software issues

• More to come later today

Scenarios

• Table group discussion on scenarios

• Group sharing of solutions

• You have until 10:30

Scenarios Discussion

Group 1– Teacher C wants a new software application installed.– The principal has asked you to put together a presentation for the

school Remembrance Day program.– Teacher F tells you he would like to incorporate some technology

into his Math 30 class.– Teacher L would like to her students to create an electronic

portfolio.

Group 2– Teacher D’s computer keeps freezing up.– Teacher P has emailed you asking your advice on how much time

his students should spend keyboarding. – You’ve just been informed that you will be teaching music and you

have no musical experience.– Teacher M has 4 computers in her classroom and doesn’t seem to

be using them very often.

Scenarios Discussion

Group 3– The printer in Teacher E’s room is jammed.– The school can’t afford to hire a DJ for the upcoming school dance.– Your senior physics teacher just retired and you have 3 students

that need a Physics 30 credit to apply for a scholarship.– The art teacher would like to incorporate technology into his

curriculum.

Group 4– The mouse on Computer #13 is not working properly.– The school can’t afford to pay for a company to produce a yearbook

this year. – You have just been talking to your EdTech colleague in another

school and you’d like to collaborate with her on a project. – The phys ed teacher would like to incorporate technology into her

curriculum.

Scenarios Discussion

Group 5– Teacher H has an old video tape that she’d like converted to DVD.– Teacher K has just asked you for ideas to help teach his students

how to use a spreadsheet.– Teacher I just got a new digital camera and would like to do a

project with her grade 2’s.– Teacher G has never taken her grade 4 class to the computer lab.

When you ask why, she tells you that she’s afraid she won’t be able to answer her student’s questions.

Group 6– Teacher J just had a new student enrolled in her class.– Teacher B doesn’t know how to email an attachment.– Teacher A has required her students to do a written report on a

Pacific Rim country every year. This year she’d like to try something different and has asked you for help.

– Teacher O would like to use the school video cameras in his social studies class.

What does this really mean?

• We want you to…– Be the person who is enthusiastic about

using technology– Takes some risks - such as the activities

we will do later– Encourage and work with others– Not see this as an add-on– Have FUN

Break

PBL

Engaged Learningmeaningful, creative, authentic, relevant

Project Based Learning• Begins with a product or

artifact in mind• Based upon content

knowledge or skills• Uses production model

Problem Based Learning• Begins with a problem• Structured around complex,

authentic questions• Uses inquiry approach

Higher Order Thinking Skills

creating, problem-solving, reasoning, decision-making and evaluating

Collaboration

Authenticity

Engagement

Momentum

Roles

Learners• problem solvers• decision-makers• investigators• documentarians

Teachers• facilitators• coaches• risk-takers• learners

Benefits

Students demonstrate• complex skills such as higher-order thinking,

problem-solving, collaborating and communicating

• increased attendance, growth in self-reliance, improved attitudes toward learning

• academic gains equal or better than those generated by other models

• increased responsibility for learning

Supporters

Challenge

• Can PBL be used to ensure engaged learning?– Technology is part of the solution

• Can PBL be used to develop higher order thinking skills?– Bloom’s Taxonomy provides a framework

Task

1. Organize into elementary, middle level and high school groups

2. Consider the top three levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy – Analyzing, Evaluating and Creating

3. Brainstorm project ideas that:– Incorporate technology– Attend to curriculum objectives– Activate the highest levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy

4. Post to EdTech Teachers’ Blog

Analyzing, Evaluating, and Creating

Incorporate technology

Attend to curriculum objectives

Activate the highest levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy