Technology for Principals
Section outline
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We all know that technology is changing the educational landscape and classroom instruction. The educational writer Donald Clark has go so far to say that pedegogy has changed more in the past 10 years than it has in the past 1000 years, largely do to changes in technology.
The Project RED research study lists "Change Management Leadership" as one of their 9 Key Implementation Factors for a successful transition to a 1:1 laptop environment. Clearly Principals and other Site Leaders have an important role to play in the successful integration of technology into the classroom.
But what is it that Principals REALLY need to know in order to get started? This course is designed to give you an overview of some of the most essential concepts you will need to understand in order to manage and make instructional decisions related to a 1:1 laptop program.
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What are some of the national conversations
which are happening regarding technology integration?
Listed below are several publications and resources which will provide insights into where various districts are heading and may help you to formulation questions of your own. Read on and add your voice to the conversation.
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What does a 1:1 classroom look like? If each student has a laptop on his or her desk, is that a 1:1 classroom? Is a 1:1 classroom where all the work formally done on paper is transferred to the computer?
To quote the education writer Chris Leyman, "If the best use of the technology at our disposal we can imagine is the evolutionary filmstrip and the evolutionary Scantron, our failure will be epic and tragic."
The research data strongly supports the fact that good 1:1 classrooms have "H.E.A.T."...
H= Higher Order Thinking
E= Engagement with the learning objectives
A= Authentic Questions
T= Technology Integration APPROPRIATE to the task
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This document is a review of the "Standards and Practice" which should be taking place within all Sunnyside 1:1 classrooms.
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We all know that successful teaching in a 1:1 classroom is more than just guiding kids to a website. But what is good technology integration? Where does a teacher get started? How do you add tech integration to a lesson plan?
This is where the Technology Integration Matrix (TIM) can help. The TIM is a tool designed to help you understand the different LEVELS of technology integration and how to move both teachers and students forward.
Click here to explore the Technology Integration Matrix.
Click here to print a hard copy of the Technology Integration Matrix.
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Click this link to see how some Florida districts are addressing the notion of technology integration within THEIR classrooms.
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Classroom Management is by FAR the key to all successful classrooms, be them one to one or not. After all, how can one teach or learn in an environment that is not condusive to such? As the educational leader of our classrooms, it is the teacher's responsibility to create the environment optimal for teaching and learning to occur.
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In college, we learned that most problems in class can be addressed before they ever begin. Throughout our careers, our experiences reinforce the idea (sometimes painfullly) that, with proper planning, a teacher can create a classroom culture where reactive classroom management is rarely necessary.
Your first priority when the class starts is to get the students to work. You can easily get students to work if three criteria have been met:
1. The students have an assignment.
2. They know where to find the assignment.
3. They know why they are to do the assignment.
Common sense and research on the effective classroom tell us that this is most easily achieved when the work is in the same place everyday.
Fortunately, the use of digital tools such as the Learning Management System (LMS) and the class projector make this process easier than ever!
You should establish a proceedure which involves students accessing your bellwork via their laptops as early as possible. This will not only insure consistency with students, but it will also greatly improve your daily management as the expecations will remain the same on occasions where you are away from class.
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Video
Interviews from a 1:1 district
The following videos are uploaded from the Irving Independent School District who is also in a one to one program. Please feel free to view these and discuss how you might see similarities or differences in your one to one classroom environment!
In addition to these videos, we have included a link that will take you right to the Irving Independent School District website for more ideas and information. Please keep in mind that this district operates with some differences in their use policies; however, a majority of the technology integration can be done in similar ways here in Sunnyside. Click Here or on their district name to go directly to the IISD Class Management page.
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Almost a dozen Florida school districts have joined together to help support schools who are expanding to 1:1. They have posted more than 100 classroom videos which demonstrate technology use in action. Click here to explore by subject and grade level.
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Creating a Student Behavior Management System
When setting up your classroom expectations, it is important to focus not only on negative reinforcement (i.e. things you CAN'T do), but also positive reinforcement (incentives for good behavior). These not only work to keep ALL students on task but also help to promote a cooperative classroom environment.
Although Student Behavior Management Systems don't have to be online, one of the best tools that we've seen for this task is Class Dojo. With this free, online system you can create a class monitoring and reward program that's easy to use and fun for your students.
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The internet has made all kinds of amazing, free tools available to teachers in the classroom. By clicking on the link below you can see a few which we will be modeling today.
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What's the key to creating high-quality and engaging lessons in a 1:1 classroom? One word...ADAPTATION!
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Now that you've had a chance to
explore some of the different aspects of the digital
classroom, let's take what we've done and try to make
sense of it all by creating a lesson plan.
Step 1: Click here to explore the current Arizona State Standards and select a learning objective which you intend to cover next year.
Step 2: Open up the Unit Plan Template below. You may also use any other lesson planning template you'd like in order to organize your teaching resources.
Step 3: Complete the sections on Unit Overview and Resources as well as any other parts of the lesson (time permitting).