Just curious, but how many of you "Technology Champions" feel you have the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of our District and schools? If you do, where have you received such an extensive technological education?
Keeping up with the constant changes in technology is a daunting task! I certainly don't feel like a technology champion, but I can hold my own. I believe the key to all types of technology (smart phones/ipads/laptops etc) is the trait of inquisitiveness.
I see my kinders on computers and they are fearless. They will click and touch EVERYTHING! My fifth graders; however, were much more apprehensive before the one2one initiative came through. Curiosity is the key.
- “Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning” ~William Arthur Ward
I agree completely with the idea of clicking away, exploring and discovering new knowledge.
BTW - Great post Monica regarding "Technology Champions"
I am definitely NOT a technology champion. This exercise has shown me how much I don't know. It is hard to keep up with new technology. The minute it comes out something newer and more innovative takes its place. I agree with Jessica, being inquisitive is the key to learning all the new technology. So, let's show no fear, act like kindergarteners, and learn what we need to know...
Wow! - great question, Monica!
I think we are all scrambling with the learning curve. I agree that the single thing that has helped me the most is just being a kindergartener again- push the buttons and click, talk to everyone around you, and take naps and snack breaks when you get cranky.
I have found some resources that get me started and connect me with ideas and help.
The Sunnyside Tech staff, especially the HelpDesk, Technology Coaches, and Adelfo and Pam, have been prompt and supportive with their responses. And the district 1-1 links have lots of great stuff, although you really have to hunt and bookmark what you like, because it is hard to find things.
Some outside resources that have been invaluable to me are:
http://www.pimarsc.org/ Allen Swanson and Emily Mann at the Pima County Regional Support Center's "Statewide Instructional Technology Project, Pima County". Anything from summer and afterschool workshops to on-line resources to coming to your site. They are great!
http://aztea.wikispaces.com/ Arizona Technology in Education (AzTEA) wikispace will connect you with Web 2.0 resources. You don't have to be a member to use the resources, but their conferences are worth it.
http://www.educationworld.com/ a website for educators that is a resource for lesson plans and research. [It is sponsored by Edmin, a learning management software company.] It has been a good jumping off point to other resources.
Search engines like Google, and Wikipedia for "What is ____?" and YouTube for "How to____?" have been great for questions ranging from "What is Moodle?" to "How do I hook up this projector?" to "Is this safe to download?"
I think the single biggest need is the time to search and try things out. As a resource, I don't think we can overstate the need for time.
Thank you for sharing your resources Mary. You are all absolutely correct, we have to delve into technology like Kindergarteners. Time is always a challenge. It does take time to search through all of the resources and experiment with our new skills and learning. Keep sharing!
This is a great discussion! I think the key to becoming a "technology champion" is time spent on a computer just discovering in a non-restrictive environment with no time constraints. This presents a challenge since, as educators, we all know that our time is limited. I know what I'll be doing this summer!
Thank you so much for all the hyperlinks! I agree with your sentiments that time is a major factor in our proficiency. As elementary teachers, we are already expected to be experts in reading, writing, math, science, social studies, vocabulary, etc. AND now we need to add technology champion to our list. It is daunting, but if we utilize the gift of collaboration to learn together, we will all be better off by the end of each school year!
I am definitely NOT the most technologically savvy person--my fifth-graders have taught me a lot since receiving their laptops! However, I think the key is to have an open mind, and not be afraid to click and see where it takes you. I also ask a lot of questions, and am lucky enough to have a fabulous tech coach at our site!
This 1 to 1 computing initiative has given us another opportunity that Theresa has just pointed out. How wonderful is it that she can turn to her students to teach her some tech moves. It reinforces to students that we are all learners and that we can also all take the role of teacher.
Theresa you are right about our fabulous tech coach. She answers all of my questions and keeps my email clicking in my phone.
I agree with all of you about the curiosity factor. As adults I think we are afraid of "breaking it" whatever the newest technology it is whether smartphone, laptop, ipad or even the wii. Kids haven't yet learned that fear and thus are more willing to take the risks and push the buttons and click on the different things. I have watched my 7 year old learn google maps and excel just by "playing". Yet it took intel classes and lots of coaching for me to even get close to what he has done on his own. It really is a matter of curiosity and risk taking.
Its hard to look at ourselves as Tech Champion, We're good at some of the stuff we do but this is not one of them. Some of it is "hardware" and other things like that but most of the challenge is getting consistent growth towards the wrap around use of technology.
I do not feel that I have the training to do what I think would make my program successful and result in the best education training for my students. I do feel that with practice and time I will get better. This is very scary because after 20 years in the classroom I feel like a first year teacher again. In lots of way it is also very exciting. I have received a lot of training in different technology and I have a lot of support in my school but I know that this summer I will need to sit back and look at what I accomplished this year and how I can back it better. Then look at what training I need next.
I feel that I am very good with using technology, but I would not consider myself a Tech Champion. Along with others, I feel that as we continue to work with one to one computing in our classrooms we will feel more and more comfortable with using technology in our classrooms. I think the most important thing we need to do is stay open minded and be willing to try new things witht he technology in our classrooms, even if it fails.
Jon, you are a "technology champion". I know because I work right next door. I agree with your statement that the more we use the technology, and are open to using new things, the more we will be comfortable utilizing technology in our classrooms. I also appreciate Mary's links because they were very helpful. It is important to learn from each other. I will continue to explore using technology in the classroom more, so i can become more efficient at it.
What I find particularly interesting about the comfort level that we all have when comes to technology, is that it is an opportunity to show our students that we are also learners. It empowers them when they are able to come up with solutions when using technology in class.
I choose the 2nd definition of champion in My American Heritage Dictionary: One who fights for, defends, or supports a cause or another person, to define myself. As a public educator, I support and defend the rights of our students to receive the best education possible, and, as a teacher-librarian am in constant training mode to learn and share the technologies that will make this happen. We have to remind ourselves that technology is just a name for tools we've created that should make our lives easier/better/more efficient. We will never have all the knowledge and skills, because they'll always be changing, but we can and do have the aptitude and will to investigate, implement and try new things. As professionals, we must remember that we are constantly training as our students' world keeps changing, just as doctors with new medical research and lawyers with new laws.
Here's a great technology- , by Lane Smith.
I agree with a lot of these comments. The one that really impacted me was the notion of curiosity. The students are driven to learn their lap tops because they are excited and curious. If we have the same perspective we can learn so much more than we already know. I just graduated from college and I thought that I was very tech savvy but some teachers from my team are looking at resources that I never thought of because they are curious.
You know I may have taken the say "Technology Champion" in a different manner then most. I personally feel that I can hold my own in the technology world, but this was the area of my continuing education. The thing is that even with what I know, utilizing the information or tools in the classroom is still a challenge. When I think of the district calling us "Technology Champions" I think they are referring to us as their army. The people that will defend the need for technology in our schools and support the decisions being made. We are to go back to our schools and provide the teachers with the information needed to get as many on board in the easiest and most beneficial way.