Yesterday, you listed 4 barriers that impede infusing technology in your classroom. As a teacher in your classroom, you are a leader. Remember that leaders always come with solutions! Think about the barriers that you listed.
1. Student Resistance - This past school year many students complained of using the Netbooks and carrying them around, especially when they couldn't access the internet at home when our grant ran out.
2. Internet Speed/Accessibility - This past school year there were many issues with the students not being able to access the internet during class lessons that we were using the Netbooks and Apps. They also didn't have the same access as students that I had as a teacher and I didn't know that until we were trying to do something in class and they were blocked.
3. Students "forget" Netbook/Charger - MANY students wouldn't bring their Netbooks or Chargers to school, lost their chargers (some even misplaced the netbook itself), or they were unusable when we needed them waiting for parts or tech support.
4. Security of Apps for minors - I ran into several Apps that we were trying to use in class that would not allow "Private" settings in student mode.
As a leader, what can you do to help overcome these barriers?
1. Student Resistance - I believe I can make the technology (netbooks) a daily part of my classroom. If the students know that we will use them daily it will be harder for them to "forget" that they need to have it with them. It also was a problem competing with their more mobile and "off of our net" phones/ipods so I am going to make a place in my room where they have to put up their phones during class so that they can't resort to that being a distraction. I will also post in a more visible place m tutorial times with a reminder that if internet at home is a problem I will be available during those times for them to come and use the school net to complete necessary assignments/searching. I will also work at making the resources "downloadable" as much as possible so that they can be downloaded before the student leaves class making it available to him/her even without home access.
2. Internet Speed/Accessibility - I will maintain communication with Ms. Kelsoe regarding internet issues. I will again make certain that the students are aware of tutorial times to come and catch up on any work that they may be missing due to maintenance issues with their Netbooks. I will also try to keep better communication with the tech department regarding student needs to ensure that they don't get "lost in the shuffle" and can be up and running as soon as possible.
3. Students "forget" Netbook/Charger - I think again that if I establish that we will use the Netbooks daily the students will have less question of whether it will be needed each day. I will stop bailing them out and making available alternatives for them in order to make sure they understand that coming to class prepared also means having a Netbook ready to use each day. I will establish procedures for supplies that are more clear than I have had in the past.
4. Security of Apps for minors - I will attempt to create student accounts as much as possible to test the lessons/Apps from a student perspective in order to make sure that the Apps work the way I think they will for the students as well as myself. Maybe ask Admin/Tech if there is a way for us to have a "student" log-on as well as our faculty log-on to test student perspectives.
What resources can you tap into that can help you overcome these barriers? Include any websites, blogs, videos, etc. that you find with solutions or suggestions for overcoming or minimizing these barriers.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/16114511141864329/
http://www.cobbk12.org/griffin/PAWS/Lesson_6_Be_Prepared_for_Class_2012-2013.pdf
http://blog.peerinstruction.net/2012/04/20/how-do-i-get-my-students-to-prepare-before-coming-to-a-flipped-class/
http://www.sbbh.pitt.edu/behavioral%20health%20seminar%202011%20help%20desk/Armbruster_Students%20who%20come%20unprepared%20to%20class.pdf
http://www.ntschools.org/cms/lib/NY19000908/Centricity/Domain/154/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20Prepared%20for%20class.pdf
http://www.techlearning.com/from-the-classroom/0015/one-to-one-computing-and-classroom-management/44472
http://www.districtadministration.com/article/one-one-computing-has-failed-our-expectations
Stacey, you found some fantastic resources that all of our teachers need to put in their tool box! I love the one-to-one resources that you found. Knowing how to manage a classroom when every student has a device is so different than when they did not have the devices. These resources give great examples of how to change how the classroom in managed so that learning is enhanced through the use of technology!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kelli. I sort of got lost in that particular topic and when I realized just how long I had been tinkering around on PLN time I had to shift to the rest of our days requirements or I could have stuck around there for days! :) It is definitely a topic I will go back to when I can sit down to it again. There's tons more to see!
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