I have been learning about so many new technology tools that I can implement in my elementary classroom. I am amazed everyday by the newest programs, apps and websites that are now available in our class. Plickers, Mentimeters, Bookcreator, Canva, Poll Everywhere, Classtag, Classdojo, Jamboard...the list goes on and on. How do you take the time to choose the right tool? When you want to be innovative and creative to help your student achievement, you can easily be overwhelmed with the options.
One idea is to have a day or a small amount of time weekly to dedicate to PD on new technology tools. Take the time to learn the tool and determine how you might want to implement it in your classroom. Take the time to do this with your team in a collaborative meeting and determine if you want to meet back to discuss the viability of the tool. This is a great way to learn together and see if that tool was worthwhile.
Learn one tool at a time so you don't feel too overwhelmed. Remember, you can't fail when you are learning. Try something new. If it doesn't work, you have learned that that specific tool doesn't work for you this time, but maybe it would work for another lesson. Keep trying. We owe it to our students to keep learning for ourselves! Let me know what tools you love. I want to know what else is out there!
Hi Jen! Couldn't agree more that it can be so overwhelming now with the surplus of different types of technology that we see in the classroom. I love your thought about taking it one step at a time in order to learn them without feeling too stressed.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't help but think about how much the use of technology has changed in the past few years and I am amazed what my students can now do! It floors me to think of myself at my students age barely being able to type, and here my students are knowing how to navigate different tabs and apps! In this ever changing world, it is pretty cool to see the digital skills students have picked up that may help them in their future careers!
Hi Jen, I can relate to your post! I am amazed at how much we are learning in our course. I have been bookmarking everyone's presentations so that I can refer back to them like you suggested. I have noticed that I learn best when I have a way to practice and apply the skill. I am keeping those bookmarks handy and referring to them when I support teams in planning to see if I can recall a tool that will help the teachers I support.
ReplyDeleteToday, I was able to guide a teacher through setting up FlipGrid and recommended another teacher use Canva to create an anecdotal notes recording template.