Internet Tools for Teaching
EDIM 514
I was able to connect with a friend who teaches second grade in a neighboring district. While it seems as though her district is not yet fully embracing technology integration in the lower grades, she is ready and willing to implement a variety of technology based resources in her classroom.
At the current time, she finds Internet tools most helpful with writing and research. Currently, she goes to the computer lab to access Google Docs. She found Google Docs to be helpful in collaborating, editing and publishing. She also started using PebbleGo for research. She found this tool to be user friendly with informational text features, audio, and usability. When she is able to get access to the computers on check out carts, she uses them in her classroom to practice math fact fluency with xtramath.org and continued use of Google Docs. It seems as though her decisions to use technology are based mostly on whether or not she can get her hands on the technology. She has a strong desire to introduce more tools to her second graders, but she feels inhibited by her administrators and Information Specialists since she doesn’t feel they care too much about enhancing technology in the younger grades. She feels if she keeps proving it’s a passion of hers and seeks out more opportunities, the powers-that-be will provide her with the resources she needs to move forward. She’s hoping with some recent additions of a technology professional development team in her district, they will also advocate for enriching technology in the younger grades. When I asked her what advice she would give to teachers starting out, she said that one must be patience and have perseverance. She indicated that it can be easy to give up and continue to use more traditional teaching methods, but with her interest and desire to become more 21st century learning centered. As for patience, she feels she not only needs to be patient with her administration, but also with the students. It takes time and patience to facilitate activities that incorporate new Internet tools to ensure the students are using the tool correctly and effectively. I thought it was very interesting to talk to my friend about technology in her district. What I realized is that our district has similar viewpoints: grades 3-8 will be 1:1 in the next 5 years while K-2 will be technology “rich.” I’ve also seen this as a celebration, since I teach third grade! I hadn’t considered how this affects the younger teachers. Many of them seem eager to integrate technology but feel they aren’t supported by the admin. I can see how frustrating it would be as other classrooms are doing some pretty amazing things with technology and you feel your being left in the dark. This makes me think that maybe I should try to find a younger classroom (1st or 2nd grade) to buddy up with and teach them how to use different Internet tools. Not only would this expose the younger kids to useful tools, but it would give my third graders an opportunity to share and be leaders.
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