Tech-no Problem!

Delving into a tech course at the beginning of September was highly overwhelming until I began to see it's simplicity.  I have always been the type to pawn off my technological problems to someone who knew it better than I did- though the answers are easily accessible through Google or Youtube.  Now, I still can not reconfigure the hardware data on your laptop, but I have learned how to use unique online apps to integrate not only in the classroom, but my daily life as well.  Some include, but are certainly not limited to:

Animoto
Bubbl.us
Plickers
Popplet
Powtoon
Read Write Think-Trading Card Creator

All of these resources are great to integrate some creativity and excitement in your classroom!  This week we discovered how to use Google Drive to create surveys and this has saved my genius hour!  Last week I had been finding it difficult to find mutual times to set up Q and A's with participants of my research from over sea's.  However, using Google Surveys I was able to construct the same interview in a written format and facilitate the Q and A at a conducive time for everyone.

With this I had to adjust my Genius Hour, but such implications are great steps for learning and growth!

With such implications I have also learned to embrace tech issues on my own, which will make me a more effective teacher in the future.  How much did we all huff and puff at teachers who took up the majority of the class trying to figure out tech issues- at times just getting a Youtube video on with sound.  Students are incredibly receptive to the small things.

Kyle Schwartz, a third grade teacher, conducted a short survey on her students that asked one question "I wish my teacher knew_________" students were required to fill in the blank and the answers she received she found to be insightful enough to compulate into a book!  "I Wish my Teacher Knew: How One Question Can Change Everything For Our Kids" I have recently started to read and I highly suggest it to everyone looking to gain some insight into what students think and want.  The tech issue was one!  Students want their teacher to be tech savvy!

So, take the plunge!  Throw yourself out of your comfort zone if you have a "tech phobia" as I once did, and immerse yourself into the super creative and cool world of technology.  In a math lesson, throw in Twitter and get students engaged with brainstorming activities- a very cool account to follow is @MathInTheNews.  This account takes real life news and turns them into math problems- see HOW kids collaborate to solve problems on Twitter.

Instead of using your regular boring power point, try out Animoto or Powtoon, which you may be surprised can be even easier than power point and way more engaging!

In a social studies lesson try out Read Write Think-Trading Card Creator to familiarize students with political leaders.  Create a game and have students trade as if the are Pokemon cards, this can get students more familiar with certain leaders merit in an engaging way- be sure to vary up the vocabulary so that students of all reading levels can enjoy!

For those that may still have some restraints check out this educators tips for conquering your tech phobia on Education World.  Here, Owen shows how to properly and effectively use technology in the classroom and how us educators can work with technology and not against it.

So, take the leap!  And next time a tech problem arises, tell yourself "tech-NO problem!"