Tips and Reflections on Technology Integration in the Classroom

Badge of Honor:     Two weeks ago I wrote a blog about presenting a lesson on the importance of Digital Citizenship but this week I would like to refocus on the importance of becoming a digital citizenship educator.  Our students are growing up in a world that is completely different than the one that most likely you and I had the opportunity to do.  Our students today have access to the world at their fingertips and the opportunities for exploration and discovery can be limitless.  As an educator of this 21st century classroom my main job is to guide them on this path to discovery, encouraging and fostering opportunities for growth as they set out on this journey.  However just like our students have direct access to the world, the world also has direct access to our students.  This can be a very scary situation if not properly prepared to navigate these often murky and dangerous waters.  This is why digital citizenship is so critical t...

Podcast 101:   Podcasting is an open sourced modern radio talk show.  It has been around since the creation of broad band internet however it didn't become popular until around 2004 when former MTV host Adam Curry and software developer Dave Winer collaborated to developed a way to download radio broadcast shows to personal devices like the iPod.  This opened the doors to limitless options and an infinite amount of shows that did not have to abide by the Federal regulations that public broadcasting radio does.  Now you can find a podcast on almost any content you can think of ranging from news, to crime dramas to even ongoing episodically shows like "Lore, The Blackout, or Wolverine The Lost Trail. Podcasting has become so popular it has even led to the creation of award ceremonies dedicated solely to the medium of podcasting.   With the increase availability of personal devices new forms of communication are beginning to flourish.  Harne...

Gamifying Your Classroom: The advancements of technology has brought about many new opportunities for us as teachers to develop fun and engaging lessons for our students.  Yet we often find ourselves competing for their attention with the games that they have readily available on their devices.  When we went one to one devices with our students this year one of the most common questions/ challenges was, "How do we get them to not play games on their devices?"  Although it is a valid question, it is also one worth exploring a little more.  Why are students choosing to play these games instead of being engaged in our lesson? Is it because the game is fun? Or perhaps is it because they are competing against a friend, or trying to beat a certain mission so they can level up their character or unlock a prize.  Is it because they want to escape and imagine themselves in another world where they can be who they want to be?  Or is it because those lessons that w...

Digital Drivers Ed 101:   21st century learners have so many advantages with the use of technology.  The increase in technology has led the way to new opportunities which no other generation of students have ever had.  Yet there are some unintended consequences which this generation is also being exposed to.  The constant social connection, high demands of an increasingly faster pace life style, and the continual criticism and ridicule which has created a new monster known as cyber-bullying.  Many argue that these social strains are adding to an increase in anxiety, depression and even suicide among our adolescents.  Our adolescents have been given the keys to these technological devices but have never taken a drivers ed course in how to make sure they are safe behind the digital steering wheel.  This is why it is it critical that we take the time to properly train our students in the best practices of being a 21st century student.  Common Se...

A Picture is worth a Thousand Words:    As 21st century educators we are constantly on the look out for tools which can help transform our classrooms into a powerful and engaging educational experiences for our students.  Everyday new apps, websites and programs are being developed to market to the education market which can be very helpful for our classes, but at the same time can be very overwhelming.  However every once and a while something stands out like a beacon of light radiating above all the rest, and to me that new beacon is called Thinglink .   What is Thinglink? What better way to learn about Thinglink to see it for yourself.  Below is a tutorial of how to use Thinglink.  Click on the icons that you see throughout the image to learn more about what it is and how it works.   The Power of Thinglink: Info-graphic created by: Lenora Haranaka The user friendly interface of Thinglink allows for countless op...

Video In the Classroom: 21st century learners have grown up in a digital age.  Most of our students have experienced visual stimulus since their eyes first opened up into the world.  Growing up, many of them have grown accustomed to the satisfaction of short video clips for their personal entertainment.  Weather it is cartoons on their Ipad, or funny clips or how to's on YouTube, or even the story boards on Instagram and snap-chat, our students are very familiar with how to use videos for their own personal use.  We as teachers can utilize a very powerful resource by tapping into an already existing interest, and provide amazing educational experiences with the use of videos in our classroom.   How to Get Started: The first step in introducing video into the classroom is to figure out what goal you are trying to accomplish.  Do you want to use a video to deliver content, to purpose an insightful question, do you want student to critique the vi...