Since Greg Moul's blog is named All Children Get Ahead, I felt compelled to name my blog something comparable. I thought it appropriate to name it, All Teachers Bump Their Heads because we all do when it comes to technology. Some of us have more welts than others. Anyway, a little levity isn't a bad thing. I can always change the name later. At present I am the author of this blog. However, my intent is to change the settings to add all HPT reps as authors. This would be a HPT blog and not one specific to technology.
My first post here is to request feedback on the presentations that I gave at the high school and grade school. I would like everyone to make some honest response. My main goal is to start a conversation that everyone is in on. There are a lot of issues with technology and its use in schools. Things like access, support, troubleshooting, security, knowledge and time all deter people from the use of technology. I for one, will not be deterred.
Also for those people that have never made a comment to a blog you can have that experience and possibly see the potential for such dialogue as colleagues. We will offer a PIR on blogs and use in the classroom in the coming weeks. I will post some blogging rules soon. The main one is to be civil in your responses to anyone.
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I felt my presentation was hurried and I didn't hit every point I wanted to make. In addition, it would have been very beneficial to have time for discussion. I do think meeting more often as a whole staff in a less hurried time frame is something we ought to consider. I barely know anyone and I have been working here six years.
ReplyDeleteWell, I've never blogged before! I feel like I'm learning something new:) Perhaps this can open up communication since we are always all so busy.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see all the student computers turned on at the beginning of the day in every classroom. I think they would be used more if they were on. Perhaps students could be in charge of turning them on and then shutting them down at the end of the day.
I liked the presentation and the idea of starting by starting.
Jackie
I feel fortunate to be pushed by your enthusiasm for technology. Your single handed thrust to place technology on the front burner is a reflection of your commitment to our students and their preparation for the future. There is no question shift is happening and you are helping us to respond with the skills it requires.
ReplyDeleteI thought the presentation was informative and interesting. I would like to integrate more techology into my classroom. Time and a lack of technology-related experience are two things that hold me back. I would like to learn more and see how others use technology in their classrooms.
ReplyDeleteJessica J.
I enjoyed the presentatin but did feel that it was a bit rushed because of the amount of time that was given for you to present. I completely support the push to use more technology in the classroom and I am hoping that as a district we will more forward with technology.
ReplyDeleteHauna Trenerry
I also enjoyed your presentation, Mike. I would appreciate a follow up presentation with time allotted for questions and answers.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your resolve and as Greg mentions, enthusiasm. I feel the primary issue/goal for education is to continually work to meet the needs of our students and technology provides one, all be it substantive, avenue. How each of us chooses to do this will be unique. This being said, we can learn a lot from one another. We can/must push ahead...together. Thanks for pushing ahead.
ReplyDeleteNow for a plug/tangent of sorts from your [insert adjective] (you name it, I have a corner on the market) high school librarian.
I created a BHS book blog many months ago. I have found the best books are those shared (thanks Wally). I have yet to mention it to staff until now. What better venue. For you advanced bloggers, add it to the “Blogs I’m Following.”
If you read a good book, or bad one for that matter, pass it on.
Keep pushing, Mike. Your presentation, hurried or not, made us mindful that we must keep up with the direction our students are headed so that we as teachers can guide them to the best of our capabilities.
ReplyDeleteSarah
Oops, I forgot the link. For those of you interested in sharing your book reviews here you go:
ReplyDeleteBHS Book Talk Link
http://bhsbooktalk-thegoodbadandugly.blogspot.com/
I love the name and am very excited about this blog. Things are starting to go in a good direction.
ReplyDeleteRobin Shanks
I agree that the time allotted was insufficient for questions and comments. I also think that the question and answer time should include administration and the superintendent, so we would have some idea as to what might be possible for resources in the near future.
ReplyDeleteKathy Manders
Your presentation was mind opening. I am so grateful that our students and staff have you and Greg to inform and teach us. Thanks for all you do! I can't wait to learn more.
ReplyDeleteI liked the presentation. I wish we could spend more time as a staff learning how to get more computer use in our classrooms. I think the classroom should have 10+ computers on line, on all day, that the classrooms should also have real books and student leveled magazines as accessible as the computers. I think this is what our students will experience in the adult world. I think that the tech team could be responsible for researching good student sites in all areas so the classroom teacher has many to choose from. I think that some discussion should happen about computer use and the learning of social skills in the primary grades. I don't think the answer excludes computer use. Hope there will be more... Marilynn R
ReplyDeleteIt's all new to me. Thanks for informing us. Here goes.
ReplyDeleteJulie B
I agree with Kathy Manders comment. I tend to like to dream big with technology, and having some idea of what is actually our reality would be a good thing during some question and answer time. Thanks for the great start Mike!
ReplyDeleteVicki Heupel
Thanks for taking the time to share your desire for Bigfork to trailblaze down the technological super-highway. I would love to see a lot more integration of technology in this district. I'd also like us be proactive in fighting the time element. If this is truly a direction we want to head, then the time for training and implementation ought to be priority one.
ReplyDeleteAlthough short because of time, the presentation was rhetorically powerful. Much like in 1985 for Mike, I also see students highly engaged when using technology. Technology allows students to travel virtually around the globe. It allows some students to communicate more effectively. Technology teaches students to become resourceful and independent. The use of technology is indicative of today's society and tomorrow's success! Simply, using technology in the classroom (even at the simplest of levels) provides students with another tool by which to propel them productively into the future and, for now, an opportunity to become excited and actively engaged in their academics.
ReplyDeleteCory Pierce
The biggest block we have right now to technology use in the school is ourselves. It's hard to change what works, what is easy, what we know will teach the kids without the problems of: "Where is my password?" "Or my computer doesn't have the right program." or "My paper was written on a windows machine and I can't get it to come up right on this Mac." or "What printer do I send this to? Why won't it print?" and the inevitable "I just received 7 printings about meiosis from the library, does anyone want to come pick it up?"
ReplyDeleteIt is so much easier to do what we know will work.
That being said, the more we use technology, the better it seems to work for us, the easier it gets and the more we can do with it.
Mike, in his presentation, wasn't asking for us all to jump in with two feet and no computer, just to think about the possibility of trying a lesson that harnesses technology in order to make our lives easier. Technology shouldn't be an added burden to our lives but a way to take off some of the pressure.
Sometimes it's so hard to step outside of our comfort zones . . . especially in February.
Finally, I am teaching the online class right now for VHS and I am loving it, my kids are loving it,and the technology, while it took some getting used to, is helping me teach all of the rest of my classes. Talk about organizational help and a great way to track what my kids are learning.
Charlie A
Mike,
ReplyDeleteI thought that the presentation was very informative. I hope to incorporate more technology in my classroom. Thanks for the presentation.
Stormy
Just wanted to say Thank You! I know that we need to move forward in all these technology and I'm hoping you will guys will be the ones leading the way! Sign me up for your next class. Ana
ReplyDeleteThanks for the presentation and thanks for this blog. I'm excited about getting my own blog up and running for students to respond to.
ReplyDeleteA lot of what I've been thinking about was expressed by Charlie, so my mind is on to Solution Mode.
I seem to be most receptive to new learning during the summer when I have time to reflect and plan. If there is money this year for summer curriculum work (or even if there isn't), I think it would be great to have a group of us meet and support each other with a focus on using technology to strengthen and enrich our curriculum.
Maybe it would be a good idea to invite students to help us in that endeavor.
I also agree with the importance of administrative support. I'll never forget the year Jackie arrived and announced that she would buy a computer for whoever was willing to give up teaching with workbooks. Of course I took her up on it and began the slow process of getting comfortable using technology myself.
One more thought. Perhaps this blog can help us bridge the chasm of the Parking Lot that so divides the Elem/Middle from the HS!
Mary Ahnert
There are some immovable ideas about blogging. We need time to move these unmovable ideas. Time is the big issue as well as working with a system that has glitches and takes more time than it should. I agree with Charlie about resistance to getting out of our comfort zones,too. But this district blog could be where all teachers share they're experiences with computers. Maybe, we can each choose one teacher that we could, sort of, overtly encourage to try blogging. Once everyone knows, sort of, where teachers stand, then we can start addressing some of those problems.
ReplyDeleteA word on primary. Some views are what I just said about time. Some views are what I just said about ideas. So those of us who have been using computers in our classrooms since we could get them should share how they have helped our students' interest and academic levels go up. How they do not hinder learning to read but enhance students fluency on reading skills. That computer learning can replace time spent on reading skills with no loss to the student. To those who won't consider using tech skills in your classroom for your students,think about what they use at home even at a young age. Have you seen how many of our young students are pulling out cell phones after school? Have you asked them about their iPods and such? How about chat rooms, etc.? I feel like without tech. we are sending our children out in a world of speeding cars of the future in a horse and buggy. They're competing with people who have been learning how to use a computer for knowledge since they were in primary school, either at home or at school.
Would someone be willing to tell on the blog their experiences with tech. in the classroom? I've been using computer software and the last years the net, to teach reading skills of all kinds. Most of my students have had good reading scores, from decoding to comprehension, through reading and writing.
In our lives, we do need some horse and buggy time. And as Greg told me, do I remember how exhilerating it was when I first finished a book.
Thank you for all you do for us and our students. You just may bring this "dinosaur" into the 21st Century? I'm looking forward to your classes. Clara
ReplyDeleteMike thank you for your time and energy for all that you do to show us that our students will only benefit from the use of technology. I was very inspired by your presentation. I agree with many of the others that we need more training and I love the idea of mentoring each other.
ReplyDeleteIt is about time this was started. Real. Conversations.
ReplyDeleteBlogging. I've blogged before, and I think it is a great forum for everyone to read and comment on a topic where everyone's voice is recorded. It's also nice since links for more information are just a click away. A great way to have a discussion outside of reading a handout at a meeting and only having time for limited comments.
ReplyDelete~Marya
Thanks for the heads up Mike. It's obvious we are a behind as a school district in this area and shouldn't be. I believe this is a great format to share information freely among our peers and probably far better tool than most faculty meetings. If we can get beyond the usual, trivial information and get to the real issue at hand, then we can definitely make some real progress with this thing. Also, with new technology, there are also challenges and inherent dangers. We need to look at the benefits, the risk closely and phase them into the goals we are already achieving as a district to find the best mix.
ReplyDeleteOur computer wizards in the blogging class had a very good idea. Have a rep. from the HPT meeting check whatever blogs are designated once or twice a month and report to the team. That would certainly spread the word about blogging and our faculty comments. I wonder if the computers in the elem fac. lounge could be bookmarked or posted for easy access to our faculty blog. marilynn
ReplyDelete