Becoming a Bona Fide Tech-y: Tools to Improve Technological Literacy Among Educators

1. Becoming a Bona Fide Tech-y: Tools to Improve Technological Literacy Among Educators Rea Gubler Artis Grady Kathy Croxall

2. Baseline: Do we value technology? As FCS Professionals, have we embraced technology thus far? What have you seen in your lifetime?

3. Baseline: Do we value technology? Which is the most valuable Invention? A B C D Why? The value of an invention can be measured in it’s usefulness! Not all inventions are useful all of the time! It is the same with technology-- Keep the concept of useful in mind!

4. Indeed, we must value technology! Technology: Lead it and prosper Tolerate it and survive Fight it and die! (*paraphrased from Governor Mike Leavitt)

5. Demands on teachers to use more technology by: Administrators Peers Parents Students Vision of Students (by students) Vision of Students (by educator) Definitely plays on our emotions!

6. Why then, do we resist? Time Exhaustion Challenge of learning something new or foreign to our experience Not convinced that it is better!

7. We should be wary! We are trained to be wise consumers! Is ‘New & Improved’ an oxymoron? How can it be new, if it is an improvement? Can you recall a technological advance that you found to be NOT useful?

9. Keeping up-- Space Race Sputnik in the 50s First to the moon Now what? Arms Race Nuclear power Missiles Human Race?

10. A Wise Consumer: Apply what we know before ‘purchasing’ or ‘buying in’ to new technologies • Cost benefit ratio • Can you afford the ‘time’ to implement it? • Avoid impulse purchases • Comparative shopping • Determine longevity • Keep your goals and objectives in sight! Local newscaster, Dick Nourse, made an interesting comment at the time of his retirement: *Emphasizes Keeping Technology in Perspective!

11. Can we use technology to improve student learning and retention? Can we ‘teach on their terms’? Should we ‘teach on their terms’? Why does technology appealing or ‘their terms’? Hands on! (sort of, like the chalkboard) The satisfaction is in creating or constructing! • Choice- not all students use same tools (multiple intelligences) • Variety-different media, group/individual, etc • Control-student initiated and completed Student projects displayed on ‘you tube’:The Physics Guy *Final project for an AP Physics class

12. Speak Techno?Let’s see! Using the iClickers to test vocabulary! • Define wiki • Tool for voice communication • Miniature witch • Collaborative content • Reliable internet source

13. Speak Techno?Let’s see! 2) Define podcast • Loudspeaker announcement • Distributed digital media files • Organized group activity • ipod collection

14. Speak Techno?Let’s see! 3) Define blogs • On-line diary • Overbearing administrator • Chat room • Role playing game

15. Speak Techno?Let’s see! 4) Define LMS • Library management system • Logical management system • Learning management system • Licensed management system

16. Speak Techno?Let’s see! 5) Define webquest • Grade book based on the internet • Internet metasearch engine • Role playing game over the internet • Internet supported learning activity

17. Speak Techno?Let’s see! 6) Define RSS • Right student seminar • Really simple syndication • Rigid specific strategy • Rapid serial system

18. Technical Teaching Tools:Google (now a verb!) Calendar—Sync with other people, other software and PDA Google Docs- multiple contributors to one document Google Mobile- SMS (Short Message Service) Based on zip code Get info on pizza places, movies, etc **More to come!

19. Technical Teaching Tools:Messaging “I can’t remember or imagine my life without text! ….Amanda Hayes (SUU Student) Instant messaging Video messaging Text

20. Technical Teaching Tools:Wiki’s & Blogs Wiki- (Not just a bogus encyclopedia!) Used for collaboration Blogs These are not the same as social networking Some basic guidelines are a must

21. Technical Teaching Tools:LMS (Learning Management Systems)Online delivery, management & communication WebCT Powerschool Pioneer UEN eText

22. Technical Teaching Tools:iPod (more than entertainment) Tape Lectures Subscribe to Pod Casts Portable Hard Drive Organize collections PDA

23. Technical Teaching Tools:Podcast What is a podcast? (can also do video podcasts) • A collection of digital media files • Distributed over the internet • Often using syndication feeds for playback on computers or portable medial players • Can be Podcast vs Streamed RSS, etc or wmp, mp3, etc • Can be random, but usually are subscribed to • Create & podcast lectures, messages • Software: Audacity, Garage Band, Camtasia, iTunes, ProfCast • GabCast (via cell phone)

24. Technical Teaching Tools:Digital Portfolios • Designed by students: • Showcase work • Prepare for jobs • Online, cd, flash drive • Commercial –(Chalk & Wire, costly) • Self made- PowerPoint or Other software • Samples using PowerPoint

25. Bona Fide Tech-y? On Your terms! You also need Choice- select carefully (consumer skills) Variety- keep you and students engaged Control- your class, your content, YOUR DECISION Caveat- (not always that easy) Remember: • Accept the technological demands placed upon you • Invest in technologies that you value • Don’t overextend yourself! • Old technology is sometimes ‘new’ and engaging to students

26. Resources: Vision of Students (by students) Vision of Students (by educator) Dick Nourse The Physics Guy Google Wikis for collaboration Blogs What is a podcast?