Using Technology as a Learning Tool in a Blended Classroom

1. Using Technology as an embedded learning tool a wall-less brick & mortar classroom Sandy Anaka Jill French Nechako Lakes SD#91 Oct. 22-24, 2008

2. Presentation • Synergy • differences in approach • Rationale • our task • our goals • why, what, benefits, challenges • Process • embedding technology for instruction • Teacher tools • Examples from the classroom

3. Our Goals for this presentation…. • why using technology can be ‘value added’ • howto shift towards using technology in daily practice • provide support links and examples • You are invited to revisit this presentation online at • http://www.sd91.bc.ca/frenchj/Educators/Rural_Schools_2008.ppt

4. Our task…. • to discuss how to use technology ….. • as an embedded instructional tool ….. • in a blended learning environment …. • within a face-to-face classroom setting.

5. Why … • societal changes • driving changes in learning • impacting teaching • technology • supports many of these changes

6. What…. • technology enables us to … • ‘anytime’ access • student feedback • collaborative learning • layered lessons • opportunities to develop independent learning skills • support teaching and learning

7. Benefits … • increasing engagement • access to materials • transparency of learning • new ways to teach • provides diverse types of reading • practice from concretemidabstract • safe storage • dissemination of information

8. Challenges … • time • classroom • personal learning • sufficient, reliable equipment • displacement of other resources • using computers in diverse ways

9. Technology used to support activities…

10. Valueof classroom online support Process of embedding technology for instruction • own class website e.g. Mrs. French’shttp://www.sd91.bc.ca/frenchj

11. Process of embedding technology for instruction • Value of real time involvement • CBC News at http://www.cbc.ca/news/ • Valueof curricular importance • Ancient Egypt Project at http://www.sd91.bc.ca/webquests/egypt/ • First Nations at http://www.sd91.bc.ca/webquests/firstnations/

12. Value of critical thinking …. developing socially constructed knowledge Process of embedding technology for instruction • Webquests Water ........ what is all the fuss about? • You will be...... a Canadian politician who must make a recommendation about whether or not Canada should sell or export water to the State of California. • at http://www.sd91.bc.ca/webquests/water/

13. Process of embedding technology for instruction • Value of collaborative learningwith project based activities • positive interdependence • face-to-face interaction • individual and group accountability • interpersonal and small group skills • group processing

14. Teacher Tools • Make a Word Search subscription based athttp://edhelper.com/wordfind.htm • Create your own Word Search at http://www.armoredpenguin.com/wordsearch/ • Reading A-Z subscription based at http://www.readinga-z.com/ • Poster 7 subscription based athttp://www.postersw.com/ • A-MAZE-INGathttp://www.thecanadianteacher.com/tools/games/maze/

15. Teacher Tools Multimedia software • Scratch download link athttp://scratch.mit.edu/ • scratch supportathttp://scratch.wik.is/Support • PhotoStory 3 • you will need Windows Media Payer 10 fromhttp://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/10/default.aspx • Photostory 3 athttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/PhotoStory/default.mspx

16. Teacher Tools • Web sites for ‘value added’ interest • **** Hee Yun's Graphic Collectionathttp://www.hulamall.com/hawclip/graphics.htm • **** Graphics athttp://www.internet4classrooms.com/graphics.htm • **** Fun Screen savers etc. athttp://gallery.popularscreensavers.com/splash.jsp

17. Teacher Tools • Crossword Puzzleat http://www.thecanadianteacher.com/cgi-bin/crossword.cgi • Tools for Teachersat http://www.suelebeau.com/freetools.htm • Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educatorsat http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/ • The Teachers’s Corner.netathttp://www.theteacherscorner.net/teacher-resources/teachhelp.htm

18. Examplesfrom the classroom • teacher created support vehicles to develop vocabulary

19. Language Arts Examples from the classroom • novelstudy - mini-lessons • vocabulary - literature • show what you know

20. Examples from the classroom Language Arts • Personal learning process • e-journals • Socially constructed knowledge • wiki “comesee” • Reflective writing • blog “Northern Muses” • story writing • RamboTrent! story writing

21. French Examples from the classroom • Interactive sites: • support teaching (resources, lesson plans) • support learning (resources) • online pronunciation (essential phrases) • online translation tool (paralink)

22. Examples from the classroom Social Studies • This Webquest learning system asks that you: • ... act as a travel agent and create a travel brochure that recommends from 2 to 3 travel destinations within the province of Quebec. • http://www.sd91.bc.ca/webquests/Quebec/ French Canadian CultureWebquest ....for the development of students' understanding of Canadian provincial culture. www.sd91.bc.ca/webquests/Quebec

23. Science Examples from the classroom • Sturgeon Recovery Project • current, relevant text can provide the information • Nechako White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative; Sturgeon Unit • connections to local field trip opportunity • review material e.g. Jeopardy

24. Science Examples from the classroom Salmonid Program • The Salmonid Enhancement Program athttp://www-heb.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/facilities/salmonid_e.htm • Salmon Resource Page for Schools athttp://www.sd91.bc.ca/webquests/salmon/index.html

25. Math Examples from the classroom • Supporting students’ learning in math: • math term definitions • post lessons and quizzes online • menufor concept practice online • see the ‘story in data’ weekly graph • pie charts • pie charts compared to other graphs • visualization tools (additionwith regrouping)

26. Examples from the classroom Math • graphing

27. Examples from the classroom Math • critical thinking • home page for teaching tessellations athttp://www.sd91.bc.ca/webquests/tessellations/ • problem solving • constructing new knowledge Paint and tessellations

28. Fine Arts Examples from the classroom • Supporting Fine Arts content: • music (theory, how to play) • drama (Readers’ Theater) • math/art symmetry • colour lessons

29. Examples from the classroom Fine Arts Supporting Fine Arts content • math/art • symmetry using Paint at http://www.adrianbruce.com/Symmetry/

30. Examples from the classroom Fine Arts • Project based activities • constructing new knowledge • socially constructed knowledge • analysis • synthesis • evaluation • desktop publishing • brochures • presentations • story writing

31. Examples from the classroom Visual arts • novel writing • problem solving • critical thinking

32. Making the shift.. …for a few more see handout Slowly Shifting

33. Further Resources(each of these links takes you to a list of many)… • Learning Theories * • Instructional Strategies * • Social Networking Tools * • Global Learning Communities * • Blended Learning Environment • More Professional Development Links • SMART Technologies (lesson & activities) or (edweb)

34. Happy trails.. Jill • If you are interested in anything you have seen or would like support from a peer ….. • email us at frenchj@mail.sd91.bc.ca or sanaka@mail.sd91.bc.ca we will try to provide it for you. Sandy

35. take heart … • we leave you with this thought …. • if it seems that everything is a struggle ….. • and you feel as those you are working way harder than you think you should be… then take heart …. • others take on challenges as well. Herding cats