Springing Forward with Tech @ Springfield

I wrote an email this week informing you all that Learning Lunch would be a little different. Since I am doing MAP testing I wasn’t able to have an official learning lunch. I gave a very non-comprehensive list of some of the “tech things” that teachers in the buildings have used recently. I encouraged you all to ask them how it went and how they integrated the technology into their rooms. How and why being the key words.

I want to reiterate that I don’t believe in using technology just for the sake of using technology. I believe that good teaching is good teaching is good teaching. Doing what works to make connections with students, to open their minds to new ideas, to make them think or find answers in a new way, to make them recognize that the way they think is different from the student who sits next to them, to encourage creativity and critical thinking, to communicate with students in new ways. These products are a result of good teaching. Can technology help get there? Yes. I believe it can. But the technology itself is not what makes a lesson strong. It can however bridge gaps for students who think differently or open pathways to information galore.

My point in saying all of this, is that I don’t want there to be this checklist feeling… this idea that everyone needs to be signing out equipment and then checking it off their list. The use of the technology available, hopefully, will become part of the daily routine. If you know that using something like the CPS gives students who are more likely to check out of group discussion or who is nervous about raising their hand to give an answer, I hope you can incorporate its use into a lesson. If creating a class blog as a forum for ideas with your students would create a more intense environment for learning with your students, then I encourage you to do so. If using the Elmo allows more students to watch a real time writing revision take place then sign it out! I know a lot of you have used the Smartboard software and the wireless mouse to give opportunity for students to do some teaching and explaining in your lessons. This is such a great tool.

So again, the list below includes some of the things that teachers have been doing recently. I hope this encourages you to ask your colleagues how tech is helping them connect with their students.

Liz Lewis ~ elmo and COW. Ask her about an awesome lesson her students are working on involving a trip they are all taking to Atlanta!!
Dana Fragale ~ elmo
Kim Wert & Tiffany Cannon ~ have learned a lot about technology and camcorders while working on their National Board Certification. They both also have blogs!
Liz Podraza ~ elmo
Frith ~ elmo and a new blog!
Becky Rogers ~ knows all about the smartboard software and using the wireless mouse with lessons.
R 2nd-4th teachers ~ will have had the elmo in their rooms for MAP testing. Do you foresee signing it out for other activities in your classroom? Kudos to Liz Lewis and Nancy Lunney who signed it out immediately for their rooms!

Erin McCann ~ elmo
Sandy Salmon ~ Smartboard software with wireless mouse
Peg McCuen ~ CPS
Dan Gallagher ~ CPS & elmo. Ask Dan questions about how to use the Jeopardy file.
Kelly Yoder ~ Smartboard software & Dan’s Jeopardy game                                                 Jeff Glazer ~ COW                                                                                                                    Tracy Lorenzini ~ video cam with skype! ask about her skype video conference she had with a class in Harrisburg this week :)