Let's Talk Tech!

Educational Research:  Engaging Parents in their Child’s Education through Effective Communications One of the most important parts of my job as a second-grade teacher is the collaboration I have with the parents of my students. It is my job to build the school-home connection so that the I am on the same team as my student’s parents and we can both work together to best support their learning and growth. It’s hard to think about parent-teacher communication without thinking about the changes that have happened since the Covid-19 pandemic. After the world shut down and social distancing was enforced, many of the face-to-face interactions that took place with parents became virtual. Project Tomorrow published an insightful infographic that explored the parent-teacher communication statistics and preferences in 2020-2021, post the initial Covid-19 school closures.  Image Source: Project Tomorrow My Takeaways and Connections: In my classroom, I primarily use email to communicat...

Active Learning This week… This week I learned about new tools (Today's Meet (no longer available) and Audioboom ), I was introduced to ways I can use known tools in the classroom in a new way ( Pic-Collage ), and used a new tool ( Padlet ) to capture my thoughts .  Image Source: Blog Author's Padlet Active Learning: The active learning activity I chose to dive into has several components to it. Students recorded themselves using Audioboom to share a book review. In addition, students also use a digital tool, Pic-Collage , to create their own book cover to accompany their oral review. Once all that is completed, students use Today’s Meet to leave each other feedback on their projects. This project has several components of active learning threaded through it, and even more that can easily be added. First, it is incredibly student centered with students are able to choose their own book to review. To take it one step further, students could even create their own rubric for the...

Mapping My Digital Space My Footprint When mapping my digital spaces, I really had to consider the footprint that I was leaving for each digital platform. Some of my websites/apps were causing me to pause and think if I was truly a visitor there or if I was a resident. These days it is nearly impossible to join any online community without a log in, username, and digital identity connected to that platform. Netflix for example, is not something that I actively contribute to, but even still I have a digital presence where my likes and dislikes are known. For the purposes of this digital map, I chose to think of what David White said, “When in Resident mode the individual is going online to connect to, or to be with, other people”. David White created his own digital space map  which is a great watch if you're looking to learn more.  Image Source: Frank Digital Crossover Image Source: WholeHearted I found the overlap of personal and professional platforms to be very interesting....

SEL: Class Dojo International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) published an article titled Hottest Topics in Edtech 2021 . Among the 9 total topics was social-emotional learning (SEL) and cultural competence. This is the topic that I decided to take a deep-dive into.  Image Source: BrainPOP Image Source: Class Dojo Although this list grouped SEL and cultural competence, I decided to split those larger themes apart and solely focus on SEL. Social Emotional Learning is more important than ever these days as classrooms are filled with students who are battling the many effects that Covid 19 had on their personal and academic lives. One platform that directly ties to SEL is Class Dojo .   Class Dojo can be accessed through their app or website . Once teachers create an account and upload their class, there is so much to do! Teachers can use the points system as a positive reinforcement behavior system in their classrooms, connect co-teachers to collaborate with, co...

What is SAMR? SAMR, also known as Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition, is a way to categorize the technology integration that is taking place in a classroom. Although some technology tools or apps could fall under more than one category depending on its use, there are major differences between the categories. The S in SAMR, Substitution, is when technology does not enhance a lesson, activity, or project in any way. Instead, the technology is just used in its place and there is no change in the outcome of the activity. A, or Augmentation, is similar to S in that there is a substitution of technology happening, but this time there is some improvement. With M, Modification, the inclusion of technology leads to a substantial improvement in the original lesson, project, or activity. R, Redefinition, is where the inclusion of technology creates and entirely new lesson, project, activity, or experience that was not possible without technology. This 120-second video does a ...