Technology for Personal Development
Personal learning is so invigorating. I love the opportunity to meet with other like-minded individuals and share information. I feel this injects my classroom with a shot of energy. When I am energized, my teaching is better and my students always benefit.
Technology for Communication
Communicating with parents and students. Almost all students and parents have a smart phone. I have found that using apps like Fresh Grade to be an excellent tool for communication. Some parents that I struggle to reach on the telephone will engage in conversations about their students learning through this easy to use platform.
|
|
The addition of Announcements by Fresh Grade has created another avenue for communication. I can add a quick note by computer or by phone app. I can see from my screen who has seen the message and who has not. I have 33 parents signed up and 21 students in my room. Many students will have both parents signed up to receive notices. Next year I will explore adding other significant relatives such as grandparents.
Technology for Differentiation
IXL math allows for individualized instruction for each student. I can assign different outcomes to each student to develop their learning. I can show questions from my teacher profile on the Smart Board and we can analyse the questions as a class so that students understand how to read the questions and how to make use of the computer feedback. I can pull up individual student accounts at my teacher desktop and use the questions they have attempted to coach their learning. After using IXL purposefully for the past 7 months, students will now approach me and ask me to pull up a question they did not understand so that we can have a discussion. I have had great buy in from weaker students, I believe this is because the coaching is one on one and very individualized. As a teacher, I love having these conversations and seeing into their minds and understanding what they were thinking.
|
Sum Dog is a game based platform. By subscribing my students I am able to access reports and watch them increase their competency in math outcomes. The program will have students complete questions and place them in their zone of proximal grade. Within the program I can set assignments and challenges that lets me see if their have understood and applied the concepts taught in the mini-lesson.
|
|
|
|
Prodigy is the new classroom favourite. It is also a game based platform. It lets me set the maximum grade and then allows the students to work through outcomes and increase their capacity. The program will take students through outcomes from previous grades and ensure that they do not have gaps in their learning. I can look at the grade 1 and 2 data before starting a new concept and it will give me insight into where I need to begin the learning with my class.
|
|
|
Prodigy has built in manipulatives and writing tools. Students can engage with the questions in a manner that makes most sense to them.
|
|
Technology for Staff
|
I work on a staff that has vast skill sets in technology. From super savvy and eager to learn more to cautious and timid; we cover the spectrum.
I am not always the person who knows the answer, but I am seen as someone who will help you sort it out. I can research and teach, I can act as a sounding board, or I can be a cheerleader. Staff often seek me out when they are struggling to learn or understand new technology. 
|
|
