Comments for Technology Integration http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org Educational Technology Integration Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:42:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Ubuntu, Edbuntu, Linux, Unix, et al by Brad Edwards http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/05/02/ubuntu-edbuntu-linnux-unix-et-al/#comment-14 Brad Edwards Tue, 27 May 2008 15:55:00 +0000 http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/05/02/ubuntu-edbuntu-linnux-unix-et-al/#comment-14 I think the most important thing for technology integrationists to consider is the ease of use. If the end user is only the student, and they can get through the glitches of Gimp, more power to you. But digital immigrants, their teachers mostly, will retreat as soon as they hit some of those brick walls within programs such as Gimp. Gimp's features are not apparent to the casual user, but students with only a little coaching can get it quickly. If the goal is to get teachers to use technology, we might have to pay more to remove the roadblocks or integrationists will be wasting precious time. I think the most important thing for technology integrationists to consider is the ease of use. If the end user is only the student, and they can get through the glitches of Gimp, more power to you. But digital immigrants, their teachers mostly, will retreat as soon as they hit some of those brick walls within programs such as Gimp. Gimp’s features are not apparent to the casual user, but students with only a little coaching can get it quickly. If the goal is to get teachers to use technology, we might have to pay more to remove the roadblocks or integrationists will be wasting precious time.

]]> Comment on Ubuntu, Edbuntu, Linux, Unix, et al by Andrew Robitaille http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/05/02/ubuntu-edbuntu-linnux-unix-et-al/#comment-13 Andrew Robitaille Tue, 27 May 2008 12:00:23 +0000 http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/05/02/ubuntu-edbuntu-linnux-unix-et-al/#comment-13 I have worked with commercial software and free equivalents (Open Office, Gimp, etc.). I am completely sold on the benefits of using free, open-source software. It takes serious pressure off your IT budget, but it also allows students to learn the transferable skills that are so important today. For the most part, you can do the same things in Open Office as you can in Microsoft Office. I think it is more important to teach these skills rather than to teach specific software packages. It's what you do with the software that is important. If I can teach my students how to work in visual layers using free Gimp rather than expensive Photoshop, then the skill is still taught and the IT budget is spared from a flogging. I have worked with commercial software and free equivalents (Open Office, Gimp, etc.). I am completely sold on the benefits of using free, open-source software. It takes serious pressure off your IT budget, but it also allows students to learn the transferable skills that are so important today. For the most part, you can do the same things in Open Office as you can in Microsoft Office. I think it is more important to teach these skills rather than to teach specific software packages. It’s what you do with the software that is important. If I can teach my students how to work in visual layers using free Gimp rather than expensive Photoshop, then the skill is still taught and the IT budget is spared from a flogging.

]]> Comment on Boys will be boys; Girls will be girls by Andrew Robitaille http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/05/22/boys-will-be-boys-girls-will-be-girls/#comment-12 Andrew Robitaille Tue, 27 May 2008 11:54:10 +0000 http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/05/22/boys-will-be-boys-girls-will-be-girls/#comment-12 I'd be very interested how your Scratch endeavor goes. I also have an interest in Scratch but never had the opportunity to introduce it. I am in a new position this year, and I think I will be able to introduce Scratch with my students. Would I have to dedicate many weeks to it? I’d be very interested how your Scratch endeavor goes. I also have an interest in Scratch but never had the opportunity to introduce it. I am in a new position this year, and I think I will be able to introduce Scratch with my students. Would I have to dedicate many weeks to it?

]]> Comment on Ubuntu, Edbuntu, Linux, Unix, et al by Martha Thibodeau http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/05/02/ubuntu-edbuntu-linnux-unix-et-al/#comment-11 Martha Thibodeau Wed, 21 May 2008 00:30:22 +0000 http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/05/02/ubuntu-edbuntu-linnux-unix-et-al/#comment-11 The ability to work in a web browser with some of the new Web 2.0 tools, alleviates some of these issues. Not all of these tools are created equal, but if one has enough TIME, one can usually make them work. Won't it be nice when we don't have to worry about any of these compatibility issues? The ability to work in a web browser with some of the new Web 2.0 tools, alleviates some of these issues. Not all of these tools are created equal, but if one has enough TIME, one can usually make them work. Won’t it be nice when we don’t have to worry about any of these compatibility issues?

]]> Comment on Teachers as knowers of all things…. by Jim Moulton http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/05/08/teachers-as-knowers-of-all-things/#comment-9 Jim Moulton Thu, 08 May 2008 16:31:06 +0000 http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/05/08/teachers-as-knowers-of-all-things/#comment-9 Such an important lesson - The term I use for this kind of experience is "teachers and students meeting in the middle as learners." Kids will have technology skills beyond their teachers - that is OK. What is not OK is for them to have that knowledge and not be willing to share it, to become a "teacher!" Cheers. Jim Such an important lesson - The term I use for this kind of experience is “teachers and students meeting in the middle as learners.”

Kids will have technology skills beyond their teachers - that is OK. What is not OK is for them to have that knowledge and not be willing to share it, to become a “teacher!”

Cheers.

Jim

]]> Comment on Platform Wars? by Andrew Robitaille http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/04/28/platform-wars/#comment-8 Andrew Robitaille Fri, 02 May 2008 23:26:57 +0000 http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/04/28/platform-wars/#comment-8 I think you're onto something. My personal preference is Macintosh, but I easily slide between Macs and PCs on a daily basis. Most of what I do is online, so the computer platform makes little difference. Having said that, the Mac is still way better! :-) I think you’re onto something. My personal preference is Macintosh, but I easily slide between Macs and PCs on a daily basis. Most of what I do is online, so the computer platform makes little difference.

Having said that, the Mac is still way better! :-)

]]> Comment on Moving the cheese by Andrew Robitaille http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/04/15/moving-the-cheese/#comment-5 Andrew Robitaille Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:23:38 +0000 http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/04/15/moving-the-cheese/#comment-5 Very true Brad. This is a daunting time to be a lazy teacher. There is too much accountability these days and too much pressure to continually innovate and re-invigorate your lessons. I don't think most teachers are lazy, though. But they don't want to significantly increase or complicate their already demanding workload. In my experience, if a teacher can be shown an easy-to-implement way to add interest and rigor to a lesson (one with easy yet significant payoffs), they will accept this change. They are also more willing to accept this change if they see fellow staff members using it with positive results. The key to good technology integration is to understand the needs and goals of each teacher and to customize the technology to meet these needs. We have all spent too many hours in technology workshops that involve training us how to use software that we never intended to use anyway. If you keep it simple and aim for small, ongoing victories you can change the culture of a school over time. Very true Brad. This is a daunting time to be a lazy teacher. There is too much accountability these days and too much pressure to continually innovate and re-invigorate your lessons. I don’t think most teachers are lazy, though. But they don’t want to significantly increase or complicate their already demanding workload. In my experience, if a teacher can be shown an easy-to-implement way to add interest and rigor to a lesson (one with easy yet significant payoffs), they will accept this change. They are also more willing to accept this change if they see fellow staff members using it with positive results. The key to good technology integration is to understand the needs and goals of each teacher and to customize the technology to meet these needs. We have all spent too many hours in technology workshops that involve training us how to use software that we never intended to use anyway. If you keep it simple and aim for small, ongoing victories you can change the culture of a school over time.

]]> Comment on When soldiers retreat by Andrew Robitaille http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/04/16/when-soldiers-retreat/#comment-4 Andrew Robitaille Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:08:16 +0000 http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/04/16/when-soldiers-retreat/#comment-4 Too right. I couldn't agree with you more. I see too many tech ed teachers focusing too much on the bells and whistles rather than the pedagogy. We are lucky to have so many simplified ways to use technology these days, as compared to the big, sophisticated software packages of even five years ago. When we stop focusing on the technology and instead focus on the learning, then we truly see the advantages of integrating ICT into our classrooms. Too right. I couldn’t agree with you more. I see too many tech ed teachers focusing too much on the bells and whistles rather than the pedagogy. We are lucky to have so many simplified ways to use technology these days, as compared to the big, sophisticated software packages of even five years ago. When we stop focusing on the technology and instead focus on the learning, then we truly see the advantages of integrating ICT into our classrooms.

]]> Comment on When soldiers retreat by penobscotriver http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/04/16/when-soldiers-retreat/#comment-3 penobscotriver Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:48:14 +0000 http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/04/16/when-soldiers-retreat/#comment-3 Andrew: Thanks for the comment. I think you're absolutely correct in saying that it's important to keep it simple. Rather than teach teachers how to use Dreamweaver to create a web page, show them google pages. But there's an even more basic way to start the conversation leading to technology use, and that is to talk about the WHY. I think once folks understand what technology can do for their particular lesson (and remember, it's still about the learning, not about the technology), then you can work more productively with the HOW.--Brad Andrew: Thanks for the comment. I think you’re absolutely correct in saying that it’s important to keep it simple. Rather than teach teachers how to use Dreamweaver to create a web page, show them google pages. But there’s an even more basic way to start the conversation leading to technology use, and that is to talk about the WHY. I think once folks understand what technology can do for their particular lesson (and remember, it’s still about the learning, not about the technology), then you can work more productively with the HOW.–Brad

]]> Comment on When soldiers retreat by Andrew Robitaille http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/04/16/when-soldiers-retreat/#comment-2 Andrew Robitaille Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:11:15 +0000 http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2008/04/16/when-soldiers-retreat/#comment-2 I have encountered the same reaction to teachers being told to use technology. It doesn't work that way. Teachers will resist anything that they see as adding to their work load. I don't blame them. However, I have also seen these same teachers suddenly start using technology in their classrooms when they are shown useful, easy and engaging ways to integrate it. If they are well trained in how to use something, and if that something provides increased student engagement and learning without complicating a lesson too much, then teachers will embrace technology. That's the challenge of educational technology leaders. Train teachers properly in how to use technology, but keep it simple. Start small, and celebrate successes. Make sure the technology works reliably and does not take too much time or technical prowess to implement. And make sure the technology activity is academically relevant. Once you put all of these ducks in a row, you have a recipe for success. You will never get all teachers to use instructional technology, but you can generate an environment that encourages its use. I have encountered the same reaction to teachers being told to use technology. It doesn’t work that way. Teachers will resist anything that they see as adding to their work load. I don’t blame them. However, I have also seen these same teachers suddenly start using technology in their classrooms when they are shown useful, easy and engaging ways to integrate it. If they are well trained in how to use something, and if that something provides increased student engagement and learning without complicating a lesson too much, then teachers will embrace technology. That’s the challenge of educational technology leaders. Train teachers properly in how to use technology, but keep it simple. Start small, and celebrate successes. Make sure the technology works reliably and does not take too much time or technical prowess to implement. And make sure the technology activity is academically relevant. Once you put all of these ducks in a row, you have a recipe for success. You will never get all teachers to use instructional technology, but you can generate an environment that encourages its use.

]]>