Incorporating Technology into the classroom for a purpose

1. Incorporating Technology into the classroom for a purpose ABEL Summer Institute 2008 Ian Gowans

2. Why use Technology? • To increase student engagement • To capture and maintain interest in curriculum • To use gathered information to alter lessons on the fly • To make more effective use of media • To bring the world into your classroom via use of the internet • To allow students to drive learning to a certain extent

3. Avenues to explore • Use of Discovery Streaming • Use of SmartBoard/Airliners • Use of clickers • Use of video conferences • Use of blogs/wikis • Use of Moodle

4. Use of Discovery Streaming

5. Discovery Streaming • Most subjects well represented across K-12 • Can check against curriculum expectations • Allows for online development of quizzes, assignments (see Discovery Streaming) • Can set up a FREE account through ABEL or for YRDSB-Heather Johnston

6. An example – Math

7. SmartBoard/Airliners

8. Smartboard/Airliner • SmartBoard (~ $1600) requires the board, LCD and computer • Airliner cheaper and easier to move for highschool level (~$400) but still requires a computer and LCD • Example

9. Clickers (Student Response System) • Several different types available each with their pros and cons • This example will be using Turning Point clickers – easily embedded in Powerpoint presentations • Cost varies but you’d need at least 30 (~$2000)

10. Clickers

11. Are you a bit overwhelmed at this point? • Yes • No • Abstain

12. I feel that with perhaps a bit more training, I would try one of the things I have been exposed to • Strongly Agree • Agree • Disagree • Strongly Disagree

13. Which statement do you agree most with concerning the implementation of technology? • Technology should be a component in most lessons • Students expect to see technology used • Teachers need more training to implement technology effectively

14. Three things that I would like to incorporate into my class next year include: • Use of clickers • Use of Moodle • Use of the Smartboard • Use of United Streaming • Video conferencing

15. Video conferences

16. How? Is it hard to do? • First think of who you’d like to invite into your classroom • Find a contact number, and call them. Be brave! • Large organizations are more complicated to set up • Need to do a test prior to the date • In YRDSB, CRT’s can help with the set up

17. Resources • Vanderbilt (Tennessee) • Polycom • Nasa • AT&T (huge list)

18. Blogs/wikis • Blog – online discussion area • Wiki – online collaborative work area

19. Moodle • System to supply online supplement • Can post resources, forums, quizzes • Provides ability for students to collaborate, review work, submit work, discuss etc. • Need to be cognizant of internet availability in student homes • Can set up through ABEL or YRDSB

20. ABEL Tools • ABEL provides access to most of these tools presented. • You simply need to request the desired tool and then wait for a couple of days. • Look under the Tool section when logged in • ABEL website

21. Support for all these technologies? • Utilize release time provided by ABEL (supply teachers provided) • abelhelp@yorku.ca is fantastic • YRDSB has Computer Resource Teachers that can provide 1:1 training

22. Good luck!! Do not try to use ALL of these tools in September!! Go slow. Ian.gowans@yrdsb.edu.on.ca