This summer I am taking the time to go through The Teacher’s Guide to Tech, using a mini-course called Jump Start. I’ve had the course for a while now but haven’t taken the time to start it. There’s a Facebook group going through it together this summer, so I thought I’d see if it keeps me motivated to complete it.
For the first module, we needed to read the intro to the course and post the responses to our questions below:
- What are your biggest concerns or challenges with technology? Choose two or three and describe how these things hold you back.
My biggest challenge is that I am in China where many parts of the internet are blocked, and even though my school unblocks most of them through a VPN, many sites remain blocked. I am also running into problems with outdated technology and slow internet.
- In “Why Bother With Technology?” many reasons are given for why technology is worth the trouble. Which two reasons are most relevant to you? Using a specific example for each, explain how using more technology could make a difference for you.
I am fairly decent with technology anyway, but I would love to have more tools for differentiation and one on one time with students.
- After reading the descriptions of teachers who have woven technology into their work and lives, choose two specific tools that interest you and describe how they might be used in your work.
I want to use EduCannon. I took an online course last year for flipping classrooms, but never found time to implement it this past school year.
I would also like to learn to use Kahoot for review sessions.
- After reading “How to Implement Technology,” choose two tips you believe are most important for successful use of technology. Explain why.
Start small: I use an app called WeChat for class group chats, and I tested it first with one class at the end of a school year. Then the next year I implemented it with the classes that wanted to, and it was a success.
Do test runs: Too many times I haven’t fully done a test run and have wasted too much time trying to figure things out when they don’t work like I wanted them to.
- Choose one thing you learned from the Q&A section and explain how you might apply it to your work.
Having students research for the right tool: I have never done this before, but it would be a great way to get them to help us test out different tech avenues for math teaching.
- Preview the 30 tool categories covered in the Teacher’s Guide to Tech. Choose two that are especially interesting to you and explain how you might use these in your work.
Content curation: In my middle school classes I had a hard time with finding good content, so I ended up making my own resources or finding them on TPT.
Notetaking: I would like to learn more about good note taking resources for my students so they can have more effective ways to study.