Our teacher tech has been one of the most beneficial professional developments that we have had. Allowing us to explore different technology and how to use it in our classrooms has been great. Technology used to be about "what app will help me" and has now turned into how can technology help me be a better teacher. I have really enjoyed having a different leader each year because they all have something a little different to teach us. Assigning homework for us, forces us to at least try something new. If we want to use it again, great. If we don't think that it is for us, at least we tried it. I think that we are ahead in the area of technology because of our "Tech Thursday" professional development.
Teacher technology weekly integration is advantageous as a teacher education tool. Our weekly meetings allow us to share ideas as peers as well as it pushes us to try new things. For example, without this push I would not have tried as many different methods of implementing blended education in the classroom. While it is always not my favorite thing ( must be the student in me) to complete the weekly or bi-weekly assignments, I would not have learned what I have learned without this push. In sum, these weekly meetings have allowed me to progress in using technology in the classroom and at the same time has given me more tools to keep students engaged.
This is my first year with intensive technology training throughout the school year. I have thoroughly enjoyed the collaborative effort of all teachers in my group to work towards proficiency with using and integrating technology in our classes. We aren't simply told in our Thursday morning groups to try this, we experiment with the new ideas in our group and then are given homework to incorporate it into our curricula. It is really refreshing to have Mr. Zessin, our principal, at the fore-front of the initiative.
MR. KUECKER
Even in my second year here I know that I have a TON to learn in terms of technology. I like that our teacher tech is a place where we can learn about technology that is available to us and gives us a chance to experiment with it before we put it in use in our classroom. It also gives us teachers a chance to discuss what would or wouldn't work. It is time consuming but anytime you are pushing to become better at something its the same fact... Wood River is putting its teachers in the fast track in terms of technology compared to other districts in the area! As a new teacher to the Wood River community this year, but having nearly a decade of experience in education, I've found teacher tech, while sometimes not always the most time-convenient, to have been extremely helpful in becoming more quickly familiarized with both other staff members and the technology utilized by the school district.
As music educator our utilization of technology is frequently much different than would be found in a traditional classroom setting. I hope to develop more opportunities for iPad integration into the rehearsal setting for next year as well as continue to improve my personal use and integration into classes. Teacher Tech has taught me many items about schoology. In schoology we were taught how to make tests, quizzes, discussions, and assignments. All of these can be put straight into our grading system powerschool. I have also learned how to flip a classroom using youtube and educanon. I have made my own videos and used others to help differentiate my lessons for my students.
Mrs. Edgren |
Author -Great TeachersThis is a journal compilation of thoughts, reactions, feelings and such from the amazing teachers of Wood River Rural Middle/High School. ArchivesCategories |