Hello Integrated Technology!

21st Century Professional Development in Halton

Over the course of the past 3 years, Professional learning in Halton has taken some big steps forward. Along with the traditional workshops  and institutes, where teachers listen to subject leaders and walk away with new resources and ideas, teachers now have the chance to dig deeper!

Beyond AQ Courses

Teachers in today's schools are very lucky!  Never before have there been so many professional learning opportunities available -both online and face to face.  

Ten Tools

Parent/Community Engagement Roles

One of our Superintendents has Community and Parent Engagement in his portfolio. Parental engagement looks different across the school board but a number of strategies are in place to encourage them to be involved.

The Parent Involvement Committee meets several times a year and sponsors a number of Parent information evenings with special guests as well an annual conference.

Each school council is encouraged to have a representative on the PIC, although this does not always happen. Information regarding the PIC events is shared to all schools through our Synervoice computer automated messaging system.

Recently, the HDSB announced the adoption of Edsby. Edsby is a Staff/Student/Parent portal that would streamline communication from schools and the school board to parents, allow teachers to post announcements and homework items on a 'facebook-type' platform. Schools are piloting the program with potential board wide adoption over the next year or so.

Some of our highschools have Parent Engagement Coordinators who also work with the school community to promote common understanding, support and work with community agencies to support students in the school.

As our Superintendent, Mr. Eatough writes, "The Halton District School Board Parent Involvement Committee recognizes parents play a vital role in the development and education of their children and in the success of schools."

Effective Communication

In the Ontario Ministry of Education's document entitled, "Shared Solutions" strategies and best practices for working with parents are outlined.  While this document is specifically focused on the relationships between schools and parents of students with special needs, many of the tips and strategies are applicable to all.  The document also provides some quick tear-out sheets teachers could use when working with parents. 

Interestingly, the document recommends an 'inquiry' model for addressing concerns and seeking solutions to issues that arise.  The document stresses the importance of building an open, positive environment where it is safe to ask questions as well as actively listening to what others have to say.

Having staff aware of strategies for addressing difficult situations or parents is also important, but often something that is not addressed in PD workshops.  Learning how to diffuse a heated conversation or respond to a parent who is upset can go a long way to ensuring that positive relationships between home and school remain intact.

Ten Tools for Assessment

Ten Tools for Assessment and Evaluation

Why School? Assessment

In Why School, Will Richardson writes "Real work for real audiences is, of course, hard to find in the current standardized testing regime...To assess this kind of work, teachers could co-create rubrics with students that identify what their work should address and what quality looks like" P. 515

This passage really struck me!  I feel like many teachers are ready to move in this direction but still feel so much pressure to check off each expectation as they go, to be prepared for EQAO and highschool.  Our students take part in an entrepreneurial fair every year, where Grade 8 students create a product or service, complete required tasks and then create and sell their product.  It is an incredible experience for them and they learn so much -across subject areas -Media literacy, Math, Geography etc.  This statement also makes me think about how Zoe's students feel after completing the Harbour front project and if they found the task more engaging, more relevant because it was their community?

How can teachers blend authentic, 'real' work while also meeting Admin/Board demands?

What does this look like in your classrooms?  

  

Growing Success and 21st century tools

No longer do teachers need to lug heavy satchels full of misaligned, yet stapled papers home to grade or stay late at school to mark all of the bristol board projects that take up the entire room. The nature of assessment has changed thanks in part to 21st century tools and the internet.

Technology, Assessment and Reporting

The continued advancement of technology has made many aspects of day to day teaching far easier! Prepping lessons, creating assignments, filing grades all happen at the touch of a few keys. When it comes to assessments and evaluations of students technology has continued to develop, offering far more ease of use, consistency across classrooms and has even improved the sharing and communication of student progress with students and their families.

Assessment using Audio and Video Tools

Assessment using Audio: Kaizena
Kaizena is a web program and Google Add-on/Extension that allows teachers or students to post audio comments to a piece of work. This feature supports the need for students to have timely, relevant and meaningful feedback during their learning. Kaizena now syncs seamlessly with Google documents which makes the process even faster. One of the biggest benefits to Kaizena we have found is that you can provide feedback to your students in another language. If you are a French Immersion teacher, it is often hard to find the time to conference and listen orally to all your students. Students could submit a piece of work, record it with Kaizena, and then teachers could offer feedback IN FRENCH about pronunciation, inflection etc. using Kaizena.

Kaizena Tutorial

Assessment using Video:  Explain Everything
Explain Everything is an iPad screencasting app that allows students to orally and in real time share their thinking about any particular topic.  Students can import images, add text boxes, draw a math algorithm and record their voice. Using video in this way can be a great strategy to use for students who may have a difficult time explaining just with paper and pencil, or who need motivation to show their thinking. In mathematics, students can demonstrate the strategies they used to solve a problem orally, while also demonstrating the steps they took to complete the task.  A second way that Explain Everything can be used for assessment involves the creation of student tutorials.  This would be an ideal opportunity for students who need extensions.  The students can use Explain Everything to post and share video tutorials about specific strategies or concepts.  Not only does the teacher have the opportunity to assessment the students' understanding, but now can assess their communication and application skills as well.

Explain Everything Tutorial/Introduction

Necessary for Some, Good for All

This is a brief overview of the Special Education services available in Halton.  Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of all Halton has to offer.  There are many exceptionalities that have specialized services that I did not specifically address in the triangle.  Technologies are highlighted in blue.

Twitter for Tools

This past week, I ventured onto to Twitter to explore #ATchat. After reading through a number of tweets, I decided to throw a question into the 'Twitterverse' to see what happened. I have posted questions before with specific hashtags without any responses, but am not sure if I approached it the right way. Much to my surprise, someone did respond to my question and this started a conversation back and forth. The teacher I was talking to asked thoughtful questions to gain better insights into the needs of the student I was thinking about and then provided some great tools and suggestions about what could help this student. I was curious to know more about the person I had connected with and discovered he was from California and passionate about AT.

Assistive Technology and HDSB

I have been fortunate to be part of a school based AT team. Working with 3 SERTs as well as another coach, we support students with assistive technology throughout our school.

Students who have been formally assessed and have an IEP that states they require technology to assist in their learning, are eligible to receive the device most suited to their learning needs. The devices can range from iPads and laptops to Smartboards and Clicker systems. Students receive the devices from the school board and are available to them until they leave for post-secondary education or withdraw from the school board.

21st Century Learning -Responsibilty

Educators have an enormous responsibility to teach students about appropriate use and safety about technology. It is a huge undertaking, often fraught with big obstacles -time, support, appropriate resources, parental understanding and support. But, it is imperative that our teaching helps prepare students for its use.

As an educator we are provided with curriculum that outlines what safety concepts should be taught when. Look both ways before crossing the street, don't talk to strangers, wear a helmet are only a few of the common rules we insist on for our students and our own kids. The rise of social media and technology in schools requires us to be just as thorough in our teaching of responsible behaviours.  

21st Century Learning -Legal Pt..1

There are several legal and ethical issues that come up when discussing 21st Century learning and our students. They can range from the use of social networking tools and professional vs. personal personas of staff to cyberbullying and the school's role in supporting those involved.

• Should teachers use social networking tools with their students?
• Should teachers personally use social networking tools? and where do teachers draw the line between friends/colleagues/parents? OCT -Use of Electronic Communication and Social Media
• Do teachers have the skills/understanding to protect themselves and how can we support this? 
• Do they understand what is required to support students and keep them safe when online?
• How do teachers/leaders best instruct students in becoming strong digital citizens?
• How can we ensure teachers are addressing digital citizenship when its not a 'required subject'?

School Policies

Are (should)  policies and guidelines be consistent from school to school or class to class? How do policies both protect and/or cause barriers when trying to implement 21st Century teaching tools?

To answer this question, I went in search of school and board policies about the acceptable use of technology in schools. After some digging, I found the board policies for the Romeo, Michigan county school district. I have family in the area and was curious to see what I would uncover. I also looked at British Colombia and found their "Access to Online Learning Resources" document that outlined the responsibilities of users.

Keeping "Social" Teachers Safe

Social Media Tools, like Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram have become increasingly prevalent in the lives of most everyone!  And while these tools are a great way to stay connected and share your ideas and thoughts with the world, Teachers need to know how to draw the line.  

Read below for a starting point of Do's and Don'ts.

21st Century Policies in Halton

Halton has a number of policies and procedures in place for ICT. Our Chief Information Officer oversees all ICT and Information Services business, including technology, libraries and communication to the public. Our CIO create an advisory team to meet 4 times a year. It is a group of Administrators, Trustees, School Programs staff and Teachers and I happen to be one of them. We meet quarterly and during these meetings we review policy changes, issues that have arisen and share feedback about plans that are in the works. As an example, we recently began some internet filtering as a result of a few minor events that took place in elementary schools in our board. It was a hotly contested move, but the CIO brought it to the team so we could share our feedback and help him to understand what messaging would need to go out to schools and to parents.

Why School?

Why School? by Will Richardson 

In his book, Will describes his son's introduction to the world of Minecraft and how mesmerizing it was to watch the skill set his son employs to learn all about this new online world.  This mirrors my own experiences with my own children!  We have Tech Tickets -each one good for 30 minutes of screen time.  They can be earned, traded and taken away.  It is our way of trying to protect that brilliant necessity of childhood -play.  But, as my children grow, reality is beginning to set in.  Their childhood will be different than my own.  No longer are there spontaneous knocks on the front door, "Can Z come out at play?", parents are working, kids are at camp or rep hockey practice.  Play is arranged just like a dentist appointment!!  But perhaps the spontaneous play is happening -but online!  

Will Richardson's first chapter talks about the need for reform in education and how, at this point in time, education has a choice to make.  It immediately reminded me of this video -a TedX talk about a young man who had the opportunity to take control of his learning.  

Web 2.0

How has the web 2.0 changed the ways leaders can share, teach and support teachers?

Very simply, the Web 2.0 has allowed teachers and leaders to connect over distances and in real time. It also allows leaders who might be presenting to a larger group to access the thinking in the room. Tools like the Google Drawing that I posted would easily facilitate a room full of staff sharing their ideas. Similarly, contributing tools and resources by responding to a google form or using something like Today'sMeet to accept questions during a presentation allows leaders to respond and gauge the audiences understanding, readiness and engagement in a matter or minutes. Modelling the use of these tools is key to motivating the audience members -if only just a small percentage -to try a similar tool in their own practice.

These tools are some of the 'must-haves' in the toolbelt of 21st Century Leaders and teachers. Check them out!!
What is your 'go-to' tool??

Did You Know??

Evolution of the Web

    Boy, have we come a long way!  I still remember a colleague of mine commenting that the Internet would never last and now look how dependent we have become of our Wi-Fi!  Web 1.0 (READ) was a huge step for education and the access it provided to information was unprecedented.  Being able to access databases of information without having to dig through the basements of university archives was extraordinary!  Teachers and students were able to access and read information from new collections and perspectives.  

21st Century Leaders in Education

Over the span of my teaching career, I have worked with new, keen teachers eager to try the latest and greatest, willing to take a risk and change their teaching practice to include new technologies like iPads and Smartboards and I have worked with teachers who stick firmly to the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it' mentality and really struggle with the 'whys' of technologies in the classroom. I have also been able to sit at the table with Trustees, Admin and IT Leaders to discuss the bigger picture about technology and the road we are on in education.  

1.4 Reflection

What is the role of the teacher as a LEADER when it pertains to learning, using and understanding 21st Century tools? How can teachers and school leaders model FAIR use of content?

The role of the teacher as it pertains to learning, using and understanding 21st century tools should be to act as a 'guide'.  By modelling to students and colleagues how technology can be used effectively in education, how to question sources and ask critical questions, by demonstrating what it means to be a digital citizen and how to respect the work and rights of others is key to helping our students and our peers become more than a passive user of content and instead an active, thinking contributor.  

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog!  In this blog, I will share my thoughts, wonderings and reflections about the use of technology in education.  

I have been a Teacher-Librarian and Technology lead for the past 8 years, and an Assistive Technology Coach for 2 years.  

I hope you will enjoy reading this blog, find something that resonates with you and share your thoughts and ideas as well!

1.2 Reflection

How can teacher leaders, coaches, consultants, etc.,  use/teach social networking tools in their roles (Provide rationale about why (or not) these skills should be addressed or used at the leadership level.

Technology is everywhere and as educational leaders, the use of social networking tools can be a HOT topic!  

Students, parents and colleagues alike rely more and more on their device to provide the answers they need, share and find ideas and to connect with friends, family and often times, teachers. As a teacher leader, social networking tools can help to keep the lines of communication open and share information in a timely and convenient way. With the right audience and meaningful entries, social networking tools can enhance a school's sense of community and support, open dialogue and transparency.