On our first week of class, we were asked to join a Twitter chat that interested us. I chose #spedchat to learn more about special education. In the first few weeks, I was disappointed because this hashtag didn’t have a very active chat. I was hopeful that other educators would post recourses or tips for teaching special education, but this hashtag usually didn’t contain that information and posted a lot of job opportunities. Over time and as I explore the hashtag longer, I found tweets with useful information that I could use in my student teaching next semester. Overall, I wasn’t impressed with my Twitter chat or using this as a resource to connect with other educators. I find blogs and podcasts more helpful.
Limited technology in schools and lack of computer skills are common issues revolving around tech in schools. While this may be true, many teachers are struggling to find technology to best support their students. We have seen this issue rise in the past year when schools were forced to move to remote learning. Teachers need to find the technology the best supports their pedagogical practices- just how they use differentiation of teaching, there is differentiation of technology!
Technology should be improving a lesson. Teachers should play around and try new things with students to see what they benefit from the most. With technology evolving more than ever, teachers should be incorporating tech in the classroom for students to work on their skills. Technology is a lifelong skill and our students will be using these skills in their future jobs.
Technology has also changed our traditional schooling. In the past decade, some common changes in the classroom are online posts for grades and assignments being completed online through a classroom portal. Within the next 5 years, education may have changes including hybrid learning, differentiated learning, and online learning for secondary education. Gen Z is more resourceful and adaptable when it comes to technology. They spend 41% of their free time on tech devices while millennials spend 22% of their free time on devices (Sparks & Honey report). Education must change its approach in order to honor and support Gen Z in the future.
Snap & Read is an extension added to a device to assist many reading needs at different levels. This program shows up on internet browsers tool bars and can be added to Chromebooks, Macs, Windows, and iPads. Snap & Read’s features include:
Read aloud- on websites, files, and Google Drive
Translation of text in other languages
Dynamic text leveling- can change a sentence or phrase different terms without changing the meaning
Remove distractions
Record yourself reading- can track progress
Dictionary- click on word for meaning, also has a picture dictionary
Data collection
This program is trainable and individualized to students needs. With the data collection feature, Snap & Read can learn vocabulary the student is struggling with or how to pronounce certain words. Any student could benefit from this technology tool, but can be extra beneficial for English language learners and anyone with a learning disability. The proofreading tool, text to speech, and definitions can assist students to better comprehend information.
An important feature this program is missing is font size. I believe many people like or need to change the font size to be bigger, especially visually impaired people or struggling readers. The program is also expensive for a family purchase. Luckily, school districts can buy this program at a better price and add to numerous students devices to support their learning needs.
Technology is the top skill students should be learning in our modern world. Technology is only going to continue to grow and advance in the upcoming years. The U.S. Department of Labor predicted by 2020, 77% of all U.S. jobs will require computer skills. Although everyone knows how important technology is for young students, many public schools across the country still do not have the resources to support students.
The achievement gap in our country is due to lack of resources to all schools. Students in low income school districts often have to share a cart of Chromebooks with 50 other students, while other students in better districts have their own iPads for the year. In the past year, teachers and school districts have had to work on this problem since many students were without devices or even Wi-Fi when the pandemic started. Once schools gave students the resources to participate in remote learning, students can begin to learn on their own terms. Students and parents across the country have suffered during remote learning simply because of lack of knowledge when it comes to technology.
Once students have their own devices and internet at home, teachers can determine how they would like to teach students during remote or hybrid learning. Jake Miller, of the Educational Duct Tape podcast, speaks on how to support students with special needs online. There is a large range of needs- from language to modifications. Teachers should incorporate offline learning in remote learning. It is not good for students to be starring at a screen for 5+ hours a day. Some students with special needs may learn better the traditional paper and pencil route. A talk to text feature can be added on Chromebooks to help students focus on getting their point across rather than focusing on typing. It is easy for teachers to add accommodated work at the students level on their learning platform. This makes the work individualized, but still on the same subject as their peers. Teachers can use students’ IEPs to help support their learning whether its in the classroom or remote learning.
work cited:
(@JakeMillerTech), Jake Miller. “Educational Duct Tape: Supporting Students with Special Needs in Remote Learning with Accessibility Features, Assistive Technology, Accommodations, Modifications and More! on Apple Podcasts.” Apple Podcasts, 2 Apr. 2020, podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/supporting-students-special-needs-in-remote-learning/id1447821443?i=1000470339758.
Class Dojo is a popular classroom management tool commonly used by elementary school teachers. The main use of Class Dojo is receiving points for good behavior. Each student gets a little cartoon version of themselves on this site and can get points as an induvial or a whole class. When points are received, a upbeat noise goes off which excites students and gives them a positive reinforcement to keep doing their best. Class Dojo allows parents to check their child’s progress throughout the day as the teacher updates the site. Teachers can also post pictures throughout the day for parents to feel apart of the classroom community. As a future early education teacher, I would love to use this for my class’ behavior chart. It is easy to update throughout the day and allows parents to see how their child is doing. When a certain amount of points is received by each student or class, I would give rewards which I would establish with my students.
Wordscapes is a crossword style game to improve vocabulary. The player is given a few letters they are asked to connect to make words to fill out the crossword puzzle. There is numerous levels that players can move up to while learning new words through the built in dictionary. I know about this game through the boy I babysit for, we play it together often! We both love it and compare what levels we are on. I help him learn new words and try to explain to him the meanings. I would suggest this game to my higher level students in my class to work on their spelling and vocabulary.
Kahoot! is one of the most popular gamification tools. Students join the game via a code on their own devices and the game is usually shown on a Smart Board in front of the class. The score is shown after every round for students to see where they are compared to their peers. Teachers can make their own Kahoots or use ones already made on the site. The game can be played through academic subjects or fun subjects like sports and movies. Students love this game because it is fun and competitive while playing a catchy tune!
In education, gamification is defined as the act of using game elements to make non games more enjoyable. This idea of gamification to complete an educational task was first used under Dimitri Mendeleev, a Russian scientist and educator in the 19th century. Gamification can be brought into an subject to increase engagement and productivity in students. Some kids will not realize that these games are actually a lesson because they are having too much fun! This kind of learning activity is also a good way to get competitive students to interested. Gamification can promote cognitive development and independent learning.
Scott Herbert, an educator in Canada, showed his school pictures from k-12 during his TedTalk. Herbert explained how one can notice how his smile and attitude changes throughout the years, epically once he enters the middle school grades. He then talks about how school changes from discover base learning to focusing on standards and tests. Gamification can help keep education fun and engaging at any age. I have never heard another educator think/notice this drastic change in learning when students get to the middle school years. This is exactly how I felt going towards school and was a reasoning a started falling behind in middle and high school. The reason I would like to teach early education is because I love and believe discovery, hands on learning is the best way children learn. Through Herbert’s TedTalk, I now understand with gamification, I could bring this to any age and any level for students. Here are some popular educational based gamification games!
work cited:
Deese, Ashley. “5 Benefits of Gamification.” Smithsonian Science Education Center, 10 Mar. 2016, ssec.si.edu/stemvisions-blog/5-benefits-gamification.
OzoBots are tiny toy robots used to introduce students to coding. Students can see their coding efforts come to life with the help of the robot. The robot is linked to an app where students enter their coding, where they can make the bot do numerous things. On the OzoBots website, there are many lesson plans teachers can choose from in subjects including ELA, art, music, math, social studies, and science. Lessons can be searched through classroom or distance learning as well. The website makes it very helpful and easy for teachers to find a lesson on a subject of their liking. When in a classroom with limited technology, the teacher can use OzoBots to do group learning or projects. If a student is interested in coding and robots and wants to do more independent learning, there is an online summer camp!
Ozobots introduces coding to students at their level. I believe coding and robots are good for older elementary grade and older. I could see younger children having a lot of issues with this if they were doing independent learning. It is important that students learn how to use various forms of technology for their future learning and careers. Bringing robots into a lesson can excite students on “boring” subjects to keep their interest!
Technology should be used to enhance and excite the lesson being taught. Technology should be immitted to improve a lesson. Teachers can choose from hundreds of resources to wow their students while teaching any subject or lesson.
With the help of technology, teachers can show students places and things they may never get to experience in their day to day lives. Learning Around The World allows students to explore museums in London or an outback safari in Australia! Epic , “the Netflix of children’s books” (pg. 122) can be used for group read alouds for students to follow along or assigning students different book on the same subject at their reading levels. With students using technology from such a young age, it helps them be in charge of their own learning while teaching them to be independent. Technology motivates students because there is always something new to discover!
helpful ways to use technology in lessons!
work cited:
Fecich, Samantha.(2018).EduMagic: A guide for preservice teachers. Alexandria, Va: EduMatch.
“Here’s the Thing… About Technology Integration.”YouTube. 2018.
Nearpod is a platform used for students to do lessons, formative assessments, and more independent learning. This platform is free for teachers and students to use and I was amazed with all the resources it provides. The Nearpod library is AMAZING! This library has endless content. Teachers can search through state standards, subjects, and grade levels. Lessons and videos for different holidays and events going on in today’s world are also available. I was surprised that the Calm App, which I use for meditation, was on the Nearpod library. Now more than ever, students of all ages need to be taught how to destress and the Calm App is a great introduction to meditation and mindfulness.
Teachers can use Nearpod to give assessments through different question formats including open ended, polls, quizzes, drawings, and collaborating work with other students for group projects. Lessons along with different homework for can be assigned to students at their skill level. Live lesson can be taught as well with interaction from students. Nearpod offers hundreds of virtual field trips, which is perfect for today’s world and regulations during Covid19. Collaboration between students can be done, similar to GoogleDocs. Students posts can be liked by their peers and teachers.
Nearpod is a platform I would love to use as an early education teacher. It is easy enough to navigate for young students and their parents, with a lot of fun learning options so students will never be bored. Students could even explore Nearpod on their own time for their own interests.
Digital citizenship is an individual’s way of using technology to connect with others. Our online presences should be held accountable, similar to acting responsible and kind in person. Students are constantly taught what NOT to do as a digital citizen: don’t online bully, don’t talk to strangers, don’t share personal information. Along with the don’ts, students should be taught how to be a friend online. Young people can use their digital citizenship safely to connect with others, stay informed, and learn more on various topics.
Our next generation will be using technology to make the world a better place. Nicole Krueger speaks on how young people have been using social media and other digital tools to support causes they care about. Social action use to be volunteering or joining groups to support a movement, but now we are seeing social action online through digital citizenships! Students now have the access to “use technology as a global microphone to connect with communities beyond the classroom.”
sources:
“Make Digital Citizenship about the Do’s, Not the Don’ts.” YouTube, Make Digital Citizenship about the Do’s, not the Don’ts.
Ali Hatton 