Incorporating Technology in to the Classroom

Tiffany Brook

Marcoux, E. (2012). Best of the best planning. Teacher Librarian, 39(4), 69-70. 

Linking the digital resources of the library and exploring avenues for incorporating technology into the classroom, Marcoux (2012) provides concrete examples for how the library and content teacher can work together in a collaborative effort to increase students’ comprehension of content material while also developing informational literacy. The article is filled with questions for teacher librarians to consider as technology and digitization is incorporated more and more into the K-12 setting. Excellent resource to explore the factors that need to be considered before transitioning to a digital library.

eduClipper - for Teachers & Students

Nicole Myerscough

Bellow, A.  (2013, September 18).  Increase teacher effectiveness with eduClipper.  Retrieved from http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2013/09/increase-teacher-effectiveness-with.html

Yes, eduClipper is another social, collaborative, and sharing website for content curation. If used as an entire class the ability to collaborate on individual assignments and offer anytime assistance to the students from their teacher or fellow classmates improves. Collaboration has proven to be highly successful in learning in addition to other skills necessary to succeed as members of our society. eduClipper meets many of the AASL standards necessary for the 21st century learners and even uses the Charlotte Danielson's framework for teaching (see The Danielson Group from more information) The article nicely charts components of the education framework used to design eduClipper and how this free online tool meets each component as well as providing an information video trailer.

eduClipper can also be used to set up or improve upon current personal learning environments/networks.

Teaching Kids by Getting out of their way.

Nicole Myerscough

Davis, J.  (2013, October 15).  How a radical new teaching method could unleash a generation of geniuses. Wired, 21(11).  Retrieved from http://www.wired.com/business/2013/10/free-thinkers/all/

"That logic is inexorable: Access to a world of infinite information has changed how we communicate, process information, and think. Decentralized systems have proven to be more productive and agile than rigid, top-down ones."

This is a very informational article that not only not only exemplifies the success of elearning but how using recent trends in technology is beneficial and empowering for students no longer interested in their education. 

But, school that for many of the students in this article was viewed as a punishment, they learned to enjoy their learning the format in which it was given only needed to be changed.

The article also provides a timeline of alternative education, and the concept that our traditional educational design is in need of redesign goes back all the way Socrates, became more mainstream with the Montessori schools, and still we hold steadfast on a design proven several times to fall short of success. In the right environment, a student that was assumed as uninterested may then have an opportunity to  thrive.

Content Curation

Nicole Myerscough

ELC 012: Content Curation for Learning from the eLearning Coach Podcast

Collaborative curation is definitely used in a variety of ways. It can be used to supplement basic textbooks/materials provided by the schools and go beyond the basics of common core to promote intrinsic learning. Curation is a way to help other and/or ourselves and encourage collaborative work. This idea is a part of a personal learning environment/network. Content curation probably comes natural to most students, particularly the millennials, but maintaining organization of what we curate is essential so that it can be accessed with minimal effort when needed.

This podcast explores ways in which different groups curate, and provides an extensive list of tools available (free and paid) for individual and/or collaborative work (ie. images, lists, archiving). I found the suggestion if curating for others (ex: classroom of students), that the topic for curation is of just as importance as the intended audience. One needs to take into account preexisting knowledge, often the case with different age groups, and this will then determine the variation of materials curated.

Value of Daydreams & Videogames

Nicole Myerscough

Kelley, T., & Kelley, D.  (2013, October 12).  How Daydreams and Videogames Can Make Us Confident In Real Life (Yes).  Wired, 21(10). Retrieved from http://www.wired.com/opinion/2013/10/how-to-build-creative-confidence-daydream-play-video-games-and-more/

This article has an interesting perspective regarding the value of videogames and daydreaming for younger children. The latter of the two, daydreaming, I've always considered important in regards to developmental growth (ex: imaginary friends), but using it as a way to work through problems makes a lot of sense. As adults we often say we need time to think or ponder an issue we're presented with, but never have I thought of it as a type of daydreaming. The though process of an adult and a child may be more similar than we realize, and another example as to why it is necessary to provide students with freedom to choose how best they learn. We can't assume that age can easily define the necessary thought processes required to learn and grow and why their voices are necessary in educational design.

This is an interesting article that offers out-of-the-box thinking that parents/educators may want to consider since confidence building and problem solving are important characteristics necessary to keep students engaged and eager to learn.

Rene Hohls
October 16, 2013

DISCUSSIONL: October issue of THE Journal

For those of you who already receive this monthly eJournal, I apologize for duplication. For thos eof you who have not seen it before, this is a really important voice in the overall technology discussion in education - for librarians and anyone else involved in planning and implementation in our k-12 schools.

This edition has some very interesting discussion on the trends in tech but also looks at implementation successes and failures of tech in the school settings. There is a lot to be learned from the trial and error currently going occuring. Some school districts (like mine) are moving too slowly; others (like LAUSD) have moved too quickly. The explosion of technology has created a new predicament for educators, parents and students: tech in (and out of) our schools is a moving target - for many, it is similar to jumping on a moving train. Sometimes you just have to pick the best option available at the moment you are ready and then JUMP ON!

THE Journal - October 2013

Collaboration with school librarians as mentors to student teachers

Lauren Frederick

Hunt, R., & Luetkehans, L. (2013). The Insider: School Librarians as Part of a Blended Professional Learning Community for Student Teacher Development in Technology Integration. School Libraries Worldwide, 19(1), 13-27.

In the last decade, state professional teaching standards and federal mandates have required teachers to enter the field proficient with technology integration skills. Concurrently, the American Association of School Librarians urges collaboration between teachers and school librarians. Based on previous research recommending teacher-school librarian collaboration begin as early as student teaching, this study looks at the contributions of school librarians as members of a blended professional learning community established to mentor student teachers as they prepare for a technology integrated lesson.

Results revealed that  the  definition of collaboration was consistent between librarians and teachers. Briefly stated, collaboration was defined as “shared thinking, shared planning, and shared creation of something new” (p.150). Using this definition, this investigation explored how school librarians and pre service teachers might collaborate in a blended professional learning community during student teaching.

The data showed many trends in supporting student teachers with technology integration by bringing together their peers, university faculty, classroom cooperating teachers, and school librarians in a blended professional learning community.

Notably the data found that School Librarians offer a value added in the blended professional learning community by having the contextual advantages of the Classroom Cooperating Teachers; knowledge of curriculum requirements; and the skills to integrate technology into the curriculum, making them a potentially significant participant in the professional learning community.