Old Dog New Tech

In this episode I talk you through some video creation tools I tried out during the Emergency Remote Learning months.  The links are below, you should check them out.  Make sure you know what you need in a video creation tool, which is really determined by what your students need of course, but video creation can be difficult and the end product a disappointment.  Check out the podcast and find out my struggles and successes and my go to video creation tool.

Tools mentioned in this Podcast

I have been busy keeping in touch with my students, researching tech tools and developing content.  This episode highlights the following tools that I have been using and suggest you give them a try.

Audio creation

Developing, delivering and assessing online content requires careful of consideration many details.

Here are 3 questions that will help with the process.

1. What do you want the students to learn?
   
2. What do you want the end product to be?
   
3. Is this a time to try a new tool or use a tool you are comfortable with?
   

Tech Tip or Integration idea- Communicate Email, Chat, Group post tools

I have been off the air for a couple of months and I have a line up of podcasts.  I also have finally gotten “in the flow” so to speak, with the new teaching assignment I asked for and was given. Along with my HS music classes, I am teaching STEAM to gr. 3-5 using Project Lead The Way; a great curriculum with a lot of resources.  I will talk more about that later.  This podcast is about online resources that allow you to insert questions or audio content.  You can create assignments or mini-lessons or you can have your students do the same.  A great way to create a meaningful learning experience.

Video is a great way to engage students.  However, it can be even better for delivering content and assessing understanding.  I have used several different tools to do this but find myself going back to one or two.  I just got used to them, you should try out a few and see what would work for you and your students.

The past few epidsodes have been about student engagement, but this episode is about my engagement.  Each day I use the same tech tools, I have become more adept at using them as a result.  I use about 3 pieces of online software and try to incorporate 1 or 2 tools as they apply to my teaching.  This episode is about my regularly tech tools, whether on my phone or Chromebook.  Here are my primary tools:

• Chrome Browser (Phone and Computer/Chromebook)
• Google Slides (Chromebook, but sometimes my phone)*I use a presentation remote extension...sometimes
• Google Keep (Phone mostly)
• Google Drive (Phone and Compter/Chromebook)
  

You will want to try out using Keep.  Take a pic on your phone using keep and add it to a Slide on your Computer/Chromebook.  I like using this at the end of class for many reasons.

This weeks tech treat has endless opportunities for students to learn about the environment.  That is kind of a weak description really.  Take some time and check out Google Arts and Culture’s Hidden Worlds of National Parks.  The pictures are incredible and the information is awesome.  Click the link, you won’t be disappointed.

This episode is a continuation of sorts of episode 61 in that I am focusing on creating or increasing student engagement using Google Slides.  The last episode, I looked at using Slides to deliver content or have students create a slide demonstrating their understanding of content.  This time I want to cover the following points:

• Using slide links to enhance your slides
• Creating games or adventures
• Linking text boxes not text
  

Engaging students is a challenge all educators face.  No matter how perfect we think our lesson plan is, there always seems to be 1 or 2 students that are slow to get engaged in class.  This episode is about using Google Slides to deliver content with or, better yet, have your students create an interactive poster.  You might want to work with a tech savvy colleague or consult YouTube for some help videos for this activity, but you should be able to do it on your own as well if you are familiar with Google Slides.  This is a great way to build empathy in young people and teach them some valuable tech skills.

In this episode, I look at (literally) the Triple E Framework for integrating tech into the classroom.  Get ideas on how to determine if technology is the right tool to use for your lessons or how technology can enhance learning.  I encourage you to click the links below and find out more, because this podcast is just a quick overview with a few of my personal applications.

I have had a great summer.  You can probably tell because I have not been podcasting as regularly as I did during the school year.  Well, I am sorry about that and I am not sorry about that.  I traveled and took time for me.  I kept reading articles and listening to podcasts but I noticed that things were slowing down a bit even for those who are the gurus of Ed Tech.  There were new ideas introduced but mostly podcasts were focusing on pedagogy and using tools that have been available for awhile.  If you are just getting into tech integration that is great but don’t think you are behind.  You are not.

 This episode will focus on student needs assessment, ideas on how to find out where your students are at and where they want to go.  I think the second part is so important and fosters an environment that could help develop other skills, like discussion and collaboration. 

Tools mentioned:

Welcome to Season 2!!

I discuss some tech free activities and thoughts on how to integrate tech in the process of building the collaboration skills of students.  Thanks for listening and drop me an email or leave a review on iTunes.  My email is olddognewtech10@gmail.com

Tech tools in this episode:

Integrating tech into the classroom can seem challenging...overwhelming...impossible...even needless.  The key is not the tech you use but the method or approach you take.  There are many great tools and they do take time to get used to, but most of the time struggles with implementing tech comes from trying to do too much and the experience does not go smoothly so....it is abandoned.  In this episode, I give some ideas on how to use tech your personal use and then introduce it into the classroom or never introduce it and use it for planning and delivering content.  It is up to you!!

Tools in this episode

Google Slides

Any length of video assignment can motivate and inspire students to increase their quality of work.  This podcast has suggestions of apps you can use, but also some ideas on approaches of using video creation.  If you think that a quick, unedited video has little meaningful learning in it.  I disagree, maybe the first few times you use video will be a little rough, but students learn fast and will develop their skills.  Maybe try one of the apps below before using any of the video creation tools.  Small steps!  Be patient!

Apps

Collaborating is a great feature of digital content.  There are a few things you must do to make sure everyone has access.  This episode highlights sharing Google Drive and Suite content   Along with a few tricks for sharing anything that has a linking or embed code feature.  Time saving tips that will reduce the steps necessary to collaborate.  Utilizing these steps not only increases productivity, but also models skills all students need to develop.

Google Calendar offers a goal setting feature that enables you to insert a goal into your busy life by answering a few questions.  Google will find times based on what you have entered in your calendar and help you reschedule and keep track of your progress.  I use this feature on my phone and haven't tried on my computer (not sure it is there to be honest).  Open your Google calendar on your phone and give it a go!

I attended the Michigan Association of Computer Users and Learners Conference at Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan.  I learned a lot and was part of a presentation about Tech Coaching (more of a panel discussion).  I have whittled down the things I learned to a top 5.  I put links below as needed.  I wanted to send a BIG Thank you to my District for paying my registration fee.  I appreciate the support!!

This is the last of a 3 part series on discussion in the classroom.  I highlight and review the pieces of tech you can use to help engage students in a classroom discussion.  Check out the tech and remember these are great tools, but you are the professional that decides whether to use them.  Face-to-face discussion/communication is the focus.  Integrating these tools can be as complex or simple as you and your students require.

Tech for Fostering Discussion:

In this episode I talk about the next things I did in fostering stronger discussion skills.  Some students are intimidated by students that speak up so easily; so I held a discussion on more general questions that everyone could answer and gave them the opportunity to communicate online and in person.  The questions worked well for me and maybe they will for you too!!   The questions focus on getting groups "in-sync" and I found them in a book and on Twitter.  Just did some research and got a lot of ideas, I listed some of the resources below.

Resources from this podcast

In this first part of 3 podcast episodes, I reflect on the first steps I took in developing the discussion skills of my students.  Researching articles, books and Twitter led me to using certain types of discussions and developing questioning styles.  The articles listed below are a few I found helpful and the tech treats are great for engaging students.  You might note that this podcast is not heavy on tech integration but it did help with engaging students and gathering data.  

Students do not know how to discuss class content and I wanted to help them develop these skills.  Through discussion deeper learning occurs.  Tech is a great tool for teachers to use for researching and developing discussion styles/types, as well as students to use to begin developing their discussion skills.

Are you utilizing blended learning? This method of educating demands tech integration, but may not be the right thing for your students.  I give you a run down of different blended learning models (complete with my philosophical meanderings) and focus on using Google Sites as a tool for creating meaningful learning.  You may be ready to try blended learning or a flipped classroom,  your students may need a blended classroom environment...now what?  Decide which model may work best and create a Google Site to help facilitate learning.  Better yet,  let your students create one!

 In my 40th episode, I look at some articles about what reflection is and why it is important to utilize it in your classroom.  I also give a few suggestions on how to integrate tech to start and complete the process.  Reflection is an integral part of creating meaningful learning experiences.  Think about how this might meet the needs of your students!

Articles