Needs Assessment

http://goo.gl/forms/MujgvKsQMa

The TPACK model- Meeting students needs

Here it is, but what does it mean?  Well it's not as complicated as it looks.  Pedagogy is the method and practice of teaching.  So pedagogical knowledge is the knowledge of how to best teach.  Will we use direct instruction, group discussion, or demonstration? The latter is probably what I use the most in my visual art classes.  Content knowledge is the teachers knowledge of the content in which they teach.  In my case my greatest knowledge is in the teaching of art to students kindergarten to 8th grade.  Finally, technological knowledge is the knowledge of using technology. Which tools will we use?  Projector, IWB, mobile devices, or videos.  When all three of these come together (technological pedagogical content knowledge)we are able to engage students and make the content meaningful and obtainable to all of our students.


 What obstacles will teachers face when they implement this model?
The only obstacle that is out of the control of the teacher is technology access.  Accessibility to technology in a classroom and school is a varied and imbalanced as one can imagine.  There are all kinds of factors that go into this problem and really only one solution in my opinion.  The solution is for students to bring their own mobile devices to school.  I don't see the possibility of the Catholic school that I teach at ever being able to ever afford to give each classroom the technology resources needed to accommodate 35 students per class.  It is simply too costly.  In order to implement this model the teacher must be able to choose the most effective tools for student learning of the content. In order for this to happen there must be opportunities to use technology in a very natural way.  This means that students would come to know which technology is most suitable for the task at hand.
The other obstacle is the teachers knowledge of the available technology.  This is one that is in the control of the teacher, but if the teacher isn't given a sufficient number of devices to accommodate their students they are not going to spend the time finding out what is available.  As technology is made available it is then seen how it can be used. Teachers do not have the time to spend investigating available technologies, but if the technology is there and as needs arise in context teachers can find different, more effective ways of meeting student needs and find the best tools available.

Regarding the "Instructional Planning Activities Table", I think it makes some great suggestions, but I also feel that we shouldn't be using technology for the sake of using it. We should be using it to make our students learning experience deeper and more meaningful.  This is a starting place though and a great resource for teachers that are interested in adding more to already effective lessons.  I think it can be applied to any core curricular subject and I really like the idea of using technology because I think learning is deeper when students participate in projects where they are being asked to be creative and are working with new technologies.  They are learning content and learning about a new technology that they can use in the future.  It encourages students to think in different ways.  In my art classes, I see students learning things that I never even thought they would.  Projects can create problems and other learning opportunities including receiving feedback along the way which increases student learning and life skills.

                                                                      References

Harris, J. & Hofer, M. (2009). Instructional planning activity types as vehicles for curriculum-based            TPACK development. http://activitytypes.wmwikis.net/file/view/HarrisHofer. Retrieved on 12/2/14

Koehler, M. (2014). What is TPACK? http://www.tpack.org/. Retrieved on 12/2/14

Unknown. (2014) The TPACK model.  Instructional Design team, Educator Effectiveness Division, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. http://www.rt3nc.org/edtech/the-tpack-model/ Retrieved on 12/6/14

TPACK in 2 Minutes

Love the visual!

The Technology Integration Specialist

The technology integration specialist must wear many hats and work with multiple members of the school community.

The connection between pedagogy and technology integration is that teachers must be able to think reflectively about how they are using technology and if it is meaningful.  Is the technology really integrated or merely used as a tool to carry out a task."Bazeli asserts that when students participate in the planning and implementation stages of technology integration “the burden is lifted from the teachers and the learning process becomes collaborative, with the teacher assuming the role of facilitator rather than a disseminator of information. Further, as students are actively involved in planning and implementing technology production, they gain critical thinking and problem-solving skills along with curricular learning.” She maintains that “unfortunately, the computer is often perceived as a separate entity, not an integrated part of the curricular areas of the school” (Okojie, Olinzock, Okojie-Boulder)  I believe the reason for this is the lack of technologies available in the classroom.  Students must have technology available to them so that they can utilize in comfortable meaningful ways.  I think this is also the issue for teachers.  If technology use requires a lot of planning it doesn't make sense to use it if it will be forced or too planned out by the teacher.  Students should recognize the need for it and be able to access it if it truly going to be utilized in a natural way.

     Teachers are busy keeping up with what needs to be taught, assessed, reported, etc.  They need someone to even begin to explain the technology available.  Teachers must know what is available and how it can be used in their classroom and then assess whether or not it is making their lesson better or if it is just utilizing technology for its own sake.  The challenge for the integration specialist is that the administration many times have concerns that make using technology difficult.  The integration specialist will many times have to convince the administration of what is safe, usable, and appropriate.  They also are challenged by the variety of tasks of their job.  For example, they have to communicate with all of the teachers many times trouble shooting problems during their planning periods.  They must also teach classes and are many times called upon to perform other technological needs throughout the school.  They are responsible for selecting software for school use.

Okojie,  Olinzock, and Tinukwa. (N.D.) The pedagogy of technology integration. The Journal of Technology studies.    http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JOTS/v32/v32n2/okojie.html. Retrieved 11/18/14

Reflection on Integration Specialist Toolbox

This class really opened up some ideas as well as tools that I plan to integrate into my art classroom.  I will also share what I have learned with my other colleagues.  Many times when talking and learning about technology it can be overwhelming as much as exciting.  I have learned about so many tools that I know my students could use and at the same time be excited to use.  It seems that we are at a crossroads in our schools though in what they feel is safe for our students and not.  One of the overwhelming thoughts for me is that every day that goes by we are even farther away from keeping up with the technology that is out there.  Our students deserve to learn to use the technology responsibly and use it to learn and create.  I hope that some day soon our schools will become more comfortable with the use of technology and that are students will use the technology in a safe and responsible way.

Should I share?

hhttps://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/middlehigh_poster

I really like how this illustrates a students digital citizenship.

How to Use YouTube in the Classroom | Edutopia

How to Use YouTube in the Classroom | Edutopia

An interesting video on how to navigate youtube for your students.