Blogs on Technology Integration

Back in May, our team at Knapp Elementary was busy planning our annual summer reading program. Some of us had just participated in a parent-teacher chat via Twitter on maximizing opportunities to keep the learning going over the summer. We talked about ways to keep students engaged between when the school doors were closed and when they reopened in September.

A blog without an audience is like...a library without books, a car without an engine, Beyonce without a ring. Those were some of the responses David Mitchell (@DeputyMitchell) got when he asked his Twitter followers to fill in the blank.

One of the most powerful moments in my teaching journey was the summer I immersed myself in feedback and checking for understanding. It forced me to ask myself what and if my students were actually learning. I learned the importance of the language I used. I also learned effective ways to track student progress toward learning goals that will inform the feedback I give students. While my effectiveness as a teacher has grown exponentially, I still have a lot to learn. Since I teach in a lab, I also have both the challenge and the perk of most student work being completed on the computer. These are some of my experiences, ideas and resources for using technology to provide meaningful feedback to students -- and making the process more streamlined for everyone.

The school year is under way, and your lessons have been great. One day after school you decide to stay late and get some extra work done when, all of a sudden, the piece of tech you are using stops working! OMG! After several minutes of crying and hyperventilating, you have no idea what to do next. Tech support is the logical choice, but that could take too long before someone can actually assist you. They are always so busy helping others with their problems that it could be days before they get to yours. Well, here are four troubleshooting commandments that might help you with your problem before you have to call the Help Desk.