Flipped PD

Over the past couple of years educators have been hearing about the flipped classroom.  The concept of the flipped classroom is to allow students more time to actually work through lessons with their teacher close by.  Teachers prepare their lessons prior to class meeting times.  Students can view/listen to these lessons prior to coming to class.  Some teachers make their lessons available online while others create DVDs for their students.  Either way, the lessons are available prior to the class as well as after the class for refreshing their minds.

We have teachers and we have technology coordinators.  In most cases it is the tech coordinator's responsibility that their teachers have the resources and the knowledge to implement a more technological classroom.  The challenge comes down to how to inspire and educate the teachers.  A teacher's day is filled to the rim already with lesson plans, extra duties and teaching.  When the school day ends teachers then sit down and work on more lesson plans, grading more papers, helping with after school activities and also trying to have a life outside of the school.  It is an overwhelming job.  When high school graduates enter the college world and decide to become a teacher - they have no idea how much work and how tiring it can be.  All at the same time it is just as rewarding, if not more.

We are seeing the shift in education to provide more options for our students.  It all rolls back to differentiated instruction, make your lesson work for everyone in your classroom.  Why can't we do this for educators?  Teachers have very limited time to attend conferences and sit through daily workshops.  A person can only learn so much during a 40 minute plan period dedicated to professional development.  Here is where flipped professional development comes into play.  It is all over the Internet, webinars for many different applications and technology integration.  Take time to find your own comfortable learning style.  If you can learn more from listening in on a webinar then do that instead of taking an entire day away from students and your classes. 

The flipped classroom, was it introduced because of flipped professional development or should that statement be flipped?

Technology can be Overwhelming

Let me first say that I LOVE technology.  I love computers, television, mobile phones, cameras and whatever else you can imagine.  We must never forget that technology is not just the computer you use to surf the web.  Technology is (the below definitions were found with a web search but no clearly defined source):

The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, esp. in industry: "computer technology"; "recycling technologies". Machinery and equipment developed from such scientific knowledge. Let's put ourselves in a classroom as a teacher.  When you arrive at school you: * get your mail * maybe have a cup of coffee * make sure all copies and lessons are ready to go * turn on your computer * check your email Those are just a FEW things teachers do before their students arrive.  Then when they arrive it is a constant rush with not much time to stop.  Checking your e-mail is the last thing on your list, you save that for the end of the day or even when you are at home. The point here is - when do teachers have any time to begin incorporating technology into their lessons when there is so much.  Not only is there alot to do - but when it comes to integration, where do you start?  For example, you have: Wordle Blogging Typing Twitter Prezi Photo Story Story Bird Google Earth LiveBinders MashUps The list goes on and on and on; it seems to be a never ending list.  Where do you begin?  First things first - choose ONE application and learn it.  Find ways to use it in your classroom to excite your students.  When they see you using new applications they are going to be more in tune to what is going on in the classroom. Us tech "geeks" do realize that the amount of information that is thrown out to you can be overwhelming so remember - you do not have to learn it all at once.  Think about it this way - children begin learning Math in Kindergarten.  Now, when Math is introduced to them do we throw every concept at them at once?  Absolutely not, we take steps (not baby steps by any means) in the learning process.  You learn one concept and then build on that concept. Look at technology integration, or moving into the 21st Century learning community, as learning to ride your bicycle.  Take it slowly and just tackle one thing at a time.

Technology in Education Giveaway

Technology in Education Giveaway

My first blog

I am taking the plunge into blogging.  I have many reasons why:
* I LOVE technology
* I have my students blog
* I need to work on my digital "footprint

I am very passionate about sharing technology with others.  Especially with other educators.  I want to dedicate this blog to all educators out there wanting to increase their awareness of technology integration.  I hope I can touch many lives and inspire many to find ways to bring technology into their teaching.