EDLD+5306+Meeting

= Welcome to our first interactive meeting. = I am online now if anyone is here already. Dena Beth and Pepper are online, too. Hey there, Thanks for participating. This is my first time so I guess we are experimenting! :) Just add your thoughts and click save and refresh. = 1. DISCUSS THE QUESTION AND DEVELOP A LIST OF SOLUTIONS: //Why are teachers reluctant to integrate technology into the classrooms?// = = Discussion: = To get us started I will share my thoughts. The main reason I believe is because it is not the way we were taught to teach or the way we were taught. I agree. I think there is a fear of the unknown, of not knowing how it works, so it gets in the way of teaching. Sally

In some of our readings it has shown professional development which the teachers were students and had to collaborate and complete a technology project they were very unhappy about doing it and in the end because they were forced to be like the students learned better by doing. It promoted the most change in their school.

It's also a mind-shift. In the past, technology was relegated to the computer lab and teachers didn't really have to deal with it - it wasn't their job. Now they are being asked to fill that role of being a technology person and it's not what they were originally hired to do. = = = = = = = Possible Solutions: = = =
 * 1) It's kind of like this meeting. Teachers have to be encouraged to jump in and try it and not be afraid of "doing it wrong"! I aggree!
 * 2) I think having teachers being able to observe in classrooms where it is being successfully incorporated into the curriculum can have a big impact. It gives them a way to actually see the possibilities.
 * 3) Setting aside time for the teachers to use the technology during in-service would get the teachers excited about the new technology.
 * 4) Technology has to work quickly and consistently.
 * 5) Initially choose programs that are very user friendly that take very little tech knowlege to be successful. I aggree, this will give confidence to further explore technology. DW

= = = = = 2. LIST AND DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING: //What kinds of support and training for current teachers should schools provide?//

=I have started a new page so we wont have to scroll down as much for the next questions when you guys are ready it is july 2 meeting continued. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
 * 1) In this class I have learned of the term "just in time" training. When teachers are in a lesson having someone to be their initally with any complications they may have. DW
 * 2) Maybe teachers could work on something collaboratively. For example, first grade teachers could plan together how they were going to incorporate it in the lesson and maybe even role play with each other practicing it before actually using it with students.
 * 3) In the business world, the client buys the program. Installers and tech support are in house for the first week or two, then the client can contact the call center for follow-up questions.
 * 4) There are really two parts to the training. The first is getting comfortable with the equipment - projectors, interactive whiteboards. Then there is the software programs. SW
 * 5) Adding webinars to help with learning the componets. I liked the one on education city.