Techconnects

Celebrating Connections – Ed Tech In Schools

December 20, 2011
by ncara
0 comments

10 Resources for Assessing School Technology

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Needs Assessments

In bringing the benefits of technology to education and indeed to any organization, needs assessments and surveys are a valuable tool for School CIOs and school leaders. These can work hand in hand with your school plans and technology plans. Both in the planning stages and during implementation, surveys can provide you with valuable feedback which can lead you to the goals you envision.

Seeking input and feed back is essential to the success of any initiative. This survey feedback can act as a ‘GPS’ telling you where you are currently and what you need to do to get to your destination. Your school or district technology plan is your map. Needs assessments and surveys can get you on the right path and keep you there.

These assessments can look at both classroom technology and overall technology needs in your school or district. Below are some resources for this purpose

Topics for Assessment – Consider Survey Topics

  • Technology Integration
  • Tech Support and Equipment
  • Communications
  • Professional Development
  • Digital Citizenship
  • Digital Learning and Skills
  • Lesson Planning for 21st Century Learning
  • Emerging Technology, New Ideas

Framework & Assessment Instruments – Below are some existing Surveying Guides and Instruments

Create Your Own – Ways to Customize to Your School/District Needs

  • TIM – Technology Integration Matrix created by the University of Southern Florida – Matrix which has been a model for other states and schools
  • Framework – Base it on given frameworks such as ISTE’s Nets, P21 or other frameworks
  • Local Vision - Base it on current school/district vision and other existing plans such as Technology plans

Tools to Use – Sampling of Available Online Tools

  • Zoomerang – Survey Tool - Free version or get additional features by subscription
  • Survey Monkey – Survey Tool - Free version or get additional features by subscription
  • Google Docs - Google Forms – Free. Includes many options. Data imports into spreadsheet format
  • Loti - Loti Survey - Administrative and Teacher Available

Related Posts

This post is cross posted by Nancy Caramanico on School CIO 
Image Flickr CC

 

 

 

 

November 28, 2011
by ncara
3 Comments

Web Filtering Checklist

Tide takes dunes

 

 

When schools make web filtering and blocking decisions, they need to be sure that they are not also blocking learning, blocking productivity, blocking progress.  Shifts have occurred widely over the last couple of years in schools regarding the filtering question. Security still remains a top priority. However, the question of what content to block and not block is one where the winds of change are continually blowing.

Fighting the tide

Take the story of new dunes installed at a beach. I remember when new dunes were added at a beach near my home. They were tall and mighty. Surely they would serve their purpose. Two months and one very big storm later, something happened. The dunes were washed away to a great extend. Two full blocks worth were gone.  The powerful ocean overtook them.

I think in many ways this is what is happening with filters and web content. Though many schools and organizations block and carefully keep the web at bay, web technology and its ever changing nature continues to command attention. Nature takes it’s course. People find new ways to access web content. Students use proxy sites or their smartphone.  Teachers become frustrated in their attempts to access content. Valuable time can be spent working on solutions.

The topic of filtering is an important one. The web offers more and more educational content.   Having a proactive and collaborative strategy is essential when making decisions on filtering today. It will equip our students better in the long run.

Natural Shifts

Blocking was once a simple issue. Block inappropriate content such as hate sites, chat sites, instant messaging functions, inappropriate images and more and you were all set. Then came the proliferation of web 2.0 sites, the growth of collaborative technologies and impact of social tools.

What were once easy decisions have become sticky ones.  What was once black and white has become many shades of gray like the changing tides of the ocean. What should schools consider? View this checklist for evaluating your strategy.

Checklist for Evaluating Filtering Strategies

 

  • Look at laws and government guidelines to be followed – Consider CIPA. Often their requirements are misconstrued to be more strict that they actually are.
  • Look at district and local rules – Are there standards that our district has put forth? What prior policies exist?
  • Look at security concerns – Consider viruses, malware, bandwidth, access and more. What priorities exist?
  • Look at existing feedback – What do admins, teachers and students report about the filter? Does it meet educational needs?
  • Look at the existing filter – Is it flexible? Does it allow for multiple filtering levels for administrators, teachers and students? If not, when can we upgrade to add more functionality?
  • Look at current processes – How easily can teachers and students get access to sites for educational use?
  • Look at your decision making team – Who determines which sites are blocked? CIOs and IT are needed. Educational leaders and teachers should also be involved in this decision making.
  • Look at current educational initiatives – Are current initiatives requiring expanded access. If so, are the best web communication and collaboration tools available for this purpose?
  • Consider Options that are Win/Win – Is a walled garden approach an approach that might work for your school? With sites such as this, social and collaborative technologies coexist with more tightened security.
  • Look at the Policies in place – How often does your school or district evaluate your approach to filtering? The web evolves daily as do educational means for using web content.
  • Look at Digital Literacy supports – Are you teaching all parties how to use the web safely and appropriately?  Education is essential. Given appropriate education in place, we are equipping educators and students with the decision making skills that will serve them long after they have left us.

Mock on, mock on,’tis all in vain! You throw the sand against the wind, And the wind blows it back again. Voltaire Rousseau

Filter Fitness Guidelines

  • Know the rules. Don’t interpret them so that your implementation is more strict that the law
  • Upgrade your filter and build in flexibility
  • Involve Educators
  • Focus on educational purpose
  • Be aware of the changing landscape
  • Educate your community as to your approach
  • Balance network security needs with educational needs
  • Go for win win. Work to benefit all parties involved.
  • Reassess often
  • Make Digital literacy and citizenship education a priority

Given the wide range of content out there which has sound educational value, this can no longer be strictly an IT level decision.  Schools and organizations can’t  continue to block strictly and expect to reap the benefits of today’s web. If we want to provide
the most relevant education for the 21st Century, we need to have a filtering strategy that is informed and flexible.

This is cross posted on School CIO http://www.schoolcio.com/

Related Resources

CIPA – Children’s Internet Protection Act http://www.fcc.gov/guides/childrens-internet-protection-act
Digital Citizenship Resources for Schools – TechConnects
Speak Up Survey – Input on Filtering Listed http://ncara.edublogs.org/2011/04/21/students-speak-up-on-technology/
EdWeek – Filtering Debate http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2010/10/20/01filtering.h04.html

October 27, 2011
by ncara
1 Comment

15 Digital Citizenship Resources for Schools

For School Leaders, Teacher Leaders and Families

IMG_8720

Web

These sites have resources for teaching Digital Citizenship in the classroom

  1. Common Sense Media http://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators
  2. Netsmartz – http://www.netsmartz.org/educators
  3. Be Cyber Wise – http://www.cyberwise.org/
  4. Digital Citizenship Site http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/
  5. Yahoo Safely http://safely.yahoo.com/
  6. Cable in the Classroom http://www.ciconline.org/DigitalCitizenship
  7. FOSI Family Online Safety Institute http://www.fosi.org/

Blogs

These blogs address topics around Digital Citizenship frequently

  1. Anne Collier – Net Family News http://www.netfamilynews.org/
  2. Danah Boyd http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/
  3. Innovative Educator Blog http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/

Research To Know About

This research is related to the topic and can provide insights

  1. Zero to Eight -Children’s Mobile Technology Use in America by Common Sense Media http://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/zero-eight-childrens-media-use-america
  2. Youth Safety on a Living Internet Study  – Study
  3. The Good Play Project http://www.goodworkproject.org/research/goodplay/
  4. Pew Internet and American Life Project http://www.pewinternet.org/
  5. Netsmartz Statistics – http://www.netsmartz.org/sitecore/content/Netsmartz/Statistics

Related Posts
Online Safety Bridge Between Home and School -  TechConnects
Getting Started with Digital Citizenship – TechConnects

 

This post is cross posted on TechConnects by Nancy Caramanico

 

October 26, 2011
by ncara
0 comments

High School Government Class Learning with Twitter

 

On Top of News

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12836528@N00/1202823367

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Listen to Podcast

 

Today’s technology allows us to communicate as never before in history. Communication is global, communication is real time, communication is accessible to everyone!

In today’s media, we have seen politics discussed using social media by large groups of people all over the world covering issues in Iran, Eygypt, the US.

Social Media brings people together to learn, collaborate and discuss. It has a place in learning that is being explored more every day. This is what Jim Meredith’s AP Government class at Archbishop Ryan in Philadelphia is finding out as they learn and discuss government and politics in the classroom. I had the pleasure of speaking with the class about their project using Twitter in class. They participate in a weekly ‘Twitter Tuesday’ activity incorporating the tag #arapgov12. I am posting a summary of their responses. I also have posted the audio above.

Interview with Class

Here is the summary of my interview with teacher and Assistant Administrator, Jim Meredith and his students. You can also listen to the two part audio file posted above. (The quality of the audio is not optimal. I plan to improve upon that by using other audio tools in the future. )

1. In selecting learning activities for your AP Government class, what made you choose twitter. What did twitter have to offer that other tools/activities did not?

We chose this to build up the student knowledge of current events, politics and government. We hoped to connect with politicians as they discuss events online.  I hoped to also help them to build up their own digital footprint.
2. Were your students already familiar with Twitter?

Students were familiar with Twitter. Some used it already and if not they had heard about it.
3. How did students react to the assignment?

Students were excited and had a very positive approach to the assignment and to using twitter. One student, Jason, takes
extra responsibility and posts questions before the designated Twitter Tuesday times and also during the week.  One student said, It changes the way we learn. We like to go online and tweet about what we are learning.
Another student said, ‘It give us more hands on experience with politics. You can hear politicians on the news but through twitter you can have direct contact with current news, with politicians or their represntatives.
Students welcomed the use of online tools. It is a welcome addition to classroom activities.

4. Having completed several weeks of Twitter Tuesdays what has been the outcome?  What does the teacher think about what they are learning and how they are learning it?
Students feel more engaged with the content they are learning. They like that they can tweet out questions during class to the teacher during class and it gets addressed at a later point.
Says Jim Meredith, administrator and teacher, ‘We are learning and growing together. There is not a manual for this. I am researching and borrowing best practices from what I find online.
5. What similar assignments have you done with your classes which incorporated new technologies?
Twitter was tried before. This recent use has been the best outcome with Twitter. We have used private Facebook groups, blogging and social bookmarking. We hope to incorporate additional web tools such as Wordle in the near future.
6. How did you as an administrator and teacher become interested in using these types of technologies for learning?
Jim participated in PLP (Powerful Learning Practice), a 21st Century  learning oriented professional development initiative, beginning in 2008 and became familiar with new strategies and tools. ‘It’s more about the learning – It is not about Twitter as the tool but rather about what the students are getting from it and what I as a teacher am learning from it.  My use of Twitter and social networking helps my own professional development and helps me with my craft, my teaching.’
7. What does social media have to offer today’s educators?
As long as it is used to enhanced learning, it has a lot to offer. To the students, it can really help to enhance their learning and also build a community in our classroom.

8. How long will Twitter Tuesdays run? What is next for your class?
They will be tweeting out questions during the elections next week. Overall results have been very good. The plan is to use it for the full school year. They are flexible in this. The class will continue to evaluate its effectiveness going forward and continue as long as it meets their needs.

Its more than just that Twitter is a good technology. We are changing the way the students learn and interact. Students love the hands on experience as they interact with current events and politicians or their representatives online. Administrator, Teacher – Jim Meredith

Using real time communications tools is teaching our students more than just content. It teaches them how to communicate and collaborate in new ways.

Related Resources

Twitter Hashtags – Tech and Learning

Finding Teachers on Twitter – Free Technology 4 Teachers

Social Media and Professional Learning – Nancy Caramanico on Acer Education Blog

 

October 20, 2011
by ncara
1 Comment

Getting Started with Digital Citizenship

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since the beginning of time, rules and guidelines for behavior have been in place. These aim to provide order, peace, and respect for one another and for the common good.
The internet and easy access to the web have made this all important task. Add to that the infusion of social media into our daily lives and you’ll see that a once important task has now become a critical one.
It is important to teach digital citizenship in clear and easy to implement terms. Why? Is it because it demystifies it? Is it because it makes technology a positive force in our children’s lives? Digital Citizenship education brings benefit to all. It is supportive of students, teachers, school administrators and parents. Besides that, a world where respect and kindness are brought into our digital lives benefits us all!

Challenges Facing Digital Citizenship Education

  • Differing Definitions Exist
  • Varied Focus – Depending on local issues and concerns, schools sometimes will chose to focus on one area more than others -  Cyberbullying, Plagiarism, Online Posting
  • Resource Overload – Though there are many excellent resources, it can  be confusing to select which ones are best for a certain classroom or school
  • Not in Curriculum – No actual place in the curriculum or in the schedule
  • Deciding who teaches it – Is it the technology teacher, classroom teacher or other? Often teachers may not feel comfortable teaching on a topic that is still somewhat new to them.
  • Age Appropriate is Important – Though the themes remain constant for many ages, lessons should differ according to age level and grade level.

 

The safety and security of all children is of the utmost importance. If schools and districts are not actively discussing Digital Citizenship, here are some questions to start with.

Digital Citizenship Discussion Starter for Schools and Districts

  • What is our focus? What are the issues we feel are most pressing?
  • What issues do our students and parents feel are most pressing?
  • What does the data say? What does current research tell us about Digital Citizenship?
  • How can we make time for this important topic?
  • How can it be discussed daily? How can it be woven in to all that we do?

Once a commitment has been made to teaching Digital Citizenship, schools can have teachers and students explore resources and select their favorites. There are also several excellent resources with full curriculum on the topic to use and explore which I’ll profile in my next post.

What are the important questions to ask?  Do you have favorite resources?

October 6, 2011
by ncara
0 comments

Educational Technology Lessons from Steve Jobs

A New Teacher’s Classroom Walls

When I first entered the classroom as an elementary school technology teacher in 1997, I was given a set of posters. As any new teacher would be, I was happy to have some posters to decorate my classroom.

Would they be pictures of computers? of technology? Great!
Would they be instructions? Directions for students? Wonderful!

The posters I found in the box were none of those things.
Instead they were photos of various innovators, thinkers, doers. Einstein, Ghandi,  Jim Henson. It was not what was expecting but I selected some and put them on my classroom walls. Over time, during that first year of teaching,  I got the message.

Think Different.

As it turned out, the posters were part of Apple’s 1997 campaign called Think Different. Posters were sent to schools everywhere.

As a leader in the technology industry, Jobs pushed for more, for better.  With normal market competition in place, innovation was the goal for not just Apple but for all.

It could be said that this drive impacted the whole industry.

New discoveries come from many companies, and many sectors each and every day. Netbooks, tablets, smart phones all have arisen from a drive for improvement that each of us benefits from in some way.

Below is a checklist of lessons for Educational Technology. This is the list I created. What would you add?

Checklist for EdTech from Steve Jobs

  1. Plan far ahead – Think beyond what is needed now. Be creative. Imagine what is possible. Plan. Dream.
  2. Make the technology matter – Figure out how to use the power of technology to truly make a difference in the lives of children, teachers. Research and apply.
  3. Keep it simple – Technology does not have to be complex to advance the work your students do.
  4. Focus – Adding more and more technology intensive initiatives can be counterproductive. Focus on what is best for teachers and students and implement it well. Don’t skimp on professional learning time and collaboration time for teachers.
  5. Gather Input – Ask people what they need.  Find out how can you help them.  Use the feedback to improve what is offered. Better still – anticipate their needs.
  6. Get your best people involved – Find out who is interested in exploring new uses of technology for learning, for connecting. Empower them with the time and tools to share and do more. Encourage positive teamwork.
  7. Persevere – You may not see the results you expect right away. Stick with it. We are preparing students for their future. Technology is interwoven in much of what we do today and our students need to be prepared to learn and work with the right tools and the right mindset for connected learning.
  8. Believe – In a world of rapid change, we can’t predict exactly where we are going or what change will be brought into our classrooms via technology. Believe that by teaching our children to critically explore and evaluate new forms of learning, we are preparing them for an enlightening future which is unwritten as of yet.

That first computer classroom of mine had a hodge podge of different computers and operating systems. Eventually it had all new pcs with cdroms!

Use the technology you have to do the best you can, advocate strongly for more and above all do use the power of technology with a deliberate and dedicated purpose – to make a difference in the education, the lives of your teachers and students.

 

This is cross posted on School CIO published by Tech and Learning Magazine