Tcc presentation teaching learning_centers

Speaker A/B

Speaker B:�We have created an online course that is developed specifically for K-6 educators who: have a passion for incorporating technology into their curriculum would like to learn how to facilitate technology centers in their own classroom have a beginning to intermediate level of experience with computers and Interactive White Boards (IWBs) have a computer with reliable Internet access are able to meet once a week on BBC during throughout the course Ideally the teachers will also have an IWB in their classroom as well a enough computers in their classroom to facilitate a learning center (enough for 1/3 - 1/4 of the students in the classroom). This will allow teachers utilize technology centers in their classroom during and after instruction. We chose to focus on K-6 educators because they tend to use small group instruction more often than middle and high school teachers, but other teachers would also be able to participate if they choose to use small group instruction. Some of you may not be Elementary Educators, but many of you are supporters of Educational Technology and we hope to recruit you all in the movement to incorporate more technology instruction into children's lives.

Speaker B: By the end of the course teachers will be able to: integrate technology into their classrooms via learning centers easily navigate through online databases develop a classroom web page create a computer based learning center create an IWB based learning center Teachers will also share their results and learn from each other through synchronous and synchronous collaboration

Speaker A: Research shows that students benefit from small group instruction and using learning centers <insert research> in general allows teachers to facilitate small group instruction more regularly. Also, technology centers allow students to have more one on one experience using technology. This is particularly true for classrooms who have limited resources and is very important for students who do not have computers at their home. The internet is abounding with expert created resources that can enhance virtually any lesson plan and teach or reinforce virtually any skill. Utilizing technology centers allows teachers to incorporate fun, meaningful learning experiences regularly and many applications also help teachers assess student learning. The DOE has purchased licenses for many educational databases but it is up to the teachers to find ways to incorporate them into their instruction regularly. When teachers can successfully integrate these learning resources into the curriculum students become engaged in their work. This is not the only way to engage students but it is highly effective for many and using technology can give teachers an easy way to tailor their instruction to meet the needs of visual, auditory and even tactile learners through use of devices such as computers and IWBs.

Speaker A: In the chat box please type the name of one type of technology that you had educational experience with as a child. I have one more question for you that I'd like you to respond to in the chat box. Please name one type of technology that you wish that you had experience with as a child. Virtually any technology resource for the classroom that students can use independently would work well in a small group learning center. Of course, teachers are limited to using the resources that their classroom has access to and to their school policy. For example, many schools ban the use of cell phones in the classroom setting so although they can be a great tool for mobile learning and exploration, many teachers are not allowed to use them.

Speaker B: For the purpose of our 6 week course we chose to focus on online databases, laptop or desktop computers, website creation and IWBs, particularly the SMART board. We have chosen these technologies because we have the most experience using these technologies in our own classrooms and because these technologies are becoming prevalent in classrooms across the US.

Speaker A: Teachers are very busy, so in order to create a course for professional development we decided that it would be best to facilitate the course online. This makes it more convenient for teachers to complete coursework as, although there are deadlines and synchronous instruction sessions, teachers can work from wherever they chose. Also, having our course online lets use have a state wide audience, and potentially a world wide audience instead of merely an island wide audience.

Speaker A

Speaker B

Speaker A

Speaker B Thank you for participating in our presentation today! We are happy to share our passion for integrating technology into the classroom with you.