Comments on: Creating a Learning Community among your Peers http://langwitches.org/blog/2007/04/06/creating-a-learning-community-among-your-peers/ The Magic of Learning through Technology. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:05:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kim Cofino http://langwitches.org/blog/2007/04/06/creating-a-learning-community-among-your-peers/comment-page-1/#comment-2926 Kim Cofino Mon, 30 Apr 2007 06:38:12 +0000 http://www.langwitches.org/blog/2007/04/06/creating-a-learning-community-among-your-peers/#comment-2926 Hi Silvia, I've been doing the "planting a seed" approach all year and it has worked out really well - for those that are interested, willing and adventurous. Not so effective for the resisters, no matter how hard I try. To that end, I think Kelly is right - technology is not an option. There needs to be clear and detailed expectations for teachers and they need to be held accountable. You might be interested in one of my <a href="http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2007/04/27/wikis-at-work-laying-the-foundation-for-technology-integration/" rel="nofollow">recent posts</a> - we've worked through a pretty thorough plan to get everyone on board - encompassing everything from a clear and detailed mandate for teachers, to a wiki to publicize finished work, to tech support expectations. I would be very interested to hear what you come up with - I know our two schools are very different, but I'm thinking that we face many of the same problems. Hi Silvia,

I’ve been doing the “planting a seed” approach all year and it has worked out really well – for those that are interested, willing and adventurous. Not so effective for the resisters, no matter how hard I try. To that end, I think Kelly is right – technology is not an option. There needs to be clear and detailed expectations for teachers and they need to be held accountable.

You might be interested in one of my recent posts – we’ve worked through a pretty thorough plan to get everyone on board – encompassing everything from a clear and detailed mandate for teachers, to a wiki to publicize finished work, to tech support expectations.

I would be very interested to hear what you come up with – I know our two schools are very different, but I’m thinking that we face many of the same problems.

]]> By: Langwitches http://langwitches.org/blog/2007/04/06/creating-a-learning-community-among-your-peers/comment-page-1/#comment-2168 Langwitches Sun, 08 Apr 2007 14:04:53 +0000 http://www.langwitches.org/blog/2007/04/06/creating-a-learning-community-among-your-peers/#comment-2168 Kelly, My gut instinct tells me the same. There is no option for a professional teacher. There is no option whether or not to integrate technology AND there is no option of continuing to learn. It seems an oxymoron to me, when a teacher does not own his/her own learning. We are the ones responsible to teach others (children or adults).We want them to learn what we teach. How can we ourselves not be learners? It makes no sense, but I do have the feeling that many teachers have lost their willingness to learn. Somehow we need to spark that internal teacher instinct in them again. I am trying to figure out how to do that. Thank you for specific examples how you have started making technology mandatory in your school. I specifically find it powerful and important to ask students and encourage them to let their teachers know. I will keep that in mind in my quest for "teachers opting -in" :) I have subscribed to your blog to read and learn more about and from your integration efforts. Kelly,
My gut instinct tells me the same. There is no option for a professional teacher. There is no option whether or not to integrate technology AND there is no option of continuing to learn. It seems an oxymoron to me, when a teacher does not own his/her own learning. We are the ones responsible to teach others (children or adults).We want them to learn what we teach. How can we ourselves not be learners? It makes no sense, but I do have the feeling that many teachers have lost their willingness to learn. Somehow we need to spark that internal teacher instinct in them again. I am trying to figure out how to do that.
Thank you for specific examples how you have started making technology mandatory in your school. I specifically find it powerful and important to ask students and encourage them to let their teachers know. I will keep that in mind in my quest for “teachers opting -in” :)
I have subscribed to your blog to read and learn more about and from your integration efforts.

]]> By: Kelly Christopherson http://langwitches.org/blog/2007/04/06/creating-a-learning-community-among-your-peers/comment-page-1/#comment-2146 Kelly Christopherson Sun, 08 Apr 2007 06:08:47 +0000 http://www.langwitches.org/blog/2007/04/06/creating-a-learning-community-among-your-peers/#comment-2146 I think that this is a problem that many people who see the benefits of technology and have begun to use it run into. As a school administrator, I've done it both ways. I encourage certain teachers by working with them to use technology and then showcase what they have done. I do after school mini-pd's where we go through a certain technology - social bookmarking - and I show them the benefits. I've also taken these tools into my classroom and had students use them, tell me what they think about them and how we can improve them and their use and then let teachers know. I have also made using some technology manditory. All staff in the school are required to check their email daily. I have begun using a school wiki with a calendar to post all our school events. I have also sent notices of upcoming meetings to staff and reminders of due dates using emailing software. I've showed a few teachers how to use Clickit and Notebook and they're hooked. As things progress, I will require teachers to use technology more and more. Next year I will work with teachers for 4 periods to plan lessons incorporating technology and be there to help them with the integration. It does take time but as teachers begin to see the benefits of the technology - email, information in one place - don't have leave their classrooms, wiki calendar - all our events and information in one place - don't have to leave the classroom - they are seeing the benefits. Sometimes you need to shake them. Opting out, as far as I'm concerned, is no longer an option. It's here and is important. It's part of being a professional teacher - no option. I think that this is a problem that many people who see the benefits of technology and have begun to use it run into. As a school administrator, I’ve done it both ways. I encourage certain teachers by working with them to use technology and then showcase what they have done. I do after school mini-pd’s where we go through a certain technology – social bookmarking – and I show them the benefits. I’ve also taken these tools into my classroom and had students use them, tell me what they think about them and how we can improve them and their use and then let teachers know. I have also made using some technology manditory. All staff in the school are required to check their email daily. I have begun using a school wiki with a calendar to post all our school events. I have also sent notices of upcoming meetings to staff and reminders of due dates using emailing software. I’ve showed a few teachers how to use Clickit and Notebook and they’re hooked. As things progress, I will require teachers to use technology more and more. Next year I will work with teachers for 4 periods to plan lessons incorporating technology and be there to help them with the integration. It does take time but as teachers begin to see the benefits of the technology – email, information in one place – don’t have leave their classrooms, wiki calendar – all our events and information in one place – don’t have to leave the classroom – they are seeing the benefits. Sometimes you need to shake them. Opting out, as far as I’m concerned, is no longer an option. It’s here and is important. It’s part of being a professional teacher – no option.

]]> By: Kareena Kraemer http://langwitches.org/blog/2007/04/06/creating-a-learning-community-among-your-peers/comment-page-1/#comment-2133 Kareena Kraemer Sat, 07 Apr 2007 17:00:28 +0000 http://www.langwitches.org/blog/2007/04/06/creating-a-learning-community-among-your-peers/#comment-2133 Actually, I am not a full time technology integrator either. I teach technology to students at one of my schools, and I am the tech fix-it person at the other. I have the benefit of being the person that my teachers come to when they have tech troubles, but you have the advantage of being able to say, "I teach full time, and look at what I am doing with technology!" I think that a lot of us who love technology and want to see it used in classrooms have expectations that are unrealistic. We know how transformative some technology tools can be and we want everyone else to experience the same amazing results that we have seen in our classrooms. Not all teachers share our passion. I try to keep my expectations high because I believe that if educators do not embrace technology, our students will suffer. I also understand that it is going to take a long time and a lot of work to cause the change that is needed. Actually, I am not a full time technology integrator either. I teach technology to students at one of my schools, and I am the tech fix-it person at the other. I have the benefit of being the person that my teachers come to when they have tech troubles, but you have the advantage of being able to say, “I teach full time, and look at what I am doing with technology!”

I think that a lot of us who love technology and want to see it used in classrooms have expectations that are unrealistic. We know how transformative some technology tools can be and we want everyone else to experience the same amazing results that we have seen in our classrooms. Not all teachers share our passion. I try to keep my expectations high because I believe that if educators do not embrace technology, our students will suffer. I also understand that it is going to take a long time and a lot of work to cause the change that is needed.

]]> By: Langwitches http://langwitches.org/blog/2007/04/06/creating-a-learning-community-among-your-peers/comment-page-1/#comment-2130 Langwitches Sat, 07 Apr 2007 13:36:48 +0000 http://www.langwitches.org/blog/2007/04/06/creating-a-learning-community-among-your-peers/#comment-2130 Kareena, Thank you for your comment. I will take your advice and make sure I "plan seeds" next year. Maybe this is the way to go with the more resistant ones. Instead of completely not "bothering" them with technology, one can give little tidbits and keep rewarding them for when they do come. On the other hand, that is exactly what I have been doing in the past with the entire faculty. Granted that I am currently not working full time as a technology integrator (I teach full time Spanish), the results have been disappointing in my book. Maybe my expectations are too high? Kareena,
Thank you for your comment. I will take your advice and make sure I “plan seeds” next year. Maybe this is the way to go with the more resistant ones. Instead of completely not “bothering” them with technology, one can give little tidbits and keep rewarding them for when they do come.

On the other hand, that is exactly what I have been doing in the past with the entire faculty. Granted that I am currently not working full time as a technology integrator (I teach full time Spanish), the results have been disappointing in my book. Maybe my expectations are too high?

]]> By: Kareena Kraemer http://langwitches.org/blog/2007/04/06/creating-a-learning-community-among-your-peers/comment-page-1/#comment-2127 Kareena Kraemer Sat, 07 Apr 2007 03:51:03 +0000 http://www.langwitches.org/blog/2007/04/06/creating-a-learning-community-among-your-peers/#comment-2127 This is a problem that I have been trying to get my mind around all school year. I think I am starting to find a solution. I plant seeds. I find a great bit of technology and learn it. Then I think of places where it might fit in the curriculum. Then I pick a teacher, drop by his or her classroom after school, briefly mention the technology and how it fits with the teacher's curriculum and classroom, and then I wait patiently. Sometimes the teacher wants to learn about it right away, more often in a week or two the teacher comes back to me and asks to learn more. Once one teacher has a technology word spreads, and soon I get groups in my office who want to learn how to implement it. I try to keep track of who is doing what and I follow up with the teachers to discuss how their technologies are working for them. I have been having about a two-thirds success rate with my teachers of all ability and technophobia levels. This isn't really a plan, and it requires someone who is in the building regularly, but I have been delighted at some of the changes I have seen in my schools. This is a problem that I have been trying to get my mind around all school year. I think I am starting to find a solution. I plant seeds. I find a great bit of technology and learn it. Then I think of places where it might fit in the curriculum. Then I pick a teacher, drop by his or her classroom after school, briefly mention the technology and how it fits with the teacher’s curriculum and classroom, and then I wait patiently. Sometimes the teacher wants to learn about it right away, more often in a week or two the teacher comes back to me and asks to learn more. Once one teacher has a technology word spreads, and soon I get groups in my office who want to learn how to implement it. I try to keep track of who is doing what and I follow up with the teachers to discuss how their technologies are working for them. I have been having about a two-thirds success rate with my teachers of all ability and technophobia levels.

This isn’t really a plan, and it requires someone who is in the building regularly, but I have been delighted at some of the changes I have seen in my schools.

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