#HSD1Chat will be a PLC based chat involving educators from Helena Public Schools. However, other educators are invited to participate. It will occur on the second Tuesday of every month.
A1: the vast majority of my students are probably too familiar with tech. The biggest thing they need to learn about it how to use it judiciously.
#hsd1chat
A1: For the tech we use I think my first graders have tons of skills. Start of year is rocky with the usernames/passwords but they catch on quick
#hsd1chat
A1.
I feel like my Ss don't get to explore enough when it comes to tech. I am not "tech-savvy".. Therefore, I know I am great at introducing my Ss to using much technology.
#hsd1chat
A1: My Ss lack exposure to technology. They are great at using iPads and touchscreens. They struggle to use applications outside of your iPhone apps. #hsd1chat
A1 When it comes to music specific technology (notation software, recording/editing/mixing programs) my students have zero skills. Or, I should say, they have not learned those skills in my class. It is partly cost prohibitive (buying software licenses)... #hsd1chat
A1b and partly due to limited physical resources. Yeah, we have a computer lab, but it is literally scheduled every minute of the day for successmaker. Finally, I haven't gotten to that instruction yet because it hasn't been a priority. I love that music is screen-free. #hsd1chat
I have definitely looked into HEF grants (I was awarded one this fall for my ukulele project!), but I just haven't done the research to know what will work/serve my student really well and what would just be tech for tech sake, which is an attitude I general dislike. #hsd1chat
A2: Responsibility. The pervasive nature of distractions available on every platform cuts into my willingness to implement daily tech use.However, I do allow students to use devices as long as it is done responsibly- most can handle it.
#hsd1chat
A2. Physical resources. Lack of machines/lack of available time on machines. Plus, I am of the opinion that Ss get SO much tech screen time in other facets of education, it is not the worst thing for them to create music using their whole bodies, face to face w/ peers. #hsd1chat
reliability is a big one, we had some seriously iffy wi-fi for the first month of school and that really hindered my willingness to experiment with tech at the beginning of the year.
#hsd1chat
I get it! Hard to make a plan for your lessons when you're trying to get students logged into something and it doesn't work! That happens on iRead (an intervention app that my kids use each day) all of the time. :( #hsd1chat
Which represents a certain level of tech savvy and creative problem solving that we hope to instill in our students... misguided, yes, but still! #hsd1chat
A3 will be a thread, lol!
For starters, I wish I had a classroom that was more sound-isolated from our gymnasium so I could use high-end recording tech for students to do their own self assessments and projects. #hsd1chat
A3. I want a mic for myself. 1st graders still have developing ears. I think a lot of kids have "selective hearing" haha! But for most, hearing is developmental! #hsd1chat
I worked in a school for a few years with take home iPads. The kids loved it because they could not only use it for notes, but they could do group work with Air Drop.
#hsd1chat
A3c, and, since we are dreaming BIG, I wish I had a separate keyboard lab (probably in my computer half-lab) so that I could actually teach basic keyboard skills in a minimally chaotic environment. #hsd1chat
I am not sure I could re-adapt to teaching without my RedCat microphone. It is so helpful, especially when I am sick and/or Ss are particularly noisy! #hsd1chat
A3: Better computers. I’m not a fan of the Chromebooks. I feel there is better technology we could be using. Also updated software for our @SMARTBoard#hsd1chat
A3 we are looking at getting smart-boards or interactive projectors now! We haven't decided which will meet our needs best yet. We went for a demo of smart-boards today and the projectors tomorrow. #hsd1chat
My clunky workaround is to scan documents with my iPhone scanner app and add them as a PDF image to a presentation. Obviously, that takes many more steps than a doc camera! #hsd1chat
Totally! I am hoping to get one with our Tech Money from our school fundraiser this year! I had one when I was a student teacher, years ago...What a huge difference! #hsd1chat
I don't even know how much it was, and mine is probably outdated at this point. I've had it for 8 years. I asked my principal for it and it showed up! #hsd1chat
Might be an option for one year. The software is an annual license which is why the district hasn’t bought it. However I enjoy my SmartDoc camera #hsd1chat
A4: I do it more organically than planned. We might be talking about the president Tweeting and that could lead to a discussion about online etiquette or it might start with a flippant comment and end with us talking about Credit security #hsd1chat
A4: We do a lot of discussion about how people are treated, and naturally online platforms come up. We give examples of appropriate behavior and how inappropriate behavior can affect your life. #hsd1chat
A4 pt2. Also, my big online thing is just "try not to be a jerk and think about what words you use" by the time they're seniors that's about all I can do. But we also discuss what constitutes Censorship online, etc.
#hsd1chat
yes. And I try to tie it to everyday speech, too. I've seen a troubling resurgence in calling things "retarded" and really tried to crack down on that. I thought we were past that one 10 years ago.
#hsd1chat
it baffles me. It's like when people don't know how to politely answer a phone.
It's a different sort of "Life Skills" class more and more kids need.
#hsd1chat
A5: I've never really thought about it, every school I've been in after student teaching has had either carts or been 1-to-1. So I'll say yes. It certainly expands the number of things that can be accessed and read about in a SS class
#hsd1chat
A5. Yes!! I notice that many of my teaching concepts land much better this year now that I have a smartboard. Rhythm notation & prenotation are especially improved with my smartboard. #hsd1chat
A5: maybe not more progress, but certainly more engagement. Ss love @Flipgrid more than most all other classroom apps. I love it for quick assessment #hsd1chat
A5: I say yes, because they are prepared for the tech of our world. I would say it is detrimental in the areas of spelling and problem solving. Students are used to having the world at their fingertips, and struggle to think a problem through. #hsd1chat
A5b I also have a "learning xylophone" which is a customizable xylophone image that I built so that I can demonstrate instructions overhead, larger than life, for the whole class to observe at the same time. LOVE IT. #hsd1chat
completely agree. Technology is often used too much as a crutch. It leads kids to circumvent logical thought in favor of the first result on Google. The degree to which some s's take things literally is nuts.
#HSD1chat
A5 pt2: At the same time as I appreciate tech ( and I DO), I also miss just using books and thinking a problem out, I think it instilled a level of creative thinking and problem solving that may be disappearing a little bit
#hsd1chat
A6. I chatted with my team a little about this at PLC. We think they're great! But worried about reliable resources. And worried about our Lab disappearing next year. #hsd1chat
A6: As far as I know we don't have standards, but tech in the classroom is pretty ubiquitous and I know I use all sorts of stuff from twitter to Google Docs, databases, PPT Online, and a billion other things I can't think of right now.
#hsd1chat
I'd be interested to see what they would look for us to do with tech outside of being an integral educational tool which we can use as the muse moves us.
#hsd1chat
