We were given the task to find a problem that we encounter in our classrooms and then find a solution using technology. We were then asked to implement the solution in our classrooms and reflect back on it. For the final blog and presentation, we are to reflect on the entire project as a whole. My only problem: school was out before we started this project, leaving me with many unanswered questions and 2 solutions.
The Problem:
Educators look at content and technology as two separate entities, rather than one. Some educators believe that the best practices used to teach content cannot be integrated with technology. Research proves that active participation and collaboration enhance learning. Cooperative learning is one of the best practices in education. Schools want t the students to be actively participating and collaborating with others. However, we are given one document camera, one computer and one projector- it is a little difficult to involve ALL with only ONE. In order to maximize teaching time, it would be best to have all students participating and collaborating at the same time. It is important that teachers integrate best practices, content and technology in the classroom.
Solution #1:
iPads. ipads will allow students to both participate AND collaborate. Students can use GoogleDocs or GooglePresentation to create a paper or a presentation. Students could create a survey and have everyone answer it in a matter of minutes. The best part is that iPads are not only limited to active participation and collaboration, they have the ability to do so much more! Part of our project was to implement the solution into our classrooms and report back, but I ran into a major road block- school was out for the summer. So, I decided to find a second solution.
Solution #2:
Research. While I usually do a little research before implementing a new technology into my classroom, I usually do not got into an extensive search. However, for this process, I definitely searched around the internet for hours. This turned out to be very beneficial. I was shocked at all the information I found. Like other smaller Apple devices, I knew that the iPad did not support Flash sites. However, what I didn't know was that you can not edit a Prezi on an iPad nor can you edit a wiki. Two things I was hoping to do with the iPads in my classroom. This research allowed me to escape some technological difficulties that I may have come across in the classroom if it were not for the prior research. The research turned out to be a lot more beneficial than I thought.
TPACK
Technology and Pedagogy
In this instance the technology fits right into the pedagogy. As I stated earlier, research, such as Best Practices and Kagan Strategies, show that students benefit from cooperative and collaborative learning. The internet offers many different sites that have the ability for student collaboration. A perfect way to integrate technology and pedagogy. The iPad gives the students access to the internet to allow for the pedagogical strategies to take place. Students can do all this from their seats, without having to get a computer, turn it on, wait for it to load, etc. iPads can be up and running in much less time, and as we all know in education, time is precious.
Technology and Content
The generation we are teaching is different than ours. Technology is part of their lives. They have trouble grasping the concept of life before DVDs, MP3s, and cell phones. Part of their content is becoming technology. Put teaching technology as a separate entity may not be the best answer, especially if you can teach content and integrate technology. Teaching content doesn't have to be textbook, that the joy of technology. Tablets can be textbooks! Apple's motto for their handheld devices is: Thousands of Apps, Endless Potential. Apple has created an app for almost everything, almost every way to integrate content and technology. It is there, it is happening, it is available. But as educators, we have to find it, learn it, and apply it. The content is there for us lending itself to technology by using words as "collaborate" and "create" in the curriculum standards. iPads will give educators the flexibility that we don't have with laptops.
Pedagogy and Content
Using the teaching strategies of cooperative learning and collaborative groups, students can bring a whole new meaning to content with the help of an iPad. With an iPad at their fingertips students can work with people across the room in a group interacting on GoogleDocs and communicating with GoogleChat. With Skype students can learn culture and language through students across the world. This iPad is bringing pedagogy closer to the content then it has ever been before as it is taking the students to places they have never been. Group work is brought to an entire new level which holds every student accountable and create more active learners and they learn the various content. iPads are changing the way we do things in the classroom, but change is not always bad. In this case change is bringing technology, pedagogy and content all closer together and lessening the gap between the three.
As educators we need to embrace the now, learn from the past, and grow for our future. The iPad is the now of this generation.
Take a look at my Prezi of my presentation below:
For a larger version click here
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