Twiiter Chat

Completed my second Twitter chat tonight!

#dojochatANZ Maximising student engagement

Love the energy and ideas from twitter chats. I learn so much. I must do more!

Should Technology Drive Curriculum?

Reflective Teaching 30 Day Blog Challenge

Day 28: Respond: Should technology drive curriculum or vice versa?

I believe that curriculum should drive the use of technology not the other way around. The learning objective itself comes first and technology should only be used if it fits with the learning content and enhances it. As tempting as it is to choose technology over curriculum, especially when there are so much amazing new technologies out there,  it is the actual learning content that should be prioritised. Technology gives us great tools and skills for the future but if technology drives our curriculum we are losing sight of why we are at school in the first place.

The technology that I use in the classroom is minimal at the moment, mostly because I'm still trying to focus on delivering the classroom program. Having said that if I learn of a tool that I know would be useful to what the children are learning I am open to using it and I love learning about new technologies that I can use. Sometimes there are too many to remember!

I have recently been introduced to Kidspiration and have used it in a whole class brainstorm for writing to great effect. The kids were engaged as it was different to our usual brainstorms on the whiteboard and also because we could add pictures it worked well for the more visual learners in the classroom.

My Top Edtech Tools

Reflective Teaching 30 Day Blog Challenge

DAY 13: Name the top edtech tools that you use on a consistent basis in the classroom and rank them in terms of their perceived effectiveness.

The top edtech tools that I use as a teacher are:

1) Apple iPad - these are used often in my classroom with children using apps as part of the rotation for numeracy and literacy. They are great at engaging children in their learning in fun ways.

2) YouTube - great to bring a visual or even just aural component into the classroom that gives variety rather than just me talking!

3) Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers - I use these tools often to plan my lessons/units and get new ideas.

4) Twitter- I love this tool for networking with other teachers and for reflecting (what I also use this blog for!)

Just to add to this an edtech tool that I think would be great but haven't had the chance to use yet is Ted-Ed. I hope to be able to use this one in the classroom soon!

Please comment if you have any you would like to share.

Technology In The Classroom

Reflective Teaching 30 Day Blog Challenge

DAY 2: What new piece of TECHNOLOGY would you like to integrate in the classroom?

Perhaps not "new" technology but I would love to use video conferencing in the classroom.