Group+9+Module+12

1. What does research say about the topic? SUSANNAH: Reading transforms us. Now, "new literacies of the future" must include the internet and new technology, and all the "skills, strategies, and insights necessary to successfully exploit the rapidly changing information and communication technologies that continuously emerge in our world." We must change our teaching to teach students 1) how to learn to learn new tecnologies 2) how to critically evaluate information ( not eveything on the web is legitimate) 3) how to effectively "surf the web" so they can find what they are looking for 4) social strategies so they know what type of information they need and how to quickly exchange it 5) to use the internet to provide a culturally richer education 6) how to include traditional strategies and apply them to new technology (technology is not to completely replace traditional strategies). MANDY: The book says "reading a book changes us forever" but we are also "changing" the way we read books. It also states that with in the next few years every classroom will have a computer with internet access. The continuously changing technologies of literacy mean that we must help childern learn how to learn new technolgies of literacy. RENEE: Research shows that talking story books increase reading comprehension and decoding skills. Research shows that students using the Internet to complete a classroom project showed significant greater achievement than students not using the Internet to complete the project. Technology has changed so much since this text was printed. SUSANNAH: Yes, it seems that this edition needs to be updated especially if they are going to continue using it. PEGGY: Reading has already started changing. The effects of accessing books online and the use of such technologies as Kindle books is proof that changes are taking place. The use of computers are not the only technololgies for the classroom.

2. Evaluate your comfort zone with 5 being really comfortable with the new literacies (technologies) which are available today. SUSANNAH: I am probably a 3-4 because I am excited about the new technologies and feel that I am ahead of most other teachers. Part of this is because my principal has been amazing and a pioneer in classroom technolgy. She has had technology trainers come to our school so that we ate least have trainging on how to use promethean boards, podcasts, digital story telling, and so on. Every classroom, including small tutoring special ed rooms, have promethean boards. Every classtroom has at least 4 computers. I think the teachers in our school are more technology savy as a whole, than other TPS schools. The reason I do not consider myself a full 4 or 5 is because I have not had a chance to really master all the programs yet. But I will! Unlike some teachers, I do not think my 4th graders know more about computers than I do.

RENEE: I would rate my comfort zone with new literacies as a 3. I just got a smartboard in my classroom last year and I have taken several Smartboard classes, but I have so much I need to learn like creating lesson plans. This class was the first time I have ever heard the word wiki. I really like the wiki discussions and would like to create a wiki space for my students.

MANDY: I guess I would have to say a 3 as well. Right dab in the middle. People think that since I am younger I automatically know a lot about technolgy or the computer, but I grew up being outside, working, and playing sports. There wasn't a whole lot of time for computer. There are three technologies that I think are my best; smartboard, smart table and the computer/internet.

PEGGY: I probably would have to rate myself as a 2 at this time. Being from the old school before technology I have a lot to learn. I hope to upgrade in order to at least stay up with my students. These classes have helped me by forcing me to use more technology. Education for the future is the use of more technology, and I believe our society is the reason for this demand.

3. Plan ways to incorporate new literacies into your classroom curriculum. What do you need to have to incorporate them? Where are you going for expertise? SUSANNAH: I will finally be using alot of the educational websites that I heard about, but never investigated before, such as freerice.com and starfall.com (which I thought was only for kdg & 1st grade). I will have a second chance to use and evaluate TPS computer programs such as Earobics, Compass Learning, Fast Math, System 44 and Read180. I took workshops at the end of last year on digital story telling and podcasting and plan to integrate these into my classroom and hopefully teach the students how to use those programs. I also think that learning to use microsoft Word is an important skill, so students will have a chance to type up their own stories. Along with our promethean boards, our principal also got us each Elmos. Elmos are a compact machine that you can use to project, say, a book page, on to your promethean board. So, for example, when you read a book to the students, you put it under the ELMO so they can read along with you, see the pictures, and so on, on the promethea board. You can also take pictures and video with the Elmo that are immediately up loadable to the internet and can be used to make digital story books. We also will each have a digital camera and digital video recorder so we can upload video of our classroom and make short videos that can be viewed by students and other grades. For example, we made a digital story last year where all my 4th graders each welcomed the next year students to 4th grade and told then what they liked best about 4th grade (even if it was just recess). I am "ready to role" with technology, thanks to our principal, who used Title I money, not only get us the technology, but also to get us trained - which included scheduling during staff meetings and a stipend to teachers who stayed for the whole training. Now, if our new principal will continue the trend, and let us teach the students how to read the right way, I'll be in teacher heaven! Yeah! MANDY: I too will be using educational reading resources that Dr. Sargent has given us, and what I have learned from other teachers through this course. I couldn't believe how many websites are out there to use on the computer. The thing I like about these websites is that one website can serve many different age levels, and learning needs. And this is what I need to use with my special education kids who are all on different levels. RENEE: I will be using my smartboartd much more. I will need continued professional development to keep up with the latest technology. I will seek out professional development opportunities provided by TPS.

PEGGY: I will being learning for the first time how to utilitize the computer to transfer information to a projector. I will also be learning how to utilize wingage for keeping records, lesson plans, etc. I hope to visit and pick the brains of teachers with smart boards, I would love to learn how to use one.

SUSANNAH's question: Anyone have any questions for me about the programs above? The READ180 and System44 program require over $10,000 start up costs and then $1000s of dollars per license (one license per student), so I think only large school districts can afford them. There is also the question of, "could the money per student" be spent better, say, on classroom libraries? Even the promethean board complete set- up, including the projector, etc coast about $8000 each, so that is $8000 per classroom. There is a debate. I am simply going to try to take as much advantage of the opportunities that the technology affords to motivate students to read, and if the students can leave my room more computer savy than others, that will give them an important advantage as they interact with technology in the future. What do you think? RENEE: I have never heard of READ 180 or System 44, what are they? Are they recommended by TPS? SUSANNAH: Yes, Cooper was the pilot school for System44, which was just implemented this last year. I know it ( the thrust for technology) came from my principal, maybe the principal has to ask, or maybe the principal gets invited to use the programs, I don't know. My principal got noticed as a principal who promotes techno;ogy in her school. She spent most of her money on computers and promethean boards. When the school does READ180 they get computers that are to be used for READ180. This works well because, if you get enough licenses, then there are students scheduled to work on them all day and you get more computers for your classroom (that still need to be used for READ180, but if you are mainstreaming they will get plenty of READ180 use! )I think TPS rewards principals who take initiative and show interest in technology. They are not going to go to your principal and try to convince him or her to spend $ on technology. We have over 700 students - so it takes considerable persistence to fight for computers in every room. I have heard of schools who have brand new smart boards in their closets/storage but no one in the school uses them, or gets training. Be sure to ask around in case there are some hanging out in your school closets!

PEGGY: Susannah, I LOVE the READ 180 program!!!! I would love to have the READ 180 in our main district classrooms versus the SRA reading program. I saw a lot of success with my guys and think it is a great program especially for older students.

RENEE's QUESTION? What technology have you found successful to use with your lesson plans? MANDY: Smartboard. You can tech just about anything with the right website on the smartboard and the kids are active participants. RENEE: Thank you Mandy. I have a Smartboard in my classroom. I plan to use it more next year. SUSANNAH: try to get training if you can - it makes a huge difference! PEGGY: The READ 180 program, but you have to remember I was in an institutional setting and technology was extremely limited.

MANDY's QUESTION: Are there any professonal developments available that incorporate technology? RENEE: TPS offers Smartboard classes for teachers every month. SUSANNAH: They also offer classes on Podcasting and digital story telling (the software is free from Microsoft Windows). They are good classes and well worth the $35 they would each cost if you are not wth TPS. PEGGY: Our district provides classes through the 8th floor training with TCC.


 * PEGGY's QUESTION: For a new teacher starting in the classroom which of the technologies discussed would you recommend as a first to tap into and learn about?**