Week 14 Review: Technology 101 Skills for Teachers
a blog by Shelly Fryer
For my week 14 review, I am excited to come full circle since my first review and have the chance to read an article by Shelly Fryer, the wife of Wes Fryer who wrote Moving at the Speed of Creativity from my week 2 review. Shelly is a teacher, author, speaker, and an advocate for children who "passionate about helping kids love learning." In her blog post Technology 101 Skills for Teachers, she talks about her involvement in training teachers at workshops in many different states, particularly with Oklahoma A Plus Schools.
(If you don't know what A Plus Schools are, click here and you'll probably love it as much as I do). |
In navigating the many ways that technology can be powerful in the classroom, she poses the question: "What do teachers need in an introductory technology workshop supporting A Plus Essentials?” Her post explores the many different ways that she uses technology in her own classroom in order to support creativity and learning. First, she says that for iPads to be successful in the classroom "teachers need to be supported and encouraged to use their iPads to make and create."
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An important part of this process includes teachers building "app literacy." One obstacle for teachers is that many "do not yet have enough app literacy to see the value and purpose of using digital devices in these ways." She says that teachers need to begin by learning tech vocab, such as: |
Another thing that Shelly touches on is the necessity for teachers to have encouragement and support to create “channels” for saving and sharing student digital projects. This could be things like:
- Inside the classroom through posted QR codes at learning stations
- Outside the classroom on a class website
- Sending links of their work to parents
For more ideas on the importance of these different methods, check out this mini-keynote that Shelly and her husband shared at an iPadPalooza Conference last summer.
If you would like to watch more mini-keynotes from iPadPalooza, click here.
There are still many things that contribute to an effective introductory course to using technology in the classroom. If you would like to contribute to the conversation and see what other educators have to say, take a look at the comment section of Shelly's blog.
There are also many other resources on her website available to teachers, including handouts she has used at her educational presentations, a breakdown of the presentations that she gives, and examples of her classroom channels. I highly recommend her website for both teachers who are just beginning to find their way in the technology world and those who are already successfully integrating technology but are looking for a few more tools to add to their classroom.
There are also many other resources on her website available to teachers, including handouts she has used at her educational presentations, a breakdown of the presentations that she gives, and examples of her classroom channels. I highly recommend her website for both teachers who are just beginning to find their way in the technology world and those who are already successfully integrating technology but are looking for a few more tools to add to their classroom.
Rather than simply putting students on an app to reinforce or teach basic skills, I am convinced technology tools should be used to enhance and amplify student creativity." |
If you would like to see more from Shelly
and ShellyFryer.com: |
@burtnessenglish 11/30/2016