at King Science and Technology Magnet. Since we are a technology magnet, we pride ourselves with having the latest and greatest technology has to offer. We couldn’t recruit students from across the district if we didn’t provide what our students are coming to our school for; science and technology.We have 4 mobile labs available for teachers to check out to use in their classrooms. We also have 4 computer labs that are used by our four computer teachers. These computer labs are not available to reserve. Our students take a semester long computer class every year and the computer labs are used for this instruction.
The mobile labs are a great resource for teachers to use, but are not
always available when needed. We have approximately 50 teachers in grade 5-8 that have to share the four mobile labs and reserving a time to use them is not always an easy task. This makes it difficult when a teacher tries to integrate technology into the curriculum and the technology isn’t readily available. In the past this has deterred teachers from even attempting to integrate technology into the classroom because they see it as more of a hassle than it’s worth.We also have 10 laptop computers in each math classroom to be used for Fast Math, a computer program designed to help build fluency in multiplication facts. The math teachers are not allowed to share these computers in order to account for the computers at all times. Although this program is great for students, a con of integrating this into the math classrooms is that the computers don't get used as often as they should. Fast Math is designed to be a quick practice and once the students are done the computers sit there for the rest of the class period. It seems that sometimes when technology gets incorporated into the classroom it gets stuck. Instead of thinking for ways to improve the use of these computers we just get stuck in the thinking that they can't be used for anything other than the math program.
King Science also puts so many others types of technology into the hands of our students. Our students use ipods to record fluency, listen to books, listen to podcasts, create podcasts and so much more. We also have interactive white boards, or smart boards, in about half of our classrooms. Smart Boards are a great way to incorporate engaging technology into the classroom. Each teacher was provided an Elmo, which replaces overhead projectors. Elmos can display 3-D images onto the projection screen which makes learning more up close and personal.
We need to learn to use it before we can lead others in the same direction!
I love your last statement! We do need to learn before we lead. Excellant Point! I think that it would be neat to work in a building with all that technology. It makes it easier to integrate technology when you have access to the material whether it be the use of software or hardware.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you that having the technology in the schools is great but no matter what the school or district it seems the teachers need to be better trained in order to fully utilize the capabilities. It seems that at King Science you are obviously ahead of the game technologically but are ALL of your teachers up to speed on what is going on? I know that even in our tiny school some of the teachers are way behind the eight ball on integrating technology in any of their lessons. Great post!
ReplyDeleteKing Science does sound like it hosts a variety of technology and exposes the kids to so much. I can imagine that it must be frustrating though as a teacher to not be able to utilize the mobile labs on a more consistent basis. At my school I would say we are spoiled but I bet many of our teachers don't know how spoiled we are. We have three mobile labs for 12 classrooms, as well as each classroom now has a Smartboard and an Elmo. Though we are spoiled many of us have not been trained effectively on using the SmartBoard. You are so right. Training is key to effective integration.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that training is the key to fully utilizing whatever technology is available. The key to the training is also the timing. At our last textbook adoption (it feels like decades ago) we had a full day training on all of the discs and computer supported material that came with the text. We had no computers at Norris at the time, so the training was wasted on me. I have a computer now, but don't remember a thing from the training and have no idea where any of those "extras' even are stored in our building.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post. It is nice to know what is available for students in our district.
Mary- many of our teachers teach at our school specifically for the technology. They are probably ahead of the game when it comes to understanding and implementing technology. But we also have to complete opposite. Teachers that are not tech savvy at all and who feel very uncomfortable implementing technology into the classroom. Training needs to be provided, but Kris is right, timing is the key! Teachers don't want to stay after school to learn something that is already challenging. And having the right training materials available during the actual training is a must in my eyes!
ReplyDelete