David Lee EdTech

Our school has bought over 20 iPad 2s and a syncing cart for the grades PK-2 to use. Middle and high school students are required to have and use MacBook Pros. 3rd to 5th grade students are allowed to use one of four MacBook Pro carts for classwork. Grades PK-2 attend my computer class twice a week, but they do not having any computing device that they can use in their classrooms. So the administrators decided to provide these grades with an iPad 2 cart.  So I have decided to lead a professional development on the use of iPads in PK-2 grade classrooms. Through informal observations of my colleagues, I used the ACOT Stages to see what stage of technology adoption most of them were in. Then I used Roger’s Adopters to see what level of the innovation spectrum they were in.  Next I performed a needs analysis that focused on iPad use in the classroom. I administered a seven question survey to all nine PK-2nd grade teachers and three specialist teachers. Here are the questions the survey:  ...

I have grouped all the resources I will use into two groups. Rationale for implementation Process of implementation The resources that focus on the rationale of implementation includes articles about student benefits such as, higher achievement in writing and the increase in proficiency in 21st century skills and literacy. The process of implementation includes articles that describes step-by-step method of implementing a 1:1 computing program, and also its rationale for these steps that are backed by research. I also hope to cite the textbook I am using in my EDEL 590 called The New Meaning of Educational Change by Michael Fullan. This book discusses numerous strategies that bring successful change, in this case would be the implementation of the 1:1 program. A summary of chapters 1 and 2 is in my previous post titled History of Change in Education and Strategies for Change. It was quite confusing in the beginning to know where to cite my resources. I first thought that all my resear...

[gallery] Here is a picture of how my New Tab page looks like. I also created a theme (background) using the Theme Creator app (its a picture of KIS). You need to go to the Pack tab and click on the “Pack and install theme” button to activate the theme. 

So this morning Mark, the 3rd to 5th grade computer teacher, came up to me and with great enthusiasm told me about the free Google educational apps that were made for elementary school students. He also explained that these apps could be downloaded onto your Google Chrome web browser (New Tab page) and can be synced to any other computer that has Google Chrome. He thought it would be great for students to go to one place and be provided with numerous educational apps.  A web browser with numerous educational apps is a great place for students to go to after they complete the objectives of my lessons. It would be a reward and a learning opportunity for the students who use the apps. Apps are also great because they usually focus on one aspect of their education. If I know a student is having trouble in math, I can instruct him to go the math app after he finishes the objective of my lesson. This New Tab page would be used similarly to bookmarking utilities, but I think the process of do...

So I just finished Skyping Tim Green about my master’s project. He seemed to be okay with my new topic. However, he told me to alter one aspect with my plan. He told me my focus should be more on one topic. I told him that I wanted to investigate the benefits of 1:1 computing programs, and also investigate the most effective method of implementing a program like this. Tim explained that the benefits of 1:1 would be the reason why educators should implement the program. This concept should be included in the rationale, with citations of resources, and not in the actual handbook. The handbook would be only about the effective implementation process.  He also asked me to email him with my edited version. This leads me to what I want to accomplish for the rest of the week.  Email Tim with new revised questions. Use the questions to make a new outline (questions will guide the process) Finish a 1st draft (hopefully) Let’s see how it goes. 

Here are two models that will help you to see where you are as a tech educator.  Stages of Adoption ( ACOT) (Sandholtz, Ringstaff and Dwyer, 1997)     Entry -  traditional technology being used and introduction of  computers makes teacher uncomfortable   Adoption   -  less time being frustrated and beginning to attempt to incorporate technology into direct instruction practices   Adaptation -  technology is being used as any other teaching and learning tool Appropriation -  understand technology and using it naturally and purposefully Invention -  how did I ever do it the ‘old way’? I think I am currently between adaptation and appropriation . I lead a computer class for PK-2nd grade students. We only use technology (mostly iMac computers) in the class and I strictly use digital media to present and teach 21st century concepts and skills. However, I don’t think I use technology in a natural and purposeful way yet. I am surrounded by technology and its use, but I belief this charac...

I began reading a book called “The New Meaning of Educational Change” by Michael Fullan. I plan to summarize what I read so that I retain the information better. Additionally, I would like to state that what I write may not be what the author was trying to say. It is the interpretation of what I read that I am documenting.  Chapter 1: A Brief History of Educational Change The pre-1950s era was considered the “progressive period” because of the educators and education intellectuals, such as John Dewey who wanted to change pedagogy using practical and intellectual principles. In the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s the U.S. government spent large amounts of money to make these reforms occur. However, schools and districts appeared to reform, when in fact most were not actually taking action. Since the 1980s education reform has been a focus, but little has actually been done to actually bring reform to action. Reform in education needs to happen because of the c...

For my last semester of my master’s program, I am taking EDEL 594: Research Seminar, which will be taught by Tim, Green, Ph.d. On the syllabus, it states that “learners in this course will complete their culminating project, which synthesizes the knowledge and skills acquired during their Master’s program and which presents a new product that can benefit the profession of education.” For the culminating project I plan to create a handbook that describes the most effective process of implementing a 1:1 computing program into a school.  I am extremely excited about this master project. I currently work at Korea International School that has already implemented this type of program for the middle and high school departments. I hope to see first hand the benefits of 1:1 computing and also its unproductive aspects (My guess would be the access to social network sites).  I believe creating a handbook that describes the framework implementing a 1:1 computer program will benef...

I got an email today from the ES principal informing all teachers who would like to lead an after-school club to send him an email with details. So here was the process of choosing what type of club I wanted to lead: A topic that would interest both my students and me: When I teach a concept or skill, I like to use examples that I know my students would understand and find interesting. These examples range from Pokemon to Korean-pop groups. However, the examples that get the most excitement are the Korean sports athletes (Kim Yuna for the girls and Park Ji Sung for the boys). Examples with soccer players would get the greatest reaction. This is the same reaction I have when I get involved in a conversation about soccer. I follow soccer religiously, checking ESPN five times a day. Soccer as the subject was a very easy decision. Technology: Being that I am the computer teacher, I thought that it would be appropriate for me to implement some type of technology into the club. But what? My ...

Yesterday, I created an edtech bookmarking page for KIS’s elementary school using Portaportal . During the first meeting for the Tech-Integration Committee, teachers expressed their frustration of not having a convenient source that teachers can access that provides educational technology resources. They stated that they did not know what Web 2.0 tools or online resources they could implement into their teaching or curriculum. By creating this bookmarking page, teachers can link to numerous resources that I have found in the past few years and also add their own links if they come across great edtech resources.  Here is the url to the edtech elementary school Portaportal:  http://guest.portaportal.com/esedtech Enjoy!!!

On Monday, it was Korea’s Independence Day; the most productive Independence Day I have ever had (Professional Development Day for KIS). As a result, some of my classes will only see me once this week. If I continue my lesson planning without addressing this situation, these classes would fall behind.  Mr. Page suggested that I have “holding lessons” when holidays or unexpected events like assemblies come along. These special lessons have students do activities that utilize software or Web 2.0 tools that they already know how to use. The purpose of these activities is to practice technology skills and utilize their knowledge to create work. An example of this would be to have students go onto their own blogs and reflect on their learning for the day. Another example could be for students to create a multimedia presentation about a topic or interest that they are familiar with. These lessons hold back classes, while students practice their skills and utilize their knowl...

During teacher prep week, I think the one thing that Mr. Page kept emphasizing was the importance of classroom management for the first week of school. However, during that week, I put most of my focus on the basic skills I wanted to teach my new students. I think this happened because I was so excited to use the knowledge I gained from my edtech master’s program for my computer class.  After finishing my first week of teaching, I realized I should have focused more on classroom management. My first class with my kindergarteners was hectic because of the lack of training the students had with my classroom procedures. Many students did not stay in their seats or line-up correctly. Some students kept going to their neighbors’ computers so they could not stay on task. As a result, I restructured my lessons throughout the week to focus more on my classroom expectations, rules, and procedures than basic computer skills. This change in focus made my classes more prod...

The principle goal of education is to create men and woman who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done.” -Jean Piaget

I taught yesterday’s lesson today to my other classes and I saw an improvement after each class. I realized that each time I taught the lesson there were less interruptions and I had more time to give instructions and model difficult skills. I added a new aspect to the lesson by comparing my computer lab to a control center of a spaceship. I first asked if the students ever watched a movie with a spaceship in it. Then I had them describe the features and characteristics of a spaceship control center. They stated that a captain and crew worked together in separate workstations to accomplish different missions. The captain gave orders to the crew and the crew worked diligently in their positions. Crew members were never off-task, eating and drinking in their workstations, or participated in any type of foul-play. I explained to the class that the teacher of the computer lab is the captain and the students are the crew members. They learned that they should behave in my...

Welcome to my teacher reflection blog. I plan to document my progress in teaching a computer class for the first time. I hope to reflect on my lessons and teaching methods to help me become an effective educator. Last week’s KIS Faculty Inservice  was an awesome time for me to get situated into KIS, the elementary school department, and especially my computer classroom. This would not have happened without the presence of  Mr. Page  (Mark), my master teacher and the person I am taking over for the 1st and 2nd grade computer class. He has taught me the procedures of running the computer lab, numerous classroom management skills, and the different teaching strategies that would make my instructions more effective. Additionally, his energy and passion for educational technology motivates me to become the best computer instructor I can be. Well, I did it! I finished my first day of school. I met my awesome new students and I am excited to start a yearlong journey with th...