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Improving Communication and Collaboration...Help!

3/28/2014

 
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Purpose: I would like to continue to expand my personal learning network and I’d like to get input from outside and from within the district about how to improve our communication and collaboration system.  

I have become a huge fan of Google. I am an equally big fan of Apple and am extremely fortunate to work in a district that has a 1-to-1 MacBook initiative. I have spent the past two years with the title of Technology Integration Coach. This is/was a new position in the district. The title, itself, is the job description. I think it is safe to say that I stumbled my way through the first months of my tenure. My message has always remained the same. When it comes to creating a technology integrated environment, it is not about the tool, the product, application, or system. The focus needs to be placed on communication and collaboration...between students, teachers, teachers to students, and teachers to parents. The methods, whatever they may be, should increase the student’s access to a high quality education.

As an instructional/technology coach, my message to teachers has been that they should choose the method that works best for them. Yes, I have been an advocate for Google Apps for education, but it makes no difference to me whether they use DropBox, Google, or just email.

There have been a number of changes in systems and personnel in the district in recent history. Some of the system changes have had an affect on the district’s communication, collaboration, and information sharing needs. I now find myself advocating even more for Google. I am sure that we can utilize Google as our sole file and information sharing system. However, I am open to suggestions. We are also in the process of gathering information from other companies.

The goal is to provide students with access to content and encourage parent participation. We also need a system to organize and manage school work and curriculum files. Finally, the system needs to allow for collaboration between colleagues. We use Google in our district but not as a district. We also use Infinite Campus. Our email is an Exchange system. I think we can make better use of each of these tools in order to meet our goals. I would appreciate any and all input. What works for you as an individual? What system does your school/district use?




Jeff Stone
4/10/2014 08:09:52 am

I live on Pinterest for lessons. It has been a huge factor in my planning.

Scott Leffler
4/10/2014 08:22:19 am

I really like how technology is becoming bigger and bigger thing in the classroom. I fully agree that technology needs to be more incorporated into each class. Along with the piece of every student moves at their own pace technology can play a big part in helping the more advanced student achieve or be challenged more and help the students that need more help catch up and get to a point where they should be.

Scott Leffler
4/10/2014 08:26:13 am

I fully agree that students should be allowed to use their phones in class as an educational device, though the biggest problem that I have seen with this is that as the article states the student only uses it to text or access social media. Under the right direction using smart phone in class can be very successful.

Mikaela Hofbauer
4/10/2014 08:28:58 am

I feel that DIY Professional Development would be very beneficial to the teaching community as a whole. In the 14 Things That are Obsolete article, it was mentioned that a "one size fits all" curriculum does not work for students. I believe the same thing for teachers. We all need different forms of Professional Development according to our content areas, personal experiences, and teaching styles. Because of that, we should have the freedom to go in the directions that we choose. After all, we all have different classroom atmospheres and WE know our students. I think that Professional Development should be required, but it should be accompanied by the teachers free will.

Scott Leffler
4/10/2014 08:33:41 am

I really liked in the 14 things article about getting students healthier meals. I fully believe our students need to eat better. I feel our school does a pretty good job of making that happen. I believe our ag program has started to instill in their students how important growing our own food is and how health it can be.

Jeff Stone
4/10/2014 08:37:00 am

from 14 things.... “We do not learn from experience…we learn from reflecting on experience.” -John Dewey

Stephanie Dombrowski link
4/10/2014 08:38:02 am

I especially enjoyed the 14 Things Article. I liked how much emphasis was put on the importance of preparing the children of today for a future of an unimaginable tomorrow. I try really hard to keep my classroom relevant to the students that I teach through utilizing Edmodo and online submissions. I also try to connect to them through the use of YouTube to help my Remedial Reading students better immerse themselves in the world of what we're reading.
I enjoyed the quote on about how if a person in the past had been asked what they wanted, they would have replied that they would like a faster horse, when what they really wanted was a car. Our students will always want the next-best-thing in life. However, it has not been invented yet and they are likely going to be the generation to invent it.
It is very important to encourage independent creativity and competence with many different forms of technology so that the students will better be prepared for the future.

Scott Leffler
4/10/2014 08:39:43 am

I think it's really neat that professional development is now happening more and more through social media. I have found that being able to reach out to other teachers and find out what works and what doesn't through social media is very helpful. It can be a lot quicker than going to group meeting that you might not get anything


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