Integrating Technology in the Classroom

Active learning is when students are engaged in the learning process, and they are not simply listening and recalling facts. Students that are actively learning will be engaged in activities that target several learning styles. A learning style is how an individual learns material best- whether it be auditory, visual, or kinesthetic/tactile. Active learning strategies will include lessons and activities that target these different learning styles. This ensures students with different learning styles are able to access the material in ways that suite them. Find out your learning style here.  Teachers can also give a learning style inventory to students at the beginning of the year to see how a majority of their class learns best. Image from EdSurge What does active learning actually look like? Luckily, we live in the 21st century. There are amazing websites and resources that teachers can use to ensure students are actively learning.  One teacher had his third...

Image from Framepool.com We all use the internet differently! Some of us grew up using smart technology, and some of us learned to surf the web using the infamous MySpace page in the early 2000's. We have all been exposed to the internet at some point regardless of our current comfort-level navigating these spaces. David White proposed a spectrum for "digital mapping". Digital mapping  helps to identify how and why we use the internet for different tasks. David White categorizes internet users along a spectrum with 'Visitor' and 'Resident' at opposite ends. Visitor users have a specific task in mind when they open the internet. They want to find information, and they usually do not leave a personal trace. On the other hand, resident users intend to connect with other people and leave a personal trace. Digital mapping then compares our visitor or resident status in both our personal and professional lives. This concept was easier for me to grasp wit...

Flipped learning is a relatively new approach that is gaining traction. In this video, I will discuss what flipped learning is and what pros/cons can come from flipping your classroom.  Image from Washington.edu Additional resources about flipped learning: Rethinking Space & Time The Flipped Learning Network Teaching for Tomorrow 7 Flipped Models for You to Try Engaging Millennial Students

When designing lesson plans and choosing instructional strategies, I often ask myself: Will the students be engaged in the material? Will the students be able to generalize the skills/content they are learning? What tools, games, and activities can I use to enhance this lesson? I supplement most lessons with tools on the interactive SMART board, iPad apps, and Dell computers in the classroom. There are several frameworks that can measure the appropriateness and effectiveness of these technology tools- and I am going to focus on the Triple E Framework .  The Triple E Framework Engage, Enhance, and Extend Image from TripleEFramework.com The Triple E Framework was developed in 2011 by Liz Kolb at the University of Michigan. This framework, unlike other technology frameworks, evaluates which tools are best as determined by the learning goals of a lesson. I love that this framework emphasizes learning goals over the specific technology tools themselves! As a ...

Hello! My name is Sarah Flaherty. I am currently pursuing my Master's in Special Education at Dominican University. I have been working as a paraprofessional in a few different special education classroom settings since 2014. I currently work in a K-3 multi-needs classroom in Darien, IL. Paraprofessionals on Halloween I am very excited to take EDU 776 Integrating Technology! Despite working with Smartboards, iPads, and communication devices daily, I consider myself "technologically challenged". Creating this blog seemed like a daunting task, but I look forward to practicing and learning new things. Some of my favorite ways we've integrated technology into the classroom are: Teachtown for social skills, Starfall for math and reading skills, and GoNoodle directed movement breaks. Image by  Teachtown Technology has been an invaluable tool for my students and their families. Things like touchscreens, voice recognition, and video modeling have made it ...