Discussion Week 5 EDTC 640 by Jessica Valenstein https://padlet.com/jessica_valenstein/za762jyfje91 Made with an open mind en-us 2019-03-06 19:27:36 UTC 2025-10-09 06:23:42 UTC hello@padlet.com 1. What resonated with me? jessica_valenstein https://padlet.com/jessica_valenstein/za762jyfje91/wish/338575883 One way to help teachers who are struggling with technology is to build a tech team at your school (Work, 2014). Find people (teachers, support staff, administrators) who enjoy using technology! Work together to find ways to encourage, support, and help teachers who are struggling with technology. 

This seems like a GREAT idea. I am currently the tech facilitator at my school plus a first grade teacher so I get very overwhelmed at times. I feel that I do not have enough time to support staff  when it comes to technology. Therefore, I might try to find people at my school that I could make a little tech team with. ]]> 2019-03-06 19:31:30 UTC https://padlet.com/jessica_valenstein/za762jyfje91/wish/338575883 2. Motivation jessica_valenstein https://padlet.com/jessica_valenstein/za762jyfje91/wish/339597797 Motivating teachers to use technology is very important. Therefore, HOW do we motivate them to do this?

What struck a chord with me when doing the readings this week was finding out all of the different ways that you can motivate teachers to use technology. "A little encouragement is not enough....perhaps more teachers would embrace technology if they knew they would be rewarded for using it versus being punished for not using it" (Starr, 12). Strong incentives is a great way to motivate teacher. At my school, we give out gift cards, titles like Staff Member of the Month (which also gives you a free day off whenever you want), and more! I've decided I am going to discuss with my principle ways that our school can reward teachers who use technology!]]> 2019-03-09 20:12:46 UTC https://padlet.com/jessica_valenstein/za762jyfje91/wish/339597797 3. Practice what you preach! jessica_valenstein https://padlet.com/jessica_valenstein/za762jyfje91/wish/339598801 What's the point of motivating teachers to use technology if you do not use technology yourself in the classroom? Practice what you preach! Therefore, how can I apply this information to my own classroom? I can begin by using technology that I have trained staff on, on a regular basis in the classroom. For example, this week I just did a training at my school on the software "EDPuzzle". I showed teachers how they can use the software for any subject and grade level. Next, I showed staff how I have been using EDPuzzle in the classroom and it has been very engaging for students. What is awesome is, I received lots of feedback from teachers stating that they have already tried it in the classroom since our training and they love it! They also stated that they enjoyed being trained on something that was not too hard to use and was very applicable to themselves and what they teach. Therefore, I will continue to use technology in the ways that I have been training staff on, to prove that it works and is fun to use in the classroom for the teacher AND students!]]> 2019-03-09 20:24:50 UTC https://padlet.com/jessica_valenstein/za762jyfje91/wish/339598801 4. Professional Development jessica_valenstein https://padlet.com/jessica_valenstein/za762jyfje91/wish/339599465 Professional development is one of the best ways to introduce technology use to staff members. After completing the readings this week for this course, I felt motivated myself to try new strategies to encourage more teachers to use technology! One idea I had was for the professional developments I am making for the DTTP. I was thinking of ways to reward staff members each day at the PD for finding ways to use technology in the classroom. We can start off each PD with a short conversation about teachers who have found ways to use technology that WEEK! Then, I will give out rewards to teachers who have been actively seeking ways to incorporate technology so that I can motivate others to do the same. ]]> 2019-03-09 20:32:30 UTC https://padlet.com/jessica_valenstein/za762jyfje91/wish/339599465 5. Six Principles of Knowle's Theory of Adult Learning jessica_valenstein https://padlet.com/jessica_valenstein/za762jyfje91/wish/339600502 1. Need to Know
  • At my PD, I will make sure to start off by stating the objective for the day so that my participants know the reason they're being asked to learn.
2. Experience
  • It is important to build on existing knowledge when teaching/presenting a new topic. Therefore, I will take my Needs Analysis survey serious when planning my professional developments. I will look to see what my participants already know about technology and how can I build upon that.
3. Self-Concept
  • I will provide a lot of choice for my participants as they are learning at my PD. For example, I will be incorporating a lot of activities that involve creating new things on certain software. However, I will allow my participants to choose which software they want to use from a list that I have.
4. Readiness
  • My PD will help solve the problems that staff members stated in the Needs Analysis Survey. A lot of staff members stated they need more training on Google Classroom. Therefore, I will incorporate this into the PD to help solve this immediate problem.
5. Problem Orientation
  • As my participants are creating new things on the software they are using, I will be constantly helping to make sure my participants are really growing in this new skill they are trying.
6. Intrinsic Motivation
  • Yes, I will be giving rewards each day for teachers who are applying what they are learning at the PD into the classroom. However, I will also remind teachers how incorporating technology into the classroom also is rewarding when looking at student growth! Technology is very engaging for young learners because it is what they relate to. Therefore, once you start incorporating technology more, compare student grades to what they were before. I will also share studies of schools that have incorporated technology in the classroom on a daily basis versus schools that do not and compare student scores.


]]> 2019-03-09 20:46:38 UTC https://padlet.com/jessica_valenstein/za762jyfje91/wish/339600502 References jessica_valenstein https://padlet.com/jessica_valenstein/za762jyfje91/wish/339602323 Starr, L. (2012). Encouraging teacher technology use. Education World. Retrieved from https://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech159.shtml

Work, J. (2014). 5 tips to help teachers who struggle with technology. George Lucas Educational Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/help-teachers-struggling-with-technology-josh-work
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