Summary
Technology Integration is simple - you integrate technology into your curriculum. This doesn't have to get messy - in fact, even the simplest of ideas can create a curriculum with technology integration. Whether it's as simple as students blogging to reflect on class time, using a website or app to help develop ideas or even, to the large extent, using an app or entire program to complete a project - the possibilities are endless.
The "How To" of Technology Integration
Try it. And be ready and willing to fail. A simple idea is your gateway to being successful - rather than fearing the results, try something and if it doesn't work...move on! Something that works for one area or one teacher may not work for you - and the same app might be used in multiple ways. The "How To" is really up to you - it's your willingness that makes it happen.
Cross-Curricular Resources
There are hundreds of resources out there that are not specifically built for one subject area over another - in fact, most apps and resources can be applied in any situation. Here are a list of some of the more widely used resources teachers use across all content areas.
Moodle: A private communication tool set up by our district that creates an extensive online learning environment.
Edmodo: A social network built specifically for schools and students to communicate effectively and safely. Youtube: A video library by the millions - upload videos for instruction, use videos for instruction, or have students use as a resource - warning, not all material is school safe. Schooltube: The safe, less extensive version of Youtube. Poll Anywhere: Create simply, live polls for you students to interact with - creates instant results visible to students. Socrative: Similar to Poll Anywhere, this is a more extensive approach to online surveys. Survey Monkey: Same concept as Socrative. Pinterest: Compile lesson ideas for yourself or have students create boards to help develop their ideas and resources further. Wix: Create a class website or even have students develop a website for a project or reason of your choosing. A more advanced interface. Weebly: Create a class website, blog, or even have students develop a website for a project or reason of your choosing. A simpler interface in comparison to Wix. (Hey! That's what this website is!) Prezi: A fun and exciting way to present - use Prezi to create "canvas" style presentations that take viewers throughout your presentation, not just left to right in a specific sequence. (Prezi App here.) Symbaloo: Yet another way to bookmark your favorite sites and resources - your bookmarks look like "widgets" on your screen, easy to access and organize. Share your bookmarks too! |
iMovie (app): Create and edit videos for your class to help you flip your classroom.
Pages (app): Apple's simplified version of Word; our district plans to use this when 1:1 is fully implemented. Keynote (app): Apple's simplified version of Powerpoint; our district plans to use this when 1:1 is fully implemented. Numbers (app): Apple's simplified version of Excel; our district plans to use this when 1:1 is fully implemented. VoiceThread (app): Voice over a video and add your own text, drawings, or instruction along side it. DropBox (app): Dropbox lets you bring all your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily. Access any file you save to your Dropbox from all your computers, iPhone, iPad and even the Dropbox website! Evernote (app): A versatile note-taking app and much more. Create a note, create a notebook and share a notebook for collaborative editing. Easily send web pages, emails, etc. directly to Evernote for curation. Skype (app): Use Skype across the world to connect with other educators, speakers for your classroom, or class to class collaboration. Real time, chat and video display enabled. Splashtop 2 (app): Control your desktop from your iPad - this app lets you view your desktop and use it over a wireless connection. Google Drive: Collaborate, build, share, send...well, do pretty much do anything you can with documents important to you - anything from Word to PDF to ePub, Google Drive is one of the best ways to collaborate. Glogster: Share a Glog - interactive posters loaded with text, graphics, music, videos, and more. In 2009 Glogster launched Glogster EDU, a secure learning platform for teachers and students. |