Teaching Technology Outside the Computer Lab Robert Horgan Bridges to Learning Conference May 9, 2009 Mississauga, ON

About Me Doctoral studies in education at Queen’s University M. Ed. Technology in Education from Lesley University B. Ed. Queen’s University Varied teaching experience from K to Post-Secondary Two years teaching third grade in Las Vegas Five years experience at Sheridan College

My Interests Support the use of information and communications technology (ICT) in the classroom Better prepare teachers to integrate ICT in teaching and learning Research models of preparing preservice teachers to value educational technology and how to develop skills to become lifelong learners of ICT

About You Who are you and why are you here?

Agenda Framework for teaching technology outside the computer lab Digital Literacy and Technology Logic & Reasoning and Technology

Traditional Ways of Teaching Teacher is holder of knowledge Teacher uses chalkboard to introduce material Students “learn” at the pace of the teacher Teacher assigns questions 1-12, from the text Students submit answers for grading If g > 50%, student moves up a grade

What Are We Really Teaching Dependency The teacher is the expert If a teacher is not an expert in technology, students will not be able to maximize their learning Shift to Interdependency Teacher is the facilitator Students share their learning with the rest of the class including the teacher

Unfortunate Trends in Teaching Technology Teacher knows very little about technology but tries to mask this from the students by encouraging students to play menial games Teacher uses PowerPoint like a chalkboard Students “learn” at the pace of the teacher Teacher assigns questions 1-12, from the text Students submit answers for grading If g > 50%, student moves up a grade

Unfortunate Misconception of Students Today Grown up Digital Don Tapscott

Grown Up Digital Students know: How to use to computers How to conduct research on the web How to learn new software How to discern How to problem solve

Problems in the Computer Lab What are some of the challenges of teaching in the computer lab?

Bottom Line In the computer lab: Students become producers of knowledge IF they are digitally literate and can think critically Students need to be taught skills in digital literacy and logic and reasoning to become effective users of technology

Digital Literacy The basics Vocabulary Reading Writing

About Books Before we learn to read, we learn about books This is: The spine How to hold a book The front cover The title page The verso page (publisher, author, illustrator

About Computers What is important for students to know about computers?

Vocabulary Which vocabulary words are essential to working efficiently in the computer lab?

Vocabulary Words Verbal CommandsSight Words/Icons

Reading Books vs. online sources Researching online sources Decoding online text Evaluating online source material Organizing information (Martin & Madigan, 2006)

Books vs. Online Sources With respect to print and video materials: 1.Libraries search for and order appropriate material 2.Schools select books and learning materials 3.Parents search for and purchase books and movies With respect to online sources: 1.Who is screening online material for our students?

Researching Online What procedures should be taught to students how to research materials online Safe Search is On! Filtering Big Brother is watching

Decoding How effective are reading strategies for print when used for reading online materials: Web Sites PDF documents Word documents Online dictionaries Text to speech resources

Evaluating Online Source Material What do students need to be taught in order to evaluate and discern online source material?

Organizing Information How should students organize information they find online? Copy/Paste into Word document Saving Word documents Save web pages as HTML Bookmark/Add to Favorites Delicious.com

Writing Online Beyond target audience, Beyond purpose in writing, Beyond content, What type of technology are you writing for? , blog, web site, txt msg, PDF, script for video

Logic & Reasoning Two ways of teaching logic & reasoning: “Think Harder!” Or Teach thinking strategies Modeling, scaffolding,

Logic & Reasoning What is technology? Why do we use it? How do we learn it? Where can we use it? Who uses technology? When should we use technology?

What is Technology? General definitions Low tech, high tech Information and communications technology (ICT) Assistive technology Adaptive technology Extension of human activity to improve our lifestyle

Why Use Technology? Automation Access to Information Collaboration Publication Distribution

Before Going to the Computer Lab What are you going to do in the computer lab? Why?

How Can I Learn About Technology? Workshops Course Trial and Error YouTube Learning Communities

Learning New Technologies How many software programs have you ever used? How did you learn them?

Learning About Technology Case in point: Using videos to teach MS PhotoStory 155/social/story/index.shtml

How Can We Use Technology? Legal Limitations Sexting Harassment & bullying Source: lsMkiGok&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mahalo.com%2FSexting&feature=player_embeddedhttp:// lsMkiGok&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mahalo.com%2FSexting&feature=player_embedded

Where Can We Use Technology Social Limitations Physical presence of technology Use of technology in social situations Physical Limitations Memory and storage capacity Network accessibility Access to a power source

Who Uses Technology? Find a career occupation that does not use any form of technology.

When Should We Use Technology? Efficiency and productivity Target audience Personal preference

Stages of Knowing Don’t know what you don’t know Know what you don’t know Know what you know Don’t know what you know

Logic & Reasoning in Research and Data Collection Who wrote this article? What is this article really about? Where in the world does this information come from? Why is this information posted on the Internet? When was this article written? How credible is this information?

Critical Thinking in Action Case in point Use the search string “Martin Luther King” Select

Critical Thinking Skills What common problems do your students face and what type of logic & reasoning do they need to solve those problems?

References Martin, A. & Madigan, D. (2006). Digital Literacies for Learning. (Eds.), London: Facet.