Discussion Session for Feb SMART PD

Modifications and Recommendations


Sessions for the serious in the summer and pay us the sub wage…. It saves money overall, and teachers would be refreshed and have time to plan further beyond their day.


Could there be another initiative to set up data projectors and mounting systems in classrooms. Schools could fundraise for themselves, just we would appreciate the IT help with mounting and troubleshooting issues.



I know that there are many teachers that would be interested in another roll-out of technology. But again keep the application process in place with the yearly checkpoints to ensure professional accountability to the board.



ONE MAJOR RECOMMENDATION… teachers who go on maternity leave or who are asked to move schools should either be placed with their Smartboard or have their Smartboard moved with them… Otherwise, where’s the motivation??? We have all composed many documents that we would like to use again – and it would probably be incredibly deflating to have the technology that has become essential to teaching disappear…



Where would we like to go???

I would like to get to the point in being either Transformation or Infusion area of the Matrix. I also want to continue to get the students involved in technology in all subject areas as I find that I focus on some subject areas more than others.


Year 1 Goals:

Initial Implementation

What worked…

We were able to use the Smart board in daily lessons, tools such as:

• Smart software (linking videos, webpages);

• assessment tools (Senteo Assessment tools to enhance formative assessment process in classroom);

• Wikis and Blogs for student, parent, teacher and administration communication;

• Off-site tutors (hospital tutors or traditional tutors) using teacher wikis and blogs; student publishing using classroom blogs;

• Interactive for students – increase student participation;

• Teacher accountability – the ability to save and print what we discussed during the class;

• Good for students who cannot copy notes from board (or even jot notes) or for students who miss classes.



What didn’t work…

• Transforming the documents from Word or Powerpoint into Smart board documents – Unfortunately it takes so much time to do this well;

• Smart software takes a lot of time to put together nicely. (a couple teachers say they prefer Powerpoint);

• Teacher assignment changes (ie subject, grade level) really impacts how much you can use from year to year;

• Wireless slate is not as interactive for students in the classroom, smart boards are better… however a wireless slate is better than nothing;

• Sometimes can be difficult when you have a sub… you have to print off the Smart docs for class, because no one wants to leave their computer for a sub.

• Not having our teacher laptops over the summer.. .this was a MAJOR CHALLENGE for planning for the following year.





Year 2

Collaboration

• Teachers are learning how to make wikis and blogs and how to use some of the Web 2.0 tools. In each school our group members have taught others to learn how to blog;

• When we were given the Smart Collaborative PD day – teachers were able to collaborate and teach each other how to use the different tools in various lessons.

• Confidence to share and collaborate with all teachers in the school to integrate different forms of technology –the school PD days are good for sharing time.

• The Smart board teacher sessions that we have each year allow for great time to collaborate… then in turn we go back to our schools and share what we have learned.



Benefits of Technology in the Classroom

• Having the Smart board has renewed our energy and enthusiasm – Having the technology whether it’s a Smart board or an airliner… has propelled us into constantly looking for ways to improve our teaching. Whether it’s learning how to integrate another form of technology that captures our students interest or ideas for planning.

• After the Smart board PD sessions we all felt renewed and energized to try out another innovative tool with the Smart board to capture our ever technology driven students.

• Students are way more enthusiastic about “handing in assignments” which can be turned in via e-mail or just posted on the site (ie: glogster, kidblog, voki avatar links)

• We love the idea of purchasing teacher laptops, but everyone wants IT support… This was stressed by all members of the group as being quite essential.