Recently, I had a conversation with a teacher who felt that technology in the K-2 level was not beneficial to students. Their concern was that the students were “too young” to use technology or that it would not be relevant for students. So, when I was invited to attend the K-2 Can Too conference by the amazing Susan Stewart, I jumped on the chance to hear about all of the ways that technology is being used in the K-2 classrooms.
Many people don’t know this, but my career in education began in elementary classrooms. Over time, I realized that my passion was working with secondary students but I do have fond memories of working with elementary students and teachers. It was enjoyable to attend this conference because it brought back memories of working with our littlest learners. It reminded me of all of the skills that our students have learned from K-6 that support them in our secondary world. In a way, I wish that all of our secondary teachers could spend a day in an elementary classroom and see where their students have come from.
Anyways, onto the good stuff! Here are my takeaways:
Let Students (and Teachers) Play!
My biggest takeaway was the idea of play. Let students play. Let teachers play. Using technology can be taught but it will be retained by the users when they are allowed to play and explore. Often times, teachers have difficulty relinquishing control of their classroom to their students – especially when it comes to technology use. There is always an excuse, “They are too young”, “They will break the device”, etc. These are just excuses. As educators, we have to allow our students the opportunity to learn. Allow them to play with an app, device, and/or tech tool before you begin a lesson or project. The students may find a way to use these resources in a way you did not imagine. Then, as you begin introducing the lesson or project, students will now be viewing it through the lens of the tech tools that they will be using. The possibilities are endless but it starts with one idea: Play.
Managing Student Devices
One of the sessions I attended was by Ann Kozma titled “Workflow and Management 101”. As I attended this session with my “middle school hat” on, I was reminded of how early elementary teachers have to manage the devices that are in the classroom. In middle school world, my students are responsible for their own device. They do not leave it in the classroom – it’s their responsibility. In elementary school, the teachers are responsible for managing and distributing the devices. In the session, it was really interesting to see all of the ways that these devices were managed for teachers that did not have Chromebook or iPad carts. Basically, Ann repurposed items such as dish racks to store the devices, numbered them, and added a powerstrip to the dishrack. She also reached out to the staff and parents to donate earbuds that they had received with their Apple products. Think about it – we all probably have a couple of brand new earbuds in our house from purchasing Apple products.
After hearing this, I found myself thinking…”If K-2 students can use and manage their devices, why do our secondary teachers get so nervous about it?” I’ll come back to this idea later.
Flipgrid, Google Earth, Ozobots, Oh My!
I am always astounded at how many new EdTech apps, resources, and features are continuing to be released. There is so much technology to use that it can get overwhelming. However, I always tell teachers to take a few ideas back to their classroom and really focus on just one or two. Here are some EdTech resources I am excited to use:
- Flipgrid – A flipped classroom approach to using video for igniting student discussion and engagement. Flipgrid fever – everyone has it! I’ve used it with other teachers but cannot wait to try it in my classroom. If you haven’t checked out this amazing tool yet, you need to…ASAP.
- Google Earth – Enables you to explore the globe with a swipe of your finger. Remember the old Google Earth that had to be downloaded? Well, that is gone and it has been replaced with a completely web-based version. It’s fantastic and beautiful and there are so many ways this can be used in the classroom. (FYI – This session was done by some of my favorite people Rosalinda Jaimes and Michelle Osinski. Yep, Ro. I did blog on vacation.)
- Ozobots – Small, smart toy robots that empower gamers and learners to code, play, create and connect the physical and digital worlds. Playing with these little robots was one of my favorite parts of this event. For students, this would be an amazing way to introduce coding and the logic behind it. Students are able to create a track based upon certain colors, place the Ozobot on it, and have it run through the track. Based upon the color patterns, the Ozobot may go forward, backward, faster, slower, u-turn, etc. It is so much fun!
- Google Cheat Sheets – These cheat sheets were created by Ben Cogswell and they are phenomenal. This is a resource that I will definitely be sharing with our staff members when we return!
If K-2 Can Do It…Then Everyone Else Needs to Step Up Their Game
So…I told you I would come back to this idea. If our littlest learners can purposefully use technology in the classroom…then why isn’t everyone? If a first grader can use Flipgrid, then a 7th grader can use it, too. In fact, not only can the 7th grader use this technology but they can take it to the another level. Over the last year, I have heard a lot of things about why my students are able to use technology in the classroom, mostly the comment “Well, your students are Honors students”. However, as I attended these sessions, I saw that even K-2 students can use these resources in their classroom – which is powerful. If K-2 can, why can’t everyone?
There is so much fear when it comes to using technology in the classroom. But, guess what? Technology is here and it isn’t going anywhere. The world in which our students will be employed will rely heavily on technology and we must help them understand how to use these tools for a purpose. Plus, let’s be honest. Your students enjoy using technology. It engages and inspires them. So, find ways to make it educational and purposeful so that they will be prepared for the future.
"Mara ya mwisho nilipokuwa na mazungumzo na mwalimu mmoja, niliona kwamba teknolojia katika kiwango cha K-2 haikuwa na manufaa kwa wanafunzi.""" Walizoea kuwa wanafunzi ni vijana sana kutumia teknolojia au kwamba haifai kwa wanafunzi. "Kama nilivyofanya katika mkutano wa K2 Can Too, Susan Stewart aliandika: ""Nilikuwa na furaha sana kusikia juu ya njia zote ambazo teknolojia inatumiwa katika madarasa ya K2." Watu wengi hawajui hili, lakini kazi yangu katika elimu ilianza katika madarasa ya msingi. Baada ya muda, nilitambua kwamba shauku yangu ilikuwa kufanya kazi na wanafunzi wa sekondari lakini nina kumbukumbu nzuri za kufanya kazi na wanafunzi wa msingi na walimu. Ilikuwa ni furaha kuhudhuria mkutano huu kwa sababu ilileta kumbukumbu ya kufanya kazi na wanafunzi wetu wadogo. "Nilikuwa na wasiwasi sana kuhusu ujuzi ambao wanafunzi wetu walipata katika shule ya msingi na ambao unasaidia katika maisha yao ya shule ya sekondari.""" """Ningependa walimu wote wa shule ya sekondari waweze kutumia siku moja katika darasa la msingi na kuona wanafunzi wao wametoka wapi." Kwa vyovyote vile, kwenye vitu vizuri! Hapa kuna mambo ninayojifunza: Wacha Wanafunzi (na Walimu) Wacheze! Jambo kubwa nililojifunza lilikuwa wazo la kucheza. Wacha wanafunzi wacheze. Wacha walimu wacheze. Kutumia teknolojia inaweza kufundishwa lakini itahifadhiwa na watumiaji wakati wanaruhusiwa kucheza na kuchunguza. Mara nyingi, walimu wana shida kuacha udhibiti wa darasa lao kwa wanafunzi wao - haswa linapokuja matumizi ya teknolojia. Daima kuna udhuru, "Wao ni wadogo sana", "Watavunja kifaa", nk. Hizi ni visingizio tu. Kama walimu, ni lazima tuwape wanafunzi wetu fursa ya kujifunza. Wape nafasi ya kucheza na programu, kifaa, na au chombo cha teknolojia kabla ya kuanza somo au mradi. Wanafunzi wanaweza kupata njia ya kutumia rasilimali hizi kwa njia ambayo huwezi kufikiria. Wakati wa kuanzisha masomo au mradi, wanafunzi watakuwa wakitazama kupitia lensi ya vifaa vya teknolojia watakavyotumia. Uwezekano ni usio na mwisho lakini huanza na wazo moja: Kucheza. "Msomo wa ""Usimamizi wa Vifaa vya Wanafunzi"" ulianzishwa na Ann Kozma na unaitwa ""Workflow na Usimamizi 101.""" Nilipohudhuria kikao hiki nikiwa na "kofia yangu ya shule ya kati" juu, nilikumbushwa jinsi walimu wa mapema wa msingi wanavyopaswa kusimamia vifaa ambavyo viko darasani. Katika shule ya sekondari, wanafunzi wangu ni wajibu kwa ajili ya kifaa yao wenyewe. Hawaiachi darasani <unk> ni jukumu lao. Katika shule ya msingi, walimu wanawajibika kwa usimamizi na usambazaji wa vifaa hivyo. Kwa mfano, ni muhimu sana kuona jinsi vifaa vya kompyuta vinavyoweza kutumika kwa walimu ambao hawana Chromebooks. Kimsingi, Ann alibadilisha matumizi ya vitu kama vile rafu za vyombo ili kuhifadhi vifaa hivyo, akaviweka nambari, na akaongeza mstari wa umeme kwenye rafu ya vyombo. Pia aliwasiliana na wafanyakazi na wazazi kutoa vichwa vya sauti ambavyo walipokea na bidhaa zao za Apple. Fikiria juu yake <unk> sisi wote pengine kuwa na wanandoa wa bidhaa mpya earbuds katika nyumba yetu kutoka ununuzi wa bidhaa Apple. Baada ya kusikia hili, nilijikuta nikifikiria... <unk>Ikiwa wanafunzi wa K-2 wanaweza kutumia na kusimamia vifaa vyao, kwa nini walimu wetu wa sekondari wanakuwa na wasiwasi sana kuhusu hilo? <unk> Nitarudi kwenye wazo hili baadaye. Flipgrid, Google Earth, Ozobots, Oh My! (Flipgrid, Google Earth, Ozobots, Oh My! (Flipgrid, Google Earth) ni programu ya kompyuta ya kisasa inayojulikana sana ulimwenguni. Mimi daima kushangazwa na jinsi wengi mpya EdTech programu, rasilimali, na vipengele ni kuendelea kutolewa. Kuna teknolojia nyingi sana za kutumia ambazo zinaweza kuwa ngumu sana. Hata hivyo, mimi huwaambia walimu kuchukua mawazo machache nyuma katika darasa lao na kweli kuzingatia tu moja au mbili. Hapa ni baadhi ya rasilimali EdTech Mimi nina msisimko wa kutumia: - Flipgrid <unk> Flipped darasa mbinu ya kutumia video kwa kuwasha mjadala mwanafunzi na ushiriki. Flipgrid homa <unk> kila mtu ana hiyo! Nimekuwa kutumia na walimu wengine lakini siwezi kusubiri kujaribu katika darasa langu. Kama hujaangalia nje chombo hiki ajabu bado, unahitaji... ASAP. - Google Earth <unk> Inakuwezesha kuchunguza dunia kwa swipe ya kidole chako. Kumbuka Google Earth ya zamani ambayo ililazimika kupakuliwa? Naam, hiyo imepotea na imebadilishwa na toleo la mtandao kabisa. Ni ya ajabu na nzuri na kuna njia nyingi sana hii inaweza kutumika katika darasa. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""Mimi ni mpenzi wa Rosalind Jimenez na Michelle Ossinski.""" Ndio, Ro. Nilikuwa na blogi ya likizo. - Ozobots <unk> Roboti ndogo, smart toy kwamba kuwezesha gamers na wanafunzi code, kucheza, kujenga na kuunganisha ulimwengu wa kimwili na digital. Kucheza na roboti hizi ndogo ilikuwa moja ya sehemu zangu za kupenda za tukio hili. Kwa wanafunzi, hii itakuwa njia ya ajabu ya kuanzisha coding na mantiki nyuma yake. Wanafunzi ni uwezo wa kuunda track kulingana na rangi fulani, kuweka Ozobot juu yake, na kuwa na kukimbia kwa njia ya track. Kulingana na mifumo ya rangi, Ozobot inaweza kwenda mbele, nyuma, kwa kasi, polepole, u-turn, nk. Ni jambo lenye kufurahisha sana! - Google Cheat Sheets <unk> Hizi cheat sheets ziliundwa na Ben Cogswell na wao ni phenomenal. Hii ni rasilimali ambayo mimi hakika kuwa kushiriki na wafanyakazi wetu wakati sisi kurudi! Kama K2 inaweza kufanya hivyo, basi kila mtu mwingine anahitaji kuongeza mchezo wao, kwa hivyo nilikuambia nitarudi kwenye wazo hili. Kama wanafunzi wetu wadogo wanaweza kutumia teknolojia kwa makusudi darasani... basi kwa nini si kila mtu? Ikiwa mwanafunzi wa darasa la kwanza anaweza kutumia Flipgrid, basi mwanafunzi wa darasa la saba anaweza pia kuitumia. Kwa kweli, sio tu kwamba wanafunzi wa darasa la saba wanaweza kutumia teknolojia hii, lakini wanaweza kuichukua hadi ngazi nyingine. Katika mwaka uliopita, nimesikia mambo mengi kuhusu kwa nini wanafunzi wangu ni uwezo wa kutumia teknolojia katika darasa, hasa maoni <unk>Naam, wanafunzi wako ni wanafunzi Honours<unk>. Hata hivyo, kama mimi kuhudhuria vikao hivi, Niliona kwamba hata K-2 wanafunzi wanaweza kutumia rasilimali hizi katika darasa lao <unk> ambayo ni nguvu. Kama K2 anaweza, kwa nini si kila mtu? Kuna hofu nyingi sana linapokuja suala la kutumia teknolojia darasani. Lakini, nadhani nini? Teknolojia iko hapa na haitaenda mahali popote. """Ulimwengu ambao wanafunzi wetu watafanya kazi katika utategemea sana teknolojia na lazima tuwasaidie kuelewa jinsi ya kutumia zana hizi kwa kusudi." Kwa kuongezea, hebu tuwe wakweli. Wanafunzi wako hufurahia kutumia teknolojia. Inawavutia na kuwachochea. Kwa hiyo, tafuta njia za kufanya iwe yenye kuelimisha na yenye kusudi ili wawe tayari kwa ajili ya wakati ujao.