This particular story begins with two teachers from different backgrounds meeting and exchanging ideas about tech and ed: Our names are Cheridy Aduviri and Kacey Kintscher. Here's a brief overview of where our journey intersected and the formation of this blog began.
Kacey was my daughter's elementary teacher. I noted some interesting, positive things happening in terms of my daughter's critical thinking skills and asked to volunteer in the class. Kacey was gracious and opened the doors of her classroom. Many problem solving, critical thinking, and networking ideas from an ESOL technology class that I teach at the university level were evident. It turned out that this was not a coincidence. She takes many concepts from her research in technology and education and applies them to her classroom in ways that have a positive impact on her students.
At the conclusion of the school year, we discovered we both have an interest in technology and education. Over the summer, we corresponded and shared ideas. I've always had an interest in technology, but this summer it felt like a tech information explosion as I explored some of the concepts and sites Kacey shared with me.
When I read a good book, I love to recommend it to those around me. The same holds true here. Technology and education can be integrated in amazing ways-- ways that are shaping our future. Here's a place we can share, explore, apply what we learn, and challenge ourselves to integrate tech and ed in meaningful ways. Check out the tabs: Web 2.0 Tools, Ed Sites, Networks, and Look, IT Works for additional resources that we will add to and challenge ourselves to use. Feel free to add to our knowledge base by leaving comments.
Join us as our story unfolds. When Tech Met Ed…
This is great! I'm especially intrigued with Storybird. It would be great for ELLs because the story can be easily differentiated for different levels of language proficiency - word level, sentence level, paragraph level and the concept of cohesion can still be addressed at any of those levels.
ReplyDeleteThe potential for collaborative work is especially nice to help build community in the classroom and establish relationships; again, this would be great for ELLs who may be shy or find it hard to work with native English-speaking peers.
Melinda
Okay, I just tried Wordle and now have plans to use it in my English for the Tourism Industry class for the students to think about different adjectives they can use to describe a place they are going to create a brochure about. In fact, it could be the front page of their brochure.
ReplyDeleteI might use Voicethread next time for this class. It's a great one too!
Melinda