ISCI 761-Blog Post #4 Technology Integration Models

Photo from documentcam.com

The biggest push for technology use in classrooms needs to focus on having teachers on board and interested in the technical device and its applications to their content. (Green, 2014) The document camera is a perfect example of a tool that when used daily, integrates technology into the classroom seamlessly. A document camera “for the classroom allows teachers to show documents, 3-D objects, slides, and microscopic images, as well as share images with connected students over the internet.” (“What is a Documents”, 2021) The document camera is a versatile, vital tool for all teachers including the school librarian. Let us look at a few examples of how it can be used in a variety of situations.

Science: Able to display a plant, rock, or even a dissection of a frog.  Students can take notes and make their own drawings which eliminates making copies.

Math: Able to project math manipulatives or graph a parabola on graph paper under the document camera. The instructor can display test/quiz/homework questions at the same time they work through the problem so students can relate the question to the result.

English/Language Arts: Able to annotate a paper in real time so students can follow along or they may show the book they are using for a read aloud.

Librarian: Able to demonstrate how to use a research site directly on computer so students can follow along on what they need to do while on their computer.

Art: Able to project modeling clay while instructing how to do manipulate it or have the students show their work in a show and tell fashion.

An added benefit is if the teacher took notes on paper and displayed it under the camera during class, they can save those actual papers in a notebook to have on hand for anyone who is absent or needs more time with the notes. You can place the document camera anywhere in a room so the teacher can face the students and not have to turn their back to them to use a white/smart board. The teacher could record the lesson while in progress and post the videos to a website or YouTube channel for students to review again if needed. If the school needs to go virtual, the document camera is portable and can offer so many opportunities to keep the class going in a manner they are accustomed to on a daily basis. The possibilities are endless. And to elevate the learning environment, students can use the document cameras to share or explain something they are working on in class as well.

In education there is a model that is an “assessment framework for understanding technology’s role in teaching, learning and curricular practices” (Hughes, 2010) that is known as the R.A.T. model. R.A.T. stands for Replacement, Amplification, and Transformation.  Technology replaces some styles of instruction but, it can also highlight existing curriculum and transform the existing instruction practice. (Hughes, 2010) All of these encourage the person embracing this model to become a better version of themselves in their teaching path by using new technology tools within parameters that highlights the learning process.

RAT artwork Paleo-Beast-Emperor

How does the introduction and use of the document camera in a classroom fit into the R.A.T. model?

Replacement: It can replace the white board or smartboard used in classrooms. The document camera allows the teacher to face the students and not have to turn their back on them which is a huge plus.

Amplification: The document camera increases efficiency because you can make less photocopies and seamlessly transition to an online environment using the same practices.

Transformation: It allows teachers to think outside of the box and use more 3-dimenstional items. The change it brings helps visual, auditory, and tactile learners by having a more immersive classroom experience.

Document cameras are a necessity for the classroom as we become more flexible in teaching virtual and wanting better interaction with our students during the learning process. Talk to your school about getting one for your room! 

Additional Websites:

12 Ways to Use a Document Camera 

Language Arts Tips with Document Camera

Example of Kindergarten Mathlesson using Document Camera

Pinterest also has great lesson plan ideas using the document camera for a specific grade or content area.

Sources:

Green, L. (2014). Through the Looking Glass. Knowledge Quest. Vol. 43 Issue 1, p36-43.  

 

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ISCI 761-Blog Post #4 Technology Integration Models

ISCI 761-Blog Post #3 Tech Planning and SLM Leadership

When reading the article, "A Technology Plan That Works" (Overbay, et al., 2011), I really thought about the collaboration section and how a school librarian can build relationships with all staff in a school. Sometimes the librarian gets associated with only having suggestions or ideas for the English or History teachers. I wanted to address a math teacher’s need for help integrating technology into the classroom in a new-to-me concept. Also a lot of the technology plans in this module really reflect the hardware component of the school and professional development regarding the actual use of the hardware, but not on how to integrate it into a normal daily lesson. I wanted to find a technology piece that could actually be used in a lesson or a daily basis for teachers not necessarily a program that they would have to learn to use.

Having been a middle school math teacher previously, I will say mixing in short videos or computer games was a big plus to break up the monotony that sometimes comes with teaching math. This was especially helpful for students who were starting to not enjoy math as they once did in their younger years. I loved finding a new source to me that was easy, quick, and free that could be used when needed in class. After doing some research, I came across Would You Rather Math from this website and thought it would be great to use in the classroom. The activity has options that cover all the grade levels. Wish I had found it sooner! I took into account the Math Standards for South Carolina and this activity fits into most any grade's standards. It is an easy way to get kids talking about real world application and help with their financial literacy. I feel that since teachers get overwhelmed with information so I thought a short introduction to a new tool with embedded links might be the most helpful delivery of an idea. Below is how I might send out an email blast if I was the school librarian to the teachers.

Calling all math teachers! Need a new conversation starter about real-world scenarios in class? I wanted to highlight a website that has everything you need for a new technology tool to use in your classroom and it is FREE. Would You Rather Math has ready-made questions that ask the student “would you rather” type questions in regards to mathematical situations. The students can debate their choice and demonstrate their reasoning behind it. This is a great tool that can only strengthen their financial literacy. It would be perfect to use at the beginning of class as a warm-up or middle of class when students need that brain break. There is a PDF form ready to be copied for the kids or a Google form ready to use linked on the website. Here is one example given for grades 9-12 and it links to an article that can be used to understand more about the question after the students have discussed their choices. Let me know if you have any questions or if you try it out in your class.

Resources:

Overbay, A., Mollette, M., & Vasa, E. (2011, February 1). A technology plan that works. ASCD. Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/a-technology-plan-that-works

Additional Websites that you can check out:

https://www.freetech4teachers.com/2021/07/three-places-to-find-fun-and.html

https://www.edutopia.org/article/10-teacher-picks-best-tech-tools

https://www.edutopia.org/article/effective-technology-use-math-class

https://www.brainscape.com/academy/top-edtech-blogs/#:~:text=2.%20The%20Daring%20Librarian

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ISCI 761-Blog Post #3 Tech Planning and SLM Leadership

ISCI 761-Blog Post #2

“You can’t handle the truth!” A quote made famous when Jack Nicolson screamed it during a courtroom scene in the movie, “A Few Good Men.” (Reiner, 1992) Is this what we think about our citizens today? Is it the belief that they cannot handle the truth? With this in mind, every piece of information you absorb on a daily basis needs to be fact checked. Teaching students what to look for and how to decipher the information that is being bombarded on them constantly, has become a tricky situation. We need to start embracing that the world of information is changing quickly. We need to help students understand the impacts of being aware of how information may not be factual, but could be just an opinion. We need to teach them how to decipher what information is legitimate. Once these students become adults, we can hope they will be the citizens never too far on the left or right. Citizens that listen and are able to decode the real news from the fake news. At least that is the dream of every librarian shouting from the rooftops to “stop and research!”

In the podcast “Fake News & Media Literacy,” (The Liturgists, 2017) we hear a lot about finding out who the source of the given information. Who owns the source? Does the source have a reason to skew the information? Our podcast host references a person who read his book. He states that the person was skeptical of the information within because he started a sentences with “sources say” and no footnotes. Once the reader viewed the notes in the back of his book that the source was listed, all was right in the world and the reader was satisfied. I think about how many times someone references a “study” or “source” before giving information. It is so common that you barely think about it, but that study or source may not be credible, updated, or it may even sway the results. More information is always needed. We need to teach that you cannot take news or facts at a surface level. Research is required to see where the information came from so that it can be viewed with the right lens.

Digital Literacy, in the most general terms, is where you are competent in using technology sources, an example being a computer, cell phone, or particular application. In “An Approach to Digital Literacy through the Integration of Media and Information Literacy,” the author really delves into the history of the definition and how we understand that literacy itself has a more in-depth meaning. (Leaning, 2019) Digital literacy can be thought of as understanding the information that is taken from the technology formats. Media literacy has a plethora of definitions. One definition is that a person who is media literate is “able to critically engage with the media.” (Leaning, 2019) Media being defined as “the main means of mass communication (broadcasting, publishing, and the internet) regarded collectively.” (OxfordDictionary) “The emphasis of information literacy is to empower the user in the use of ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) rather that to develop meta-critical skills.” (Leaning, 2019) You can easily see how you need to be literate in Digital, Media, and Information in order to truly comprehend and process the world around us.

All of this knowledge brings us to how to we help students or people in general in becoming literate in these areas. My own “information diet” or how I consume information has shifted over the years as technology has progressed. I once depended on morning news shows and a daily newspaper to get the news of the world. I never really thought about if it was fabricated because it was so limited in coming out to the masses. I just assumed it was the truth. Once the information became a more nonstop stream coming through a computer, I definitely had to stop and consider the sources. I also had to pick and choose where to get my information as my time is precious and limited. With students today who never knew about that once or twice a day outburst of news, it is their normal to have information constantly stream to them via their phones or other electronic devices. Throw in a global pandemic and we forced kids to be glued to their devices. Having the need to really get younger children to understand not everything they hear or see is the truth, is our new problem to solve.

The key to a person having the best “information diet” is critical thinking. As an adult and someone interested in the field of research, I am able to decipher more of what is real and pertinent information versus false or extraneous information. As a school librarian, I would really like to be able to visit classes, all classes from math to social studies, to start with discussing critical thinking skills. With this I would like to record brief lessons via YouTube or even TikTok that teachers could use for class discussions or at least conversation starters. Having a way to integrate critical thinking skills, which is the foundation of The Big6, will help students in every subject matter class and hopefully these skills become instilled in them for their lifetime. This also plays into the Partnership for 21^st Century Learning framework, building “knowledge and skills for success in a globally and digitally interconnected world.” (Battelle for Kids) My hope is that future generations are equipped with the skills needed to make the world a better place.

The more I learn myself, the more I can help students find the path to being a more confident dissector of the truth. Taking ownership that the world we live in is in constant change and be willing to keep up with the changes, is half the battle in the land of education. Imparting the skills into our younger generations to find the credibility in all the information that swirls around them is what is important. And always remember, it is the reader or viewer who determines the truth. (Valenza, 2016) And we CAN handle the truth.

*all graphics included are from clipart

Resources

Battelle for Kids Website. Retrieved from https://www.battelleforkids.org/networks/p21

Leaning, M. (2019). An Approach to Digital Literacy through the Integration of Media and                                 Information Literacy. Media and Communication (Lisboa), 7(2), 4–13.                                                   https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v7i2.1931 

Lindkvist, M. (2011). Drowning in information - five ways of changing your information diet. Strategic Direction (Bradford, England), 27(7), 3–4. https://doi.org/10.1108/02580541111136985 

Reiner, R. (1992). A Few Good Men. Castle Rock Entertainment.

Simon, S. (Host). (January 14, 2012). Is It Time For You To Go On An “Information Diet”?                      Weekend Edition Saturday [Audio podcast]. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2012/01/14/145101748/is-it-time-for-you-to-go-on-an-information-diet

 

The Big6 Website. Retrieved from https://thebig6.org/ 

The Liturgists. (Hosts). March 7, 2017. Fake News & Media Literacy. The Liturgists Podcast [Audio Podcast]. https://anchor.fm/the-liturgists-podcast/episodes/Fake-News--Media-Literacy-eutfrm

 

Valenza, J. (November 26, 2016). Truth, truthiness, triangulation: A news literacy toolkit for a

“post-truth” world. School Library Journal. Retrieved from          https://blogs.slj.com/neverendingsearch/2016/11/26/truth-truthiness-triangulation-and-the-librarian-way-a-news-literacy-toolkit-for-a-post-truth-world/

 

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ISCI 761-Blog Post #2

ISCI 761-Blog Post #1: AASL and ISTE Standards

When entering the education profession, you look for guidance in how best to organize your day-to-day activities and make personal and professional goals that lead to having the largest impact on your students. Moving into the librarian role at a school, you will find that the position requires more than an educator mindset with a love of reading and books. When reading the article, “Navigating the Library Slopes: Dispositional Shifts in the National School Library Standards,” (Burns and Cromartie, 2019) the concept of a library constantly evolving is exactly what is happening in today’s climate of technology advancement and diversity needs. School librarians walk into the school with “hands and heart open as a resource and support for other educators and learners” (Burns and Cromartie, 2019) within the school and community. The standards in the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) help with making goals of having a school library that is safe and an inviting environment for all.

Picture from American Association of School Librarians 

The article really chronicles how the AASL breathes life into the standards making them feel more mobile and flexible to advance the library role in schools. The connector aspect they discuss appeals to how the librarian can be in a central role using talents and resources to connect to the students, staff, parents, and community. Understanding and listening to needs of different groups allow the librarian to connect them to the correct resource to improve the relationship with the library. Burns and Cromartie uses the comparison of the connector “being a weaver of a learning web” which is a great way to visualize how it should work. Everything is connected and it always is stronger when the web is complete. There are a lot of moving pieces in a school, and effective communication helps smooth the path for the library to become the hub of the school.

Other discussion points they bring up in connection to the standards is the librarian’s role in being a creative force in the library space by thinking of how to offer more opportunities to its users and to improve on the space as needed. Librarians also have the need to be considered a defender for all those less represented populations. The standards require that school library’s keep access to materials that support an “inclusive learning community” and set up the librarian to transition from “a teacher or library manager to democratic leader.” (Burns and Cromartie, 2019) Finally, the standards reflect how the librarian can be the guiding force in helping the school and all that encounter it in addition to promoting positivity and safety within the walls of the physical school building and beyond.

Picture from International Society for Technology in Education

The AASL standards really concentrate on the behaviors that are used to elevate the library experience for all that use it. The ISTE helps give direction in the library setting more in the technology environment. Both are useful in creating that wonderful and useful space the library creates for its users and best when you combine the two in your librarian practice. The ISTE breaks down its standards for those using it such as students, educators, education leaders, and coaches. This is helpful to locate what guidance is appropriate for which user. Reviewing both AASL and ISTE standards along with reading the article “Navigating the Library Slopes: Dispositional Shifts in the National School Library Standards,” sparks excitement that the future is bright for librarianship. All librarians need to be ready for changes that inevitably happen and be willing to analyze and change accordingly. With everyone working toward the same goal and needs of a particular school, the library can become the heart and soul of the school giving each person exactly what they need from it.

The one-page guide is a snapshot with how to get started using the AASL standards for librarians. It is important to focus on the needs of your particular school so you are maintaining things that are already done well and strengthening areas that may need improvement. This will lead to a better environment for the entire school community. In the end, it is best for everyone involved to always be in learner mode, ready to listen and modify to fit the most pressing needs of their school.

References:

American Association of School Librarians Website. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://standards.aasl.org/

Burns, E., & Cromartie, K. (2019). Navigating the Library Slopes: Dispositional Shifts in the             National School Library Standards. Knowledge Quest, Volume 47, No.5, 78-83.

ISTE Website. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://iste.org/iste-standards

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ISCI 761-Blog Post #1: AASL and ISTE Standards

University of South Carolina-Masters in Library and Information Science

I will be using this blog for my class-ISCI 761: Information Technologies for the School Library Program this semester. First blog post should be up soon!

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University of South Carolina-Masters in Library and Information Science