Iteration


Educational technology is not just a buzz word.  Ed Tech is a way to enhance and assist in a classroom.  It is a tool to use for engagement.  It is not replacement for one on one, hands on projects, or written assignments.  This is why a blended learning model works well.  Students spend time working, collaborating, creating, and problem solving in both an online environment and in a traditional classroom setting.  This is much like the idea of traditional college and the work force.  Young adults are expected to be responsible for work outside of class that makes their in-class time more meaningful.

However, finding the balance and embracing the technology comes with stumbles along the way.  I stumbled my first year of a "paperless" classroom, a lot.  My first days I had a handful of computers.  I was determined to set the kids up for a tech heavy classroom.  We stumbled together using devices, bringing computers from home, allowing the students to work on a student account on my MacBook (yikes),  and displaying everything using the interactive television.  After day 3 I was about to give up and have the kids take out paper and pencil, when IT came through with a classroom set of ChromeBooks.

Everyday we used the internet based laptops.  I tried different LMSs and got feedback from students as to what they liked and didn't.  I assigned work electronically but still held classroom discussions, readings, and projects.  I tried to find the best way to streamline electronic grading.  I learned time saving techniques that actually added to students understanding like screen casting when grading a student's paper so each student receives a personalized explanation for the assignment.  With all that experimenting, I found out what worked for me and my students.

However, I kept searching and looking for ways to make it better.  The people at Google know this as "Iteration"- the repetition of a process.  Trying and succeeding and trying again and floundering and trying again.  It is how we as teachers need to see our profession.  In it's very nature it allows for iteration.  Every year we get a fresh crop of kids and we get to try again.  Every semester the slate wipes clean and grades start all over again.  Educators should be always trying and reflecting and adjusting, always finding ways to be more relevant to their audience.  

In searching for "the best way" (of which there is no such superlative), lesson reflections were my biggest help.  Also, I read about apps, followed up when I heard about something cool another teacher was using, shared with other teachers and got their reactions, and asked my students what they were up to in other classes.  I began a list of apps and resources that I heard about and put it on my classroom website.  I started a Pinterst page for me as a teacher and added all the ideas I liked and saw.

Sometimes the technology and content meshed seamlessly and sometimes my armpits would itch because the lesson was not quite I wanted because a site was down or its functionality is limited on ChromeBooks.  However, I never quit.  I just iterated.

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