There are both positive and negative technology influences, as shown by the articles read in the past few weeks. To ensure positive results, some factors included using it appropriately for the right-aged student. For example, technology may be better used for lesson delivery for younger children, while high-schoolers (being more tech-savvy) could benefit more from interaction with it. Another factor is motivation. Students are using Web 2.0 tools all the time, even if they don't know it. How many of your students have a Facebook account? Or a Twitter account? I would say the majority do. Educators should be in tune with the digital age their students are in. Students, being exposed to Web 2.0 tools as it is, will feel a familiarity when using these tools in the classroom, so there will be more buy-in. Last, modeling proper use of the technology is another important factor. We, in essence, are training our students to use the technology we want them to learn. To do this, we need to be trained ourselves. Exploring all the components of a program or piece of technology will allow students to use it at its fullest potential. This is most important when resources are sparse in a district or building.
As far as my own setting, I know my middle schoolers are very much interested in technology. Most have cell phones and game systems, as well as Facebook accounts, as mentioned above. To make sure that the above mentioned factors are present, I think it's a good idea to be very good at a small number of technology uses. For example, there are a lot of ways to implement technology. Just read #edtech Twitter posts or read up on the Edmodo forums. There are thousands of different ideas. However, being properly trained (be it by someone else or self-training, in my case a lot of the time) in a handful of methods is better than knowing a little about a lot of different methods. It will be less vague for students and the focus will be more concentrated on those few areas. My students will know how to use Edmodo fairly because we use it all the time in my classroom. Blogs is another area they will become very familiar with. This segways into another factor: consistency. The more they use Web 2.0 tools, the more proficient they will become with it. My goal is for them to carry this knowledge over into their lives after 8th grade, both in school and out of it. For example, they will be introduced to Dropbox. This will undoubtedly help them when they begin their research papers in a few months, but they can also use this in high school and college. Dropbox is an invaluable tool for me. Perhaps knowing that I use this as well in my own daily life will show them how useful these tools actually are.
To evaluate the success of a lesson that involves the integration of new technology, I would first look at how well my students understood how to use it. If there is confusion on how to use it, the results of the lesson will probably have poor results. I would personally do this by offering a survey at the end of a lesson, asking students to rate their experiences with that technology. Observations as they use it could also serve me well and give me an idea as to how comfortable the students felt using it. In addition to evaluating the success of a lesson, I would look at the different ways my students used that tool, or the amount of interaction with it. For instance, if I wanted my students to explain the causes and effects of the French and Indian War using their iPads, I would first offer suggestions of the different ways they could do it. They could create a graphic organizer with pictures, make a mini-movie, create a comic strip, or create a Prezi. In evaluating the lesson, I would also make sure they were able to use the technology as a tool to convey their understanding of the topic. Given that there are so many aspects of the iPad to being creative, I would want them to take full advantage of that.
To disseminate successes and failures with my colleagues/administrators, I currently have a professional blog, discussing these very things. I did this knowing there were going to be a number of ups and downs using the iPads with my special ed students for the first time. I had never done it before, and they had never used them in a classroom before. By keeping a diary of all the lessons, apps, and techniques I use in my class, I'm able to report what worked and what didn't. This is a great way for me to self-evaluate and note what changes to make for next time, or what to do again. Since then, I've had a number of people who read my blog tell me they've experienced similar triumphs and woes. My goal is to motivate others to try to use technology more in the classroom, even with other things, like laptops and computer programs. If they see that I had success with a tool I used in my room, maybe they would be more inclined to use it themselves. Also, for those who read my blog and have their own expertise, I hope to learn some tips and tricks from them. It's a learning process for everyone.
