TechPudding
Professional Development
12 Reasons Why I Use Twitter
It’s been a long time since I last posted. In between, I (finally) discovered the power of microblogging on Twitter. I freely admit that I am late to the Twitter party and a beginner in many ways. It took me about three weeks to discover the elements of microblogging that appeal to me. Like any new innovation, you need … Continue reading
Why Do Online Discussions Fail?
Over the past few months I have been re-designing online courses that help to support teachers as they integrate technology into blended and online learning environments. I am going to try to make more time to share my insights with you, beginning with this post about using discussion boards in learning. Many educators use online … Continue reading
From Scroll to Book to Internet: Educational Technology Changes Everything
New technologies can change everything–what and how we learn, know, understand, communicate, socialize, and think. Many people have enjoyed the video called Help Desk, posted by Zauron3ooo, that hilariously depicts an interaction between two monks as they try to figure out how to use the new technology of the book, as opposed to the old way … Continue reading
Let’s Chat: Discussion-Stimulating Videos on Ed Tech & Change
My brain is getting tired since spring break is just over a week away and my city has experienced enough snow and -30-something degree (celsius) temperatures to last the entire year–in the last few weeks. So I went in search of something both light and thought-provoking in the form of short videos of high interest, design, and accessibility, … Continue reading
The Role of Followers in the Diffusion of Innovations
Many people have heard of sociologist and communications theorist Everett Rogers’ famous work that he published in 1962. Diffusion of Innovations was Rogers’ explanation of how people adopt new ideas and technologies. I wanted to pick up on a different facet of a post of mine that examined how to be an early adopter of technology. First, I … Continue reading
Edges, Constraints, Play, and Gaming: John Seely Brown’s New Culture of Learning
Today I listened to a podcast interview of John Seely Brown talking about his work, A New Culture of Learning, recoded on February 22, 2011, available from The Future of Education.com. Brown spoke of what schooling is and needs to become in a changing world. Here are a few of the key points that Brown spoke about, and my … Continue reading
Online Tech Tutorials: Not Just for Teachers
Since my last post examined how to troubleshoot technology issues independently, I thought I would dedicate this one to websites that provide formal tutorials and just-in-time training for a variety of technology tools. Formal training references and tutorials are useful for both teachers and students to learn how to use technology. Whenever I try a new … Continue reading
How to Troubleshoot Technology — Effectively!
In my job as an embedded tech integration specialist, teachers continuously ask me where to find help learning or troubleshooting the hardware and software that they integrate into their classrooms. In my experience, ‘just in time’ or embedded PD in the form of a real person (like me) is very effective, especially if the support person … Continue reading
Findings: High School Teacher Tech Integration Study
During the 2009-2010 school year, I completed a year-long action research project titled, Experiences of High School Teachers in their use of Educational Technology. In it, I followed four high school teachers and 125 students as they integrated various technologies into their teaching and learning. I worked with the teachers to try new tools and develop lessons, and … Continue reading
Blogging = PD; PD = Blogging
I haven’t been blogging for long, but so far, I have been pleasantly and excitedly surprised by the professional development that I am experiencing as I share my thoughts online. I am beginning to see many positive effects on my own practice, as well as the opportunity to share and influence the practices of like-minded … Continue reading
