Assisting colleagues with technology

My department is a very tech-savvy department where we all sample different types of technologies in our classrooms to see what works best. We then share what we like with each other. I am somewhat of the tech guru when it comes to the Texas Instrument calculators in the school. I have been using one since I was a senior in high school so I have encountered almost every problem that exists and figured out how to troubleshoot them. 
I have received the most tech help from my colleagues with the new TI-Navigator and TI-ranger devices. These have a ton of applications for our students but they do take some time to learn and master. I'm hoping to use both these on a regular basis and integrate them into all my courses in the coming years. 
I also plan on using Moodle for all my classes next year and I plan selling my colleagues on how much better Moodle is than our current website-making software. In the math department we are constantly uploading study guides and answer sheets and Moodle makes this so much easier than what we currently use. 

What Integrating Technology Means to Me

To me, integrating technology means not just using computers in the classroom "just to do it". Instead, I believe it means to use the technology as a supplement to our own teaching methodologies. It shouldn't replace us as teachers nor should we use it just to say we do. Technology in the classroom should be used to enhance the learning experience for our students, but it should also help us as teachers to incorporate many different learning styles into our curriculum and thus allow a truly differentiated learning experience for all.


Since joining the EDT program here at CCSU I have found myself integrating technology much more than I had 2 years ago. I know use a Moodle site to help my AP students study for their exam. I have used the programs UDUTU and Keynote as tools for computer-based instruction. And I have applied many of the webtools to my classroom such as Jing, Imgur, Screencast-o-matic, GoAnimate, and many others. 


I still would like to incorporate the skills I have learned on a more regular basis, but I find it difficult to find the time to transition my old materials into new formats. Someone told me that if I just incorporate 1 or 2 new components to each of my classes each year, that will add up fast and soon I'll have a whole portfolio from which to draw from. I think that is the best approach to take otherwise you may find yourself overwhelmed.

First Post

Welcome to my EDT 514 blog. Stay tuned for more postings about fascinating breakthroughs in the world of educational technology!