More Twitter Chats to Engage

As I mentioned in an earlier post, we are trying Twitter chats as a creative way to have conversations with teachers about new/different topics. We thought if we could chat online,  instead of doing face-to-face, it would be more convenient for them. Today, we discussed the Flipped Class.

Chatting to engage on hot-button topics, like flipping, allows us to go deeper than we could in person. You have to minimize your thoughts and opinions into few yet powerful words. As we read, we absorb and process this more immediately and intensely than a verbal conversation. Have you ever realized something was said in a conversation you had HOURS after the conversation took place?

We would love to have constant verbal and present contact with our teachers. Unfortunately we can't right now and might not ever have that. But we can find creative ways to get information to and from them, plant seeds with them, support them, and brag on them, and it doesn't have to be in person. Capitalize on your digital resources and engage your teachers so that they can engage each other, and motivate and inspire you!

If you are a teacher, tweet to engage your co-workers. Do a chat over lunch or in the evenings to share information and ideas. There are other ways to do it than Twitter, so find what works!

As I mentioned above, we chatted on the Flipped Classroom today. We have a few teachers that have successfully flipped, some who are starting to flip lessons, and some that are afraid to flip quite yet. One of our successful "flippers" was able to join our chat and chime in today to add insight for those watching/participating that aren't as far along as he is. This was INVALUABLE! How could we have normally gotten that interaction? We would have had to schedule a meeting with him to give teachers the opportunity to ask questions and they may not have walked away with the same information from an hours worth of time. Not only that, the comments can be seen after the chat is over.

Insightful comments from our #morgantechchat on the Flipped Classroom:

@MorganiTech You can reach every student, in every class, every day. Powerful stuff! #morgantechchat
— A Johnson (@ChemicalPhys) March 6, 2015

@MorganiTech allow the teacher to differentiate in the classroom by assisting the students individually as they have questions
— J Sherwood (@sherwood_joan) March 6, 2015

@MorganiTech Better yet, Flipping a lesson leads to Flipped units --> Flipped Classrooms --> Flipped Learning #morgantechchat
— A Johnson (@ChemicalPhys) March 6, 2015

Explore your unknowns through a digitally collaborative medium. Whether it is a Facebook group (private/closed is now a safe option), a Twitter chat, a discussion forum, etc. Capitalize on the free resources that are out there and make a difference with a conversation!

Technology in Your Classroom: How to NOT be overwhelmed

Technology is a gloriously confusing, sometimes magical, awe-inspiring, frustrating yet necessary roller-coaster ride that is a big part of most of our lives. Depending on your profession, it is your life. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by technology and wish for simpler times. Many times we love the efficiency and convenience it provides. As educators, it is part of the metaphorical fiber of our classrooms, even when we don't realize it. We can fight that, or we can realize there are bigger monsters to slay.

Chances are, if you are an educator, you are somewhat overwhelmed by technology in some regard. There is just so much out there and so little time to learn how to do it all. We are always asked to do more with technology, and this consequently makes us feel overwhelmed because of the importance we place on those other little things we call instruction and students. So let's streamline our thoughts in regards to our instruction and all of this technology. Let's focus on the students and focus on instruction. Let technology take the back seat where it should have always been to begin with.

The more I work with teachers, instruction and technology the more I see technology for what it is and should always be, and that is a tool. I don't know that I would have articulated that just a few years ago. I've always loved using technology to our advantage, but even I got tired of running the rat race of trying to keep up with it all. Once I took on a new perspective and had to figure out the best way to get teachers to integrate technology (to make it work for them), I realized that my tech integration goals for them should actually become secondary to their instructional goals. It was time to start putting the focus on instruction, students' needs and teachers' goals for his/her students. IF the focus stays on those things, and the mindset of the teacher is right, you have a recipe for AMAZING! So where does technology come in? It comes into the background of that instructional focus. It is mostly invisible and it is the thing that powers those instructional goals, student needs and teacher goals like an engine powers a car. If you wanted to build a house, would you focus on the tools, or would you focus on the desired end result? I would hope you would focus on the desired end result and would only choose the tools you need to reach that. If we do that, then we become less overwhelmed.....at least about the technology. (and we have fewer "tools" to learn)

Bottom line: Focus on your instructional goals and student needs---choose only the tools you need to accomplish those....step away from the rat race, and DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE REST!

What are your instructional goals? What specific technology, nothing more nothing less, could you use to reach those goals? I would love to hear what this looks like in your classroom!