Global Network of Educational Technologists
This month’s Teaching & learning webinar was jam-packed with stories of inspiration and empowerment from Canada!
You can view the 60 minute Youtube Live Event at https://www.youtube.com/
Emily FitzpatrickEdTechTeamDirector of Professional DevelopmentCanada@efitz_edtech
Every time we have shared at EdTechTeam Summits, it is extremely gratifying to know that we are sharing and helping other educators and their students. There is often an invisible light bulb that turns on, and you know they are imagining the possibilities in their own classrooms/schools. You don’t always see the fruits of your sharing, but you just trust that somebody will take that small seed of learning and turn it into something wonderful for the students.
In September, we were honoured to present just south of Edmonton, Alberta at the Nipisihkopahk Custom Summit with the Nipisihkopahk Education Authority. In Canada, our indigenous groups have their own Education Authorities (similar to a district), and a team of us had the opportunity to share our expertise with the Samson Cree Nation. We shared about using GSuite tools for productivity and teaching, design thinking, Geo tools, 360 images and more!
Little did we know, what we received from our fellow educators, far exceeded the little we had to offer. From the moment we entered the community, we were welcomed with the open arms of a loving family. We were blessed by the generosity of the community who prayed over the event and shared their culture and their ceremonies. But most precious of all were the stories that were shared with us: Stories of loss, but also of hope; Tales of struggle, but also of triumph; Examples of frustration, but also of forgiveness. Our eyes were opened briefly to their perspective, their journeys, and their conviction for the students and families that they serve.
What a privilege to give, but also to receive. Our hearts are full.
As we began greeting the attendees signing in at Nipisihkopahk Secondary School we knew this custom summit would be more than a day of learning; it would also be a day of experiences and connections. We were welcomed into this wonderful learning community with smiles and handshakes, and while we shared the power of GSuite and EdTech tools with them, the educators of the Nipisihkopahk Education Authority shared the story of their people and their community with us.
The passion these educators have for their students was evident in the excitement they shared in learning new ways to integrate technology into their classrooms. They talked excitedly about using the tools in their lessons to support student learning, and about growing and building their learning networks. Most importantly, however, they shared hopes for their students’ futures and talked about the challenges and struggles we all face as educators, as well as those that were unique to their own classrooms. Those stories created connections.
When we gathered together as a community to share a meal, we were humbled to hear the story of the Samson Cree Nation’s traditional dance and the importance of dance to their people. We were honoured with the privilege of hearing the stories of just a few of the dancers and of experiencing the pride they felt in sharing their culture with us. It was an empowering celebration and a truly inspiring day that spoke to the power of bringing traditional culture and new ways of learning together to create connections and share experiences.
[themify_button bgcolor=”blue” link=”https://www.edtechteam.com/summits/”]Share your own story at a Summit near you![/themify_button]
Growing up, I often heard the phrase “practice makes perfect”. Teachers, coaches, parents – adults in general – always saying if you keep trying, you will get good at it. As I went through my teenage years, I often got frustrated because no matter how hard I tried or practiced, there were certain things I could never and would never perfect. Before teaching, I wanted to go into computer science. That desire ended in the twelfth grade because I didn’t get it. I practiced and practiced, but I couldn’t wrap my head around certain concepts. It wasn’t until I became a teacher, where I truly realized how influential clichés and sayings could be to a child, and how it could easily affect one’s mindset.
Being a teacher during this amazing time of technology and innovation has made me reflect on my childhood, particularly on why I decided computer science wasn’t the path for me. Was it truly because I didn’t get it nor would I ever get it? Or was it because as much as I practiced, I really didn’t try beyond studying? I continue to think about these questions every day when I am planning a lesson where technology is considered. Through technology in my classroom, I have learned…
1) Do not assume
While students have grown up in the digital age, this does not mean that they have the skills or competencies to complete tasks using technology right away. Our students are proficient in different apps or games, but not necessarily the programs you may need them to use.
2) Teachers do not need to be experts, but they need to know something
Connecting to my first point, you can’t just give a student an iPad or Chromebook and expect them to know what to do. Just like every other subject we teach, students need explicit instructions on how to log in, how to get to the Internet, how to access Google Drive, etc. Teachers do not need to know every single intricate detail about technology, but we need to be invested in learning technology if we want our students to be invested and proficient, as well.
3) Quality vs. Quantity
When you start your technology journey in the classroom, you become excited. You learn about all these cool apps, programs, and add-ons and you just want to try them all. And then, you start all of them. It becomes overwhelming and within a couple of weeks, you become frustrated, can’t find time to properly learn about each app and then give up. Choose one thing you want to implement in your classroom and learn all you can about that one thing. Then, try something else. Two years ago, I learned about Google Classroom. Last year, I invested my time into Google Drive and Google Apps. This year, I am focusing on Osmo and Flipgrid.
4) Get yourself out of your comfort zone
Don’t let your lack of knowledge or experience stop you from trying. Don’t let your fears deny your students opportunities. Even when you learn and succeed, don’t get too comfortable. Try to branch out even further. For me, public speaking has always been something I feared and was fascinated with, all at the same time. Instead of allowing my fear to get the best of me, I decided to take opportunities to speak in front of colleagues and audiences. I began at staff meetings, which led to me presenting at a school board conference, and then, at the EdTechTeam Peel Summit this past September. I learned that I enjoyed sharing my knowledge to help other teachers be better. I learned that through my exposure at these conferences, I was able to connect with brilliant minds and continue my learning journey.
5) Practice makes better
While I have some experience in computer science and technology, learning about different apps and programs took time. I spent one year frustrated with all the apps and programs I heard about and gave up. Then, I spent the next school year trying out my one thing, Google Classroom. Together with my grade four classes, we learned how Google Classroom worked, what we could do with it, what we couldn’t do with it, and how we could implement it to work in our classroom. There were some lessons where we were all confused. There were some lessons with some small victories. But, we kept trying. And no, we did not become perfect in Google Classroom. However, we did become better.
(Check out the Google for Education Training Centre and this EdTechTeam Poster for tips and tricks for Google Classroom).
For myself, incorporating technology into my classroom was an easy decision. As much as I wasn’t successful in pursuing a career in computer science, I understand and recognize the prevalence and the influence that technology has on my students, and will probably have for their futures. While I am proud of my accomplishments with integrating technology into my classroom and becoming a teacher at my school that colleagues feel comfortable to ask questions to, I sometimes hear “Well, you understand tech because you’re young.” Yes, I am young, but no, I understand it because I chose to learn about it. Just like many teachers I know, I decided to invest my time because I knew it could be beneficial for my students.
Don’t let the negative clichés of the world make you feel like you can’t. You can, and you will. Practice will make you better.
Justine Tomines
Grade 3 French Immersion
Burnhamthorpe PS (PDSB)
@JustineTomines
