Blog 2: Blogshare - Classroom Podcasts
Blogshare - Classroom Podcasts
Technology is a big part of education today. However, how effectively or to what extent technology is truly being integrated into daily classroom instruction is another matter entirely. Many educators feel overwhelmed when it comes to incorporating technology into classroom instruction due to many factors. They are often given many new initiatives at a time, inadequate training, different principals will emphasize different programs or areas of technology and sometimes it can be difficult to know where or what to focus on. Many teachers simply lack the adequate knowledge and training and therefore lack the confidence to introduce certain tech into their classrooms and lesson plans.
This is where "teacher librarians can act as agents of change to support, encourage, assist, and facilitate the adoption of technologies into daily practice" (Johnson 2012). As librarians and media specialists, we can step forward as leaders in our buildings to help the teachers in our buildings feel confident incorporate technology appropriately and with confidence into their classroom lessons. It is vital that this is done in today's classrooms. The incorporation of technology in education needs to be seen as a vital aspect of our teaching, not as something extra or an add on. "If technology and digital resources are not integrated into classroom learning experiences, it will result in students that are unprepared to meet the demands of a world where technology has become ubiquitous" (Johnson 2012). We can not take for granted that our students are digital natives, we still must educate them on how to properly use technology tools and how to apply their knowledge in various settings in order to prepare them for college and the workforce.
"Teachers do not embrace technology when they do not feel proficient in using them" (Smith 2010). Just like students, teachers will not proceed with a task when they lack confidence. One quick professional development session is not going to be sufficient to give most teachers confidence to move forward with trying new technology in the classroom. This is where "school librarians can assume these roles becasue they are not assigned to specific classrooms and can interact with entire schools" (Smith 2010). School librarians can fill some of these teaching and training roles and can
" assume a more proactive role in becoming transformational leaders in school reform through technology integration" (Smith 2010).
Now that we have established the why for school librarians taking a leading role in teaching fellow staff about new technology in the classroom - let's look at an example of something a librarian could highlight and teach through a Blogshare.
Podcasts
Over at the website Teacher Cast, they have some excellent blogs on classroom Podcasts. I suggest starting with the following:
https://www.teachercast.net/blog/podcasting-with-students-samr-blooms/
This blog discusses the values of podcasting in a classroom environment, the basic education characteristics of a classroom podcast, and you can even download a free template to use.
If your staff is more experienced with podcasting, you might want to see some of their other blogs on podcasting located here:
https://www.teachercast.net/
Johnson, M. P. (2012). School librarians as technology integration leaders: Enablers and barriers to leadership enactment. School Library Research, 15.
Daniella Smith, (2010),"Making the case for the leadership role of school librarians in technology integration", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 28 Iss 4 pp. 617 - 631
Technology is a big part of education today. However, how effectively or to what extent technology is truly being integrated into daily classroom instruction is another matter entirely. Many educators feel overwhelmed when it comes to incorporating technology into classroom instruction due to many factors. They are often given many new initiatives at a time, inadequate training, different principals will emphasize different programs or areas of technology and sometimes it can be difficult to know where or what to focus on. Many teachers simply lack the adequate knowledge and training and therefore lack the confidence to introduce certain tech into their classrooms and lesson plans.
This is where "teacher librarians can act as agents of change to support, encourage, assist, and facilitate the adoption of technologies into daily practice" (Johnson 2012). As librarians and media specialists, we can step forward as leaders in our buildings to help the teachers in our buildings feel confident incorporate technology appropriately and with confidence into their classroom lessons. It is vital that this is done in today's classrooms. The incorporation of technology in education needs to be seen as a vital aspect of our teaching, not as something extra or an add on. "If technology and digital resources are not integrated into classroom learning experiences, it will result in students that are unprepared to meet the demands of a world where technology has become ubiquitous" (Johnson 2012). We can not take for granted that our students are digital natives, we still must educate them on how to properly use technology tools and how to apply their knowledge in various settings in order to prepare them for college and the workforce.
"Teachers do not embrace technology when they do not feel proficient in using them" (Smith 2010). Just like students, teachers will not proceed with a task when they lack confidence. One quick professional development session is not going to be sufficient to give most teachers confidence to move forward with trying new technology in the classroom. This is where "school librarians can assume these roles becasue they are not assigned to specific classrooms and can interact with entire schools" (Smith 2010). School librarians can fill some of these teaching and training roles and can
" assume a more proactive role in becoming transformational leaders in school reform through technology integration" (Smith 2010).
Now that we have established the why for school librarians taking a leading role in teaching fellow staff about new technology in the classroom - let's look at an example of something a librarian could highlight and teach through a Blogshare.
Podcasts
Over at the website Teacher Cast, they have some excellent blogs on classroom Podcasts. I suggest starting with the following:
https://www.teachercast.net/blog/podcasting-with-students-samr-blooms/
This blog discusses the values of podcasting in a classroom environment, the basic education characteristics of a classroom podcast, and you can even download a free template to use.
If your staff is more experienced with podcasting, you might want to see some of their other blogs on podcasting located here:
https://www.teachercast.net/
Johnson, M. P. (2012). School librarians as technology integration leaders: Enablers and barriers to leadership enactment. School Library Research, 15.
Daniella Smith, (2010),"Making the case for the leadership role of school librarians in technology integration", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 28 Iss 4 pp. 617 - 631
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