How Is Technology Transforming Teaching & Classrooms? | Learning Upgrade: Technology in Iowa Schools

Summary

The video script discusses the evolution of educational technology in the U.S., highlighting a shift from group instruction to personalized learning. Teachers now utilize technology to cater to individual learning needs and interests, moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach. The script emphasizes the importance of professional development for teachers to effectively integrate technology, enabling them to differentiate instruction and engage students in a more interactive and collaborative learning environment.

Takeaways

• 📚 Education technology has evolved from a supplement to traditional classroom instruction to a tool for personalized and individualized learning.
• 🔄 The shift in the last two decades has been from whole group instruction to personalized learning through technology.
• 💻 Students can use the same software for different learning activities based on their interests and learning levels.
• 🚀 Technology enables teaching to be paced according to individual student readiness, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
• 👩‍🏫 The speaker, despite being older, is the most tech-savvy and actively seeks new ways to integrate technology into the classroom.
• 🤔 The speaker starts with educational goals and then considers how technology can enhance the learning experience.
• 🏫 The 21st Century Classroom is designed with whiteboard walls and movable tables to facilitate collaborative and differentiated learning.
• 🗣️ Talking through problems and listening to others' thought processes is a powerful method to ignite learning in students.
• 🤝 The speaker emphasizes moving away from being the sole expert and partnering more with students in the learning process.
• 🛠️ Teachers are encouraged to try new methods and technologies to meet the needs of their learners, fostering a culture of initiative and experimentation.
• 📈 Assessment has moved from end-of-unit tests to projects that demonstrate understanding, with a focus on continuous feedback and engagement.
• 💡 The speaker models the learning process, including making and learning from mistakes, to normalize the struggle with new technologies.
• 🛑 The National Education Technology Plan highlights the need for extensive professional development for teachers to effectively use technology in education.
• 🔄 Differentiated learning is emphasized, requiring teachers to meet the unique needs of each student, which technology can assist with, especially in one-to-one settings.

Q & A

How has the role of technology in education evolved over the last two decades?

Over the last two decades, technology has evolved from being a supplementary tool in whole group instruction to a means of personalizing and individualizing instruction, allowing for differentiated learning experiences tailored to each student's needs and interests.

What does the concept of 'personalizing and individualizing instruction through technology' entail?

This concept involves using technology to tailor educational experiences to each student's learning interests and levels, enabling them to engage with the same software in different ways and progress at their own pace.

Why is it important for students to have different learning experiences on the same software?

Different learning experiences on the same software allow students to learn at their own pace and according to their interests, which helps in meeting their individual needs and enhancing their learning experience.

How does the use of technology in classrooms change the traditional teaching approach?

The use of technology allows for a shift from teaching to the whole group to a more personalized approach, where teachers can display different content based on the needs of individual students, and students can move through the learning continuum at their own pace.

What is the significance of the 21st Century Classroom mentioned in the script?

The 21st Century Classroom is a modern educational space equipped with whiteboard walls and movable tables, designed to facilitate collaboration, differentiated instruction, and a dynamic learning environment where students can engage with content in various ways.

How does the use of whiteboard walls and tables in the 21st Century Classroom contribute to learning?

Whiteboard walls and tables provide a versatile and interactive surface for students to write, draw, and collaborate, fostering a more dynamic and engaging learning environment that encourages creativity and peer-to-peer learning.

What is the role of the teacher in a classroom that utilizes technology for differentiated instruction?

The teacher's role shifts from being the sole expert in the room to a facilitator and partner in learning, setting up tasks and conversations that enable students to build knowledge collaboratively and guide them through the learning process.

Why is it beneficial for teachers to have permission to try new teaching methods that meet the needs of their learners?

Allowing teachers the freedom to experiment with new methods encourages innovation and adaptability in teaching, ensuring that educational practices remain responsive to the diverse needs of students.

How does the script suggest that teachers learn and grow alongside their students?

The script highlights the importance of teachers being open to learning alongside their students, modeling a growth mindset, and acknowledging and learning from mistakes, which helps normalize the learning process and fosters a supportive classroom environment.

What is the significance of professional development for teachers in the context of technology integration?

Professional development is crucial for teachers to effectively use technology in their classrooms, especially for those who did not grow up with technology or receive training during their education. It helps them stay updated with the latest tools and pedagogical approaches.

How does the National Education Technology Plan address the need for teacher training in technology use?

The National Education Technology Plan recognizes the importance of providing substantial professional development opportunities for teachers to enhance their technology skills and integrate them effectively into their teaching practices.

Outlines

00:00

💡 Evolution of EdTech and Personalized Learning

The paragraph discusses the evolution of educational technology (EdTech) from traditional tools like paper and pencils to modern, personalized learning experiences. It highlights the shift from group instruction to individualized learning through technology, allowing students to engage with the same software in diverse ways based on their interests and learning levels. The speaker, an experienced kindergarten teacher, emphasizes her proactive approach to integrating technology into the classroom to enhance learning experiences. She describes the 21st Century Classroom, equipped with whiteboard walls and movable tables, which facilitate differentiated instruction. The teacher also stresses the importance of collaborative learning, where students benefit from hearing different thought processes and approaches to problem-solving. The paragraph concludes with the teacher's role in guiding students through tasks and conversations, fostering a collaborative learning environment.

05:05

🛠️ Overcoming Challenges in EdTech Integration

This paragraph delves into the challenges and strategies for effectively integrating technology in education. It acknowledges that many teachers, not having grown up with technology or trained in its use, face difficulties in adapting to new teaching methods. The National Education Technology Plan is mentioned as a guide for professional development to help teachers use technology effectively. The paragraph underscores the necessity of differentiated learning, where technology plays a crucial role in catering to the individual needs of each student. The speaker also discusses the importance of allowing teachers the autonomy to experiment with different teaching methods to meet the diverse needs of their students, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in education.

Keywords

💡Education Technology

Education Technology refers to the use of tools and systems to enhance learning and teaching processes. In the video, it is discussed as having evolved from simple tools like paper and pencils to sophisticated digital platforms that personalize learning experiences. The script mentions how technology has shifted from a supplementary role to an integral part of classroom instruction, allowing for individualized learning paths.

💡Personalizing Instruction

Personalizing instruction is the concept of tailoring educational content to meet the unique needs and interests of each student. The video emphasizes how technology enables this by allowing students to engage with the same software in different ways, based on their learning levels and interests, thus making education more adaptive and responsive to individual needs.

💡Differentiated Learning

Differentiated learning is an educational approach that provides varied instructional methods to accommodate the diverse learning styles and paces of students. The script illustrates this concept by describing how teachers can use technology to display different content for groups that need more time on a concept versus those that can accelerate, ensuring that each student is challenged appropriately.

💡21st Century Classroom

The term '21st Century Classroom' denotes a modern educational environment equipped with technology and designed to foster collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. The script describes such a classroom with whiteboard walls and movable tables, which facilitate interactive and flexible learning experiences.

💡Idea Walls

Idea walls, as mentioned in the script, are whiteboard surfaces that allow students and teachers to write and brainstorm ideas collaboratively. They serve as interactive spaces that encourage group thinking and the sharing of knowledge, which is crucial for the collaborative learning process.

💡Movable Tables

Movable tables in a classroom setting provide flexibility in arranging the learning space to suit different activities and group sizes. The script highlights how these tables, combined with their whiteboard surfaces, enable teachers to create various learning stations that cater to differentiated instruction.

💡Collaborative Group

A collaborative group is a team of students working together to solve problems or complete tasks, which is a key aspect of the learning process described in the video. The script explains how listening to others' thought processes and modeling thinking can ignite learning, emphasizing the importance of structured collaboration.

💡Pre-assessing

Pre-assessing is the process of evaluating students' prior knowledge or skills before teaching a new concept. The video discusses how teachers use technology for pre-assessing to understand students' starting points, allowing for more effective and personalized instruction.

💡Feedback

Feedback in education is the information provided to students about their learning, which helps them understand their progress and areas for improvement. The script mentions that technology allows for constant feedback, which is vital for adjusting teaching strategies and supporting student learning.

💡Project-Based Learning

Project-based learning is an instructional method where students gain knowledge and skills by working on and completing specific projects. The video describes how, instead of traditional testing, teachers create projects that demonstrate students' understanding and application of concepts, promoting deeper learning.

💡Professional Development

Professional development for teachers involves ongoing training and education to improve their skills and knowledge, especially in the context of using technology effectively. The script points out the importance of such development, given that many teachers did not have the opportunity to learn about educational technology during their initial training.

💡One-to-One Technology

One-to-one technology refers to a student-to-device ratio where each student has access to a personal device, such as a laptop or tablet. The video highlights how this setup can greatly enhance differentiated learning by providing each student with tailored digital resources and experiences.

Highlights

Education technology has evolved from whole group instruction to personalized learning.

Students can use the same software for different learning objectives.

Technology allows for differentiated instruction based on individual needs.

Teachers can display different content for students with varying learning levels.

Collaborative learning through technology enhances understanding and problem-solving.

Teachers are encouraged to innovate with technology to meet learners' needs.

The 21st Century Classroom features movable tables and writable surfaces for flexible learning.

Technology enables real-time feedback and continuous assessment.

Teachers are empowered to try new methods to engage students and enhance learning.

Professional development is crucial for effective technology integration in education.

Teachers model the learning process, including making and correcting mistakes.

The National Education Technology Plan emphasizes the need for teacher training in technology use.

Differentiated learning is necessary to meet the diverse needs of students.

One-to-one technology can cater to individual learning needs and preferences.

Technology in education should be used to enhance the learning experience, not just for its own sake.

The shift from teaching to the whole group to individualized instruction is a significant change in education.

Teachers are moving away from being the sole experts to becoming facilitators and partners in learning.

Transcripts

So education technology has always been around since the beginning of schooling in the U.S.,

we had paper, pencils, slates, but what has really changed over the last two decades has

been that we have moved from kind of a whole group instruction with technology where technology

was really supplementing what was already happening in the classroom and now what we're

seeing are classrooms where there is this idea of personalizing and individualizing

instruction through technology.

We also don't necessarily see the students doing the same things on their devices anymore.

Students could be using the same piece of software but doing very different things with

it based on their learning interest, based on their differentiated learning levels.

So we don't have to teach to the whole and wait for everybody to get to a certain place

before we move to the next place in the continuum of learning and this enables us to meet kids'

needs in ways that are where they're at.

So when they are ready to move they're able to move.

Even though the other three kindergarten teachers are considerably younger than I am, I am actually

the one who uses technology the most and is always looking for new ways to use technology

in the classroom and so they love it when I share ideas of things, oh I found this,

we can do this together in the class.

I don't start with technology, I don't start that technology is what I want to use so what

am I going to teach?

What I do is figure out what is it I want to teach and is there a way that technology

can make that a better experience?

So we have our one main classroom which is called our 21st Century Classroom.

When you first walk in you're going to notice whiteboard walls.

We call those the idea walls that you can actually write on just like a whiteboard.

Our tables are movable for different configurations but they also are whiteboard material on the

tables.

The other thing in the classroom we've found is that we're able to differentiate instruction

meaning that maybe a group that needs more time on a concept they work at one table,

but there may be another group that needs to accelerate and so the teacher has the ability

to display different things depending on what the students need.

So each one is a math problem.

A lot of kids process by talking.

Listening to other people think and how they think about problems and their modeling their

thinking is a powerful way to ignite learning in kids.

And so any time we can put them in a collaborate group where they're hearing other people process

in a structured way, my job then is how do I set up tasks and conversations so that my

kids can build the blocks for each other to get there.

Having spaces like that have pushed me to be better at moving away from the stage, moving

away from being the expert in the room, partnering up more with kids in that way.

(vehicle sound) What we have found is if you wait to give

teachers directions it slows the whole process down.

So making sure that the teachers know that they have permission to try things that they

know will meet the needs of their learners in the classroom I think is one of the things

that is a great asset here.

I have found that if you plant the initiative or plant the goals then the teachers find

ways to accomplish that.

They are the best teachers of each other for things that work well for students.

It used to be that as a teacher you'd walk into the classroom and you had a textbook

that you taught from and you taught the lesson and you tested the kids at the end and the

learning was very stagnant.

What we do now is we have the common core for a basis for what needs to be taught but

the teachers do a lot of pre-assessing, the teachers use a lot of technology to number

one, engage the kids, number two, get feedback constantly from the kids on their learning

and then number three, instead of taking a test at the end of the unit let's create a

project that shows me what you know.

It's a rather intimidating process I think for people to learn along with students so

I think we're pretty candid.

I'm learning with you, oh I made an error so don't do that, but we usually try and fuse

it into our lessons.

Modeling all the way, model, model, model.

Yeah, to make it seem very natural for us.

So this is how you use it, this is the mistake that you can make with it and then the we

do, we all go and do it together and then of course the you do, you go and do it on

your own.

And I think that's important that they see us make those mistakes because sometimes with

tech it can seem not super user friendly with certain systems.

And so it's like, well we just saw Miss Berry mess up and she figured out eventually and

so that struggle is good sometimes.

So being able to push beyond the struggle with using those tools is important.

So the National Education Technology Plan has a new focus for teachers which is really

wanting and recognizing that for teachers to use technology effectively they need a

lot of professional development.

Many of our teachers did not grow up using technologies, they did not grow up seeing

teachers using technologies effectively, some of them were not even trained when they went

through their teacher preparation programs because it was long enough ago that they didn't

have those opportunities.

We constantly talk about differentiated learning and how you can't teach to the whole anymore,

it's just, it's not fair to students.

You have to meet students where they are and for teachers that becomes a very difficult

job because now I'm not teaching to one entire group, I have 25 individuals who need different

kinds of things each and every day.

And so technology, especially one-to-one technology, can differentiate that learning for the student.