Teaching With Technology

I have been a teacher for eight years and our district has always encouraged us to incorporate technology into our classrooms. But how? Surely watching a video isn't the only way we can use technology.

As I started learning the LMS (Learning Management Software) that our district uses, I began to see that technology in the classroom is a whole different animal than anyone ever thought. There are so many ways to create engaging, online learning activities and the free software out there? Amazing. It was during this training that I decided to begin my Masters degree in Teaching and Learning with Technology. Our kids need this. Our teachers need to learn this. And I personally want to be on the front lines of this movement in our district where possible.

With the COVID-19 social distancing, being able to transition to online learning has proved a challenge for many teachers, parents, and students. Having background knowledge of available software and instruction on building technology into meaningful instruction is something that has helped me not be so apprehensive about using the resources that my district has incorporated for continued learning. I hope that in the future, this blog can be a resource for my students and fellow teachers that helps them not only keep up with trends in educational technology but also allows them to see some creative ways to use technology in their own classrooms.

Creating a Blog

Most blog platforms have been created and adapted for easy use. There are many options to choose from when deciding what site you want to use. All of these sites offer similar options for creating and updating your personal blog. I chose to use Blogger because it is connected to my Google account like my website. I was surprised to discover my long forgotten blog that I started before I became a teacher. The blog creation process ended up being very easy for me because all I had to do was modify the page I already created.

What I did have the opportunity to do is edit and unpublish certain blogposts so that I could re-purpose the site I already had. One thing I have learned about several of the online software options is that they are relatively user-friendly. I was easily able to change the name and the link for my blog as well as update my profile. I was also easily able to change the background photo, theme and colors for the entire site with just a few clicks. After using some of the features, I can see how easily my students would be able to make a blog of their own.

I have often considered creating a blog for my students to access so I chose to stick with my "punny" theme in hopes of continuing the blogs use after I have completed my graduate degree.