Laura K Spencer, Ed.D.

Tag: technology

  • Technology is Not the GrandMaster of the Ticker Tape Parade

    Technology is Not the GrandMaster of the Ticker Tape Parade

    High School Student’s FB this morning

    On #CAEdChat Sunday night, we discussed ways to “pimp” our lessons so that students walk in the door jazzed to learn. Dave Burgess, author of Teach Like a Pirate, shared that he always asks, “Here’s my lesson…now how can I make this come ALIVE?! How can I create an EXPERIENCE?” 

    So often, I see teachers who drag the technology out of the cupboard and expect the students to start the ticker tape parade. 

    But students are bored, just like the high school student who posted the above FB pic this morning from his class.  Technology is not a ticker tape parade for them. But learning should be!

    As student Alex Bockert explained during #CAEdChat, “Don’t start with all the actual work/research to be done – start with why this project will rock.”

    So how will you make learning rock today?

  • #STUVoice – 2015 East County TechFest Keynote

    #STUVoice – 2015 East County TechFest Keynote

    My daughter, a high school junior, recently keynoted an ed tech fest. Because I feel odd talking up my progeny, I’m going to copy/paste a write-up shared in her district Superintendent’s newsletter: “she shared her school experiences with technology and challenged the teachers in the theater to provide a wide array of technology-driven opportunities. She emphasized that students need to be prepared for a digital world and our schools are an essential part in that development.”
    There was a lot of great feedback from the teachers that participated, but in an effort to make the conversation global, I’d love to hear what you have to say as well.

  • Inside a Student’s Mind: Google Docs Isn’t Enough. Let Students Help You Learn

    On Saturday, my daughter and I will be featured speakers at the San Diego Computer Using Educator’s Tech Fair.

    I’ll write an in-depth discussion of our presentation afterwards, but for now, I am posting the link to our presentation for those who would like a copy.
    (Sorry – working on my iPad so I can’t make a short hyperlink)
  • SAMR Sort: Getting Teachers To See the Bigger Picture

    SAMR Sort: Getting Teachers To See the Bigger Picture

    A couple months back I attended an executive briefing about digital learning and our 1:1 initiative. During the briefing, we were led through a SAMR sorting activity. Eight different classroom projects were shared with us. We had to sort the projects in to the SAMR level we thought it best fit. We then had to defend our decisions. It was an enlightening experience.

    Back at the district, my ed tech team decided to recreate that opportunity for our students. Using ISTEs Student Profiles for learning as a guide, eight K-8 grade scenarios were created.

    On Tuesday, teachers attending the “New to Classroom iPads” professional development completed the sorting activity. It led to fabulous discussions about looking at learning from different perspectives. Teachers commented that most of the lower level activities could have easily been modified to advance in SAMR level.
    With so much focus on using technology meaningfully in the classroom, activities like this one give teachers a better idea of just how to create that meaning.