Our students live in a global, digital world that many of us could never have imagined. A world that has been transformed and will continue to be, in part, due to technology. Of course, societies have always been in a constant state of transformation due to human ingenuity, but I bet we can all agree that the pace and scope of transformation is accelerating due to the technologies surrounding us. Many of today’s students are most comfortable using laptops, instant messaging, chat rooms, and cell phones to connect to friends, family, and persons with knowledge or content they desire in local communities and around the globe. Given the speed at which change is occurring, we must listen to our students and act to meet them where they want to learn. By The Way, they do want us to listen. Watch and see….
Be sure and watch all the way to the end.
Click to down load for full screen viewing
Now that we have listened to our students, let's take the first step. Technology staff development is being transformed in Mesquite. Visit the Technology Staff Development page of the new Technology Resources wiki for more information. Please take a few minutes to watch a brief video describing the new staff development clusters.
Thank you for reading and watching the first post on the By The Way blog. Please return often. This blog will be an ongoing conversation telling the technology integration story from all around the district. If you have stories you wish to tell, let me know! email rarmand@mesquiteisd.org
By The Way I am Richard Armand, Administrative Officer – Technology. I am so privileged to work with an outstanding group of educators. The Instructional Technology Facilitators are here to support the integration of the Texas Technology Application TEKS into the core curriculum. We are so excited to partner with you to achieve exemplary learning for all students and adults.
Melinda Weston
Aug 16, 2008 8:06 PM
This is so true! I hope this is seen and/or shown during staff development by all teachers next week! I can't wait to exceed my own expectations from last year and meet and exceed the expectations of my students this year!
Melinda
Glen Gilmore (unauthenticated)
Aug 20, 2008 3:03 PM
Students do get excited and learn more with technology it is my goal to use computers to create art on the elementary level,
to add excitement and to save money through fewer supplies and use new software and tools to create fine art.
Glen
A special education rant.... (unauthenticated)
Aug 27, 2008 9:38 AM
The big "push" this year has been for technology. I can't help but to notice that it seems to be restricted to general education. As a special education teacher, one of my frustrations has been the lack of technology available to my classroom. Yes, we have a computer lab but it does not help when I have groups all day long and classes are scheduled in the lab. Why do we not have more things available for our Special Education rooms? It seems we should address this, as after all, these are the very kids that are behind and could benefit from technolgy.
Richard
Aug 31, 2008 3:50 PM
To the author of "A special education...". Please contact me so I can inform you about the efforts that began last year to address the concerns mentioned in your comment. These efforts may not have touched your specific program, but approximately $200,000 have been budgeted and purchased in the past 6 months. The efforts are being directed by district special education leadership. Thank you for your passion and commitment to kids. rarmand@mesquiteisd.org
Ben Jones (unauthenticated)
Aug 31, 2008 9:36 PM
I think their needs to be some serious discourse around this concept of "Have technology, will learn!".
Technology without pedagogy is just expensively resourced busywork.
We have several of these videos being presented ad nauseam at professional development, the message of technology is done.
What needs to be chunked down, deconstructed and discussed is the pedagogy that underpins the technology that enhances teaching and learning above BT (before technology).
But that’s just my thoughts!!!
Ben :-)
http://bloglearningrhhs.blogspot.com
John Garrett (unauthenticated)
Sep 8, 2008 10:39 PM
Awesome video and some great questions are posed during the video. I can't wait to comment on this on my blog (http://randrmlt.blogspot.com)as well as here. My question is what about those teachers who insist that students have to do paper and pencil. They cite research after research that says kids must write things out? I have been trying to get the math teacher in our building to incorperate more technology into the lessons she does but she insists that the only way kids will learn math is to write it out. Thoughts?