By Jen Townsend, Director of Learning
Reading through all of the posts this month makes me so proud to be a "Miller." We have so many opportunities for our learners, their families and our staff that it is unbelievable. I remember entering Noblesville four years ago and I kept saying, "google what?" I quickly learned my way around google followed by tons of apps (many written about in this blog series) which were taught to me by our children and teachers. It is easy to become overwhelmed when there are so many choices, so I started out small - learning an app at a time, tinkering with Canvas, and so forth. There are lots of things that I still need to learn that I see used well in the classroom yet when I learn it, depends on my purpose. Digital tools are not useful unless they are connected directly to learning goals and help our learners reach their goals. Therefore, when choosing a tool we should keep the following in mind:
Start with the End in Mind
First, think about - what is it that you want your learners to know? What do you want students to be able to do? What learning do you want them to be able to transfer to new situations/contexts? Always begin with the learning goals followed by the question, how will I know what they know? These questions (stage 1 and stage 2 of the UbD process) allow us to then determine a learning plan which includes thinking about the digital tools to use that will help your learners accomplish their goals. Planning with the end in mind helps you narrow your focus on the tool that will be most beneficial for your learners. Purpose is the driver behind why you choose the tool you choose.
Make Thinking Visible
Often times, our thinking (both learners and educators) is not easily seen. Therefore, as a form of communication, our technology tools have allowed us more efficient ways to make our thinking visible. Our learners are able to share and show their thinking via the tools and educators can better communicate with families about what is occurring in the classroom. When done well, our digital tools we use become a form of communication between home and school. They also open windows to others' thinking. Our tools have allowed us to broaden our horizons and communicate more often with those outside the school walls. Learning in and outside of school is the norm.
Develop Assessment Capable Learners
John Hattie (2012) describes the importance of assessment capable learners - where they know exactly where they are and where they are going next. They are learners set goals for themselves, track their progress, and push their own thinking. Assessment capable learners understand the importance of knowing how they are doing and monitoring their own learning. The various technology tools we have mentioned throughout give learners an avenue for this type of work. SeeSaw, Padlet, Explain Everything, and more enable learners to track their thinking and review for growth. They can visually see where they have been and set goals to move forward. Choosing a digital tool that assists learners in their endeavors is vital. Many of the tools mentioned this month can do just that!
Foster Collective Teacher Efficacy
John Hattie (2012) also discusses the importance of collective teacher efficacy. When teachers collaborate together and know they can make a difference in the lives of children, then we see a huge impact on learning in the classroom. Therefore, the tools we use must not only help our youngest learners but us as adult learners too. We must choose tools for our own professional learning as well as tools that allow us to think more efficiently about our learners. We will not be perfect at first and that's okay. We must take risks, try something new (and know it will take multiple attempts before we get it), and add it to our repertoire of skills and strategies to use. We must have confidence that together we can learn and grow to best meet the needs of our learners. Our digital tools provide us ways to do this efficiently as well as enable us to be more responsive to those we serve.
We may not be able to predict the tools we use in the future, yet digital learning is here to stay. The amount of tools we have at our fingertips is endless. Therefore, learning must be at the center of why we choose what we choose. Due to the continuous evolving of digital tools, it is necessary to take risks, be a lifelong learner, and collaborate with others. When you start with the end in mind, think about how to make learning visible, give ownership to learners through goal setting and reflection, and you do it with a team of those around you, you are sure to experience success. Think about what you have learned this month, your learning purpose, and try a new tool that you have not yet used. Be bold. Take a risk in your teaching.
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