Group+1

=Group 1 = = = TASK 1

After viewing the video, Changing to Learn and Learning to Change, list and explain 2 types of changes (a system one and a local one) you feel need to be addressed by either SMCDSB or the teachers at your school to truly adopt technology as part of their practice.

The teaching staff needs the technical skills before being able to reach the children. One workplace unit in a school is unacceptable. WORD is the Ministry standard ... it should be the Board's standard with respect to the teacher. Some of us do not agree with that last statement; it is like saying that the only tool you can use is a pencil. We need to find a way that every teacher has a laptop able to run all the updated software programs, e.g. iPhoto, etc. Upgrading our computers at school is also needed.

Debate over whether or not a SMARTBOARD should be in every classroom. Is it needed? We should examine the way our Board assigns the SMARTBOARDS ... share the wealth, i.e., if one year a school receives a BOARD, then the next year they wouldn't. How do we build teacher enthusiasm for the technology? Is it enough to just have the BOARD in the classroom and let everyone learn ... teachers and students?

Choose one of the articles, read it and discuss it with other group members. Add a comment to this page. Consider the following questions: **Marzano article - Susan, Barb C., Helen, Denise, Karen**

 * 1) What resonates with you? //What resonates with me is the fact that teachers need to be teachers. Pitfalls of using the BOARDS are the same as in any other type of teaching. Good classroom practice must be followed if this technology is to be effective. Using the KISS model should be a guideline for use.//
 * 2) What do you agree/disagree with?//I agree with the author's findings that this technology can be effective if used in a thoughtful and deliberate manner.//
 * 3) What surprises you?//What surprised me is the level of academic gains. Marzano has done other research on effective teaching strategies and the best was at a 42 percentile gain ... very comparable.//
 * 4) How does the content of the article relate to your school?//I need to make the point with my teachers that engaged students translates into significant academic gains. The teachers using this type of technology in gr. 1/2 and gr. 5/6 have had some very interesting results... so much student engagement. THIS IS MR BEAL SIGNING IN -- I HOPE EVERYONE IS PAYING ATTENTION. STAY ON TASK! AND NO, THE CASH BAR IS NOT YET OPEN.//

Before you start a comment, please indicate what article you have selected. Under the comment, please type the names of your group members.

article 1

[[file:digital brain.pdf]]
article 2 = =