Yesterday I launched a "deTECHtives" class for the teachers at my school; an optional, after-school, fortnightly program designed to introduce other teachers to various apps and websites that can be used in an educational setting. Our focus was padlet and Today's Meet.
If you haven't used these sites, padlet is a collaborative, online space that can be tailored to your specific needs in a number of ways. Users can post text, images, videos and more, and then content can be converted to a pdf, embedded in a blog or exported in various ways. Today's Meet is designed as a back channel. Users can post questions, comments and website links during a lesson or meeting, and the lists can then be printed out as a transcript.
The session was a great time of sharing amongst colleagues. However, the thing that excited me more than anything was when, not even 24 hours after our first "deTECHtives" session, one of my colleagues came rushing into my room saying that her students were on her very first padlet wall, and were commenting before she even had a chance to log on. They were so motivated and excited, and eager to experiment in this new online format.
Sometimes it is so hard to get out of our comfort zone and try something new. It's a great reminder when teachers see firsthand, the benefits that students gain from a teacher who is willing to take risks and give things a go. Not everything went perfectly the first time - there was a browser issue that was quickly resolved - but it didn't stop her from getting out there and trying something new. What can you try tomorrow that will take you out of your comfort zone? Jump in!
If you haven't used these sites, padlet is a collaborative, online space that can be tailored to your specific needs in a number of ways. Users can post text, images, videos and more, and then content can be converted to a pdf, embedded in a blog or exported in various ways. Today's Meet is designed as a back channel. Users can post questions, comments and website links during a lesson or meeting, and the lists can then be printed out as a transcript.
The session was a great time of sharing amongst colleagues. However, the thing that excited me more than anything was when, not even 24 hours after our first "deTECHtives" session, one of my colleagues came rushing into my room saying that her students were on her very first padlet wall, and were commenting before she even had a chance to log on. They were so motivated and excited, and eager to experiment in this new online format.
Sometimes it is so hard to get out of our comfort zone and try something new. It's a great reminder when teachers see firsthand, the benefits that students gain from a teacher who is willing to take risks and give things a go. Not everything went perfectly the first time - there was a browser issue that was quickly resolved - but it didn't stop her from getting out there and trying something new. What can you try tomorrow that will take you out of your comfort zone? Jump in!
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