Why does it matter?

So here I am at the end of an AQ course about integrating technology into teaching and here are some of my thoughts...

I have to say, as a person who completed my undergrad through online education, I sill didn't see the full value until I started teaching and this course has just furthered my understanding and deepened my knowledge on the subject. 

So why does it matter? Why should teachers be learning more about technology and using it in the classroom?

And so in the style of David Letterman (who most of my students have never heard of).. here is my top ten list....

TOP TEN REASONS TO BRING TEACHING AND TECHNOLOGY TOGETHER...

10. They both start with 'T', so it makes alphabetical sense to bring them together :)
9. Students CHOOSE to spend their downtime on technology, so wouldn't it make sense that they would be more likely to CHOOSE to do their work on a computer or tablet vs. pen and paper?
8. Technology allows you the tools to reach a variety of learners.  There are apps and softwares to help you as a teacher create content that is good for visual learners, audio learners, musical learners etc.
7. Technology can help you to teach those students in your class with exceptionalities who otherwise couldn't learn in the same way as the other students
6. Teaching is more fun when you can find different ways to do it.  No one wants their job to get stale and boring.  Technology is ever changing and can keep you on your toes for the rest of your career if you put the effort in to learn to use it.
5. Teaching methods and ideas differ worldwide and the use of technology can connect professionals and allow them to share ideas and strategies and can enrich their teaching practice.
4.  Mastering technology can make your job more efficient.  There are many ways this is true, but one example is by having your own website, then schedules, content and reminders of due dates can be posted and students can go there to answer their questions as opposed to coming to you.
3. Knowing how to use technology to your favour could lead you to experimenting with different teaching models such as the 'flipped classroom' method.  Students will get to have more support when doing the actual hands on work, and most of the learning is done through online content that they access from home.
2. Technology can break down the barriers around and within your classroom.  You can see the world from the comfort of the class, talk to experts without leaving your seat and get a new perspective on learning.  The ability to contact other students and teachers around the world will naturally add a whole new layer to your teaching.
1. technology makes school more engaging for the digital generation.  They aren't interested in a teacher standing at the front of the class lecturing.  They need a dynamic lesson that mixes not just technology, but collaboration and action.  Technology is the future of Education.

So what's next?

For me, I have learned about so many new websites, programs, apps, softwares throughout this course, and I have already thought up lessons where they would come in handy.  I am going back to work from my maternity leave in mid-May, when kids are already checking out for the summer, and this will be my best strategy to keep them hooked in.  The students are getting their THIRD French teacher this year when I return, and in order for them to want to put the effort in, they have to be interested in what they are learning. I will be making a powtoon intro about myself and using that for a listening activity.  I will also be using pic collage for students to write about their summer plans, and I am trying to assemble a writing assignment using Gimp and other image manipulation softwares to create illustrations for a short story they write.

I think that I am a better teacher after taking this course and that I will be more effective at engaging my students and using technology in a purposeful and appropriate way to enhance my teaching.  As a personal goal, I would like to get more familiar with video conferencing so that I can make connections in other French speaking countries that I can then bring into the classroom, 

Hey! Look at you!! - Video Conferencing in the Classroom

Video conferencing is a very underutilized tool in todays classrooms.  Not all schools have the technology I'm sure, but those that do could be using this technology in so many ways. 

For a French teacher, there are many ways to use video conferencing.  Here are just a few ideas;

* Have a virtual meet and greet with a class from a French speaking country
* Interview a French professional
* Collaborate with another French class in Ontario on some kind of creative project
* Have a professional take you on a virtual field trip somewhere
* Have a class language exchange with a class of Francophone students - they will teach you something in French and you teach them something in English. (Maybe a song?)

The benefits of video conferencing for teachers and students are numerous.  For students, it can open their eyes to the world.  It's a reminder that there is a big world outside of their small ones.  It gives them the opportunity to develop empathy, understanding, an inquisitive mind, and it allows them to explore a world that is otherwise out of their reach.
For teachers, it can be an opportunity to learn from other professionals and also to reach out and deepen their understanding about what they are going to be teaching.  Video conferencing as a means of professional development could be a great opportunity.

Presentation options

I love using presentations in French when introducing new topics or proposing a challenge to my students, but I also love it when students use creative tools to present projects.

Here are some of my top pics for presentation tools:

1) Microsoft Powerpoint - http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msca/en_CA/pdp/PowerPoint-2016/productID.323916900?tduid=(4dee93a30b35824e774b05c569b541e7)(240780)(2316686)(SRi0yYDlqd0-eeafnBXmvW6Naojgd.Pu7A)()

This is the old faithful of presentation tools.  I have been using this for years as have many adults, but for our students, this will not feel like the familiar friend it does to us.  Although this can make a good basic presentation, it is a bit boring compared to some of the other presentation tools available today.  What I do like about Powerpoint is the straightforward layout where you can see all of your slides to the left as you work and that they are easy to drag and drop and reorder.  I would probably have a student who lacks focus use this because it's got less flashy options than the other tools.  If possible I would have them use the desktop version because it doesn't have a direct link to the internet to upload content.

2) Prezi - www.prezi.com

This is one of my favourites as an alternative to Powerpoint for a basic presentation.  It does all the same things but in a different way.  Instead of boring static slides switching one to the next, it allows you to create a presentation map which zooms in and out of each slide circle.  The slide circles can also be layered to create a tunnel effect when you are delving deeper and deeper into a subject. The animation is a step up from Powerpoint, but I have heard some people say that the animation makes them feel a bit sick.


3) Powtoon - www.powtoon.com

I love Powtoon for elementary school students.  It allows you to make animated cartoons with audio, text and images.  There are also choices of background music to underlay on your presentation too.  I really enjoy this tool, however the one drawback is that you can't insert links that you can click on.  The videos are exported to YouTube (you can send it to a private channel) once completed.

4) Google Slides - https://www.google.com/slides/about/

Google Slides is like Powerpoint 2.0. It has the familiarity of Microsoft Powerpoint, but it's an online service, so everything saves online automatically as you create it.  The best part of that is that there are no excuses from your students that their work didn't save :)


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What are the benefits and pitfalls of using presentation software as a teaching tool?

The benefits of using presentation software to teach is that it breaks up the monotony of the traditional classroom where the teacher stands at the front and teaches.  It is also beneficial because it is digital teaching and can be used as part of a flipped classroom.  Students are used to learning about all sorts of things online in a digital format, so using presentation software is teaching the way that they are used to learning. The pitfall however is that it could be too distracting for some types of learners.  Sometimes we might tend to overuse technology also thinking that it is best but there may be an easier and more succinct way to present your information.

How can you use these programs to enhance collaborative learning?

Because these programs are so easy to use, students can create wonderful presentations without much support.  They can also share them with ease, which allows students to digitally interact. Not all presentations have the collaboration capabilities needed for multiple students too work on the same presentation, but Google slides is an excellent option for this type of collaboration.

Can you incorporate this in your own context?

Presentation softwares are GREAT for French! I have used them a lot when it comes to the culture expectations.  It allows me to easily show them different aspects of French cultures, adding voice overs from true francophones so that they can hear how the accents differ.  I also have my students create digital presentations for the 'speaking' expectations.  This works especially well for French because it can be really hard for students to feel comfortable presenting live in another language in front of their peers.  I even use presentation apps like software 'Sock Puppets' for students who otherwise would not present due to high anxiety.  That app specifically alters the students' voice so that it isn't recognizable.  I am still able to hear the accent and pronunciation but the voice sounds like a cartoon.

I highly recommend that language teachers explore presentation software and apps to make the teaching of French a lot smoother, with more student engagement and less student whining!