(Teamann tangent: for those LL’s confused: every Thursday I am co-moderateN a “chat” centered around technology integration. Not surprised? me either. It’s an hour of like minded folk answering a couple questions, bouncing ideas off each other, and sharing what works!)

Some of the great ideas from last night on ways to get your technophobes on board included:

• Anthony Muhammad’s Transforming School Culture is a must rd for guidance on working w/ resistant teachers.
• I try to steal some of the work they are doing, TECH it up and show them the differences.
• Fear plays a major role in resisting change. Use it, show it, promote it as ways to ease the fear. Little steps.
• I try to offer help in planning and teaching – taking some work off of their plate instead of adding more.
• diferentiate, meet tech resistor’s at there level, encourage and don’t overwhelm
• I try to send out tips, newsletters, make myself available in non-threatening ways
• Plan some hands-on workshops for colleagues to show them potential tools to use in their subject area
• We’ve been doing “10 minute Tech. Tips” at staff meetings to get some interest…
• I use my students with special needs to show what they can do to show that ALL kids can do it
• I hope to someday have a team of 5th graders support teachers in school with tech.
• Don’t forget the home baked goodies at tech workshops. 🙂
• Also did “Tech Tuesdays” 20 min of new topic each week; one page handout, quick highlight on a tool

Some of the great ideas shared last night on fun & fresh ideas for staff development for BTS (back to school) were:

• Talked about doing a QR code scavenger hunt to introduce them to all the new things we’ll be doing this year
• QR Scavenger Hunt Generator http://www.classtools.net/QR/index.php
• upgrading @GlogsterEDU 2 school acct. Thinking abt teachers register & create glog about themselves 2 learn how 2 use. make it fun
• audience participation, role playing and give always with some fun music
• plan collaborative dialogue based sessions. Be “guide on the side” not “sage on the stage
• @cybraryman has an AMAZING site for QR uses in the classroomhttp://www.cybraryman.com/qrcodes.html
• Tech integration metaphor: Boiling Frog Syndrome http://t.co/FEO6CtM #tichat Slow slimmer…resistors will never know!! (Teamann tangent: I had to google this and every time I see a frog I will now cringe!)
• Speed Geeking — saw idea here on Twitter! rotate through stations – sounds fun!
• need flexible PD…fit the needs of the teachers. choice and options are key.
• Encourage leadership 2use new web 2.0 tools faculty meetings 2 present.
• Here’s a link to one I used: http://www.scribd.com/doc/59837518/Handout(Speedgeeking handout example!)

Those are some of the highlights! There was great conversation happening, as well some “oh that happens to YOU too” moments, which may have been my favorite. I’m a big fan of the phrase “The smartest person in the room, IS the room”, and dadgum it, twitter proves it every time! Why fight and recreate the wheel when we are all on the same team, same page, and have the same goals? Even if you take an idea and tweak it…sharing can SAVE YOU TIME..

🙂 I’ll get off my “we should share” soapbox now, and leave you with the chat archive. Hard to “read” but I’ll work on finding a better tweet keeper for next weeks chat!!

your tweetheart,
amber

Tonight’s technology integration chat discussed cell phones in the classroom. We discussed the pros, the cons, the what do you even do with’em’s, as well as some tips to get your admin/district on board. It was particularly interesting to see how absolute and divided some educators were. Re-read the convo and let us know what you think!
You can also view the Archivist version of the archive here.

Special shout out and thanks to my co-moderator @brophycat!!!

ring ringN,
amber