Educational Technology for Teachers

Using Tizmos on Every Level of the SAMR Model

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 13:03:00 -0700

Check out this podcast by Northern State University Student and South Dakota teacher, Brennan Goehring about Tizmos and the SAMR model. This podcast shares some excellent ideas for using Tizmos!

Using Symbaloo on Every Level of the SAMR Model

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 13:01:00 -0700

Check out this podcast by Northern State University Student and South Dakota teacher, Quintin Pease about Symbaloo and the SAMR model (with the help of a guest). This podcast shares some excellent ideas for using Symbaloo!

Using Twitter on Every Level of the SAMR model

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Mon, 3 Apr 2017 12:42:00 -0700

Check out this podcast by Northern State University Student and second grade teacher, Kaci Ulrich about twitter and the SAMR model. She shares some excellent ideas for using twitter, especially on the Modification and Redefinition levels.

Ed Tech Podcast for SD Teachers Episode 32: Opportunities to Get More Technology in Your Classroom

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 08:30:00 -0800

Have you ever wondered if there are any opportunities out there where you can apply and be awarded money for technology items in your classroom. Of course it isn't easy or guaranteed to get money or technology for your classroom, but it can be well worth it. Here are links to the opportunities that I discuss in the podcast episode:

Ed Tech Team Grants - https://www.edtechteam.com/grant/
Donors Choose - http://www.donorschoose.org/
Adopt a Classroom - http://www.adoptaclassroom.org/
Digital Wish - http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/grant_awards - Receive additional support for a 1:1 classroom.
Toshiba America Foundation - http://www.toshiba.com/taf/
Best Buy - ttps://corporate.bestbuy.com/community-grants-page/
RGK foundation - http://rgkfoundation.org/public/guidelines - Through principal/superintendent only.
Entertainment Software Association - http://www.esafoundation.org/challenge-grant.asp
Teachers Count - http://www.teacherscount.org/grants/ - List of different grants available.

Also, don't forget about opportunities that may be available through your local school district and through your state department of education.

Ed Tech Podcast for SD Teachers Episode 31: Should I create a class website or a class blog?

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 10:16:00 -0700

Throughout our history, we have asked important questions, such as, "why is there air?" "How many people does it take to change a light bulb?" and "Did the chicken or the egg come first?" One age old question that teachers have asked is, "should I create a class website or a class blog?" In this podcast episode I help to answer this age old question by discussing when you might want a blog or a website. I also discuss alternatives to both approaches and some of the tools that teachers use to create websites, blogs, online photo albums and text/email message blasters.

Here are some of the tools I mention in this episode:

Website creation tools:

Blog creation tools:

Online photo albums:

General Classroom Management (with message/blog sharing):

Class Dojo

Text/Email Message Blaster:

Remind.com

Ed Tech Podcast for SD Teachers Episode 30: Ideas for Getting Started integrating Technology in Your Classroom

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 1 Oct 2015 07:28:00 -0700

Have you been asked to integrate technology in your classroom, but you don't know where to start? In this episode, I share some ideas from Doug Johnson's book, The Classroom Teacher's Technology Survival Guide. First I share some ideas to change non-technology-based activities into technology-based ones. Then I share about some basic and easy activities and technologies that can be incorporated into classroom learning.

Ed Tech Podcast for SD Teachers Episode 29: Visible Learning

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 08:48:00 -0700

Have you ever wondered what types of interventions, teaching and learning practices and other items really make a difference for student learning? In this episode, we take a look at the interventions, teaching and learning practices and other elements have an above average effect on student learning.
I discuss John Hattie's framework for Visible Learning to help answer some of these questions.

Visible Learning, and Visible Learning for Teachers

EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 28: Universal Design for Learning

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 7 May 2015 18:20:00 -0700

In our last podcast episode for this school year, I discuss the principles of Universal Design for Learning. Here is a nicely organized list of these principles:

Provide multiple means of representation

Provide options for perception
Provide options for language, mathematical expressions and symbols
Provide options for comprehension

Provide multiple means of action and expression

Provide options for physical action
Provide options for expression and communication
Provide options for executive functions

Provide multiple means of engagement

Provide options for recruiting interest
Provide options for sustaining effort and persistence
Provide options for self-regulation

Some of the tools mentioned in this podcast are:

EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 27: Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Fri, 1 May 2015 05:49:00 -0700

This week, Dr. Alan Neville, an expert in Multiple Intelligences, guest stars as we discuss learning styles and Multiple Intelligences. We dispel some myths surrounding these ideas and also discuss what the research says. Here are the multiple intelligences:

Spatial
Linguistic
Logical-Mathmatical
Bodily-Kinesthetic
Musical
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
Naturalist
Existential

Here are some reference links from this episode:

Howard Gardner's original book - Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences
Multiple intelligences survey

EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 26: What's my Motivation for Learning?

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 06:14:00 -0700

This week, I discuss a model of intrinsic motivation and how the proper use of technology can support intrinsic motivation for learning. Here are the four main elements of the taxonomy of intrinsic motivations:

Control
Challenge
Curiousity
Contextualization

Reference:

Malone, T. W., & Lepper, M. R. (1987). Making learning fun: A taxonomy of intrinsic motivations for learning. In R. E. Snow & J. F. Marshall (Eds.), Aptitude, learning, and instruction (Vol. 3, pp. 223–253). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 25: Advancing Technology for Learning using the SAMR Model

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 06:06:00 -0700

This week, My students discuss four different technologies and how they might be used on the four different levels of the SAMR model. Here are the four levels of the SAMR model:

Substitution
Augmentation
Modification
Redefinition

Here are the four different tools:

EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 24: Improve Your Teaching Voice

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 9 Apr 2015 05:00:00 -0700

This week, I talk about the importance of making your voice sound engaging when teaching. This post comes mainly from a section of my book, Educational Technology for Teachers. I also share the four main elements of voice and tell how to practice varying them. The four main elements of voice are:

Pitch

Tone

Volume

Rate

EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 23: Teachers Share their Favorite Digital Media Apps and Websites

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 2 Apr 2015 08:33:00 -0700

This week, South Dakota Teachers share their favorite websites and apps that relate to digital media. These websites and apps allow teachers to create media projects. The teachers also share some examples of how they use these websites and apps for learning activities. Here are the websites and apps discussed in this podcast:

Garage Band - iPad app

EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 22: Teachers Present their Favorite Miscellaneous Tools and Apps

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 06:59:00 -0700

This week, South Dakota Teachers share their favorite technological tools and apps under the "miscellaneous" category. The teachers also share some examples of how they use these tools and apps for learning activities. Here are the tools and apps discussed in this podcast:

Document Cameras

EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 21: Teachers Present their Favorite Quiz Apps and Websites

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 06:01:00 -0700

This week, South Dakota Teachers share their favorite websites and apps that relate to quizzing. These sites allow teachers to prepare for or implement class quizzes. The teachers also share some examples of how they use these websites and tools for learning activities. Here are the websites discussed in this podcast:

Quizlet.com

Quia.com

NewsELA.com

EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 20: Teachers Present their Favorite Learning Management Apps and Websites

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 06:27:00 -0700

This week, South Dakota Teachers share their favorite websites and apps that relate to learning management tools and systems. A learning management system allows you to post assignments and activities so that students can complete them and submit them online. The teachers also share some examples of how they use these websites and tools for learning activities. Here are the websites and apps discussed in this podcast:

Twitter - my Twitter feed

EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 19: Grumpy Cat Barriers to SD Teachers Using New Ideas and Technology

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 5 Mar 2015 07:19:00 -0800

This week, Josh Jensen and I discuss some of the barriers to South Dakota teachers using new ideas and new technologies in the classrooms. We also talk about some nice sites for scheduling parent-teacher conferences and other meetings. Here are a few links from this episode:

EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 18: Teachers Present their Favorite Classroom Management Apps and Websites

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 07:46:00 -0800

This week, South Dakota Teachers share their favorite websites and apps that relate to classroom management. They also share some examples of how they use these websites and tools for classroom management and other activities. Here are the websites and apps discussed in this podcast:

EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 17: What Technologies are Coming to Education?

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 08:17:00 -0800

This week, I discuss the New Media Consortium's Horizon Report. This report outlines 6 new technologies that will be adopted in K-12 education over the next several years. Here are the technologies discussed:

Bring your own device

Cloud computing

Games and Gamification

Learning Analytics

The Internet of Things

Wearable Technologies

Here's a link to the New Media Consortium's Horizon Report for K-12 Education

EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 16: Technology for Keeping Track of Students in ICU

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 12:27:00 -0800

This week, Josh Jensen and I discuss some technology solutions for intensive care units (ICU) in schools. Also, we share some unique projects that Josh implemented in a social study classroom.

Here are a few links to some of the things we talked about:

Audacity - http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

GIMP - http://www.gimp.org/

EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 15: Adopting iPads: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 5 Feb 2015 05:54:00 -0800

This week, I discuss some things you really should consider before adopting iPads for your classes on a 1:1 basis. They certainly don't do everything and they aren't perfect educational devices. Here's what you need to know organized under three categories, the good, the bad and the ugly.

EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 14: Classroom response sites for active learning with mobile devices

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 07:23:00 -0800

We're finally back from winter break! This week, I discuss some really cool classroom response sites for active learning with mobile devices.

Here are the links from this post:

More information in my book - Educational Technology for Teachers - including a full list of recommended apps and websites for education.

EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 13: The CRAP test for Information Literacy

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 09:29:00 -0800

This week, I discuss the CRAP test to help you determine the accuracy of an information source. Teachers can adapt this test for different ages of students in order to help them learn this important 21st century skill. Here are the elements of the CRAP test:

Currency
Reliability
Accuracy
Purpose and point of view

Here are the links from this post:

Reliability of Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliability_of_Wikipedia

More information in my book - Educational Technology for Teachers - including a full section on information literacy.

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EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 12: Technology: It's How You Use It!

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 4 Dec 2014 07:18:00 -0800

This week, we talk a little about the future of education and how what we do now with technology in the classroom can be student-centered. Remember, it's how you use technology that really counts! Simply using technology in your classroom won't make a difference with student learning. Using it in student-centered ways will!

Here are the links from this post:

Reinventing schools: It's time to break the mold (book) - http://www.amazon.com/Reinventing-Schools-Time-Break-Mold/dp/1475802404
Google Earth - https://www.google.com/earth/

More information in my book - Educational Technology for Teachers - including a full chapter on student-centered learning with technology.

EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 11: Thankful for Project-Based Learning

Dr. Gregory M. Francom (Dr. Gregory M. Francom) — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 08:00:00 -0800

This week, I continue a previous podcast on project-based learning technologies and discuss the 9 elements of project-based learning and give some example projects that might work for different subject areas. Here are the nine elements of project based learning:

• Anchor

• Task

• Directions

• Student choices

• Student inquiry

• Collaboration and teamwork

• Teacher coaching and feedback

• Student reflection

• Public presentation

More information in my book - Educational Technology for Teachers - including how to create a project-based learning experience and how to use technology in project-based learning.