One of the difficulties which presents itself to teachers as they consider the transition from the textbook to technology integration is the lack of available funds. Cavanaugh and Blomeyer suggest the most critical recommendation for technology integration is "partner, partner, partner" (Cavanaugh, Blomeyer, 2007, p. 44). They believe it is essential to identify multiple partners and organizations that can assists in technology integration. The key component is funding.
Click on the money in hand to preview possible funding sources.If you had the opportunity to incorporate any of the new technology you have discovered through your masters program list the first thing you would choose to integrate and why? Then list one possible source for funding. Your source for funding should be based on other evidence that funds have been contributed in the past, please include a link to this source. As you respond to your peers responses consider if the technology chosen by your peers would be beneficial in your classroom why or why not?
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There are many technology tools that I have learned about through this program that I think would be wonderful to use in the classroom. The first thing that I would probably want to integrate is a document camera. We just received projectors in our classrooms at the end of last school year so a document camera would be great to use along with it. I would use this a lot in my second grade class especially since a document camera is pretty essential to the new math curriculum that we just adopted.
ReplyDeleteThe website donarschoose.org is a site where teachers can go and submit requests for different forms of technology. Others can go to the site and either donate equipment or money to help teachers all over the country fund their requests. The only requirement is that the receiving teacher post pictures and blogs about how the class is using the new technology. This is a great way for schools (especially low-income schools) to receive better resources.
My current school has been making huge transitions towards integrating much more technology into the classrooms. Last year, we received Promethean Boards (interactive whiteboards) schoolwide except for the kindergarten rooms. Our funding was frozen before an order could be placed using site funds to purchase these for the 2 kinder rooms. I have since been informed that somehow the order was put through and they should be installed before the first day of school! Obviously, this is the first thing I want to put to use in my class. My first plan is to implement their use through webquests which will teach technology skills as well as academic standards. These won't actually cost money, only my time.
ReplyDeleteThe main technology need which would require money to get at this time would actually be updated teacher computers. The current storage on many of ours is not enough to adequately support the Promethean Boards. Additionally, being in a shared classroom, it is difficult to arrange both of our current monster sized monitors in a location accessible to connecting with the boards. Possible funding options would be through Sacramento Rotary Club at www.rotarysacramento.com who have helped me with projects at past sites or one of the local 20-30 clubs which I have previously been a member of and will only consider requests which directly benefit children. The Sacramento #1 club can be contacted at www.sac2030.org or the Sacramento #1032 club at www.sacwomens2030.org