PACKAGE: Technology (25 Hours)

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Technology has become an integral part of life and learning patterns in the 21st century. The internet, iPads and smart phones are just a few tech tools that can enhance knowledge and understanding. This technology online course package, helps teachers to understand the various skills that students need to develop, in order to use technology most effectively while exercising sufficient discretion. The successful use of technology in the classroom, requires a lot more than merely knowing how to use a specific tech tool. Teachers need to understand the role of technology in the learning process, and the principles behind integrating it to promote learning, without being a distraction. Teachers will be thus equipped to go beyond using a tech tool merely because someone else has recommended it, to fully examine its true learning potential. To this end, teachers are taught to consider specifics, including logistics, content access, sound and image quality, while evaluating individual tech tools. Ensuring the ethical use of technology, the common threats are presented along with ways for teachers to protect students during their online learning experience. This interactive professional development package aims to increase teachers’ comfort levels in using the Internet and other available tech tools for teaching, thus enabling them to effectively integrate them into various stages of the learning process.

The Professional Learning Board presents the Technology Package which includes FIVE self-study courses adding up to 25 hours of professional development. Scroll down to see more information on the courses in this package.

Introduction to Technology for Teachers

This interactive course introduces teachers to technology tools with one goal in mind: increasing teacher comfort level in using the Internet and today’s technology tools for teaching and learning. Teachers will learn new ways of using tools they are familiar with and be exposed to brand-new tools and applications for use both in professional development and with students in the classroom.

Topics covered in this course:

• Basic computer terminology
• Office applications
• Email
• Web tools
• Integrating technology in classroom lessons
• Using technology to enhance professional development

Teachers will learn to integrate technology effectively with student learning to increase engagement and student achievement.

Internet Safety: Protecting Children in an Online World

Issues that the youth of today, parents, teachers and those who are part of their world face online is the essence of this content. Participants discover areas of the Internet used by youth, what kinds of threats exist on the Internet and how everyone can protect their loved ones, family members, students and those under their care or responsibility. A special focus of the course includes ways in which adults can protect themselves online.

Social networks
Instant messaging & texting
Chat rooms
Gaming & virtual worlds
Vulnerabilities of Children Online
Cyberbullying
Online predators
Tips & tools for protecting children online
And more…

Technology in the 21st Century Classroom

Technology has become an integral part of our life and learning patterns in the 21st century. The internet, blogs and smart phones are some examples of tools that we use to grow in our knowledge and understanding. Using technology like this in the classroom requires more than knowing how to use the tool. Teachers need to understand the role of technology in the learning process, and the principles behind integrating it in a way that it promotes learning without it being a distraction.

This course teaches concepts and ideas behind using technology in the classroom. It also helps teachers to understand the various skills that students need to develop in order to use technology in the most effective way. It equips teachers to help students use technology intelligently and responsibly.

iPads in the Classroom

The iPad helps us prepare today’s student for today’s world in more ways than we could ever do using traditional teaching strategies. However to achieve heights in teaching and learning, teachers need to understand much more than just how to use an iPad.

This course has been specially designed for teachers who are just beginning to use iPads or those who are considering using them. Rather than a focus on learning to operate an iPad, this course will help teachers gain knowledge about different ways by which the iPad can be integrated into the process of learning. In addition to practical learning activites and ideas, it helps the teacher prepare the classroom environment and schedule for the introduction of iPads. It helps teachers to plan and organize iPad use, so that it is efficient and smooth.

At the end of this course teachers will be able to:

• Learn to use an iPad
• Find and use apps for teaching
• Organize iPad activities in the classroom
• Set up the classroom environment to encourage efficient iPad us
• Manage technical tasks related to iPad maintenance including charging, updating and storing.
• Use iPads to teach and practice 21st century skills including communicating, collaborating, connecting, creating and critical thinking.
• And so much more!

Apps for Education

Integrate Ruben Puentedura’s SAMR model with Alan November’s work on Transformative Learning to find the best apps to educate YOUR students. The integration of apps into education, may seem like a natural product of the times. However, successfully impacting students’ learning, requires a whole new level of teachers’ engagement and effort.

Teachers will be equipped to go beyond using an app merely because someone else has recommended it and fully examine the true learning potential.

To this end, teachers must take into account specifics, including logistics, ability to manage, content access, sound and image quality, all while evaluating individual apps. A comprehensive App Evaluation Framework, specially designed for the classroom context is presented for teachers’ critical consideration of educational apps before deciding to introduce them to students. With an integrated approach, teachers can successfully consider an apps’ connections with curriculum content and ability to amplify existing learning levels, while evaluating systematically their transformative learning capability.