January+26


 * Sharing**


 * Book Discussion**
 * Discussion Forum. For today, you were to pull from each chapter a passage, paragraph, sentence, etc. that provoked your thinking and write a short reflection on how it engaged your thinking in general.
 * Change
 * Equity

The // **BIG QUESTIONS** // to answer as we learn about each new technology:
 * New Topic - Starting to work with new technology tools for learning**
 * 1) What are the "affordances" and "constraints" of the technology? In other words, what does the technology allow us to do or prevent us from doing? The answers to this question might be "messy." This fundamental understanding is important to answer the next questions...
 * 2) What new skills do we need to teach students?
 * 3) What will I need to do differently in terms of how I teach in the classroom? How will teaching and learning look different?
 * 4) How does the technology help me to foster creativity, innovation and some of the other 21st century skills?
 * 5) What are some ways I can use this technology in my classroom?

//How would you answer these questions for one of the tools we've use so far in this course, such as Today's Meet or blogs?//

To start developing our repertoire of technology tools, we will start with the Google tools outlined in the course text //Retool Your School...The Educator's Essential Guide to Google's Free Power Apps.// In groups of 2-3, choose a technology/tool from the text to investigate for the week. Your investigation of the tool will include two parts: (1) use the tool! Try it out. Experiment. Create. (2) Locate resources online that show how other teachers are using these tools for real learning in the classroom. Once you have tried the tool out and discovered some new resources, on your blog, write about your REFLECTIONS to the question above and be prepared to share your learning verbally with the rest of the class on **TUESDAY**. You should share new resources in your blog post and on Google+.

Why I use Google's products as an educator

Once we work our way through the various Google tools, we will explore other tools and concepts related to technology in teaching and learning.

How to Grow A Textbook
 * Introduction of the Application Project**
 * Start with an outline
 * Grab a virtual binding
 * Unpack and publish your traditional documents
 * Grab a few solid updating tools
 * Grab books for solid, more stable content
 * Grab databases and database essays, articles and chapters
 * Grab the right search tools
 * Grab your own presentations and shop for the best of others
 * Grab a couple of pathfinders
 * Grab some film
 * Grab some open source curriculum
 * Grab some student work
 * Grab some other stuff - see below

//From the Syllabus:// Working// individually or with a group //, you will be asked to develop a chapter for a digital textbook in your content area. This project will require you to apply your learning throughout the course to develop something useful to you and others as you enter the teaching profession. The design of this project is flexible and will be assessed based on criteria we develop in class. (We'll develop a rubric in the near future.) You might choose some of the ideas from the link above. You will be expected to think about your work in the class on a weekly basis and capture that in some form. We will discuss more in class and answer any questions you may have. It's not about "checking" off an assignment; it's about creating something meaningful that represents your growth and development over the course of the semester.

Example Digital Textbook Chapter


 * For Tuesday, January 31**


 * Sharing:** Post any interesting articles, videos, findings on the Internet, etc. to the Google+ stream.


 * Read:** Start reading Chapters 3 & 4 in //Rethinking Education...// We will discuss these chapters on Thursday, February 2.


 * Application Project**: Study the How to Grow A Textbook post. Begin to think about the content topic for your digital textbook, who you will collaborate with, etc. Again, use the textbook post link to guide your thinking. We will have time Tuesday in class to discuss questions you may have.


 * Google Technology Tool**: Work with your chosen tool from the //Retool Your School// text. Discover online resources that help you learn more about how teachers use this tool in the classroom. Write your weekly blog post as outlined above. Include links to resources and post those links to the Google+ stream. This rubric will be used to assess your blog post.

** Next Meeting: Tuesday, January 31, 7:00-9:00 PM** ** New Topic: Sharing Technology Tools/New Technology Tools; Q&A on Application Project**