Reflection

Over the past weeks, I have been delving into technology integration topics that are pertinent to the survival of any 1:1 initiative. There are several "take away" ideas that i wish to further develop for myself and my corporation:

1) Focus on the stakeholders as much as you do the implementation of technology. The Stakeholders can be the backbone of the initiative. The more they know and understand, the more you will grow as a corporation. Support is everything!!!!

2) Set Goals... Start with the end in mind. Running into battle without a battle plan is quite insane. Understanding your personal philosophy, teaching goals and corporation integration goals will guide everyone to a common understanding. Not being on the same page is dangerous!

3) Classroom Management training is just as important as device/app/tool training. Most importantly, Classroom Management is not device specific! Provide basic classroom management skills in tandem with technology. Not all teachers are proficient in the realm of classroom management. Fill those gaps and push on!

4) As a corporation, I am considering the creation of a Digital Tools/Apps Menu for each semester. I think throwing a list of 50 apps at teachers is overwhelming!!! Adopting a menu, focusing on in 1 app per month seems to be the best approach right now. I want to then tie those digital tools into Differentiated Instruction. Providing purpose for digital tools is the key!

5) Not all teachers/subjects fit the mold in terms of curriculum and teaching methods. Assessing each subject and teacher will determine what is appropriate. Flipped Learning is not right for all students or subjects. The same goes for Project Based Learning. All or nothing is not always the answer either.

While there are many other thoughts, these are the core changes I would like to see in the next year. It is important to remember that it is not about the device! Rather, it is about providing a quality learning experience that challenges students!