Sections in Issue 4:
Did You Know?
Need-to-know facts about edtech integration in teacher preparation.
Recent
Relevant, recent stories in the edtech world.
Upcoming
Upcoming workshops, events, and RFPs/CFPs.
DID YOU KNOW?
Sign up for 1:1 Tech Support. There’s been a LOT of information swirling around related to technology this year, and we want to make sure that this is on your radar: DID YOU KNOW that you can sign up for 1:1 support from an ET4TP team member?
Sign up here for an appointment to:
- get help with a tech tool
- troubleshoot a tech integration problem in your content area
- plan a lesson in which you’d like to embed tech
- plan to co-teach together (Kiersten is available to co-teach with any faculty looking for in-classroom support!).
Sign up with one of us here:
- Liz Brennan (M 11:00am-12:15pm in OM 215; T 8:00-11:00am virtually; W by appt; R 11:00am-12:00pm in OM 215)
- Kyle Sweezy (T 1-2pm in OM 215; F 1-2pm virtually)
- Kiersten Greene (T/R 10:00am-4:00pm in OM 224)
Apps in the Field by Liz Brennan, (Early Childhood/Childhood Teacher Candidate, History Concentration). This semester, my cooperating teacher (CT) is using technology in various ways. I figured I’d write up a little synopsis of what I’ve observed in my CT’s classroom, and perhaps more importantly, how I’ve seen these apps used:
- FlipGrid: My CT uses FlipGrid, a video-based formative assessment tool, to check students’ understanding of fractions. They typically use the app in small groups, and often to document their work in those small groups. For example, in one lesson, students were each given a different image of a real-life example of a fraction. Students then recorded themselves explaining how they knew the different parts of the fractional unit to the camera. Then they reviewed their work, added a caption with correct spelling, and posted. They had so much fun with this assignment and look forward to every math lesson!
- SeeSaw: Students in my CT’s classroom use SeeSaw for 5-10 minutes at the end of each day to talk about something new and exciting that they learned. With this app students are the creators, they are excited to use different formats like picture taking, video recording, and digital drawings to explain their learning. Here are a few things I noticed: all comments are approved by the teacher before they are officially posted, parents can make an account and comment on their child’s work to encourage them, and the teacher will also give feedback to the students. Most importantly, SeeSaw gives parents a chance to see what their child is doing in class.
- DreamBox: The entire school uses this math application for 10-15 minutes every day. In the class account each student has their own individual icon so logging in is quick and easy in this app, and it’s targeted for individual math practice and assessment. It’s also great to use as an exit ticket after giving an instructional lesson.
I look forward to learning more from my CT, seeing the curricular and pedagogical connections with tech in the field, and sharing more of what I learn with you in the future!
RECENT
Podcasting Strengthens Students’ Writing, Editing and Speaking Skills by Lauren Barack. Teach a student a lesson, and they learn something. But when they have a chance to author their own learning, including picking a subject and the method of explaining that subject, they likely will master a new skill and increase their knowledge of the subject at the same time. Podcasting is a way of telling a story through audio — using pieces of sound files, voice overs, recorded conversations and effects woven into a narrative. [Click here to read more of this story from Education Dive here…]
Teresa, S. F. (2018, March). Multiple Perspectives on Strengthening the Ability of Teacher Education Programs to Prepare Teacher Candidates to Integrate Technology. In Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 2041-2046). Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Abstract: In the new National Education Technology Plan from U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Technology, a claim is made that school districts cannot consistently count on teacher educators to help new teachers develop their ability to teach with technology. This panel presentation examines five innovative approaches to addressing this concern: the development of professional identities, teacher educator technology competencies, creativity and transdisciplinary thinking, teacher educator workload when addressing technology in methods courses, and transfer to the field. Panelists will share research findings and implications for teacher education. Attendees will have the opportunity to brainstorm with panelists on how their programs make use of the ideas presented. [Click here to read the full paper].
Can a New Approach to Information Literacy Reduce Digital Polarization? by Jeffrey R. Young. The internet doesn’t come with an instruction manual, but it should—to give users the skills to separate truth from falsehood so they can distinguish between propaganda and the indisputable and confirmable. And colleges should be the place leading students through this reference book. [Click here to read the full story from EdSurge.]
UPCOMING
ISTE Certification: NYSCATE is offering ISTE Certification at SUNY New Paltz on April 29 & 30. (And ISTE is leading the field in edtech certification for pre-service, in-service, and teacher preparation educators.) There is a $150 discount for SUNY New Paltz faculty — contact Kiersten for the coupon code if you’re a faculty member and are interested in joining us! Find out more about ISTE certification at nyscate.org.
NYSCATE Grant CFP: Each year, grants of up to $2000 are awarded to NYSCATE members for projects consistent with its Mission Statement. They are intended to support innovative projects which align with Academic Learning Standards and the ISTE National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) for students and teachers. We 
encourage P-12 as well as Higher Education faculty involved in teacher preparation to submit a proposal. Please complete the following application making sure to address all seven criteria corresponding to the grant rubric. All materials must be submitted by midnight April 30th. Find out more at nyscate.org.
NYSCATE Annual Conference
