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** Do you look like this????? **



//7 ways to Increase Teacher Technology Integration in the Classroom// by mscheska

 * 1. Create a clear vision of what an ideal classroom with integrated technology looks like.** Individual teachers can design their own technology growth development plans by outlining their expectations for the school year. Take out the school’s mission statement, and your learning objectives. How does the technology fit in? Align learning objectives with the appropriate tools, and list 1-2 new tools you would like to use in the classroom. Set small measurable goals. Focus on one goal at a time. Schedule time during the week to practice with the tools.
 * 2. Build an on-campus professional learning network.** Make friends with the technology department. Individual teachers can form small study groups with colleagues to sign up for professional development courses together, attend conferences together, swap literature, and share ideas for lesson plans, and resources. Visit and observe each other’s classrooms. Encourage one another to host informal workshops, demonstrations, or tutoring sessions during breaks or after school.
 * 3. Build an online professional learning network.** Learn how to set up a Twitter account or a profile on one of the social networking platforms. Connect with other educators and join education-related groups. When you feel more comfortable, expand your network to include artists, scientists, authors, etc. Make a commitment to spend a few minutes a day, or a half hour on weekends, to browse through the current articles, materials, and links. When you feel more comfortable reading the resources on your social networks, don’t just lurk! Try your hand at leaving 1-2 comments on a blog or in a group discussion. Ask questions.
 * 4. Invest in yourself.** Read, read, and read! Subscribe to technology journals and publications. Open an aggregator account like Google Reader and subscribe to educational blogs, online magazines, and newsletters. Search for online tutorials and videos. Use open content sources. Follow along with free university online classes. Attend free webinars and free virtual conferences whenever you can.
 * 5. Expand your learning network to the classroom.** Harness your students’ creativity and ingenuity. Involve your students by asking them how they best learn, how they network outside the classroom, and what technology tools they are using for their hobbies. Allow them to be your technology tutors by encouraging them to share their tips and tricks. Set up monthly technology show-and-tells in the classroom. Ask students to do a tutorial for you. Search for video, podcasts, and other tutorials together and create a class technology knowledge-base on a class website, social bookmarking site, or wiki-space.
 * 6. Publish, publicize, and advertise your students’ technology-related work.** Create a classroom website or a wiki-space to share ideas, tutorials, and class projects. Share the links with parents, administration, and faculty. Invite them to your classroom to see what the students are doing and learning. Distribute a monthly newsletter, or create a photo album, or put together a portfolio to share what you have done to integrate technology in your classroom. Share these with your colleagues and your professional learning networks. Ask for constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement.
 * 7. Develop a reflective practice with your integration of technology in the classroom.** Keep a small notebook to jot down initial thoughts and impressions. Follow up your implementation of technology tools in a lesson plan or activity with a reflection on its strengths, weaknesses, successes and things that can be further improved. Remember to include samples of formative and summative student assessments. Write student responses, Write about your personal journey into technology integration. Reflect on your technology growth development plan. Consider signing up for an online blog and linking it to your professional learning networks. Encourage discussions with your colleagues and networks

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