July 29, 2015 at 5:43 p.m.
Teachers learn new strategies at Hodag Tech Fest
Teachers learn new strategies at Hodag Tech Fest
Over 90 teachers gathered at James Williams Middle School for the event, a symposium where teachers taught other teachers.
This year's topics ranged from Classroom, Colleagues, and Community to Communication and Collaboration, along with Digital Citizenship.
Organizer Heidi Catlin, instructional technology coordinator, said teachers administrators and support staff were involved.
"That way, everyone who supports our students has the opportunity to learn," she said.
The overarching theme for the week is 21st century learning and skills, Catlin said. "When we talk about 21st century skills, you hear a lot about the four C's - creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking," she said.
The district added a fifth element, professional development, Catlin said.
On Friday the staff was to learn about digital citizenship.
"We're basically sharing ways that technology can be used to support all of those (other concepts)," Catlin said. "It's not just focused on technology and how to use it, it's how technology can be used to support the learning. That's our goal."
All of the sessions were created, organized, developed and taught by district teachers, Catlin said.
"They're stepping out of their box. Even though they're in front of a classroom full of kids every day, teaching in front of your peers is a whole different story," she said. "They're doing a fabulous job."
A guest presenter, Robin Hosemann, came from the southern part of the state Tuesday to discuss a new learning device called Sphero, Catlin said.
Middle School Language Arts Teacher and Reading Instructor Beth Bloom said the information presented will translate very well to her classroom this fall.
"(I'm learning) amazing things, and so much," Bloom said. "All sorts of technological things I can use with my students to improve their understanding of what I do in class, to generate interest and keep them excited about the things they are learning. I am so grateful for the time that the district is giving us to use the technology and to collaborate with my colleagues."
Bloom said learning about what her colleagues know will help her in the classroom.
"The collaboration and creativity is fantastic and the time to do it is precious," Bloom added. "We hardly have time to do it during the school year, so this time to do it is fantastic."
Bloom was not the only staff member with positive things to say about the Tech Fest.
Dana Durkee, a paraprofessional, learned about iPad apps in the classroom.
Durkee works with 4-year-old kindergarten students.
"This morning I used Chromebooks, and this afternoon I am learning about how to use iPads." Durkee said. "For me, I'm a 4 K paraprofessional supporting two 4K teachers. The generations coming up are far more technology driven than we are. They know more than me, and I need to be up to speed so I can help them troubleshoot when they have a problem or new ideas. I just want to be as advanced as that generation is because I don't feel that I am. We had Atari. The technology is very different. Everything is at their fingertips. This is going to help us with safety issues, to guide them in the right direction and keep them away from things they don't need to do."
Catlin was pleased by the positive feedback.
"It's so great to hear teachers excited about what they're learning," she said. "I just love it."
Katie Perttunen may be reached at [email protected].
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