Post date: Jan 16, 2015 4:29:19 AM
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
I have begun Cycle 1 of my action research. I personally invited about twenty teachers who I thought would be interested in talking technology. Our site has two different lunches so I invited about 10 from each lunch period and also asked them to bring along anyone else who might be interested. I am hoping these teachers will be willing to share something in tech that they have recently done. Another possible topic could be how to manage the technology in the classroom. Our lunches are short – 35 minutes so it will go by quickly. I am also providing a light lunch.
My action research question for this cycle is: If I facilitate a lunchtime Teacher’s Using Technology Meet-up, how will that help build collaboration groups among school staff, to enhance teacher and student technology use on campus?
Artifact: invitation
Artifacts I want to collect: A list of teachers participating. Observational records of students using technology in their classrooms.
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Today we had our lunchtime tech meet ups. A fun name was presented by one of the participants: Tech Munch (instead of Tech Meet-up Lunch). There were two lunches with two different groups of teachers meeting. There was great participation (about 10 in each group) and each of the groups had their own vibe. I was able to take notes on what these teachers shared. Excellent discussions surrounded each teacher’s contribution on the topic.
We have also agreed to share information via google drive. It is clear that as Technology Coach, my role is to facilitate the sharing of information and the coordination of meetings.
We had only 35 minutes to meet and the time went by very quickly. The start time for discussion was pushed back somewhat as we waited for people to arrive. Since this was our first meeting we didn't have any specific norms or requirements listed. I think it would benefit the group next time if we had a specific topic of discussion that the group agreed upon before the actual meeting. Also, side discussions made it hard to hear others, the group could decide on a set of norms to give all participants an equal time to share and be heard.
Next steps:
1. Create Tech Meet-up webpage, blog, and google drive resource to enable teacher sharing and discussion.
2. Schedule the next Tech Munch. The first group of teachers – mostly 6th grade teachers – suggested a pot-luck next time.
3. Get into the classrooms to see this work in action and have teachers post pics in google resource.