This is week 6, therefore for me a Choose you Own Topic week.
The topic I have selected is teacher buy-in. Often I have found that it is difficult to get teachers to use the technology in the building. There are more reasons than I have time to type, from not enough time to plan to unease with technology in general. However, one key aspect is that the teachers will not do something, or eventually do something with deep resentment, if they are MANDATED to do it without a say. Just like the game we played the first week of class, the teachers need to be consulted, especially the "key" teachers.
Since I know about the buy-in piece, I have recently asked for volunteers, and now formed a group from these volunteers as a Mobile Learning SIG (Special Interest Group). We currently have ZERO mobile devices at school. This group will do the front end research for the school about which apps are the best for grade 4 math, for example. And in return, when the school has money to purchase mobile devices, the group will have a say in which ones and how they are allocated.
These teachers are motivated and excited, and they will help "sell it" to the rest of the teachers, and the mobile technology bug will spread like a virus as soon as teachers see the others using the equipment and hearing the buzz from the students.
This group is very excited to be the pioneers in the mobile technology world at my school!
This sounds like a great idea! What types of mobile devices are you referring to? iPads? I have a concern that without actually having those devices, the interest in your group will wane. Do you think you will be getting devices soon? What about the PTA/PTO in your school? Would they be able to buy one or two for your school to try out? You could do a sign up/check out system that could really put the teachers to the test. Either you will prove that the devices are necessary and should be purchased or you will prove that only certain teachers will bother with new technology and they can continue signing up for the devices on a need-basis.
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