NCTED 2017: Teaching Tech and Thinking Skills (2 of 2)

Here is part 2 of the post on the NCTED 2017 experience I had two weeks ago. Part 1 can be read through this link. For this blog post, I am sharing what the teacher participants in my workshop, Media in the Time of Social Media, came up with during discussions and group activities. There were many ideas that came up so I took the chance of writing them all down. We called it, Teacher's Idea Box.

I did ask permission from them for this blog post. Thank you, teachers!

Teacher's Idea Box

1. Create a Media Log. Digital natives write diary entries about their digital lives.

2. Know your tech tool for thinking, teaching and learning.

3. Reading corners never go out of style.  Design an attractive reading corner where digital natives can read books.

4. Involve parents in the teaching and learning experience. Open avenues where parents can give valuable feedback of their child's progress when at home or with the family.

5. Encourage students to use social media by posting reflections, highlights and questions they had during class.

6. Make use of hashtags that are relevant to the learning experiences and activities in the classroom.

7. Provide students with constant feedback on their use of technology, specially on their communication skills and how they relate to others in an online environment.

8. Schedule a time and space where students can play around with tech tools, integrated them with subject related activities and allow them to explore and curate content online.

Do you have something to add or share? Feel free to post a comment!

Schoology is Learning With Rex Digital

I discovered Schoology when I was preparing for my workshop for the National Conference on Technology in Education. I used the e-learning platform in many ways namely: as workbook where participants can write their reflections and submit their output; as database of online sources for the workshop (this was my favorite feature of the platform because it's like curating -- which I think it is!); and as my visual aid. I didn't prepare a PPT presentation anymore. YAY!

Schoology is easy to use. The interface and its menu are navigable by digital migrants like me. Though I didn't get to use the assessment and grading feature of Schoology, this only goes to show how complete the e-learning platform is. While it does look like a very flexible virtual learning space for teachers and students, school who are deciding to acquire the platform need to look at the prerequisites of technology integration in teaching and learning. To name a few, these are tech support, by Rex Digital and in-school IT staff; curriculum and pedagogy that allows for a fluid application of the e-learning platform; and continuous teacher training program.

Interested?

Get in touch with Ms. Enoy Ferriol: ellinor@rexdigital.net and/ or etferriol@rexpublishing.com.ph. Mobile No - 09178760806

National Conference on Technology in Education: INNOVATED 2017

I am deeply humbled to be in this roster of passionate educators. I will be running a workshop on Media in Social Media that will cover Media and Information Literacy Skills and Web 2.0 Technology in teaching and instruction.

Join over 300 educators in shaping the future of education. The National Conference on Technology in Education: INNOVATED. September 12-14, 2017, SMX Convention Center Manila. 

Zooming in on the Relearn Literacy Session on Media and Information Literacy, you will find three topics on MIL: search strategies, understanding media, social media and smart strategies in navigating Web 2.0, and teaching Media and Information Literacy.

Teacher Techie of the Month: Galvin Radley L. Ngo

Because the first National Conference on Technology in Education (NCTED 2017) is only a month away, the blog features Mr. Galvin Radley Ngo of Wohoo Learning Lab, a program partner of NCTED 2017. 

Get to know Galvin, Wohoo Learning Lab and the first NCTED 2017. Read on!

Where did "IT" all begin - your interest, and passion in teaching and technology?

My first "teaching experience" happened way back in 2004, when I worked as a teacher and assistant coordinator for the Jesuit Communication Foundation's The Garage: Center for Creative and Multimedia Technologies. In The Garage, we conducted workshops for priests, nuns, teachers and NGO workers in various multimedia and technology skills, so that they can use it in their work and advocacies. Looking back, I think that was the earliest contact I've had with being part of the intersections of technology and education. However, what really ignited my interest and passion was the opportunity to work in Xavier School, close to 7 years ago. In Xavier, I was tasked to be part of the NExT (New Experiences with Technology) Team, who took charge of advocating and supporting the school's initiative to explore the potential of using technology in teaching and learning. There, I was struck by how technology, in the hands of passionate teachers, can really make a difference in learning.

What is Woohoo Learning Lab?

Woohoo Learning Lab is an education technology professional learning company. Our advocacy is to help schools and teachers ignite meaningful innovations in learning, through supporting them with resources, opportunities to exchange ideas and best practices (conferences and edcamps), coaching, training and consultancy. Usually conversations about Education Technology are dominated by discussions on types of technologies (Do you use tablets? apps? sites? etc.), and though these are surely exciting things to talk about, what we've noticed is that, sometimes the key ingredient for a successful initiative is not given much attention. From our perspective, this key ingredient is the teacher. Though we love learning about new technologies, we are strong believers that it is still learning design and a teacher's educational philosophy & pedagogical practice that will really help make a difference.

What is your role in the National Conference on Technology in Education (NCTED)?

Woohoo Learning Lab is currently the program partner for the conference. As program partner, we are in charge of designing the overall participant experience through conducting research on best practices, curating topics and inviting facilitators based on school's needs and interests, and ensuring alignment across all sessions to ensure a cohesive learning experience.

What would a teacher or educator get from this conference as they are bombarded with professional development activities already?

The national conference is really a celebration of research and practice-based innovations from all over the nation. Participants will have an opportunity to learn from and with educators from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and from various educational settings: K-12, Inclusive Ed and Higher Ed. It is also an opportunity to learn about other best practices from outside the nation: featuring speakers from the United States and Singapore. Finally, it is an opportunity to collaborate with each other, not just with the facilitators but also among the participants themselves. With many changes and challenges ahead, most specially in education, I think the best way moving forward is to face them together.

What is the future of education?

The future of education will be shaped by educators who are creative-always finding new ways and taking on different perspectives in the way he/she teaches, who are collaborative - humble enough to break down his/her classroom walls to take part in networks of educators, and who care deeply about each learner - taking time to find ways for learning to happen better for each student. 

Wohoo Learning Lab is located in

2/F GEMPC Building, Timog Avenue, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES

Visit their Facbook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/woohoolearninglab/

Website: http://www.woohoo.ph/

LinkedIn: https://ph.linkedin.com/company/woohoo-learning-lab

Go to the link for more information on the NCTED, program, registration and list of resource speakers.

InnovatED: Learn. Unlearn. Relearn.

I will be conducting a three hour workshop on September 13, 2017 during the first National Conference on Technology in Education at the SMX Convention Center, Manila. My session's title is Media in the Time of Social Media: Necessary Skills in Navigating the Multimedia Landscape. 

The World Wide Web, as we know it, is constantly changing. It is no longer a passive  multimedia landscape where people can simply locate and access information. The Web has become a platform for interactivity and participation. A variety of media formats have merged into the Web allowing more opportunities for creativity, opening up of communication channels and collaborative projects.

This session will tackle the dual role of media as tool and message and how it merges into the different Web 2.0 technologies. Participants will be engaged in critical and creative thinking activities that will help them understand the strengths and limitations of blogs, wikis, ePortfolios and social media as instructional and thinking tools, as well as techniques in using different multimedia platforms for teaching and learning. Teachers, school librarians, allied professionals and homeschooling parents will benefit a great deal from the workshop.

For more information on the conference go to InnovatED 2017.

Program can be viewed here and the Registration  to the conference is easy and accessible.