Classroom Teacher's Technology Survival Guide

DOUG JOHNSON is the Director of Media and Technology for the Mankato, Minnesota Public Schools and serves as an adjunct faculty member of Minnesota State University. His long-running column "Head for the Edge," appears in Library Media Connection and he maintains the Blue Skunk Blog.

• About the Book ixAbout the Author xiIntroduction 1Why This Book? 1Why Is an English Teacher Writing This Book Instead of Bill Gates? 2Creating the Essential Conditions Needed for Successful Technology Use 3Chapter One: Why Should Classroom Teachers Be Technologically Skillful? 7Revolution or Evolution in Educational Change? 8Developing a Framework for Thinking About Technology in Schools 10Established Infrastructure 12Effective Administration 14Extensive Resources 16Enhanced Teaching 19Empowered Students 21Chapter Two: Q&A About Some Basics 29What Type of Computer Should I Have? 29What Operating System (OS) Should I Choose: Windows, Macintosh, GNU/Linux, or Chrome? 29How Much Memory Do I Need, and How Fast Does the Computer Need to Run? 31Desktop, Laptop, Netbook, or Tablet? 31What Other Equipment Should I Buy? 32What Basic Software Do I Need? 33What Are Freeware and Open-Source Software? 34How Do I Manage Files on Multiple Computers? 36What Is Cloud Computing, and What Are Its Advantages and Disadvantages? 36How Can Teachers Take Advantage of Cloud Computing? 38Disadvantages of Cloud Computing 39What Does a Technologically Well-Equipped Classroom Look Like? 40Seven Stupid Mistakes Teachers Make with Technology 42Seven Brilliant Things Teachers Do with Technology 44Chapter Three: Using Technology for Professional Productivity 47Keeping Professionally Organized: Managing the Business of Teaching 48Communicating Using Technology 49Student Information System 52Curriculum Management System 53Course Management System 53School Web Site and Teacher-Created Class Pages 54Basic Productivity Tools 60Word Processors 60E-mail 61Web Browsers and Search Engines 62Graphics and Digital Image Editing Tools 64Spreadsheets 65Presentation Software 67Basic Online Tools 69Online Productivity Suites 70Blogs 74RSS Feed Aggregators and Readers 75Wikis 76Social Bookmarking Sites 77Sites for Storing and Sharing Media 78Options for Sharing and Working Collaboratively on Documents 79Chapter Four: The Technology Upgrade 83Getting Started with Technology in the Classroom 83Assessing Technology-Enhanced Student Work 88What IT Skills Should Teachers Expect of All Students? 94Survival Skills for the Information Jungle 104Problem-Based Learning and Information Literacy 105Information Problem Solving Meets Technology 106Information Jungle Survival Skills 107The Hazards Are Great, but So Are the Rewards 111Chapter Five: Teaching 21st-Century Skills 113The Fourth R—Research 114Designing Technology-Enhanced Projects—the Four A’s 115The First A: Assignments 117The Second A: Activities 119The Third A: Assessment 120The Fourth A: Attitude 123Everyday Information Problem Solving 126Entertain or Engage? Why You Need to Know the Difference 127A Few Thoughts About Creativity 129Right-Brain Skills and Technology: A Whole New Mind(-Set) 131I Will as a Teacher 134Chapter Six: Managing Disruptive Technologies in the Classroom 137Some Approaches to Managing Technology in the Classroom 139Using Technology in the Classroom to Support Student Learning 142Computer Games in the Classroom 146Why You Should Let Your Students Use the Internet for Nonacademic Purposes 147Chapter Seven: Commonsense Practices for Safe and Ethical Technology Use 149Teacher’s Day-to-Day Security Guide 150Hardware Security 150Passwords 151Backups 152Viruses 154Data Privacy 154Personal Privacy 155Helping Students Stay Ethical and Safe Online 156What’s Different About Technology Ethics? 157Basics of Technology Ethics: Privacy, Property, Appropriate Use 158Staying Safe on the Read-Write Web 161What Are the Read-Write Web Safety Concerns, and How Valid Are They? 161What Students Need to Understand About Technology Use 163Guidelines for Educators Using Social and Educational Networking Sites 166Social Networking Scenarios 168Social Networking Scenario 1: Mr Blake and Jennifer 168Social Networking Scenario 2: Ms Olson’s Camping Trip 169Social Networking Scenario 3: Juan and Philip Trade Insults 169Social Networking Scenario 4: The Social Networking Ban 169Social Networking Scenario 5: The Blog About Blobs 169Chapter Eight: Developing a Long-Term Learning Strategy 171Keeping Your Sanity 173The Librarian: Your Technology Partner 174Bonus: Top Ten Secrets for Conducting a Successful Technology Workshop 177Chapter Nine: Looking into the Crystal Ball 187Three ‘‘High-Tech’’ Schools of the Future 188Skinner Elementary School 188John Dewey High School 189Duncan Middle School 190So What’s the Point? 191How You Can Invent the Future and Take Charge of Your Own Technology Environment 191Have a Personal Vision of Education and How Technology Should Be Used in It 192Have a Voice in School Technology Policymaking and Planning 194Experiment 195Look for a Mentor, Coach, or Guide 196Share Information 198Support Others and Use a Team-Teaching Approach 198Change from the Radical Center of Education 199Adopt an ‘‘And’’ Not ‘‘Or’’Mind-Set 199Look for Truth and Value in All Beliefs and Practices 200Respect the Perspective of the Individual 201Recognize That One Size Does Not Fit All (Kids or Teachers) 201Attend to Attitudes 202Understand That the Elephant Can Only Be Eaten One Bite at a Time 203Make Sure Everyone IsMoving Forward, Not Just the Early Adopters 204Don’t Be Afraid to Say, ‘‘I Don’t Know’’ 205Believe That Measurement Is Good, but Not Everything Can Be Measured 205Know and Keep Your Core Values 206The Giant and the Ants: How Problems Are Solved 207Readings and Resources 209Chapter One: Why Should Classroom Teachers Be Technologically Skillful? 209Associations 209Some Influential Writers in the Field 210Technology Critics and Skeptics 210Other Education and Technology Thinkers 211Chapter Two: Q&A About Some Basics 211Chapter Three: Using Technology for Professional Productivity 211Chapter Five: Teaching 21st-Century Skills 211Chapter Six:Managing Disruptive Technologies in the Classroom 212Chapter Seven: Commonsense Practices for Safe and Ethical Technology Use 212Chapter Eight: Developing a Long-Term Learning Strategy 213Chapter Nine: Looking into the Crystal Ball 213Index 215