Keeping Summer In Sync

Technology Integration and Facilitation

Summer Assignment

Or, Keeping up with the Joneses, where "Joneses" is "Technology" and we're bad at puns

NOTE: 

This is an optional assignment meant to help you enhance your technology skillz.

(yes, with a "z"; it's a stylistic choice.)

Question: How can I improve my technology integration over the summer?

Step 1: Don't

Step 2: Ignore "Step 1" and think about something fun or engaging you would want your students to do in the classroom.  It doesn't have to be a specific lesson or have a specific format at this time.  Try to focus on the concept.  It could be something you've seen throughout the past year that you are really excited to try.  Phrase the idea as ridiculously vague as possible.  Example: "I want to do one of those makerspace things."

Step 3: Try really hard not to think about it for a bit.  Let the idea grow.  Stop picking at it.  It's a good idea.  You will be inspired at some other point.

Step 4: Obsess about it a little bit.  Maybe watch a Youtube video.  Read a couple of blogs. Pin something on Pinterest.  Put up a little sticky note about how you're going to get back to this before August.

Step 5: Completely forget about it for several weeks in July.

Step 6: Randomly remember you were going to do that Tech thing while sitting at dinner, or at your kid's baseball game.

Step 7: Sign up to attend a face-to-face session with your TIFs on August 10, 2017.  Bring your ideas with you.  We can help you flush them into full on lesson plans or projects.

Step 8: Remember that Growth Mindset is all about trying new things and having new ideas to see if they work.  If you make a plan, and it doesn't work exactly the way you thought it would, then you have a place to go back and see where it can be made better.  We'd love to help you with that process, no matter where you are in your planning.

Step 9: Stay Connected.  Check out the archives on our blog, or the resource section of our website. Engage a little with other professionals through social media, and add your voice to the conversation. Summer is a great time to stay positive about new ideas.

Most Importantly: We value everything you have done this year and look forward to continuing to work with you to make the classroom of your dreams.  Thank you for all of the times you've invited us into your classrooms or had meetings with us in order to help our shared students achieve great things throughout the school.

Sincerely,

The Sandburg TIFs:

Christine Borst

Christopher Frye

Joseph Geiger

Desi Vuillaume