Thinking About Learning

This spring my district offered our teachers a wonderful grant opportunity, the DLT Mac Grant, Designing and Learning with Technology and a Mac.  After submitting grant proposals, 24 teachers were selected to receive equipment and training.  Fortunately, 2 of my teachers applied and won!  They each received a MacBook, 2 Mac-minis, 2 KVM switches, 3 iPods, a microphone, and a digital camera.   The purpose of the grant is to focus “on changing pedagogy to improve student learning rather than acquiring technology skills.”

As their supporting TIS, I also received a MacBook.  We spent 4 days in early June learning about our new equipment (we are a PC district), and “learning how to infuse technology into the classroom curriculum by conducting research, completing an assigned project using available technology tools, and designing a curriculum unit.” (The quotes are from the original grant flyer.)  I did a presentation about project-based learning for the training, and we also set up a Diigo DLT Mac user group so we can share resources.  It was a great, intensive week!  There was a lot to learn, but we jumped right in.  The group was very motivated and enthusiastic.  It will be exciting to see the outcome of this grant.  Our district has purchased a new Apple server, so we will be able to host our own blogs, wikis, and podcasts next year.  I am so proud be part of a district that is proactive with 21st Century learning and technology.  I think that providing this grant opportunity is an excellent way to begin developing those pedagogical changes that are necessary if we are going to be effective educators in this rapidly changing world.