Ed Tech Podcast for SD Teachers Episode 32: Opportunities to Get More Technology in Your Classroom

Have you ever wondered if there are any opportunities out there where you can apply and be awarded money for technology items in your classroom. Of course it isn't easy or guaranteed to get money or technology for your classroom, but it can be well worth it. Here are links to the opportunities that I discuss in the podcast episode:

• Ed Tech Team Grants - https://www.edtechteam.com/grant/
• Donors Choose - http://www.donorschoose.org/
• Adopt a Classroom - http://www.adoptaclassroom.org/
• Digital Wish - http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/grant_awards - Receive additional support for a 1:1 classroom.
• Toshiba America Foundation - http://www.toshiba.com/taf/
• Best Buy - ttps://corporate.bestbuy.com/community-grants-page/
• RGK foundation - http://rgkfoundation.org/public/guidelines - Through principal/superintendent only. 
• Entertainment Software Association - http://www.esafoundation.org/challenge-grant.asp
• Teachers Count - http://www.teacherscount.org/grants/ - List of different grants available. 

Also, don't forget about opportunities that may be available through your local school district and through your state department of education. 

Teachers Must Understand Technology Affordances to be Effective

When using technology for learning or for designing a project-based learning experience, a teacher needs to understand the affordances of various technological tools and resources. This post is an excerpt from my textbook, Educational Technology for Teachers.

A general definition of affordances is “the […] properties of the thing, primarily those fundamental properties that determine just how the thing could possibly be used (Norman, 2002, p. 9).” To clarify, affordances are the things that a particular tool or technology can do well. For instance, a word processing application allows the user to efficiently write a paper or letter. It offers many features that assist in this process including the possibility to write, edit, check spelling and do many more activities. These are the affordances of a word processing application. A presentation software application has many affordances that allow the user to easily create a visual presentation. These affordances might include functions that allow you to apply a theme, add new slides, insert title and slide text, and save and share a presentation.

High-quality learning experiences will often take advantage of the affordances of whatever technologies are used. The opposite is also true. Low-quality learning experiences often do not take advantage of the affordances of technologies.

So, teachers must understand technology affordances to be effective!

EdTech for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 19: Grumpy Cat Barriers to SD Teachers Using New Ideas and Technology

This week, Josh Jensen and I discuss some of the barriers to South Dakota teachers using new ideas and new technologies in the classrooms. We also talk about some nice sites for scheduling parent-teacher conferences and other meetings. Here are a few links from this episode:

• https://gb.youcanbook.me/ 
• http://doodle.com/

Educational Technology for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 6: Ellendale, ND: How did we get to the point where everyone has an iPad?

This week, we continue on location to Ellendale ND for an interview with Justin Thorpe, technology coordinator. Some of the topics we discuss include how many websites and resources should really be blocked for students and teachers and how we get to the point where everyone has an iPad in Ellendale schools. This is a continuation of our previous episode interviewing a kindergarten and high school teacher. 

Educational Technology for SD Teachers Podcast - Episode 4: Kids These Days...Technologies and Apps for Early Childhood Education

This week, we discuss kids these days and their technological toys - Technology for Early Childhood Education.

 Here are the links from this post:

• Learn with Homer: https://learnwithhomer.com/   
• Word Wizard: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/word-wizard-talking-movable/id447312716?mt=8
• Starfall: http://www.starfall.com/
• Build to 100: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fuzzybees.BuildTo100&hl=en
• Hungry fish: http://motionmathgames.com/motion-math-hungry-fish/