Seven Ways to Engage Your Students with Technology Today
Presentation Proposal by Mindi Vandagriff
Objectives:
This forum is intended for educators of K-12 students in the general education classroom.
The activities outlined in the Best Practices forum will be explained in detail with practical
implications for implementation immediately. The goal of integrating this technology and
Web 2.0 tools into the classroom is to solve problems in learning and teaching, moreover,
to increase the effectiveness of the teaching and learning process and student achievement.
With the support of technology, instruction will be presented by vivid multimedia content
and the Internet can also easily access worldwide information for students. In order to
meet the needs of learners and prepare them to succeed in a visually rich culture,
educators will expand lessons and core curricula to include visual literacy by designing
curriculum and instruction to meet the literacy and learning needs of all students.
Conference attendees will learn about the data collected during the Challenge-Based
Research. Attendees will explore new Web 2.0 tools such as Schoology (Learning
Management System), Prezi & SlideRocket (presentation tools), Dipity & TimeRime (online
timeline creators), StoryBird, Google Docs & comic creators (for writing implementation),
and Blogger & WordPress (blogging hosts). Upon return to their educational environments,
attendees will be able to:

Use technology to support instruction;

Integrate new technology into classroom practice;

Discover new uses for technology tools or designing projects that combine multiple
technologies; and

Focus on cooperative, project-based and interdisciplinary work with technology
being just one of many tools that students use.
Audience:
This workshop is intended for educators of K-12 grades in the general education
classroom, including but not limited to math & science educators, reading, writing & social
studies educators. Educators should have a solid foundation of basic technologies.
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Workshop attendees will need to have basic computer skills such as writing email and
other correspondence, conducting online research, and utilizing word processing and other
programs to complete assignments and client work. Attendees should be comfortable
creating and saving new documents, storing electronic files, and navigating web-based
applications.
Audience Prerequisites:
Educators should have a solid foundation of basic technologies. Workshop attendees will
need to have basic computer skills such as writing email and other correspondence,
conducting online research, and utilizing word processing and other programs to complete
assignments and client work. Attendees should be comfortable creating and saving new
documents, storing electronic files, and navigating web-based applications.
Proposed Length: 3.5 hours
Abstract:
Students have faced considerable challenges not only in enduring the tasks of becoming
literate citizens of society, but also in mastering the skills and strategies needed to perform
well on standardized tests and performance based assessments. Advancements in
technology changed significantly over time to cater to the increased dependency on literacy
development through technology. Challenge-Based research was conducted to determine
motivations for students and their abilities to increase their own literacy skills using
technology. A variety of engaging activities were used to introduce new technologies and
Web 2.0 tools. When those students were engaged in activities based on popular culture as
well as new technologies, it offered opportunities for the development of standard
language proficiency in the addition to the development of digital literacy and 21st century
skills. As a result, students’ academic self-confidence grew, they became more academically
engaged which allowed them to take on more powerful roles as learners and experience
success with learning. With these new literacy technologies in place, explicit teaching of the
new technologies and with training and professional development of teachers, educators
will allow student to engage in literacy regardless of language or literacy level of students.
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Topical Outline:
I.
Introduction
a. Presenters Qualifications
b. Challenge Based Research
c. Challenge-Based Learning
II.
Explanation of Activities
a. Learning Management Systems (Schoology)
b. Presentation Tools (Prezi, PowerPoint, SlideRocket)
c. Online Timeline Creators (Dipity, TimeRime)
d. Writing Implementation (Comic Creators, StoryBird, Google Docs)
e. Response to Literature, Science, Social Studies (Podcasts)
f. Blogging (WordPress and Blogger)
g. iPads, Flip cams, learner response systems
III.
Question and Answer
Instructor’s Qualifications:
Mindi Vandagriff is a fourth grade teacher at a Title I school district in Texas. She has been
teaching for seven years and has taught kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and fourth
grade. She is certified early childhood through sixth grade and also has her English as a
Second Language endorsement. She attended her undergrad at The University of Texas at
Dallas. She has a Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in triple
literacy from the University of Texas at Arlington and also has a Master of Science degree in
Educational Media Design and Technology from Full Sail University. Mindi has conducted
Challenge-Based Research in her own classroom to determine how to increase motivations
for students to increase their own literacy skills by using technology. Mindi uses a plethora
of new technologies and Web 2.0 tools in her classroom, along with her daily life.
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