Lesson Planning with BYOT - The 5 C's and Learning
Creativity |
Collaboration |
Communication |
Critical Thinking |
Curriculum |
The key to a successful implementation of BYOT is teaching the students how to use their devices as a learning tool. This is the key with any integration of technology. How can we transform the learning environment? What can we do differently?
It is important to remember that participation in the BYOT program is optional for students so any lessons planned that require technology to complete will need to have the technology provided. This will be a challenge for planning but, as we move forward, flexibility of devices continues to be a priority in technology planning.
There are a variety of great resources that are useful on many different devices. Keep in mind, however, that the focus should always be on the learning, not the device. The following strategies all offer different ways to focus your integration of BYOT into your classroom.
It is important to remember that participation in the BYOT program is optional for students so any lessons planned that require technology to complete will need to have the technology provided. This will be a challenge for planning but, as we move forward, flexibility of devices continues to be a priority in technology planning.
There are a variety of great resources that are useful on many different devices. Keep in mind, however, that the focus should always be on the learning, not the device. The following strategies all offer different ways to focus your integration of BYOT into your classroom.
1. Grappling’s Technology and Learning Spectrum - Bernajean Porter work helps teachers look at their practice and provides guidelines to move up the spectrum of effective technology integration. This spectrum offers three simple levels for teachers to reference their own technology integration practices with the goal of transformational learning in the classroom with technology – creating new stories with new tools.
2. 21st Century Learning – the 5 C’s - Tim Clark is a leader in BYOT and focuses on Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking as key areas for technology integration. His blog outlines simple suggestions for incorporating the 4 C’s of Digital Learning with simple tools that can accessed from many devices. We have added the fifth "C" to remember the importance of curriculum as the guide for learning outcomes.
3. Student Planning – Lisa Nielsen and Willyn Web’s book Teaching Generation Text encourages students to be part of planning how they can use their cell phones as a learning tool. This allows for differentiation in the classroom to meet individual learning goals and needs. Their strategy is outlined on their blog Teaching Generation Text.
4. Marzano Pickering and Pollock’s Research Based Teaching Strategies – These researchers have identified nine strategies that are proven to improve student learning. By looking at these strategies, it is possible to consider how technology can be incorporated with the strategy to improve the classroom learning. There are a number of ideas for each strategy as a starting point for effective technology integration.
5. Tools and Resources – One of the challenges of BYOT is realizing we won’t know all the tools. Allow students to make suggestions and try to learn a few things at a time – and ensure they will have the biggest impact on your classroom learning outcomes. This blog titled From Toy to Tool: Cell Phones in Learning has tips, tricks and tools including this great list of tools for cell phones. Cool Tools for Schools and the Go2Web20 are also large resources of information for online tools. This post from Kevin Hurt on his blog Edumacation outlines his experience.
2. 21st Century Learning – the 5 C’s - Tim Clark is a leader in BYOT and focuses on Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking as key areas for technology integration. His blog outlines simple suggestions for incorporating the 4 C’s of Digital Learning with simple tools that can accessed from many devices. We have added the fifth "C" to remember the importance of curriculum as the guide for learning outcomes.
3. Student Planning – Lisa Nielsen and Willyn Web’s book Teaching Generation Text encourages students to be part of planning how they can use their cell phones as a learning tool. This allows for differentiation in the classroom to meet individual learning goals and needs. Their strategy is outlined on their blog Teaching Generation Text.
4. Marzano Pickering and Pollock’s Research Based Teaching Strategies – These researchers have identified nine strategies that are proven to improve student learning. By looking at these strategies, it is possible to consider how technology can be incorporated with the strategy to improve the classroom learning. There are a number of ideas for each strategy as a starting point for effective technology integration.
5. Tools and Resources – One of the challenges of BYOT is realizing we won’t know all the tools. Allow students to make suggestions and try to learn a few things at a time – and ensure they will have the biggest impact on your classroom learning outcomes. This blog titled From Toy to Tool: Cell Phones in Learning has tips, tricks and tools including this great list of tools for cell phones. Cool Tools for Schools and the Go2Web20 are also large resources of information for online tools. This post from Kevin Hurt on his blog Edumacation outlines his experience.