A great site to follow

SimpleK12 is a fantastic site to follow.  They have many free webinars on using Google in the classroom as well as other ways to integrate technology.

Today's post shares a link to a free e-book called 32 TIPS FOR THE TECHNOPHOBIC TEACHER

Follow the link below to read more

http://www.simplek12.com/blended-learning/32-tips-for-the-technophobic-teacher/

Assessment can be fun!

We have made use of a wonderful, FREE app called Kahoot to draw up quick multiple choice quizzes for the students.  They participate freely and there is a definite buzz in the class as they come up against the clock AND their classmates.

Kahoots are best played in a group setting, like a classroom. Players answer on their own devices, while games are displayed on a shared screen to unite the lesson, encouraging players to look up from their devices.

Follow this link to start designing your own Kahoot - easy as 1,2,3!!

Get Kahoot

Check out this Life Orientation lesson with Kahoot:


https://create.kahoot.it/?_ga=1.1000625.1064569902.1485848267&deviceId=a9fb349e-59f0-4db9-a019-f5b231fb5877R#jumble/6dbd1d53-f172-4dc8-97ad-10a9f4acf881


Oh - and in case you weren't impressed enough by what you saw - there are tons of free Kahoots that have been designed and shared by teachers all over the world!!

What are you waiting for??

Why reinvent the wheel?

We are all so pressed for time to make resources for our lessons and classrooms.  There is no need to reinvent the wheel!
Here are some amazing sites that can be used to download resources - free and paid.

Click on the pictures below to go to the site.

(Covers South African CAPS curriculum)                






Now there is no excuse!  Get creative - or borrow someone else's creativity!!

Benefits of Technology workshops...

As a Technology Integrator one of the largest challenges I face is convincing the teachers to use technology in their lessons regularly. Technology is fantastic, although it can be very overwhelming to some.

Technology integration is a very loose term and lends itself to many ideas and methods. The concept for many can be overwhelming when not used to it. I believe that technology integration should be an extension of your teaching and not take over your teaching. Integration should be something that you bring in slowly, but, regularly. Starting with the basics and building up your knowledge and most importantly your confidence.

ICT4Red has been a great resource for my teachers as it has taken many basic teaching methods that the teachers already know and has merely enriched the teaching by integrating technology, specifically via the use of android tablets.

What I have enjoyed the most about the ICT4Red course is the ownership one has to take for attending. Every lesson has "homework" that the teacher is to complete. This is sometimes time consuming and hard work, but, it is a great way to reinforce what you have learnt. So many times you attend a workshop or course and come away excited and motivated to implement what you have learnt, but, life and teaching get in the way and you generally forget to implement it. 

Over the years I have attended a few workshops on technology integration with some of our staff and have always found it great to have someone else reinforce what I have been teaching or researching.

For many of us, ICT4Red has taken us back to our basics in the classroom, but has also forced us to think out of the box, which is difficult sometimes.


I have enjoyed the connection this has created with my teachers as we are able to work closer together in the implementation of technology integration.

We are nearing the end of our ICT4Red journey and my responsibility will be to encourage and support each teacher who took this journey as well as to train the teachers who were unable to attend.

As an Integrator this has given me a starting point with many teachers and has allowed for the creative juices to start flowing.

My hope is that the teachers will stay motivated in this journey of technology integration and, with my support, grow further in their technology skills and confidence.

Make me smart

A wonderful platform for teachers to become acquainted with tech in a non threatening environment has to be ICT4Red.
We have had an amazing time learning different teaching strategies using technology.  What's different about this course, is that the strategies taught can be used with OR without tech.
But I think the best part of the course is that anyone can participate - you do not have to be a tech guru!
Below is a group of GAP teachers who are participating in the ICT4Red training.  And on the far right, front row, is our awesome facilitator, Maggie Verster.

Follow our journey on:  http://gapict4red.blogspot.co.za/

We'll share some tips and ideas on how to integrate technology into lessons to make teaching and learning an interactive experience!!