This document discusses using technology in the English classroom. It defines technology as tools that can enrich, extend, and empower student understanding when applied skillfully. The document encourages teachers not to fear technology, but to view it as a tool to enhance best practices. It advises determining if a technology provides a meaningful learning experience by considering the lesson objective. The document also recommends starting with objectives and Bloom's Taxonomy, using the writing process with technologies like brainstorming apps and blogs, and asking how a new technology can address an instructional problem or add value when encountering it.

1. !!!Using
!!!!Technology
!!!!!in the
!!!!!!English
!!!!!!!Classroom
Aimee E. Hughes, M.Ed

2. What is technology?
“Simply defined, technology in the English
classroom includes all the tools available in
your classroom that when applied with skill
can lead you to enrich, extend, and empower
student understanding” (Kajder 5)
Kajder, Sara B. The Tech-Savy English Classroom. Portland: Stenhouse Publishers, 2003. Print.

3. Technology is nothing to fear.

4. You are a competent
professional teacher.
Sometimes we let
technology intimidate us,
but really technology is
just a tool. We just use it
to enhance the best
practices and strategies
that we are already
using.

5. Using Technology Effectively
in the English Classroom
Technologies are only effective tools
when they are “paired with the
right task and users who have been
trained to use the tools mindfully,
effectively, and efficiently”.
(Kajder 6)
Consider the objective of the
lesson, activity, or task and then
determine whether or not the use
of technology would be provide a
meaningful learning experience.

6. “Learners do not learn from technology; they learn from
thinking about what they are doing. Focus has to be
placed on learning with technology rather than learning
from or about technology” (Kajder 9).

7. Start with Objectives and Bloom

8. Use the Writing Process

9. Prewriting
Brainstorming, Mind-Mapping, Storyboarding, Gathering
Information, Taking Notes

10. Drafting
Composing Meaning

11. Revising, Editing, Proofreading
Checking for errors and clarifying meaning/
presentation

12. Publishing
Creating a digital identity.
Blogger was also part of
the drafting process.
Student took one of their
blogs and then rewrote
it for a final essay.

13. Thanks for the ideas, but
now what do I do?
Begin with objectives, What do you already know and how can you
standards, and lesson
plans.
use it?
Is there a way to incorporate technology that
would enhance student learning and
achievement?
Is there someone who knows more about
technology that can help you?
Inform yourself - join a Personal Learning
Network (PLN), play around, research, technology
Failure - If the connect
integration is being
professionally to other, etc. properly used to enhance
the lesson, then learning
will still take place.
Try it Out! - Don’t be afraid to fail.howteaching our
Additionally,
students to deal
with failure can also be a
valuable lesson.

14. When encountering new
technology, ask . . .
What does this thing do?
How does it answer an instructional problem?
Can there be value added?
Kajder, Sara B. Real Reasons to Write. BLC 10 Conference. Park Plaza Hotel & Towers, Boston, MA. 15 July 2010. Session 5 Workshop.

15. “Learners do not learn from technology; they learn from
thinking about what they are doing. Focus has to be
placed on learning with technology rather than learning
from or about technology” (Kajder 9).