A presentation shared during the PLC workshop at the University of the Free State

1. Technology for PLC’s
Thoughts, Tips and Tools
Because what we do matters
& what we don’t do matters too

2. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VPxsmdLnPIw/TPkbuaelbyI/AAAAAAAAA48/LMuI3XgQHok/s1600/Empty+frames1.png

3. Let’s use a TOOL to collaboratively share:
What is the purpose of PLC’s?
https://todaysmeet.com/fsplcs

4. Why we became teachers and our now still
supporting teachers…
• Believed in potential
• Believed in greatness
• Believed in making a difference
We have the opportunity to make a difference every single
day
Every single day we have the opportunity to change the
world…

5. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/8a/7b/bc/8a7bbca91cfc726ef750ae5a017d97db.jpg

6. From the guideline: The Role of the Districts (DTDCs) in the PLC:
• To support PLCs with resources and expertise on facilitation skills,
video analysis, development of teaching resources, the use of ICT etc.
• To highlight issues for discussion at provincial and national level.
• To function as a hub for exchanging PLC practices within the district.
• To create opportunities for follow up via PLCs in other professional
development activities, such as workshops.
• DTDCs provide annual progress reports of implementation of PLCs
to the provincial level.
• To develop synergies between PLCs and district subject committees.

7. http://dawnofthedame.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cK-to-superman.jpg

8. The aims of the workshop will be to:
Create awareness of the potential of ICT to support the role of
leaders in PLC’s
Experience the value of collaborative tools first hand
Critically discuss the potential values and pitfalls of each tool
with reference to building supportive and sustainable PLC’s
Set norms for the use of ICT tools for collaboration
Identify ways to address challenges such as lack of resources
and internet access when using ICT for collaboration within
PLC’s

9. A fast variety of tools are available when using ICT
for collaboration.
The tools illustrated, used and discussed during
the workshop, can be divided into 6 categories:
1. Communication and messaging tools
2. Collaborative writing tools
3. Collaborative search and research sharing tools
4. Data collections tools
5. Collaborative audio and/or visual creation tools
6. PLC management tools

10. Technology

11. Let’s use a TOOL to collaboratively share:
This will become our platform
http://www.edmodo.com
The code will be shared in class

12. We need to frame our
[technology]
conversations around
educational problems

14. Let’s use a TOOL to collaboratively share:
What are the challenges you face daily in your work?
http://bit.ly/1EwqVIx

15. Why not start by
discovering what tools
PLC participants
are using?

16. You can use various TOOLS to collect data from your
students:
Online Excel Survey or Google forms
(both free)

17. You can use various TOOLS to represent your data visually
Wordle
http://www.wordle.net/
Tagxedo
http://www.tagxedo.com/app.html

18. http://30daystox.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Pile-of-ladders.png
It doesn’t matter how many resources you have.
If you don’t know how to use them, it will never be enough

19. When integrating technology,
focus on the learning and the teaching,
not on the technology

20. …because
http://www.howtoinstructions.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/100-Dollar-money-toilet-paper-roll.jpg
technology
bad teaching
expensivebadteaching

21. Pedagogy is the driver,
technology is the accelerator
~Michael Fullan
http://o5.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/teacher_chalk.jpg

22. A fast variety of tools are available when using ICT
for collaboration.
The tools illustrated, used and discussed during
the workshop, can be divided into 6 categories:

23. Communication
and messaging
tools
Collaborative
writing tools
Collaborative
search and
research
sharing tools
Data collections
tools
Collaborative
audio and/or
visual creation
tools
PLC
management
tools
Whatsapp Padlet Symbaloo Kahoot
Youtube
channel
Edmodo
Twitter Todaysmeet Pinterest
Google
Forms
Camtasia OneNote
Facebook
Google
Docs
Diigo
Poll
Everywhere
Voicethread Doodle
Instagram Office 365
(Google like
a pro)
OfficeMix
Sway

24. The number one benefit of Educational technology is that it empowers people to
do what they want to do. It lets people be creative… productive… learn things
they didn’t think they could learn before, and so in a sense it is all about potential
~ Steve Ballmer
http://mac-fusion.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/mac-education-feature.jpghttp://www.hercampus.com/sites/default/files/2013/02/20/tech.png

25. Example 1: take PLC participants on a virtual learning
journey using TOOLS such as
https://photosynth.net/preview/view/44971668-e765-49e2-8d7f-5d1d7322933c
https://edpuzzle.com/content

26. Example 2: allow PLC participants to choose the most
appropriate TOOLS to present a project or idea
http://www.websitemagazine.com/images/blog/piktochart.ex.PNG
https://wrteacher.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/glogster.jpg

27. Example 3: use PowerPoint with OfficeMix to create
videos for or by PLC Participants as a TOOL

28. Example 4: use OneNote across platforms to create
powerful, collaborative notes - 1 of my favourite TOOLS

29. “Unlimited choice produces genuine suffering. The more choices we have to make, the
less certainty we seem to have” ~Barry Schwartz
http://img.pandawhale.com/BNhMJr-9-lessons-picking-the-right-no-bTEN.jpeg

30. Life is like riding a bicycle.
To keep your balance, you
must keep moving.
~ Albert Einstein
New and feel overwhelmed?
Here is my suggestion:
1. Start by adding technology to a current
lesson or project
2. Do not try to master it all… pick one TOOL
at a time
3. Is there one tool here you could use on
Monday?
Which of the other tools are for
Someday?

31. Like the conductor of the orchestra, you don’t have to be able to play all the
instruments. You don’t have to be a master of all the tools and technology.
Have PLC Participants learn the tools, then they can offer support.
You are the artist/director who orchestrates the learning; the PLC participants
should be the ones using the technology.
http://helikon.ru/tree/?lang=eng&id=23

32. Oh, and yes, technology
may fail you at times!
So, I always check it again
just before the session start

33. Teacher are creative problem-solvers…Have a back-up plan
http://i.imgur.com/VxZEpEp.jpg
There is nothing like bad weather…
it’s bad equipment

34. If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the
shoulders of giants ~ Isaac Newton
http://www.startanorphanage.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/passionhasselfishtendencies.jpg

35. I daily find giants via my Personal Learning Network
using TOOLS such as Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest,
Educatornetwork.com

36. Setting your Social Media up

37. Your profile
• Every social media network offers opportunity to create a profile
• can just complete the required fields,
• Take your profile seriously and do your best to fill it out
completely.
• The rules vary widely across social media profiles
• Twitter: 160 characters
• LinkedIn: a lengthy bio +any kind of media
• Use the keywords most relevant to your profession to enable
others to find you via search.
• Be professional, but personable
• Be humble, but confident

38. Your photo
• Simple headshot
• Is it for personal or professional use?
• Rather: Do not use family photos, pets, landscapes, etc

39. The journey

40. Step 1: Start following others - lurk
• Follow others - their updates will appear in your feed when you sign-on.
• Don’t overthink this process.
• You can reverse your decisions later by unfollowing, so fear not and simply begin
following folks.
• Start by following people you know.
• Networks suggest people to follow based on your profile - Go for it.
• Keywords in the search tool to find people with common interests.
• Follow influencers and bloggers in your niche.

41. Step 2: Listen = look
• Don’t immediately post
• Observe
• Pick up on nuances of the network.
• Form conclusions about what is good and bad protocol.
• No formula for how long or how much listening you should do, but you will
indeed learn a lot by watching from the sidelines to begin with.

42. Step 3: approve/ENDORSE/Like
• It’s easy
• Just one click
• Slightly less significant than sharing, but thoughtful, won’t go unnoticed.
• Just when you mean it

43. Step 4: SHARE
• share content you discover and enjoy

44. Step 5: Comment
• It’s all about conversation
• Express yourself.
• Agree.
• Disagree.
• Answer questions.
• Ask questions.
• Cite examples.
• Offer links.
• Say thank you

45. And Step in-between: Join groups
• Social media is a big, big network with hundreds of millions of members.

46. Who can you consider to follow?
Shelly S Terrell – @ShellTerrell
Steven W. Anderson – @web20classroom
Larry Ferlazzo – @Larryferlazzo
Eric Sheninger – @NMHS_Principal
Tom Whitby – @tomwhitby
Edutopia – @edutopia
Richard Byrne – @rmbyrne
We Are Teachers – @WeAreTeachers
Kyle Pace – @kylepace
Steve Wheeler – @timbuckteeth
Shawn McCusker - @ShawnMcCusker

47. Ok, so I’m giving technology in my class a go, but how do I manage it?
In short, the same why you would manage pen an paper.
With a hammer, you can build cathedrals, but
. with the same hammer you can break its windows
http://www.superbwallpapers.com/artistic/cathedral-windows-14264/

48. The purpose of integrating
technology should not be about
entertaining PLC participants nor
should it be about impressing them.
The learning experience you create
with, it is everything. ~Sean Gerety
http://funfive.net/pictures/images/Cheese%20Grater%20Slide.jpg

49. Let’s not focus on what we can’t do,
but lets rather see what we can do
and just do it
Because time is running out….

50. In your community, your PLC holds potential

51. Every flood
starts with a
single drop
of rain.......

52. https://teacherwrite.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/teacherappreciation.png?w=580

53. Thank you
Because what you do
matters & what you don’t
do matters too