1. Tech Tools 4
Cool
Discussions
Matthew Mahaffey
Upper School English - MICDS, St. Louis
Email: mmahaffey@micds.org
Twitter: @MJMahaffey
http://interstitialteacher.blogspot.com/
2. Session Description
Sometimes we can shy away from integrating technology into a
traditional, discussion based classroom for fear it might interfere
with the important development of face-to-face communication
skills, but this session seeks to introduce ways in which technology
in a 1-1 classroom can enhance and scaffold democratic
discussion. Tools to enhance various aspects of the learning
process and discussion experience, including
inquiry, preparation, recall, engagement, response, and
reflection, will be highlighted.
http://tk421.typepad.com/.a/6a0105368351
36970c0120a889bb31970b-800wi
4. By Shimer College [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-
sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Emw (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-
BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)],
via Wikimedia Commons
Face-to-
Face Laptops
5. In My Cognitive Toolkit
http://ecx.images-
amazon.com/images/I/51yVSHHSZvL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-
sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg
Making Thinking
Visible
Routines for
teachers and
students promoting
the culture of
learning I seek to
foster with my
classes
6. Routines for
Introducing and
Exploring Ideas
Routines for
Synthesizing and
Organizing Ideas
Routines for
Digging Deeper
into Ideas
21 Thinking Routines
in Three Categories
Consider these as:
• Tools
• Structures
• Patterns of Behavior
7. A Cognitive Toolkit Upgrade
Bloom's Digital Taxonomy isn't about the
tools or technologies rather it is about
using these to facilitate learning.
Outcomes on rubrics are measured by
competence of use and most importantly
the quality of the process or product.
http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/Bloom%
27s+Digital+Taxonomy
8.
9. Teacher’s Cognitive Toolkit
Upgrade
MICDS, US English Curriculum Map
A framework consisting of five modes of
literacy
Reading
Writing
Visual/Media Literacy
Research
Speaking and Listening
10. Student’s Cognitive Toolkit
Upgrade
B.O.O.M. (Brain Owner’s Operating
Manual)
Partnership with Library, Student Services,
9th Grade English, Health
Executive Functions, Hard Core
Neuroscience, Plasticity, Open vs. Closed
Mindsets
11. For them,
“paper” has depth, definition, dimension
and THEY can MAKE IT MOVE
http://appleheadlines.com/2011/01/17/wealthy-singapore-classrooms-to-get-ipad-
instead-of-books/
13. In whole class discussions
Paper is an elemental technology
Sticky Note Pads are great
Project/Display essential information for
the class
Have students switch to tablet mode
Close the laptops, put away the devices
14. In small group discussion
Assign roles
Set up an online, group work space
Limit the number of open laptops
Communicate expectations for behavior
End with inter-group presentation
17. Differentiation
and Customization
introverts
Energized by the
solitude
Could benefit from
more emphasis on
emotion and
associative
reaction
extroverts
Energized by the
interaction
Could benefit from
more emphasis on
a process for
monitoring and
controlling
18. David Jonassen
Mindtools are computer applications that,
when used by learners to represent what
they know, necessarily engage them in
critical thinking about the content they
are studying.
Mindtools scaffold different forms of
reasoning about conent. That is, they
require students to think about what they
know in different, meaningful ways.
21. Mind Maps, Semantic
Networks, Concept Maps
Provides a structures
Shows connections
Illustrates relationships and associations
Leave them Incomplete – Provide
opportunities to collaborate
22.
23. Online Discussion Forums
Embedding content to provide a focus
(English teacher’s flipped classroom)
Practice the use of terminology, verbal
cues, maintaining a thread
Discussion need to be discussed
32. How to Filter Tools, Techniques
and Applications
Active
Listening
Generative
Questioning
33. Active Listening
“This is where you
make a conscious
effort to hear not
only the words that
another person is
saying but, more
importantly, try to
understand the
complete message
being sent.”
http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/ActiveListening.htm
Generative Questioning
“This does not refer
to the teacher asking
students a question,
it refers to students
creating their own
questions and
problems, and then
using the new
information to
answer it.”
http://wik.ed.uiuc.edu/articles/g/e/n/Generative_strategies.html
34. Self-Reflection
Before and After
On paper, online, in a survey, as an
assessment score
Track it and visualize it
35. What kinds of questions
should the students ask
about face-to-face
discussion enhanced by
technology?
Which questions do you have?
Think – Pair - Share
36. But what about the FEAR!
Intentionality and Mindfulness
Technology need not be frantic and disruptive
http://www.whitezine.com/
en/graphic/dale-keys-
illustrations.html/attachment
/dale-keys-panda-robot
37. Tech Tools 4
Cool
Discussions
Matthew Mahaffey
Upper School English - MICDS, St. Louis
Email: mmahaffey@micds.org
Twitter: @MJMahaffey
http://interstitialteacher.blogspot.com/