5 Reasons Teachers Using Tech are Super Heroes with Kecia Ray

Today Kecia Ray @keciaray former president of ISTE helps us understand five transformative practices that help teachers become superheroes. If you don't “get” why technology is important, or know people who don't, take a listen to understand and learn about transformative practices that work in education.

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Below is a transcript modified for your reading pleasure. Notes from Host, Vicki Davis, are written in the green shaded boxes as part of the notes. For information on the guests and items mentioned in this show, scroll down to the bottom of this post.

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5 Reasons Teachers Using Tech are Super Heroes

Shownotes: www.coolcatteacher.com/e135
Download the Transcript: Episode 135 with Kecia Ray
Friday, August 25, 2017

Today's sponsor is Kids Discover Online.

Vicki: Today we’re talking with Kecia Ray @keciaray. She’s one of the most fantastic people for understanding how technology is being used throughout the world, and she is the former president of ISTE, the International Society for Technology in Education.

Kecia, tell us about the topic we’re going to talk about today.

Kecia: Hello, Vicki, you are such a champion and hero of mine. I wanted to talk today about why I think Teachers Using Technology are Super Heroes. So, I’ve got five things that I believe make a teacher who uses technology and really embraces it – a superhero.

Vicki: Awesome! OK, what’s our first?

Idea #1: Use Formative Data to Improve Learning

Kecia: So, the first thing that make a teacher a superhero is the way they use data to improve learning and mastery for their students. And teachers who use technology can use technology in such a way where they’re collecting formative data every day, every single moment of the day. And they look at that data, every single moment of the day, and they analyze it, and they decide what needs to be done to redirect construction, to regroup, to reteach, to enrich, to enhance – all on the spur of the moment, because they have ready access to the data. You can only do that if you know how to use technology, especially really fabulous software, which teachers who use technology know how to find.

Vicki: And this is so important! I’ve literally got a lesson tomorrow with six formative checkpoints as we’re having our class discussion and talking. And it’s just so important and empowering for the teacher, you know?

Kecia: Oh yeah, absolutely. When I was teaching – which I’m going to have to admit was back in the hey days of the eighties – we didn’t have that. And I say frequently to my sister, who has access to this in her classroom, “You are so lucky! I would have to wait until the end of a week, and then I would have to address any kind of challenges for the next week.” And so, we were always lagging in the way that we were redirecting instruction because we just didn’t have immediacy of the data. You guys, the people in classrooms today are so privileged because they have that kind of access all the time. And you can move so much faster through mastery when you have access to that.

Vicki: Unless they’re stuck in the eighties, and we won’t go there because we’re taking about superheroes who use tech. OK, what’s our second, Kecia? (laughs)

Idea #2: Use Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Video Conferencing to Hook Students into Lessons

Kecia: (laughs) That’s so true. OK, this may be a little “out there,” but I’ve gone into so many classrooms who are really experimenting with AR and VR and using video conferencing. Now, I know these are new technologies, and technologies – well video conferencing isn’t new but it’s, it’s a technology that sometimes is challenging to introduce into a classroom – but if you can, the level of interaction that you can bring into your classroom — and exposing your kids to experiences far, far, far beyond the walls of the classroom is just extraordinary.

And teachers who bring these types of technologies into their classroom increase interaction in their classroom, they increase engagement in their classroom, and they are assured to have more enthusiastic learners. I’ve seen it first-hand, I know it, and I believe it.

Vicki: And you know what? Google Cardboard costs like, what — $12 – and every kid has a smartphone. So how hard is it?

Kecia: Yeah! It shouldn’t be that hard. I mean, it really shouldn’t. And it is so engaging. I mean the kids are just drawn to it, they’re drawn to it. To them, it’s like a game. And anytime – you know we had a fabulous speaker at ISTE a few years ago, who talked about gaming in the classroom. Anytime you can take your classroom and transform it to something that is inspiring for kids, that’s something that is really going to switch that light on for them. And I’ve seen classrooms where they’ve done the VR and AR, and even the Augmented Reality where they have – I just saw a new app today. It’s Indigital. It’s in Australia. It’s Aborigines. You can take a picture of an object and put it into a location where it ONCE existed, and the object walks around!

Vicki: Wow.

Kecia: It’s just so cool.

Vicki: (agrees)

Kecia: And kids really… they’re drawn to it. Yeah, and once you have them… We used to call that a “hook.” I’m sure there’s another fancy name for that now…

Vicki: I think we still call it a hook! (laughs)

Kecia: Do we still call it a hook? (laughs)

Vicki: Yeah, we do! We do! (laughs)

Kecia: (laughs) Yay, you’re validating me! I could still go back in the classroom. Thanks, Vicki! But once you have them hooked in the lesson, you can go, you know, the sky’s the limit.

The next one? This is not necessarily something you might teach in a classroom, but it’s certainly something that’s relevant to every student and every teacher in our schools, and that’s social media. Social media is something students are going to explore on their own, no matter what. So, having a teacher who understands social media and who can model good social media practices is one of the most beneficial assets a school can have today. A teacher who understands and who models social media – great social media practices.

Vicki: Excellent. And that is very true. What’s our fourth?

Kecia: Fourth is 24-7 learning and teaching. So, teachers who use technology often times will build out their lessons online. They’re either going to use a Learning Management System that’s provided through their district, or they’re going to find something online. They’re going to build a lesson out, and they’re going to make it available. They’re either going to video their lecture, or they’re going to put material up. They’re going to find a way to make sure their kids have access to that content 24-7. So, teachers who really embrace the technology in such a way that they’re transforming their classroom to 24-7 access? Super hero. (What student wouldn’t want that opportunity?)

Vicki: Well, those that want to get out of things. But… like, I had a student that had to go home today, and I said, “Oh! Do 107 and 108, and then I’ll see you tomorrow. And they were just able to go into my Learning Management System and just do it.

Kecia: Yeah! Yeah! It’s just there. No missed time. There’s no gap!

Vicki: OK. What’s our fifth?

Kecia: The fifth one is connected teachers. So, connected teachers influence connected learners. Teachers who connect through their professional ed tech networks learn new and cool things to introduce to their classroom every day. People listening to this podcast are going to learn some of the things we’ve talked about. People who follow you learn stuff every single time they click on your Twitter or Facebook or anything. You’re such a wealth of information for teachers, and for lead learners across the country and world.

But, you’ve got to stay connected. And teachers who do that and stay connected to their peers across the country and throughout the world make them better teachers. And because they’re so connected, it also makes sure that their learning and their teaching is more relevant to their students.

Vicki: So, Kecia, I have a question. So, these are awesome. I love and totally agree with all of them. Is there a mistake that teachers who are trying to use technology make, that’s a common mistake?

Kecia: Well, I think that probably our most common mistake that I see is when they just substitute the technology for something else, and they don’t really transform their practice. So, when I, again, a million years ago started teaching — started on a blackboard, moved to a whiteboard, then moved to an interactive whiteboard — if my teaching pedagogy didn’t shift, then I’m really not doing anything different than using chalk and a blackboard. So, I think the most common thing is they just substitute that technology, but they don’t allow it to push their pedagogy and to really think differently about how they could deliver the content, or create their lesson in an interactive, engaging, innovative, facilitated way. They just kind of stick with the norm.

Vicki: Yeah. And without that student excitement… I mean, if you’re just substituting, you don’t get the student excitement that’s like the nitrous in the engine that makes you go, “Yes! This is awesome!”

Kecia: Yep, you really don’t. If you think about where kids are when they leave your classroom – they’re going to be gaming, they’re going to be online, they’re going to be in a lot of stimulating and typically media-rich environments. So if they come to your classroom, and they don’t have anything that’s stimulating, and they don’t have any rich media — then they ARE going to check out. And they are going to find ways to disrupt you, because they’re not interested. I think the interest lies in the way that we deliver the instruction.

Vicki: So, teachers, we’ve gotten so many fantastic ideas.

1. We need to use our data to improve learning, with formative assessment.
2. Use Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. I’ll include some links to some shows in the Shownotes that we’ve done before, because there’s so many great ideas.
3. Use social media, and I’ll also have links there.
4. Look at a Learning Management System and blended learning, because every classroom is made of bricks and clicks, and we’ve got to put those two together.
5. And then be connected! I would recommend that you connect with Kecia, and connect with so many of the guests that we have on the show, because there’s so many people out here who can really inspire us and give us so many great ideas.

Thank you, Kecia!

Kecia: Thank you. It’s been my pleasure. Make sure they get all my contact information. I’d love to connect with everybody.

Transcribed by KymberliMulford

Full Bio As Submitted

Kecia Ray

Dr. Ray's career includes designing technology within the Frist Center for the Visual Arts and directing technology research through Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Science Outreach programs. As a district administrator for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, she led the award-winning design, implementation, and evaluation of instructional technology programs including instructional design for online and blended learning environments, redesigning physical learning environments, establishing the virtual high school, and redefining school libraries.

After publishing an assessment to measure technology literacy in 1999, she conducted research in the US, Canada, and South Africa on the use of technology in the K-12 classroom and the use of distance learning technologies to facilitate engaging learning environments. Dr. Ray is published and recognized internationally for her work in online and blended learning as well as flexible learning environments.

Dr. Ray is a member of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and is past president of the ISTE Board of Directors. Dr. Ray also serves on the board of eLearn Institute and the board of Learning Bird Inc. She was appointed by Governor Haslem to the Advisory Council on Alternative Education in 2013 and appointed by the Tennessee state commissioner of education to a Personalized Learning Advisory Committee in 2014 and 2015. In 2015, she was invited to serve on a USDOE technical working group focused on evaluating education technology.

She is a four-time recipient of the Presidents Volunteer Service Award and the ISTE lifetime achievement ‘Making IT Happen' Award. Dr. Ray was named '20 to Watch' by the National School Board Association and one of the top 10 EdTech Leaders by Tech and Learning.

Dr. Ray is the Executive Director of the Center for Digital Education and an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University.