Presented by: Holly Murray
The pandemic gave me time to reflect and experiment even more with technology to enhance learning with my students. The power of screen recorded lessons is something that even after we have returned to school I am continuing to do for the weaker students who need extra support in my classes. We used Wakelet online to complete digital portfolios live on a Google Meet lesson and now I am still using this fab tool in the classroom for CBA1 for geography. I learned how to use and implement Google Sites into my lessons as part of my own planning and now I am using this as an assessment tool for CBA1 in history and teaching my second years how to build their own website. As a history and geography teacher I use maps and timelines a lot in my lessons so Microsoft Whiteboard on my surface device allowed me to introduce digital inking into my lessons. Other digital methods of assessment for my classes include Mentimeter, Jamboard and Google Quizzes. I would define myself as a digital teacher but teaching during the lockdown really helped me to invest in my own CPD for the benefit of my students. My students love the break from reading and writing and using digital technologies for homework or as a class test. Google forms or a Mentimeter word cloud are excellent as revision tools for exam prep or for end of chapter revision. Google Tools also offer opportunities to tick the box for accessibility and inclusion in your classroom for EAL students and students with dyslexia with voice typing, using the immersive reader with a chrome extension called Helper Bird, translate options and Google Lens and captions in slides or Google meet for a student with a hearing impairment. For anyone attending my session they will learn the value of technology enhanced learning in the 21st century classroom.
Presenter Biography:
I am a post primary history and geography teacher based in Finn Valley College Stranorlar Co.Donegal. I am an EAL Advisor for the PDST. I am an ambassador for the Wriggle Connect platform and I have designed CPD courses for them using Google, Microsoft and Apple products. I have worked with H2 learning and designed an SEN course for them using digital technologies. I have completed my Google educator level one and two exam and I am a member of the Microsoft Expert Community also. I deliver webinars for the education centres as I am very passionate about the implementation of TEL tools in the classroom.